Who Brings Forth the Wind

by Lori Wick

  obviously haven't received my letter about your wound--they

  want us to come up for some hunting as soon as we're able.

  Elena goes on to say that little Noel is getting just huge, and

  Brittany still asks about Drew every day

  "Now, these two are business," Stacy continued as she

  sorted the post. "Do you want them here or on your desk?"

  "Why don't you give them to Price."

  "I'll do that. Oh, I almost forgot--"

  "Excuse me, my lady," Reece interrupted them.

  "Yes, Reece. What is it?"

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  "It's Felicity, my lady. She's says her baby has a slight cold

  and could she please leave and go to the doctor in the village

  or send for him to come here."

  "Send for him, by all means," Stacy told him. "And tell

  Felicity not to worry. I'll be in to see her later."

  "One of our maids has a baby?" Tanner didn't speak until

  after Reece had left. Stacy nearly laughed at his baffled expression.

  "No. Felicity isAlexa'swet nurse. Her baby is just six weeks

  old His name is Robert."

  Tanner could only stare at her.

  "What is it, Tanner?" Stacy asked, not recalling that she

  and Tanner had never discussed this.

  "Alexa needed a wet nurse?"

  "Well, yes. I sent for one after the accident because I

  couldn't be with her all the time."

  "But why couldn't you?"

  Now it was Stacy's turn to stare. Did he really not understand

  how many hours she'd spent in this room? Her voice was

  gentle, however, when she answered him in just a handful of

  words.

  "Because you needed me more than Alexa did"

  Tanner's world rocked Feeding Alexa herself had been

  very important to Stacy. He knew there was not another woman

  in all the earth like his wife. She cared for him without

  complaint. She took his verbal abuse without comment. And

  now, when he needed her, she had even set her baby aside to

  be with him. He felt humbled beyond explanation, and for the

  first time in his life he realized his true feelings for his wife

  went far beyond respect and admiration.

  When Tanner had remained quiet, Stacy assumed he

  didn't want to hear any more letters. Stacy had stood to bend

  over him and check his dressing. He spoke while she was

  poised above him, a study in concentration.

  "I love you, Anastasia."

  Stacy froze, certain she had heard wrong. Her eyes moved

  slowly to lock with his.

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  'Yes, you heard me correctly. I love you, Stacy."

  Stacy straightened slowly, and Tanner watched as her hand

  came to her lips. Huge tears puddled in her eyes and spilled

  down her cheeks. Tanner had never actually seen her break

  down before, and all he could do was watch helplessly from

  the bed.

  A door sounded then, and both knew they were going to

  be interrupted. Stacy turned swiftly from the bed and moved

  to the window in an effort to control herself. Her whole frame

  shook as she tried to suppress sobs, but it wasn't working.

  Price, who had been the one at the door, sized up the

  situation immediately and excused himself. Pain ripped through

  Tanner's chest and shoulder as he shifted to see her. He

  listened for a long moment to her tears before calling to her.

  "Sweetheart. Come back over here."

  She did not come immediately. He called to her several

  more times before she returned and he was able to urge her

  into the chair near the bed Tanner gasped his way into a

  sitting position and handed Stacy the edge of the sheet to dry

  her tears.

  "I just can't... I didn't think you would ever... that is, I

  hoped, but I didn't know..,"

  Tanner didn't try to quiet her. Her reaction spoke volumes

  to him as to how much she'd hoped and waited for him to say

  the words. It occurred to him suddenly, however, that she had

  not returned the words. In fact she hadn't said them in many

  months. Tanner wondered if perhaps she didn't feel as strongly

  about him as she once had. It saddened him to think that he

  might have waited too long, but he vowed that as soon as he

  was able to get out of bed, he would not just tell Stacy, but show

  her in a thousand different ways that his love was real.

  Stacy walked around in a cloud for the remainder of the day.

  Tanner was feeling remarkably better by dinnertime, and Stacy

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  later found herself pulled in two directions. She wanted to

  hold her husband and be held in return, but fear for his wound

  was very real. Tanner, on the other hand, had no such qualms.

  After dinner, while Stacy was still checking his dressing,

  she felt Tanner's free hand in the middle of her back. Before

  she could even guess what he might be up to, he pulled her

  down against him and kissed her.

  Stacy struggled, thinking that her weight would start the

  bleeding again.

  "Tanner," she gasped. "You can't do that."

  Stacy escaped and stepped away from the bed to talk.

  "Tanner," she tried to sound stern. "Behave yourself."

  "I am behaving myself. I'm behaving like a man in love

  with his wife. Now come back over here."

  "No." Stacy sounded more adamant than she felt.

  "Do as I tell you, Anastasia."

  There was that tone. The one that always made Stacy feel

  helpless. She returned, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed

  "I love you," he said again. "And I want the spare bed out of

  here tonight."

  Stacy shook her head. There was no way she was going to

  jeopardize his recovery by sleeping in the same bed and

  possibly endangering his wound

  "Yes, Stacy." Tanner's voice was velvety smooth, but ever

  when he ordered, Stacy stood her ground Tanner was none too

  happy with her over it, but he saw that he'd pushed far enough.

  Stacy was lulled into a false sense of security when Tanner

  suddenly gave up. She left him for a time to ready herself for

  bed, feeling distinctly triumphant. She'd have fainted with

  horror had she seen Tanner actually standing by the bed after

  she left.

  The effort was almost more than he could take, but once

  up, he found it not too bad. His injury screamed at him, but he

  ignored the pain and the trembling in his lower limbs. Just a

  few minutes was all he could last, but it was enough to give

  him confidence for the morrow. Thankfully he was back in

  bed before Stacy or Price could make an appearance

  "Do you have plans TO GROW teeth any time soon?"

  The question was good-naturedly posed to Alexa by her

  papa. As usual, she grinned and even drooled with delight on

  the good side of his chest.

  Drew had been in for an hour that morning, and now it

  was Alexa's turn. Stacy was careful to watch Tanner for signs

  of fatigue, but he seemed a hundred percent better. She smiled

  to herself when she thought of how swiftly the change had

  come about. It came with his declaration of love. Stacy's heart

  was swelling with joy over yesterday's events.

  My
husband loves me, she told the Lord the night before

  while spending some quiet moments alone in her sitting

  room. /rs more than I ever hoped for, Father. You have brought

  a miracle in this marriage, and I thank You from deep in my

  heart.

  "Stacy, I think she's doing something." Tanner's voice was

  distressed, his face chagrined.

  Stacy glanced down at Alexa's red, strained features and

  laughed. She pulled the bellpull, and when Price arrived she

  asked him to send for Hettie. Hettie was completely undisturbed

  over the task at hand and crooned softly to her charge

  as she took her from the room.

  "You look like you could use some sleep."

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  Tanner yawned before answering. "I think you're right.

  You wouldn't like to climb in with me, would you?"

  Stacy smiled. "I've got some things to do, and then I'll

  come up. Do you want anything before I go?"

  "No."

  They kissed then, and Stacy made her way around the bed

  to gather some papers from a small writing desk. She quietly

  straightened a few things in the room, and then, with a final

  glance at her sleeping husband, made for the door. She had

  not reached the threshold of Tanner's dressing room when

  Price came in. He stopped in front of her, and Stacy studied his

  anxious eyes.

  "What is it, Price?"

  Price glanced at Tanner, and Stacy's eyes followed his, but

  he was asleep.

  "Lord Stanley is here."

  Stacy stared at him.

  "Nigel Stanley?"

  "Yes, my lady. He wishes to see you."

  Stacy took a deep breath. What in the world could he

  want?

  "All right. Tell Lord Stanley I'll be down shortly."

  Price nodded and left. Stacy looked one more time at

  Tanner. He was on his side, facing away from her; otherwise

  Stacy would have seen that his eyes were wide open and dark

  with a myriad of emotions.

  Nigel Stanley looked older to Stacy, older than she had

  expected. It wasn't that his hair had turned gray or that he'd

  shrunken in frame, but his eyes and mouth had lost their

  youth. There was a sadness in the depths of his eyes, and there

  were deep grooves at the sides of his mouth.

  "Hello, Lord Stanley. I understand you wanted to see me."

  Stacy congratulated herself over her calm. She wasn't afraid of

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  this man, but she did not want hijn in her life or disturbing her

  marriage as he'd done before.

  "Yes, thank you for seeing me. I wouldn't have blamed you

  if you'd had me thrown from your property."

  "Won't you sit down?"

  He did, but Stacy could see he was not at ease. Stacy sat

  also and waited Nigel cleared his throat at least three times

  before he began.

  "I know that much time has passed, and I'm sorry for that,

  but I wanted to see you today to express my deepest regrets

  over my past actions. My actions on that day bring me extreme

  shame, and I know they caused you great distress.

  "I stalked you that weekend, totally thoughtless of your

  person. It's something for which I have no excuse. I came to

  tell you how sorry I am for the way I acted"

  Nigel stood abruptly, and Stacy did the same. He'd clearly

  come to say that and no more.

  "Thank you, Nigel. I appreciate your stopping. The rumors

  were evidently false."

  A ghost of a smile lifted one side of his mouth. "I suppose

  you heard that your husband killed me in a duel."

  "Murdered you actually," Stacy replied, feeling shame that

  she'd ever believed such a thing of Tanner. ''You did rather

  disappear."

  "Having been raised in Paris, I had not been in London all

  that long when I attended the party. So when I made such a

  fool of myself over you, I thought it the better part of valor to

  make myself scarce."

  "But you're back in England now?"

  "Only on business. I'm married myself now, just six months,

  and we make our home in France."

  Stacy smiled a very genuine smile. "I'm pleased for you,

  Nigel, and I wish you all the best."

  "Thank you, Lady Richardson. Your understanding and

  forgiveness confound me, but I am eternally grateful."

  He left then, being shown to the door by Reece. Stacy

  stood in the parlor where he'd left her.

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  How odd, she mused, but then thought better of it. He

  needed to make things right, and she admired his doing so

  instead of pushing that whole incident into some corner of his

  mind to pretend it never happened.

  For the first time, Stacy was able to think of the Cradwell

  party without pain. The nightmare had come to an end; the

  problem had been resolved. She understood now that a part of

  her had still been living in the shadows of that painful time.

  Stacy felt now a sort of freedom come over her with Nigel's

  apology. She would have to tell Tanner, in a gentle way, what

  had transpired

  "Stacy."

  Stacy's calm reverie was shattered. Her head snapped to

  the door. That had been Tanner's voice; she was sure of it. She

  ran for the closed portal, wrenched it open, and ran for the

  stairs. He was at the bottom, wearing only a robe. His face was

  completely drained of color.

  "Oh, Tanner. Please go back to bed Whatever possessed

  you to get up?"

  "Where is he?" Tanner gasped as he sank to the bottom

  step.

  "Who?" Stacy really didn't know.

  "Stanley" Tanner could barely talk. "I know he's come to

  offer for you. I've got to set the record straight--you're mine

  and we both know it. Unless I tell him, he'll not believe you

  won't go with him."

  Tanner was completely spent then, and Stacy put her arms

  around him until he caught his breath. She laid her head

  against his shoulder, and when she looked at him after a

  moment, found his color improved.

  "He came to tell me how much he regretted his actions of

  the past. Nigel is married now and not even living in England.

  He's already left."

  "He didn't want you?"

  "No, and it wouldn't have mattered if he had."

  Tanner pulled her head back down to his shoulder. He

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  held her close for long minutes. Stacy heard him sigh deeply

  before speaking quietly.

  "I'm ready, Stacy. I'm ready to hear what happened."

  Stacy lifted her head, and their eyes met. She never looked

  away as she told her story.

  "I was so naive in those days," she began. "I look back now

  on the way Lord Stanley acted and wonder how I could have

  been so innocent, but I was.

  "He watched me constantly. I realize now that his behavior

  was obvious to everyone but me. Had I understood, I would have been a little cooler to him, but since I didn't, I was my

  usual friendly self. Because he was already smitten, he took

  every smile as an invitation.

  "He approached me in the conservatory on Saturday, but I

  still didn't catch on. Then Sunday, he completely lost his h
ead.

  When you came in I was trying to push him away, but for all his

  slim build he was fairly strong.

  "I'm sorry I didn't know, Tanner. I'm sorry--"

  "Shhh," Tanner cut her off, his eyes still holding hers.

  "There is nothing for you to apologize over. I'm sorry I didn't

  give you time to explain. The loss has been my own.

  "In the last weeks," Tanner told her, "I've figured out much

  of what you just told me. You're certainly right about Stanley;

  his actions were peculiar. His eyes looked of blood lust, like a

  hound on the hunt. I let my emotions run over the top of me, or

  I would have come to more reasonable conclusions much

  sooner."

  Stacy sighed then and put her head on his shoulder. She'd

  thought that it was over when Nigel apologized. Now she was

  certain of it. Content as Stacy was to sit there all day, she

  remembered just how ill Tanner had been. Stacy was on the

  verge of suggesting they go upstairs when he spoke.

  "I haven't been easy to live with. I know that, and I might

  be a little late in coming to this, but I'm going to make it up to

  you, Stacy. When I'm finally on my feet again, I'm going to

  show you I'm worthy of your love."

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  "Tanner," Stacy said, lifting hei head. "Whatevei are you

  talking about?"

  "You've stopped saying it, you know. Not even when I told

  you I loved you did you say it in return--not that I blame you.

  But just give me time; I'll win your love back."

  "Oh, Tanner. I've never stopped loving you, but when we

  first came back I knew you didn't want to hear it. I guess I just

  got out of practice. I'm sorry."

  "I love you, Stacy."

  "And I love you, Tanner."

  He kissed her and then held her close once again. They

  made quite a sight at the bottom of the stairs, Stacy in a

  beautiful day-dress and Tanner in his robe, but no one disturbed

  them and they didn't care.

  "I only just thought of something. We never took that trip

  to France, the one we were going to take for our first anniversary."

  "No, I guess we didn't."

  "So how about it? I figure we could leave in about a

  month's time. What do you say?"

  The chances of seeing Nigel Stanley were slim to none, but

  still Stacy could not find any enthusiasm about going.

  "Not interested?" Tanner questioned her silence, trying

  not to read anything there.

  "Not in France," she admitted "But I understand Greece is

  beautiful in the fall."