Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (10 page)

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I soft. Lucinda would have felt stunned had she known that

_/s mind was reliving Tanner's gentle kiss in the library.

'You're looking a bit flushed, my dear," Lucinda said softly

icn she could "Maybe you should sleep for a time."

"Maybe I will." Stacy grasped at the chance to be alone

ith her thoughts. "Thank you for coming up to see me, Aunt

icinda."

Lucinda's hand gently patted Stacy's cheek. Once out in ithe hall, Lucinda found that her hands were shaking. She

|>colded herself and tried to calm down before she was forced ' to dictate her note to Tanner.

Ten minutes later, back in her room, she was able to write it herself. It said simply that they would discuss the terms of

the betrothal immediately following dinner.

Had Tanner not insisted, Lucinda would have kept Stacy in

her room for yet another night. It helped to remind herself

that Stacy had looked very well that afternoon.

"You look lovely," Lucinda told Stacy as she met her outside

her bedroom door.

"Thank you," Stacy said simply and stared down at the

cream-colored gown that hung with lace. Rayna had brushed

her hair out long and straight, and beyond a simple comb at

the crown of her head which pulled the hair from her face, she

was unadorned.

"I really wanted you to stay one more night in your room,"

Lucinda said as she hooked her arm through Stacy's. "But you

have a visitor."

Stacy glanced with surprise at her aunt, but didn't question;

she simply walked along as Lucinda led her to the upstairs

salon. Lucinda stopped outside the door and turned to

face Stacy.

"Tanner Richardson is waiting for you. I'll give you a few

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minutes alone before Roddy and I come to collect you both

for dinner."

Stacy's eyes had grown large on this announcement, but

she had no time to reply. Lucinda turned on her heel and

marched back down the hall. Stacy looked at the back of her

aunt and then at the doorknob for only a moment before

turning it and stepping quietly inside.

Nearly the entire expanse of carpet separated them as

Stacy closed the door and stood just inside. Tanner was by the

window, looking incredibly handsome and larger than ever in

formal black evening clothes, with a white shirt and black tie.

He stared at Stacy before stepping to the fireplace and speaking.

"Come over here, Stacy."

Stacy obeyed without question, moving with natural grace

to stand some two feet away. The distance was too far for

Tanner's taste, and with a gentle touch he reached for her

hand and drew her closer.

Tanner looked into her wide, trusting eyes and knew

frustration. Without a doubt Lucinda would hold to her word

of coming back in a few minutes, and there was so much he

wanted to say to this woman.

"I have asked Lucinda for your hand, and she has agreed to

my proposal," Tanner began, hearing the tick of the clock so

near his ear on the mantel. "Now I wish to ask you, Anastasia.

Will you be my wife?"

Stacy's breath left her in a rush. Her face flushed and her

mouth dropped open. 'You wish to marry me?"

For some reason her reaction amused Tanner, and a huge

smile broke across his face. "Yes, I do, and if you don't answer

me quickly I won't even have time to kiss you before we gain

an audience."

Suddenly Stacy's smile matched his own. "You kissed me

in the library. Do you remember? I thought I would have to be

content with that for the rest of my life."

"Oh, sweetheart," Tanner said softly before pulling her

into his arms. She was a perfect fit.

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Stacy didn't think she would ever breathe again. Tanner's

>ld felt like a walk through paradise. She wanted his kiss to

on and on.

Fortunately Tanner's head was more level. He broke the

and stepped away from her just before the door opened

admit Roddy and Lucinda.

Stacy spent the rest of the evening floating on a cloud. She

ildn't have told anyone what was served for dinner or who

Iked at the table. She was so happy that she didn't even mind

^feeing sent upstairs early so the others could talk business.

Her cocoon of joy lasted until right before she fell asleep;

right up to the moment when she realized she wouldn't be

seeing her grandfather in a few days as planned, and she

would probably never live in his home in Middlesbrough

again.

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the next morning, before the wedding agreement could

be drawn up and signed or the banns posted for the coming

wedding, Stacy went in to see Aunt Lucinda. Lucinda was at

her writing desk in her bedroom, already making a list for

Madame Angelica concerning Stacy's wedding trousseau. She

had been half-expecting her niece, so as soon as Stacy appeared,

Lucinda put her task aside.

"Aunt Lucinda, may I speak with you?"

"Of course, my dear."

Both women made themselves comfortable in chairs by

the window.

"I'm trying to write to Papa, but I just can't find the words,"

Stacy began. "I love Tanner, but I feel as though I've betrayed

the man who has loved and taken care of me since I was a

child"

Lucinda rose and went back to her writing desk. She

opened the top drawer and withdrew a letter. Returning to

Stacy, she opened it and began to share.

"This arrived just a week after you did, my dear, but there

has never been a reason, until now, for you to see it. I shall

read it to you.

Dear Lucinda,

I know that Stacy must be well ensconced in

your care by now, and I wish you both a wonderful

io

summer. As you may or may not realize, Stacy is the type of girl who would gladly lay down her life for

someone she loves. There have been times over the

years when this has not been an asset; now is just

such a time.

I told Stacy that no one would push her into a

marriage and I meant it, but I also fear that Stacy

might deny her heart if she fears hurting me or

missing Morgan. I want Stacy to follow her heart. I

trust you to judge the type of man who might show

interest, and if you find him worthy of my precious

girl, then act in wisdom.

Stacy works hard to see that those around her

are happy. Above all else, Lucy, see to Stacy's happiness,

for there are times when she does not look

after it herself. Give her my love and to you also.

Andrew

Stacy was not a woman given to tears, and in fact none

filled her eyes, but her heart was so full she could not speak.

"I will ask you what your grandfather would at this moment."

Lucinda gazed at her tenderly.

"Are you happy, my dear?"

Stacy could only nod.

"Then I will write Andrew and tell him all that has transpired.

I will also say that you will be writing soon to give him

the wedding date and details."

Stacy's answer to this was to throw her arms around her

aunt. Lucinda laughed as she embraced her, thinking she

would topple a smaller woman.

"You run along now, dear; I've got things to do."

Stacy was more than ready to comply now that her mind

was set to rest. Returning to her room she sat down at the table

by the window, now knowing that she could write that letter. It

wasn't as easy as she believed, however. Before she'd written

two words, her mind began to wander. The quill was set aside

and soon forgotten. Stacy never even noticed the cool breeze

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75

coming in the window and moving her hair. Her mind was

wholly taken up with Tanner and what he might be doing at

the moment.

'Price," Tanner bellowed The servant appeared at the top

'the stairs as if by magic.

"Yes, your Grace."

"Riding clothes. And order my horse saddled." His reply

curt, but he simply had no time to be civil. He had to see

icy, and now. There was no other help for it.

Stacy might have been pleased to know that Tanner was

thinking of her, except that his thoughts were turning rather

pensive. His breakfast sat growing cold as he let his mind

dwell on the night before.

Dinner had been a delight, and Lucinda, with a few suggestions

from Roddy, had been more than reasonable concerning

the marriage contract. Not that Stacy's dowry mattered to

Tanner in the least. She could come to him with nothing more

than the clothes on her back, and he would still many her.

The now-familiar tightening in his chest that happened

every time he thought of her was coming on again. She was so

precious. Tanner's eyes closed when he remembered the way

she felt in his arms and the way she had shyly returned his kiss.

Without warning, the face of his first wife, Leslie, swam

before his mind's eye, her expression very soft and open as it

had been when they'd first met. She too had been sweet and

seemingly innocent, promising to love and honor him for all

of her days.

With an abrupt gesture Tanner rose from the table, his

breakfast completely forgotten. It isn't too late to back out, he

told himself. The papers have not been signed or the newspapers

notified.

"Ifear ibis latest incident tvill destroy what is left of Stacy's

reputation."

Luanda's words suddenly sounded in Tanner's ears, and

he stopped dead on his way into his study. The way Stacy's

eyes had looked last night, so full of trust, caused Tanner to

shake his head as if to clear it. Still, the black cloud of his past

still lingered. With a decisive turn he moved for the stairs.

^'-"I

wish you could have seen her face when I read that

letter. She was so relieved, but I worry a little that Tanner likes

to have his own way and will run right over the top of her if she

stands in his way."

"I don't know," Roddy spoke contemplatively. "If you could

have seen his face when he bent over her on the grass..." He

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