Who Brings Forth the Wind

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Who Brings Forth the Wind Page 23

by Lori Wick


  she'd been under the impression that Tanner would be with

  them. When he hadn't been with the coach that morning at

  8:00, Stacy thought they would be meeting him. Now they were

  only about 45 minutes from Winslow, and there had been no

  sign. Stacy decided to sit back and not worry about it.

  Just short of an hour later, Winslow came into view. Not

  even Hettie could find a negative word for its grandiose

  beauty. Stacy's chest heaved with pleasure at the sight of it. She

  had truly loved their home.

  Let this be a beginning, Father. I don't know why Tanner

  came ahead of us, but let this be a time of repair for this

  damaged marriage. Help Tanner put his pride away and

  accept Drew so we can be a real family.

  "Mumma."

  "Yes, dear."

  "I'm hungry."

  "All right, darling. We'll be inside in just a moment."

  And indeed they were, but it was not the warm welcome

  Stacy had expected. It was Jeffrey and not Tanner who was at

  the door to meet them, and his manner was even more frigid

  than Stacy had remembered.

  "Hello, Jeffrey. Is Lord Richardson here?"

  "No, he is not."

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  227

  "Oh." Stacy was starting to feel alarmed "Is he out riding?"

  "No." Joffrey's voice clearly said it was none of her business,

  but he still explained "Lord Richardson is still in London.

  When he plans to return I do not know. I did receive word that

  you were coming, but since his lordship is not here, maybe

  you should return to London."

  "My orders were to bring her ladyship here," a gruff voice

  spoke up from behind Stacy. It was the grouchy old carriage

  driver, Stacy smiled at him gratefully, but he didn't return the

  smile.

  He had not come inside for Lady Stacy, but for himself. He

  was tired and nothing could make him drive all the way back

  to London right now. Knowing Joffrey as he did, he'd come

  inside just to make certain that the self-seeking head of staff

  didn't talk the duchess into returning,

  "Very well," Joffrey stated with a sigh, as though Winslow

  were his own and he alone was put out by their presence. "I'll

  show you to your rooms."

  Ignoring Hettie's dark looks, Stacy followed, thankful to

  be going to her room and getting a chance to be alone. She

  glanced over her shoulder and sighed with relief to see a

  footman handling their trunks. For a time she felt certain she

  would have to lug her own.

  Her pleasure over the trunks was short-lived. Stacy's heart

  sank when she saw that Joffrey was leading them toward the

  north wing. Her heart begged God to give her strength and to

  calm the resentment rising within her that Tanner would be

  so thoughtless.

  "Will two rooms be enough?"

  Stacy stared at Joffrey, amazed at his daring. He clearly

  hated her and was doing nothing to hide it. She knew Hettie

  wanted her to take the servant down a peg, but surprisingly

  enough she felt too much compassion for that. They were all

  taking their cue from the duke, and he despised her. Stacy told

  herself not to be a quitter, but she knew if the coachman was

  willing she would leave immediately.

  "Two rooms will be fine," Stacy answered finally and ; entered the room with Drew. She nearly balked when she felt

  how cold the air was once she passed over the threshold

  The three of them stood still as the trunks were placed on

  the floor and the servants left. Joffrey started to leave but

  turned back. His manner said that it caused him great pains to

  do so.

  "Dinner will be served at 6:30 in the main dining room."

  This said, he left, closing the door behind him.

  Stacy looked over at Hettie to see that the old woman's jaw

  had actually swung open. Had Stacy not felt so miserable, she

  would have laughed.

  "Mumma, I'm hungry."

  Stacy quickly knelt in front of him. She hugged him before

  answering, more for her own need of comfort than his.

  "Joffrey left before I could tell him that we haven't eaten.

  I'll get you something, all right?"

  "I'm cold"

  "Well, Hettie can warm you up--"

  "I'll see about the food," the old servant cut in, her voice

  odd. Stacy stared at her, thinking she must be very tired, and

  then nodded

  As soon as Hettie left, Stacy changed Drew into warmer

  clothing and played a game with him, intended to warm them

  both. She was hungry herself, and the feeling that no one

  outside of London cared for them was pressing down on her

  with every passing second. Stacy would have been greatly

  cheered if she could have seen Hettie downstairs in the

  kitchen right then. At least she would have been certain that

  someone at Winslow cared for her.

  "I told you earlier," Joffrey said with his nose in the air,

  "dinner will be served at 6:30. As a servant, you may eat when

  the duchess is through."

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  4

  "Don't you try your uppity ways with me," Hettie nearl

  hissedathim. "NowyouVegottenminutestohaveatrayupi

  Lady Stacy--a nice full tray for all three of us."m

  "I do not take orders from elderly servants who do notf

  know their place."

  Hettie's thin chest heaved, and her eyes narrowed. "I mean'

  what I say. You've got ten minutes to have that tray ready. If you

  don't, I'll tell Lord Richardson everything. He can't stay away

  forever, and when he comes I'll tell him every word you said"

  Hettie turned and started away, but paused and looked back.

  "And you'd best remember one more thing. That's the

  duchess you're serving up there, and that boy is the future

  Duke of Cambridge."

  Jeffrey looked uncertain for the first time. Hettie left, and

  cook erased the smug expression from her face just before

  Jeffrey turned to look at her. She began putting a tray together

  without being asked, determining then and there that she

  would be the one to deliver it.

  Four days passed before Tanner returned to Winslow.

  Stacy found out quite by accident that he was back when she

  ran into Price in the hallway.

  "Hello, Price." Her voice told of her genuine pleasure at

  seeing him, but Price read the strain in her face.

  "Good morning, my lady."

  "Are you just back from London?"

  "Last night," he told her gently.

  "Is..." Stacy began and hesitated "Is Tanner with you?"

  "Yes, my lady, he's here."

  Stacy did not want to keep him, so she thanked him and

  moved back to her rooms. It was like living as a prisoner. She

  was afraid to let Drew make any noise for fear of disturbing

  someone. The notion was ridiculous since they were so far

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  Sway from the rest of the house, but Stacy was not coping very

  11. In fact, the strain was beginning to tell on both of them.

  :y knew she was losing weight, and Drew's tan little face

  _ growing pale and drawn.

  ft Stacy hoped all of that might change with Tanner'
s arrival,

  |but this was not the case. Two more days passed, and in that 1 time he never sought them out or even saw them. Stacy was

  .totally confused as to why she'd been brought here. He

  'wanted nothing to do with her. She reminded herself how

  much she was hated. He was trying to humiliate her, and

  unfortunately it was working. Stacy felt more downtrodden

  then she ever had in her life. Thankfully, Drew's sneezes

  changed all of that.

  He and Stacy were playing on the floor where they spent

  much of their time. They had tried going out of doors, but both

  the gardener and the stablemaster had made it quite clear

  with their looks and actions that their presence was not

  wanted. Stacy could not rest under their frowning looks and

  shaking heads.

  Now this morning Drew began to sneeze as he played.

  Stacy felt his forehead and found it cool, but his little hands

  were so cold she felt frightened. She gathered him into her

  arms and held him almost fiercely. Drew let out one more

  sneeze, and Stacy realized this was the very thing she had

  feared--but she was doing nothing about it. She could handle

  the fact that Tanner didn't care about her, but Drew was

  another matter.

  "Hettie," Stacy announced as she put Drew back on the

  floor and rose. "I need to see Lord Richardson. Will you please

  see that Drew stays warm?"

  Stacy's color was high as she said this, and Hettie nearly

  cackled with glee. The old woman had wondered how much

  more Stacy was going to take.

  "Bye-bye, Mumma."

  "I'll be back soon."

  "Hettie?" Drew spoke when his mother had left.

  "Urn hmm?"

  230

  "Why are you smiling, Hettie?"

  She didn't answer his question. "Come over here, Di

  close to the fire. Sit in my lap, and I'll tell you a story."

  Tanner Richardson, a man of tremendous willpower,

  been struggling for days to forget that his wife and her sum

  were in the house. He hadn't gotten a thing done in all than

  time, but this morning was different. He had finally forced nisi

  mind to the task at hand and had put in several productive

  hours of work on business matters. He was not happy to have

  someone knock on the study door.

  He opened his mouth to say that he did not want to be

  disturbed, but hesitated. Stacy, never far from his mind, might

  be seeking him out. He sincerely doubted it, but on the

  chance she was he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  "Come in," he called and watched with satisfaction as his

  wife came tentatively through the door.

  "I'm sorry to disturb you, Tanner, but I need to ask you

  something."

  "What is it?" His voice sounded more impatient than he

  felt, but it had its usual effect. Stacy's hands came together in a

  nervous gesture, and her voice turned hesitant.

  "Would it be possible for us to move out of the north

  wing?"

  Tanner frowned. "I was under the impression that you

  chose the rooms yourself."

  Stacy didn't know how to reply to this. It wasn't true, but

  she couldn't bring herself to tell of Jeffrey's actions, reprehensible

  as they were.

  "What seems to be the problem?"

  Stacy nearly sighed with relief that he cared enough to

  ask.

  "The rooms are rather cold."

  231

  "Well you can certainly askjoffrey to supply you with extra

  ikets." His voice was that of a parent addressing a simple

  id.

  "We're not cold at night, just during the day."

  Tanner's mouth twisted cynically. "Now, that's the probfl,

  isn't it. You have no business keeping that boy in all day.

  suVe probably coddled him until he's a monster. Get out

  ring the day, Stacy, and you won't be cold in your rooms."

  This said, Tanner bent his head back over his papers. She

  fnad been dismissed with his tone and gesture. She stared at

  the top of his head for a moment, but the fight had gone out of ' her. She turned and let herself back out the door. Once outside,

  she stood for a moment in misery.

  "That was telling him, Stacy. You really set things straight."

  "Were you speaking to me, my lady?"

  Stacy hadn't even noticed the faithful servant.

  "No, Price," she told him softly.

  The servant watched for long moments as she moved up

  the stairs withaheavy tread. When Stacy was out of sight, Price

  moved into the study.

  233

  PRICE MOVED ABOUT THE STUDY VERY QUIETLY, not wanting tO

  disturb his lordship but sensing he might be needed. He

  delivered the coffee he'd been carrying and prepared it just as

  Lord Richardson liked, but the cup was not touched. Tanner

  sat with his eyes on some distant spot, his papers in front of

  him, forgotten.

  "Did you pass my wife when you came in?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "How did she seem?"

  Price hesitated, and Tanner finally looked at him.

  "She seemed," Price hesitated over the words, "she seemed

  somewhat defeated, my lord."

  Tanner wondered why this brought him no pleasure.

  Again he had believed it would be good to see her humbled

  and miserable, but he hated this.

  "It isn't like Stacy to complain." Tanner said this more to

  himself than anyone else, but Price still answered.

  "I believe that her concern might be for the child's well-being."

  Alarm slammed through Tanner. It didn't matter that he

  wanted nothing to do with the boy; the thought of his becoming

  ill was not to be tolerated. And then there was Stacy. She

  had not been happy with the way he'd treated her, but there

  was something more.

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  "Did Lady Stacy look all right to you?"

  "She seemed thin, my lord, but I have not seen her of late

  _ am probably not the one to judge."

  But Tanner was one to judge. She did seem thinner, even

  ;e he'd seen her at Roddy and Luanda's.

  And why wouldn't she? Tanner asked himself in disgust. yu treat your animals with more kindness than you've tvn your wife.

  "Have Lady Stacy, her maid, the boy, and the boy's nurse,

  tnoved down-the hall from my room."

  "Her maid, sir?"

  "Yes, her maid." Tanner's voice was testy.

  "Oh, Hettie," Price clarified. "Of course, sir." Price would

  have moved to the door then, but Tanner's face was that of a

  thundercloud

  "Are you saying my wife has no maid?"

  "No, sir, but she does have Hettie."

  "That'sail? Just Hettie?"

  "I believe so, sir. There is no other staff of which I am

  aware."

  "Who takes care of the boy?"

  "I believe Lady Richardson and Hettie do it themselves, my

  lord."

  Tanner wasn't sure what to do with this. He had sent Stacy

  away, too angry to care if she had anything to live on. And by

  the time he had wondered about it, she had moved back to

  Middlesbrough where he knew her grandfather would take

  care of her. But now the old man was dead. He'd seen Morgan.

  Andrew Daniels had
not died a wealthy man. What was Stacy

  living on?

  "Would you still like Lady Richardson moved, my lord?"

  Price asked. Tanner was glad of the interruption.

  "Yes. Have Jeffrey arrange it. Have him see that they're

  made very comfortable. On second thought, see to it yourself.

  Do you know the rooms I want?"

  "Yes, sir. Down the hall from yours. I was going to put the

  234

  child and Hettie in the two adjoining, and Lady Stacy directly

  across the hall."

  "Good. And Price," Tanner began when the servant began

  to move away, "tell Lady Richardson that I will expect her to

  join me for dinner tonight. Seven o'clock."

  "Yes, sir."

  Price left, and Tanner finally reached for his coffee. He

  brooded for a long time on the situation in his home, a

  situation of his own creating. He asked himself many questions,

  ending with whether or not he should have left Stacy in

  London. He didn't have answers for each question that came

  to mind, but to his last, it was an unqualified no.

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  E

  ; by coming here and keeping him shut away like so much

  excess baggage. He trusted her to see to his best, and up until

  now Stacy had been too afraid of Tanner to do that. Well, no

  more.

  As she opened the door to the bedroom, she determined

  that as soon as she could figure a way to return to London and

  then Middlesbrough, she would do so. Tanner hadn't wanted

  her for three and a half years, and even though it looked for a

  time like things had changed, he didn't want her now. As much

  as it pained her to admit it, there was no reason to stay.

  Stacy moved toward the north wing but did not return

  immediately to her room. She stood in the massive hall down

  from the door and looked out the window. It was a cloudy day,

  and Stacy thought it fit her mood.

  "I thought I could do this, Lord, but I'm failing miserably,"

  she whispered out loud. "What is my responsibility here as a

  wife? Do I stay no matter what ? Do I honor Tanner's wishes, no

  matter what he expects of me? I wish Elena were here to talk

  with. It's not as if we have no place else to go. This is not a fit

  place with us tucked away all the time and the servants

  glaring at us when we make work for them. *

  "Tanner has done everything in his power to kill my love,

  Lord, but it's not working. My heart still turns over every time I

  see him. I need some help, Father. I need something to tell me

  if I should keep on here. I can't do this on my own."

 

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