Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (3 page)

offered him.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Stacy."

Stacy, who had begun to smile at the introduction, found

her eyes growing round with surprise by the time her aunt's

friend was finished.

"Have I said something wrong?" Roddy asked solicitously,

his eyes sparkling with good humor.

"I don't think so," Stacy spoke softly. "I've just never heard

Lady Stacy sound so grand. We're all quite familiar at home."

"Ahh." Roddy's voice was kind, a smile now in full bloom.

"I think you will become comfortable with our formality very

swiftly." His voice was so gentle that it put Stacy's doubts to

rest. Stacy gave him a huge smile, one that Roddy returned,

before Lucinda spoke.

"I've ordered tea for 3:00, Stacy, if you'd like to freshen up.

You will stay, Roddy?"

"Of course, Cinda," Roddy accepted with a gracious nod of

his head. He watched as his hostess took her young charge

from the room.

Stacy silently followed her aunt up the wide staircase of

the mansion, mentally figuring how many hours remained

until bedtime. Near the top she was beginning to flag, but the

idea of tea drove her on. Never had she experienced such a long day. The sights and sounds of the train stations, the train

ride, and then London itself were nearly more than she could

take.

Watching Milly and her family walk away at the train

station after such a good journey of sharing and laughter had

been harder than Stacy expected, but Lucinda's coachman

was kind and just 30 minutes later Stacy had been relieved to

walk into Lucinda's parlor and find it warm and homey.

Stacy was looking forward to her stay with her aunt, but

she was not lulled into a false sense of security about this visit.

She had seen a look in Lucinda's eyes that had told her her

clothing was not acceptable. And there was more. Lucinda

sported the same stubborn chin that her grandfather owned

He was a man who liked to have his own way. Stacy had no

doubts that as warm and loving as Lucinda Warbrook might

be, she would also possess a well-used stubborn streak.

"She's lovely, isn't she, Roddy?" Lucinda said after the tea

service was cleared away and Stacy had asked if she could

retire to rest awhile.

"Yes, she is," he agreed softly, gazing at the excited flush

on Lucinda's cheeks and thinking how lovely she was herself.

Three years past her sixtieth birthday, Lucinda didn't look

a day over 50. Her dark hair was liberally streaked with white,

but it gave a softness to her face that not even her stubborn

chin could hide. She had a temper and was fiercely protective

of those she loved, but she was also wise, sensitive, and well

liked among London's elite.

Roddy wondered briefly if Stacy had any idea just how

fully her aunt intended to launch her into London society.

"She hasn't many clothes, and what she does have are all

wrong for her, so I'm making an appointment with Angelica

tomorrow."

"Does Stacy know that?"

"No," Lucinda spoke dismissively, "but all girls like new

clothes."

Something on Roddy's face made her pause.

"Do you think she'll object?"

"I honestly don't know. She's nothing whatever like I

expected. She's mature and quite accepting of her lot, I would

22

say. I could tell she was uncomfortable in the red velvet dress

she changed into for tea, but even at that I detected an

underlying acceptance within her over the whole situation."

Nodding, Lucinda stayed silent, digesting what he'd said.

Roddy was always so good at reading people. He never worried

about putting his oar in as Lucinda did, but was content to

sit back, listen, and observe. Sometimes he read the situation

wrong, but Lucinda felt certain he'd hit the mark with Stacy.

No matter really, Lucinda thought. Stacy will not have to

be accepting of her situation any longer. I am here to see to

that.

It crossed Lucinda's mind that her niece might not care to

have new clothes and attend every ball in London, but Lucinda

quickly pushed the thought away. What girl wouldn't be thrilled

with the summer Lady Warbrook was about to give her

niece?

stacy thanked rayna, the personal maid Lucinda assigned

to her, while carefully keeping a smile pinned to her face.

When the door closed, leaving her alone, Stacy's hands moved

to her mouth and she dropped onto one side of the bed.

She simply didn't know what to do. Her grandfather would

be furious if he knew how many dresses Lucinda had ordered

for her today. Stacy knew they would cost a fortune, money

that her grandfather didn't have. She recalled the flash of

anger in Lucinda's eyes when she mentioned this, and that had

been enough to make Stacy hold her tongue.

It had done little to relieve her mind when Lucinda calmed

down and explained quietly that the gowns were a gift. Stacy

knew her grandfather would still not approve, and in a way she

understood her grandfather's belief. Stacy often dreamed of

finer things, but it seemed cruel to shower a person with

beautiful articles of clothing they could never have again.

Stacy was convinced that it was easier to go without your

whole life than to live in opulence only to have it taken away.

Suddenly the room felt stuffy, and Stacy rose to go downstairs.

A walk in the garden was sure to do some good.

24

25

An hour later Roddy stopped to see Lucinda, only to be

told that she was taking a rest. He was on the verge of leaving

his card and a note when Craig told him that Lady Stacy was in

the garden. There was something akin to concern in the man's

tone, causing Roddy to reconsider and make his way out-of-doors.

The weather was still a bit cool, but Stacy seemed immune

to the conditions around her. She sat on a stone bench amid

the budding flowers and stared into space toward the high

stone wall that surrounded the yard. She found herself wishing

for the green hills of Middlesbrough, where she could

walk for hours without need of an escort.

Her mind was wandering among those fields when she

heard a footfall. Glad for something to take her mind from

home, Stacy turned with surprised pleasure to see Roddy.

"Good afternoon, Lady Stacy," he began. "Taking in this

brisk afternoon?"

Stacy smiled shyly. "My room felt stuffy. I'm afraid I've

hardly noticed the weather."

Roddy took a seat across from her and studied her. Stacy

sat quietly under his scrutiny, searching her mind for some

topic of conversation. She had never been very good at being

witty or charming. She usually just said what was on her mind,

but she didn't think her wardrobe an appropriate topic right

then. Stacy was still groping for a subject when Roddy spoke.

"How was your shopping trip this morning?"

"Fine," Stacy answered a bit too brightly, and Roddy's

brows rose in disbelief, causing Stacy's eyes to drop to her lap.

"Lucinda likes to shop," she spoke inanely, wishing that

Roddy's gaze wasn't so penetrating.

"I take it that she bought you quite a number of dresses?"

"An entire wardrobe," Stacy admitted, looking miserable.

"It was really very kind of her, but I just don't know what my

grandfather will say when I arrive home with an entire trunk

full of new dresses." Stacy did not know what prompted her to

confide in this near stranger, but he was so kind and easy to

talk with.

"Your grandfather doesn't care for your having new things?"

Roddy's voice held no accusation, just deceivingly mild interest.

Stacy tipped her head to the side, searching for the right

words to explain. As she did so her thick blonde hair fell like a

curtain over one shoulder.

"My grandfather is a proud man, just as Aunt Lucinda is a

proud woman. He wants me to have all that he can provide.

Aunt Lucinda married well. My grandfather couldn't provide

that many dresses for me if he saved for a year. And in truth, I

can't think where I'll wear them. Some of the fabrics look fit

for a princess."

"Did you explain that to Lucinda?"

"I tried, but she didn't look too happy about it."

Such a polite way, Roddy translated to himself, of saying

that Cinda became angry and Stacy immediately closed her

mouth and backed down.

"Has Lucinda told you all she has planned for the summer?"

Roddy suddenly asked.

Stacy shook her head no.

Roddy nodded. "I think you may find that you wilj have

ample opportunity to wear the dresses. As for your grandfather's

reaction, let Lucinda handle it. You certainly won't be

blamed for something over which you had no control."

Stacy sighed deeply. She felt caught between the hammer

and anvil where her aunt and grandfather were concerned To

please one would displease the other, and that thought alone

gave Stacy a headache. But her normal good sense took over

then, and she told herself that Roddy was right.

"Thank you, my lord. You've been a tremendous help."

"You're most welcome, and I really wish you would call

me Roddy. It's not as if I'm a duke," he added with a cheeky

grin.

Stacy smiled in return but then looked worried. "I won't

have to meet any dukes or duchesses, will I?"

"You might," Roddy told her. "Is that a problem?"

26

^

27

Stacy shrugged uncomfortably. "I just don't know what I

would say."

"Don't say anything if you don't have to. And if you do find

you need to reply, just be yourself. The London elite can be

ruthless, but the only thing they could find to say about you is

that you're the sweetest thing to arrive in decades."

Stacy chuckled softly at the compliment. "I think Au

Lucinda is quite lucky to have Roddy Caruthers."

"I think so too," he agreed with her, another grin in place.

With that he stood and offered his arm.

"May I escort you in to tea?"

Stacy accepted graciously, not even self-conscious that he

was two inches shorter than her statuesque frame.

"Did you give my letters to Craig?" Lucinda wanted to

know. Over two weeks had passed since Stacy had spoken

with Roddy in the garden, and during that time Stacy had been

much easier about the wardrobe.

Now she was breakfasting with her aunt, and Lucinda was

giving her the day's plans.

"I did give them to Craig. He assured me he would see to

them," Stacy answered.

'Very good. Now, I wish to leave as soon as we've eaten.

We've been invited to Andrea's, and I don't wish to be late."

Stacy nodded and continued with her meal. Her day-dresses

had begun arriving just two days ago, and Lucinda had

had the two of them out for tea both morning and afternoon