Who Brings Forth the Wind

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Who Brings Forth the Wind Page 8

by Lori Wick


  let the thought hang.

  They sat silently for a moment in Lucinda's small parlor

  J until Roddy suddenly leaned forward and kissed Lucinda

  lingeringly on the lips. Her eyes were quite round when he

  pulled away.

  Roddy had always been affectionate with her and a kiss

  , from him was not all that unusual, but in the past few weeks

  ^ he'd kissed her nearly every chance he had. The kisses were a

  ' good deal more personal than they'd ever been before. And

  when he wasn't kissing her, he was holding her hand or

  placing his arm about her waist.

  "You're doing quite a lot of that lately." Lucinda couldn't

  resist commenting about the kiss. To her surprise, Roddy

  looked pleased that she'd noticed. His smile was almost smug.

  "Any objections?" Roddy's voice was far warmer than she

  was used to hearing it.

  "No," Lucinda said, and suddenly felt herself blushing like

  a girl.

  "Did I cause that flush?" Roddy's grin nearly left his face.

  Lucinda could only stare at him. "What has come over you,

  Roddy?"

  76

  She was more confused than ever when he only kissed her

  again and sat back in contentment. She watched him reach for

  the newspaper he'd been enjoying and settle down to read He

  obviously wasn't going to answer her.

  Lucinda might have run from the room if he had. Roddy

  Caruthers, who had been in love with Lucinda Warbrook for

  years, was now amid his plan of attack to win the lovely lady's

  hand.

  It wasn't that he doubted Stacy's words about Lucinda's

  loving him; it was just that he wanted to take no chances of

  losing her. He was no longer afraid of rejection, but of not

  being taken seriously. They had been friends for so long that if

  he suddenly declared himself, she might not believe him

  sincere. Such an action would also cause her to question the

  change in him after so many years. He knew he would be

  honest with her, and in so doing might lead her to believe that

  Stacy had somehow betrayed her trust.

  So with his usual level head, Roddy decided to bide his

  time. He'd waited many years; a few more months wouldn't

  matter. He'd be alongside Lucinda as she saw Stacy safely

  married; then it would be his turn.

  He could still feel Lucinda's eyes on him at the moment,

  and indeed, was about to take pity on her and explain, but

  Craig entered quietly to tell Lucinda that Lord Richardson had

  arrived.

  Lucinda's brows rose. She thought they would not see him

  until the next day when the papers announced the engagement,

  but perhaps he had come about something other than

  his engagement. Lucinda nearly laughed at her own thoughts

  when she saw Tanner's face. There was no doubt that he was

  here to see Stacy.

  "Hello, Tanner," Lucinda greeted him as Roddy stood and

  the two shook hands. "Please, sit down."

  "Thank you, Lucinda," Tanner responded but remained

  standing, "but I'd really like to see Stacy." Tanner had to bite

  back the word "alone."

  77

  He stood erect and waited for Lucinda's response. At the

  lent he was tense enough to force his way into Stacy's

  if and Lucinda was obviously aware of this fact. Her voice

  very gentle when she answered him.

  "She's in the garden, Tanner. When you're done, maybe

  I'd both like to come in and join us in the large salon for

  r

  Tanner accepted with a nod of his head and moved toward

  i door. Lucinda and Roddy exchanged a glance after he left,

  it neither of them spoke.

  Stacy pushed herself from the grassy turf and stood look-I

  Ing down at her progress Aunt Lucinda had a gardener, but his

  | kills among the English daisies were lacking. They were a

  small flower and took careful weeding. Stacy could under- pounds Stand why he didn't care to bother, but she loved the work.

  She dusted her dirty hands together and had just wiped

  the moisture from her upper lip when she looked up to see

  I Tanner approaching. With a quick glance at her filthy hands,

  she put them behind her back.

  "Hello." Tanner's bass voice ran over Stacy's nerves as he

  stopped some five feet away and greeted her, his eyes serious.

  "Hello." Stacy's own voice was breathless. She was thrilled

  to see him but knew she must look a mess.

  Tanner's eyes moved over her, taking in the dirt smears on

  the front of her dress, her hair falling from its chignon, the

  hands held carefully behind her back, and finally the smear of

  mud above her upper lip.

  "What are you hiding behind you?" he asked as he moved

  to a nearby bench and made himself comfortable. Stacy

  watched his legs, clad in knee-high black boots and gray

  riding trousers, stretch out seemingly for miles before she

  looked back to his face. His brows were raised in expectation,

  and Stacy remembered that he'd asked her a question.

  78

  "Just my hands," she answered honestly.

  Tanner looked skeptical. "You're sure?"|

  "Yes," Stacy said, beginning to feel rather silly. With her]

  hands still out of sight, she moved to the opposite bench, |

  carefully tucking her hands under the folds of her skirt as she;

  sat down.

  As surreptitiously as she made the move, Tanner didn't

  miss a thing. He'd told himself if he could only see her, he

  would feel better, and in fact he was growing more relaxed

  with every passing second. She was the most restful woman

  he had ever known.

  "How are you, Tanner?" Stacy's sweet voice broke into his

  musings.

  "I'm doing fine."

  "Are you really?" Stacy's voice seemed to lift with pleasure.

  "Yes. Why do you ask?"

  Color leapt into her cheeks as she admitted softly, "I

  thought you might have come to tell me you changed your

  mind"

  Tanner found it very disconcerting to be read so easily. It

  caused him to realize just how little he really knew this

  woman. She was soft-spoken, graceful, and very trusting, but

  beyond those qualities, Tanner was at a loss.

  It became suddenly clear to him that he was going to

  marry this woman. He knew that more doubts would surface

  as the days went on, but he was going to marry Stacy Daniels.

  "I haven't changed my mind," Tanner told her seriously,

  and Stacy had to look away from the intensity in his eyes. She

  cast about for something to say and only looked at him when

  she was ready to speak.

  "Did you see Lucinda and Roddy? They're inside." Stacy

  knew she sounded inane, but he was still watching her so

  intently that she began to feel very unsettled.

  "Yes." Tanner's scrutiny eased some. "They're expecting

  us later for tea."

  79

  could only nod, glad she was alone with him but not

  what to say.

  len is your birthday, Stacy?" Tanner asked suddenly.

  "Not until October."

  ?*And you'll be--?"

  "Twenty-two," Stacy supplied nervo
usly. "That's rather

  isn't it?"

  "Not in the least," Tanner told her emphatically, feeling

  Ite glad that she wasn't a starry-eyed teen.

  "When is your birthday?"

  "Next May. I'll be 29." Tanner hesitated before a warm

  rkle lit his eyes. "Rather old, isn't it?"

  Stacy laughed, and Tanner found he liked the sound. Spot

  a newspaper by her side then, he noticed at the same time

  it she was still hiding her hands.

  "What have you been reading?" Tanner asked, gesturing

  rard the paper. "The London Times. I just finished an article about Nanking."

  "Nanking?" Tanner questioned her. He had read the same

  paper and not seen the feature.

  "Well, yes," Stacy said hesitantly, wondering if he'd be

  bored if she shared. But he had that expectant, almost impatient

  look she was coming to recognize. She hurried to

  explain.

  "Nanking, China, is a city that sits on the Yangtze River. The article says that an army of 500,000, composed entirely of women--" Stacy was now warming to her subject--"and led by female officers, was formed in Nanking during a rebellion."

  Stacy stopped when she realized her hands had come out

  of hiding to gesture as she spoke. She quickly hid them and

  shrugged apologetically. "I just found it rather interesting."

  Tanner did not reply but sat staring at her as if seeing her

  for the first time. Stacy felt like a fool. She stood awkwardly.

  "If Aunt Lucinda is expecting us for tea, I'd best go freshen

  up."

  80

  With surprising agility for a man his size, Tanner stood,]

  moving silently to block her path. He reached his long arms'

  around her and gently brought forth the hands she'd hidden

  once again to hold them within his own.

  He examined the dirt under her nails and on her palms

  and then looked to find her standing still with mortification.

  She was staring no higher than his shirtfront.

  "You were weeding?"

  Stacy nodded, utterly humiliated. She was engaged to a

  duke, and here she was digging in the dirt like a child at play.

  What must Tanner think?

  "You did a nice job," Tanner told her as though she'd asked

  the question out loud Still, she wouldn't look at him.

  "Look at me, Anastasia," he commanded, and Stacy felt

  helpless to resist. Tanner spoke when her eyes met his.

  "There is nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetheart. If

  you enjoy gardens, then you're going to love Winslow."

  "Winslow?"

  "My home in the country."

  Stacy never thought of his living anywhere but London.

  She was still taking this in when she questioned him about the

  dirt.

  "And you really don't mind my working in the garden?"

  "Not in the least."

  Stacy's sigh was of such relief that Tanner smiled.

  "I even like you with dirt on your upper lip."

  This time Stacy didn't sigh with relief. Her eyes widened in

  horror. Tanner only laughed as he gazed into those huge, blue

  orbs.

  Gf

  Q/en/

  when the letter arrived from Stacy's grandfather, it was

  ptrly enough to put her in tears. He would not be at tier

  Iding. Andrew explained very gently that he couldn't have

  ;n happier for her, but his eyesight was so unpredictable r that he feared embarrassing her by falling in the aisle or

  ic equally foolish act.

  If Stacy could have talked with him and heard this in

  >n, she might have felt better, but reading of his decision

  ie her feel helpless with grief. She debated going home to

  ...sit until the wedding day, but Lucinda talked her out of it,

  ^explaining that with fittings for her trousseau and dozens of

  Other tasks, she was needed in London.

  , . To top it off, a letter from Elena came the same day. She ^as expecting again, and Noel did not want her making the

  $ long trip in such warm weather. The double blow was devastating

  to Stacy.

  She sat in the window seat of the upstairs salon, completely

  awash with heartache. Tanner had come to the door,

  not entering, but simply enjoying the way the sunlight played

  on her golden hair. Stacy didn't notice his presence.

  When she finally heard his footsteps on the carpet, she

  turned. Hurting over the news from home, it was the first time

  she didn't feel delighted at seeing him. This was especially

  82

  surprising since Tanner had just been away for a few days. He

  noticed the change in her immediately and tensed over what

  she might say. It didn't occur to him until he saw the letters in

  her lap that her reaction might not have anything to do with

  him.

  With Stacy curled on the window seat there wasn't much

  room, but Tanner managed to sit down beside her. With a

  glance at the papers in her lap, he spoke.

  "Bad news?"

  "Yes," Stacy told him in a voice he'd never heard before--

  thick, almost husky. Tanner carefully studied her face, noticing

  not for the first time that Stacy was not prone to tears.

  "My grandfather can't make the wedding."

  "Not enough notice?"

  "No, that's not it. His eyesight is failing so badly and--"

  Stacy cut off, swallowing hard. "Would you like to read the

  letter?"

  Tanner took it from her outstretched fingers and read

  swiftly and silently. His look was very compassionate when he

  finished, but Stacy's gaze was directed out the window, her

  lovely profile etched in misery.

  Tanner noticed the other note in her hand.

  "Is there more?" he asked as he returned Andrew's letter.

  "Yes. Elena can't come either. She's married to my grandfather's

  cousin, Noel, and although Noel is old enough to be

  my father, Elena is my age and we're very close."

  "Yes, I remember your telling me."

  Stacy looked into his wonderful dark brown eyes for just a

  moment before turning to the window once again. Tanner

  gave her the silence, his mind thoughtful.

  "I'm sorry, Tanner," Stacy spoke abruptly, and Tanner

  watched her make almost a physical effort to cheer up. "You've

  come to visit me, and all I do is sit here and mope. How was

  your trip?" She smiled at him, but it didn't quite reach her

  eyes.

  83

  Tanner could have kissed her on the spot. Lucinda had

  mentioned to him one day that Stacy usually put the happiness

  of others ahead of herself, but this was the first time he'd

  actually witnessed it.

  "Would you like to go for a walk or a ride?" Stacy asked

  when Tanner stayed quiet. She felt a headache coming on and

  wondered if the change of scene might do her good.

  "I think a ride sounds delightful, but you should write your

  letter first."

  "My letter?" Stacy asked, wondering what she had missed

  "Why to your grandfather, of course, telling him to expect

  us a few days after the wedding. We're going to honeymoon in

  the Cleveland Hills and spend some time in Middlesbrough."

  "You told me you wanted to honeymoon in the south of

  France."

  "France will still b
e there in a year. We'll go for our first

  anniversary."

  Stacy's hands went to her mouth. Her eyes searched Tanner's

  face for signs of teasing but found only caring.

  "Oh, Tanner," was all Stacy could say.

  He felt her tremble as she laid her cheek against his

  shoulder. Never had he known someone for whom it was so

  satisfying to give of himself. She never took anything for

  granted or lightly. It had taken a gem the size of a bird's egg to

  gain that kind of expression from Leslie.

  Tanner's heart clenched. Why did Leslie always come to

  mind? She and Stacy were not even remotely the same, and yet

  since becoming engaged, she haunted his times of peace with

  Stacy. He remembered the one who lied and cheated on him at

  times when he should have been enjoying the precious woman

  at his side.

  "Thank you, Tanner." Stacy lifted her head so she could

  see his face. "I love you," she whispered, her heart so full she

  could hardly breathe.

  "You're welcome," he spoke gently, his eyes holding her

  own. Stacy thought he might kiss her, but a moment later they

  84

  85

  were joined by Craig, who was there to tell Stacy that Edmond

  Black had come to call.

  Tanner's uncle was as different from his nephew as any

  man could be. Tanner was very tall; Edmond very short. Tanner's

  hair was dark with just a touch of gray at the temples.

  Edmond's hair was the color of new straw, and even though he

  was years older than his nephew, there didn't seem to be a

  gray hair in sight. Tanner's frame was very muscular, from his

  broad shoulders to the heavy muscles in his legs. Edmond had

  a round look about him that could only be described as dough-like.

  And this was not where the differences ended. Tanner was

  quiet, sometimes broodingly so. His uncle seemed to talk

  nonstop and loudly. He wasn't always very discreet about his

  subjects either, and several times Stacy noticed a look of near

  anger cross her intended's face as his uncle carried on raucously.

  Stacy didn't really find him offensive, just boring. In

  fact, she had only been half-listening to him for the past

  hour, allowing her thoughts to wander to her honeymoon

  with Tanner. One sentence from Edmond's mouth, however,

  brought Stacy quickly back to earth.

  "Been telling him for years that he needed another wife.

  Some say, 'The third time's a charm,' but I believe in number

  two myself." Edmond, who had never been married, carried

 

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