Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (19 page)

for comfort. Once settled, he gave her his full attention.

"What else did she say?" His voice was gentle, and Stacy,

desperately needing a lifeline, sat down on the side of the bed.

"She said that my grandfather has lost nearly all of his

sight. Even on good days he can see next to nothing." Stacy's

voice told of her agony. "I've known this was going to happen

for a long time, Tanner, but it's so hard. It's bad enough when

he has poor days, but to lose his sight completely is almost

more than I can take." Stacy's voice caught, but she didn't cry.

"Does Elena say how he's taking it?"

"Actually, she does, and she says that he's doing very well.

It's just so difficult when I'm not there. I know Elena is giving

me a straight story, but she doesn't live with Grandfather, and

he's such a private man. I wish Peters had written to me. I'm

going to get a letter off to both him and Hettie before we leave

for London."

Stacy was silent for a moment after that. Tanner waited for

her to speak. It took a little time, and she kept her eyes on the

wall as she shared.

"He's always been there for me, Tanner, a tower of endurance.

He's the only father I've ever known. I hate to see

him vulnerable like this."

Stacy looked at her husband then. His eyes were intent on

her and tender with caring. Stacy drew in a shuddering breath.

"Will you hold me, Tanner?"

His arms came out without words, and Stacy sighed deeply

as he cuddled her against his chest.

134

"With or without his sight, your grandfather is still th

same man. The man who took you to him when your parent

died, and the man who stili loves you today."

"Oh, Tanner," Stacy sighed.i

"It's true," Tanner continued, his voice gentle. "He'llf

always be Andrew Daniels, and he'd probably resent any]

intimation otherwise."

Stacy nodded. She'd nearly forgotten her grandfather's

pride.

"THE house is set up for the ceremony and reception now, I but as soon as Roddy and I leave for our wedding trip, the staff

will move everything from both homes."

Closeted in Lucinda's bedroom, Stacy and her aunt talked

about the wedding that would take place in approximately 48

hours.

"Did you have to let some of the staff go?" Stacy's voice was

resigned.

"Actually, no," Lucinda told her with satisfaction. "Roddy

has always had a very small staff. A few of my own were a bit

frantic over being made redundant, but I assured them we

would need them all.

"Now," Lucinda did a quick change of subject, "Roddy is

due anytime, and before he comes I want you to come with me

so I can show you the wedding gift I bought."

Lucinda rose and began to lead the way from the room.

"Where is it?" Stacy asked once they were in the hall.

"In the stables."

"The stables?"

Lucinda only laughed at her niece's look and proceeded to

take her outside.

136

Stacy had never seen her aunt as nervous as she was just

one hour before the wedding. It was a small affair, less than 70

guests, but Lucinda seemed unaccountably nervous.

Stacy stood beside her in an upstairs bedroom at Brentood,

The younger woman did not speak but offered support

with her presence.

Maids came and went, but at one point they found themselves

alone. The room was quiet for only a moment, and then

Lucinda began to speak, as though to herself.

"Aubrey was not a kind husband I'm afraid he was very

selfish and he's left me with a rather negative view over

certain aspects of marriage."

Stacy, without having to be told, knew what those aspects

were.

"He didn't visit me very often, but when he did, there was

no tenderness or caring. We never even spent the night together;

Aubrey always went back to his own bed."

Stacy knew that it was time to intervene. Luanda's voice

had grown steadily sadder until Stacy feared she might cry.

Stacy went to her and gently put her hands on the older

woman's shoulders. Lucinda looiked up at her, and Stacy spoke

with a tender type of boldness that was totally foreign for her.

"Roddy Caruthers is the kindest man in all of England

He's also the most gentle. I've never seen a man more in love

than Roddy. I can imagine that it's very hard to dispel Aubrey

from your memory, but he's gone and Roddy's here. Aubrey

made your life miserable while he was alive. Don't let him do it

to you again in his death."

Lucinda stared at Stacy with new eyes. She was so right.

Lucinda took a few deep breaths and made an effort to calm

herself.

"Thank you, my dear," she spoke kindly, and then began to

wonder aloud about her intended.

"I wonder how Roddy is doing?"

"Would you like me to go and talk with him?" Stacy offered

and saw a relief on Lucinda's face that didn't need words. After

137

ising her aunt and telling her she'd see her downstairs, Stacy

Einade for the door.

Once out in the hall she was spotted almost immediately

p by Tanner, who came up behind her and startled a small

squeak out of her.

"Oh, Tanner!" Stacy's voice was breathless.

Tanner's arms had come around her.

"You look luscious in this blue thing."

"Thank you," Stacy told him, smiling up into his eyes both

with love and the fact that he called her dress the "blue thing."

"When do I get my wife back?"

"Well, I have to go see Roddy, and then I'll come downstairs."

"That's not what I meant. I mean when do you stop playing

wedding so I can take you back to Winslow?"

"Well, I told Lucinda I would handle things through tomorrow,

but we could leave the day after that. Unfortunately, we

have a weekend party at the Cradwells' almost as soon as we

get home."

Tanner's eyes closed in long-suffering. "I'd completely

forgotten about that."

"It would be fine with me if we didn't go," Stacy admitted,

wanting very much to be alone with Tanner.

Tanner kissed her nose. "It would be fine with me as well,

but we've turned down every one of their invitations, and

because Price has already accepted for us, we had better be

there."

Stacy did nothing to hide her chagrin, and the adorable

face she pulled gained her another kiss.

"I've got to go," Stacy told Tanner after that.

He released her reluctantly and watched as she went to

Roddy's door. Stacy knocked and turned to see Tanner's long-legged

strides taking him back toward the stairs. He threw a

smiling look in her direction just before he disappeared from

view, and Stacy's heart skipped ahead a little faster.

Stacy was swiftly brought back to the present when Roddy's

138

door opened. His man, Carlson, stood beyond the portal, his

expression solicitous.

"Carlson," Stacy began. "May I see Lord Caruthers?"

"Certainly, my lady."

The servant disappeared into the room. A moment later

Roddy was at the door.

"Why, Stacy!"

"Hello, Roddy," Stacy spoke from her place in the hall. "I

was just in with Lucinda, and she wondered how you were

doing. I told her I would check."

"I'm fine. How is she faring?"

Stacy sighed gently. "She's a bit nervous."

"Over the wedding?"

"No," Stacy answered, her face heating slightly.

Roddy took in Stacy's pink cheeks.

"Tonight?" Roddy was always so perceptive.

Stacy nodded, her face still warm. "It might have been

presumptuous of me, but I reminded her that you are not

Aubrey."

Roddy's smile threatened to stretch off his face. He leaned

forward and kissed Stacy's cheek.

"It sounds as though I couldn't have handled it better

myself."

Stacy's smile of pleasure was genuine.

"I'd better get downstairs," she said a moment later.

"All right. But before you go I want to thank you. I'm not

sure if you remember our day in the carriage, but your words

changed my life."

"I remember. I was horrified at first, thinking I'd been

completely out of line."

Roddy kissed her cheek again. "Lucinda is going to be my

very own, Stacy, and I have you to thank for that."

Stacy took her leave then, walking on a cloud as she moved

toward the stairs. Once she gained the lower level, several

people wanted to talk with her, but she finally managed to slip

into the seat next to Tanner.

139

Just minutes later the assembly was standing for the bride.

;inda was resplendent in cream-colored satin and lace.

ree tiers made up the skirt that fell so full from the waist

itfiat it touched either side of the double doors as Lucinda

entered. The boat neckline was very flattering to Lucinda's

| face, and Stacy felt a surge of pride over how lovely her aunt

looked.

The ceremony was short and tender. No one in the room

could have missed the love that radiated from both bride and

groom, and in a very short time the bishop was pronouncing

them husband and wife.

A marvelous array of food was presented then, all prepared

and eaten in their new home. There was no wedding

ff dance, but the bride, groom, and all guests spent hours talking

and eating. Lucinda had warned Stacy that she and Roddy

I would beslipping away withoutwarning, so when neither one

of them could be found, Stacy smiled and knew they were

headed off on their trip.

The day finished in a whirl, and Stacy, in a near state of

exhaustion, fell into bed that night. Tanner was tired as well,

but they had a drowsy conversation before sleep came.

"Roddy sure knows how to pick wine. The champagne was

excellent."

"Was it?" Stacy asked over a yawn.

"Didn't you have any?"

"No. I don't like champagne."

"What did you drink at our wedding?"

"Water."

"Even when we toasted?"

"Urn hmm. If there wasn't a servant nearby, I just pretended

to have something in my glass."

Stacy fell asleep to the sound of her husband's laughter.

140

Just three days after Stacy and Tanner returned to Wit!*

low, they were on the road again, this time to the CradwelB

estate. Stacy would have gladly remained at home, but Tannerl

had said they were going and she would never have argued. \

They didn't have a long drive, no more than 90 minutes,

but Tanner had chosen to ride for most of the way, so Stacy was

in the carriage alone. It was not exactly a lonely time, but she

didn't know the Cradwells well and wondered what type of

weekend it would be. The very fact that it was a whole weekend

and not just an evening or afternoon was taking some