Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (32 page)

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?"

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"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."

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"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.

233

"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.