by Lori Wick
on, completely oblivious to Tanner's black look or Stacy's
shocked expression.
Lucinda, who had been silent through this exchange and
not caring one wit about her breach of manners, rang for tea in
the midst of Edmond's diatribe.
"Oh, tea," the older man stumbled "Is it that late already?
Sorry, Lucinda, must be off. Standing engagement, you know.
.ce to meet you, my dear," he offered to Stacy, never
ing how pale her face had become. "Are you coming,
i?"
F--lt 'I'll be along." Tanner rose and watched as Edmond bid
| hostess goodbye and hurried out the door to his usual
Jay afternoon poker game.
Stacy still hadn't looked at him, and the paleness of her
sonly reminded him of Edmond's loose tongue, angering
all the more. Thinking to put the subject to rest for all
^, he asked her to walk him to the door. Stacy complied.
"Edmond talks too much," Tanner's voice was tight when
stopped and were alone in the entryway.
"But you were married?"
"Yes, but we will not speak of it," Tanner's voice was livid v, and Stacy's stomach clenched. "She's dead and has notho
to do with us. Do you understand me, Anastasia?"
" Stacy nodded. She realized that his anger was not directed
her, but still it terrified her. She'd rather cut off her own
id than disobey him.
"I'll come by and see you tomorrow. Maybe we'll go for the
e we missed today."
Again Stacy only nodded. Tanner had nothing more to say
Jto her and turned toward the door without touching her. He
rtisually ignored his uncle's indiscretion, but this time he was
ing to find him, and when he was through, Edmond Black
was going to think twice before talking about his nephew's
past again.
An hour later Tanner returned to his town house, feeling
satisfied over his confrontation with Edmond
They had not actually come to blows, but Tanner believed
he'd made himself more than clear concerning Edmond's
propensity to talk. He had no doubts that the older man would
continue to gossip at will, but Tanner also believed that neither
his, Stacy's, nor Leslie's names would be mentioned.
88
Back in the parlor, Lucinda waited for Stacy to retui
When Stacy did not make an appearance, Lucinda sought h
out in the foyer. She found her standing very still, staring at tl
far wall.
"Come back in for your tea," Lucinda spoke as she placed J
gentle arm around the younger woman's waist.
Stacy obeyed mindlessly, sitting down and doing nothing]
with the cup Lucinda placed in her hands. Not until Luanda]
sat beside her and touched her hand did she seem able to
think.
"I had no idea.",
"Of course you didn't, my dear, and I wasn't certain If I:
should tell you."
Stacy nodded with understanding. It really had been Tanner's
place to tell her, but he didn't want the subject discussed
Lucinda watched Stacy, her heart in pain. Aubrey had held
many secrets while they'd been married, and Lucinda wanted
desperately for Stacy's marriage to be different. If she didn't
believe with all of her heart that Tanner really cared, she
would have called the marriage off right then. There was so
much Stacy didn't know, but again Lucinda was uncertain how
much to share. She decided to be brief.
"Stacy," she began. "Tanner did not have a happy childhood,
nor did he have a happy first marriage. In fact they were
so painful that Tanner has had difficulty putting those times
behind him. He's going to react harshly at times because of
those memories. There will be areas that he's going to feel are
better left alone. It's not very fair to you, but right now, that's
the way it is. Maybe in time Tanner will feel he can share. If
you have any doubts about the marriage, Stacy, you can
tell me."
"No, Aunt Lucinda, no doubts," Stacy told her without
hesitation. In truth, a huge weight had been lifted from Stacy's
shoulders. Tanner barely knew her. In time, after they were
married and had a chance to really know one another, Tanner
would open his heart.
87
;y's mind went to the times, including today, that she I told Tanner she loved him. He always smiled tenderly or
her in response, but he never said those words to her.
| Stacy knew he felt them; she knew it with all her heart,
iring them had been important to her until now, but sudy
words didn't matter anymore. Just as Tanner would
icday share his past with Stacy, he would also come to tell
about the love he carried in his heart.
89
Two davs before the wedding, Stacy experienced a severe
attack of nerves. The thought of becoming Tanner's wife, the
Duchess of Cambridge, was suddenly overwhelming. Fortunately
Roddy, a gentle presence in Stacy's tempestuous
world, was on hand when the panic hit.
"I'm really just a country girl, Roddy. I don't know if Tanner
realizes that. I've never been to court. I never even had a
desire to go to court. I really am just a country girl," she
repeated herself. "Have I ever told you that I love to go
fishing?"
Roddy smiled at her lack of artifice. "You're going to be the
loveliest bride of the year," he told her.
"But then I'll be married." Stacy stated the obvious, and
Roddy had to hold his laughter at her look. "What if I'm not a
good wife? What if Tanner needs me to organize a dinner
party or a weekend with friends? I've never done anything on
a large scale. I can't imagine what Tanner would say if he
knew. I just can't imagine."
"Can't imagine what?" Tanner's voice asked from the edge
of the room. Stacy turned to him, her color high, her voice
sounding like that of a lost little girl.
"Middlesbrough is not tondon, Tanner," she told him.
"All right," Tanner answered carefully as he moved toward
her.
"My grandfather is not a duke."
"I believe I knew that." Tanner's voice was extremely
gentle. He'd come over because he had to see her, had to be
near her calm and gentle presence. Finding her like this, eyes
fever-bright with anxiety, caused him an even greater sense
of satisfaction because he knew he was the one who could put
her mind at rest.
"Sit down, Anastasia," he told her.
Stacy, not having heard him, shook her head in despair.
"You don't understand."
"Yes, sweetheart, I do. Sit down, and I'll tell you."
Stacy sat then and stared in misery at Roddy and then at
Tanner. "I don't know how to be a duchess."
"Sweetheart," he called her again and sat beside her.
"Tanner--"
"Shhhh. I am not marrying you so that you can entertain
my guests or be a lovely feather in my cap, although I certainly
appreciate your beauty. I'm also not marrying you to compete
with some other duke or to be on the front page of the social
papers." Thinking this settled it all, Tanne
r fell silent.
"Then why are you marrying me?" Stacy couldn't resist the
question.
"Because I want you for my wife," he told her simply.
"All right," Stacy replied compliantly, wanting to please
him. However, she didn't really feel much better. It would have
been wonderful to hear that Tanner was marrying her because
he loved her. Stacy pushed the thought away. She usually
wasn't so emotional, but the largeness of what she was about
to do--commit herself for life to Tanner--was beginning to
weigh upon her.
Tanner, watching her so quietly, wondered what was troubling
her. He only hoped Stacy would be able to calm down
and enjoy the wedding and festivities. He wasn't entirely sure
if she was aware of what the crowd would be like, but now was
certainly not the time to tell her.
Roddy did a quick change of subject in the next moment,
and Tanner was able to watch Stacy collect her wayward
90
The streets of London were thronged with well-wishers
for the wedding of the Duke of Cambridge. That he was
marrying a virtual unknown made it all the more romantic,
and the wedding coaches could barely move amid the good
wishes of the gentry and common folk alike.
"How does it look?" Lucinda asked Roddy as he peeked out
the window.
"Like a riot, but we'll get there." Roddy settled back and
smiled at the wide-eyed Stacy, who did not return his grin.
No one spoke for a time and the young bride-to-be was
relieved. How unsheltered her world had become in the last
weeks. She would npvprhm H. --''1"-
thoughts.
By the time Lucinda joined them she seemed to b
herself. In fact Stacy was calmer than Tanner by the time h took his leave. He knew that once he left, he wouldn't see he
again until she walked down the aisle.
^ .w **wiuujgui a auKe.ttfie could understand
if this was for the queen or a princess, but not a duke and his
nearly common bride. It was inconceivable.
"Stacy, are you all right?"
"Yes," she answered her aunt immediately, but her voice
was wooden.
"You don't sound all right."
The comment made Stacy sigh. "I'm just a little overwhelmed
by all of this."
For once Lucinda did not lose patience with her. She
smiled tenderly and spoke in a soothing voice.
"While the wedding and reception are going on, you'll be
convinced that it's going to last forever, but before you know
it, you and Tanner will be married and on your way."
Stacy actually managed a smile at the thought. The remainder
of the ride was made in silence and not until they
91
at the church did Stacy see what her aunt's words
it.
It seemed that before she had a moment to think she was
ed in her wedding finery and standing with Tanner
fore the bishop. Stacy had to quell laughter over the way the
man had to tip his head to see their faces; they literally
;red over him. At one point, she risked a glance at Tanner,
had also turned his head to look down at her. Stacy
itched as one lid dropped in a flirtatious wink. From that
ment on the service and reception were a blur.
The coach lurched into motion and Stacy leaned back
linst the seat with a sigh. Her feet ached dreadfully, but she IJiad done it--she'd married the man she loved. Aglance to the
| Bide of her found Tanner leaning against his corner of the seat,
just watching her. Stacy smiled with childish delight at him,
and he grinned in return and reached for her hand.
She was about to speak, wanting to tell him she'd never
experienced so many emotions in her life as she danced for
hours and met what appeared to be half of London, but her
stomach growled quite loudly. She turned away from Tanner,
thankful that the dim interior of the coach hid her flaming
face. In the semidarkness she heard her new husband chuckle.
"We'll eat when we get to the house," he told her.
"Winslow?" Stacy asked, curiosity overwhelming her embarrassment.
"No, Winslow is too far. Don't forget we have a train to
catch tomorrow."
"I haven't forgotten," Stacy told him and looked with love
into his eyes. She couldn't imagine a more caring act than
Tanner's willingness to change their honeymoon plans. Just
thinking of it made her want to throw her arms around him,
but she didn't think the time was right for that.
92
Without warning, Stacy's thoughts moved to motherhood
She had never told Tanner that she desperately wanted to be a
mother, but it was true. She loved Elena's girls and ached for
children of her own. She wasn't good at many things, but Stacy
somehow knew that she would be a fine mother.
She was contemplating the wonderful idea of presenting
Tanner with a son in nine months' time when the carriage abruptly halted The door opened immediately, and Tanner
swung down and turned to give Stacy a hand She smiled her
thanks.
"I thought I'd lost you for a moment," he spoke as they
moved up the steps to the front door.
"I was just thinking."
"Want to share?" Tanner asked and then chuckled They
had stepped inside the door of his London home, and he had
lost her again. Most men with homes as large as Tanner's
country home cared only to have a small town house in
London, but Tanner was not most men. Although not as large
as Winslow, his London residence was substantial. He watched
Stacy's head move carefully as she saw this home for the first
time. Lucinda had forbidden her from visiting while it was still
a bachelor's domicile.
Tanner loved it when Stacy was awed, as she was now. He
also loved it when she tried not to show it. He admired her
self-control as the staff gathered. The introductions were
performed by Campbell, who was head of housekeeping, and
before Stacy knew it she was being shown to her room.
It was a relief to find Rayna there. Lucinda had sent her to
assist Stacy for her entire honeymoon. The faithful maid had
laid out one of the beautiful dresses from Stacy's trousseau
and, after buttoning her into it, began to brush her hair.
Tanner loved it long down her back, so after Rayna pulled it
back from the sides, Stacy asked her to let it hang.
Just 20 minutes later, a very hungry Stacy entered the
private dining room at the back of the house. There had been a
lavish feast at the wedding, but no time to eat, what with well-wishers
and every man in the room wanting to dance with the
93
ide. Stacy frowned when she remembered that she had only
iced with Tanner twice.
"That's quite a fierce look. You must be starved," Tanner
jmmented, having arrived just ahead of her.
Stacy's face relaxed into a smile as she crossed the small
jsioom to stand before him. She loved the fact that she had to
||ook up to see him. He was the most handsome man she had
^ever seen and as hungry as she was, she somehow
wished they
fwere going to be alone for the remainder of the evening.
This was an impossibility as Stacy soon learned The
f thought had barely formed when the food arrived The duke
and duchess took their seats and were served a sumptuous
feast of roast goose by the staff.
Tanner was well satisfied watching his wife eat. She didn't
pick at her food, but ate what she was hungry for and until she
had a sufficiency. Their talk over the table was equally satisfying
as Stacy questioned him about the many different people
she'd met at the wedding. Tanner was pleasantly surprised to
learn that she knew the Duchess of Briscoe.
"Sunny Hawkesbury?"
"Yes. Aunt Lucinda and I had tea with Lady Andrea just
weeks after I'd arrived. Sunny came as we were leaving. She
knows Elena."
Tanner nodded. "Did you like her--Sunny, that is?"
'Very much."
"Then you'll be pleased to know she and her husband are
our neighbors. They live at Bracken, less than an hour's ride
from Winslow. I wouldn't be too surprised to arrive home and
find an invitation to dinner or tea from them."
Stacy had never thought about their being invited as husband
and wife to dine, but now that Tanner mentioned it, she
found she liked the idea immensely. She decided she would
have to learn who their neighbors were and have them in as
well.
"Are you finished?"
Stacy came out of her musings to find Tanner watching
94
f
"Yes," Stacy told him, and sat still as he pushed his chair
back and approached. He took her hand as she stood, and with
a gentle squeeze said, "I'll see you upstairs."
Stacy smiled into his eyes before she moved away from the
table and toward the door.
roddy tenderly linked his fingers with Lucinda's as he
f sat down beside her in the open carriage. It was just two days
after the wedding, and Roddy had asked the woman he loved
I to go for a drive. He refused to say where they were headed,
| but Lucinda, feeling young and lighthearted with the wedding
over, readily agreed.
The streets of London were rather quiet for midmorning,
but Lucinda and Roddy barely noticed. They talked of the little
things that only good friends share, and each time Lucinda
tried to learn their destination, Roddy only smiled with
mischievous delight. Twenty minutes after they had left
Lucinda's, the carriage pulled onto a quiet street in a lovely