Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (37 page)

play him for a fool again. Tanner wondered briefly if she'd had

other men while in Middlesbrough and then realized that

such thoughts were dangerous. He shifted his mind away from

such visions as he soundlessly opened Stacy's door.

Tanner did not like finding her bed empty, but he remained

calm as he moved across to Drew's room. His heart was

silently telling Stacy that she had better be there. When she

was not, he decided to wake the entire house to look for her

but refrained from doing so until he checked the upstairs and

then made his way down the stairway.

She was not in the library or the gallery. He wondered if

he'd missed her somewhere on the second floor and was

actually halfway up the stairs when he thought of the kitchen.

He almost laughed. If Stacy were hungry she would never ring

for a servant. With a smile on his face he moved toward the

kitchen.

Lady Richardson had just finished an apple and was starting

on a piece of pie when Tanner came in the door. She froze,

a crumb of food at the corner of her mouth, and watched him

approach.

"It seems we have mice--tall, blonde mice."

"I was hungry," Stacy told him unnecessarily, still trying to

decide if she was in trouble.

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"I can see that." Tanner used his handkerchief to wipe her]

mouth and then stood staring at her.1

"Don't stop on my account," he told her. "Go ahead and'

eat."

Stacy did so, but it was not easy with Tanner staring at her!

His gaze was warm as he watched her. He even pulled a chair

up, so his eyes were level with hers.

"Would you like something?" Stacy asked

"To eat? No, thank you."

Stacy finished her pie. "You're making me nervous," she

admitted, a small quiver in her voice.

"You're not afraid of me, are you?"

"I'm not sure what to say to that."

"You are afraid," he stated.

"Of our being together, no, but of my having you for a time

and then your pushing me away again, that terrifies me."

Surprisingly this did not anger Tanner. He looked as

though he understood. Unfortunately he felt no guilt over the

way he'd sent her away. In his mind he had been wronged. If

Stacy would only comport herself faithfully, he would care for

her all the days of her life. He felt whether or not she stayed

was all up to her.

Suddenly Tanner held out his hand. "Come here, Stacy"

was all he said. It was hardly an explanation, but Stacy went to

him when he reached for her. They kissed in the kitchen, and

she had no protest when Tanner lifted her and carried her

upstairs.

She had prayed long and hard about this time, wanting

with all of her heart to do what God would have her to do. Maybe, Stacy reasoned, this will be one more way to show

Tanner that my love has always been constant.

The next morning Tanner eased quietly out of bed, careful

not to wake Stacy. He stared down at her, thinking there

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f wasn't a lovelier, more giving woman in all of England At this

moment he could almost believe her when she claimed that

he had misunderstood the scene at the Cractwells'.

With feather-soft movements he reached for his robe and

left the room. Stacy had come in with just a light wrapper on

the night before, so Tanner was headed to her room to find her

a robe. He didn't want her feeling at all uncomfortable when

she awakened.

Stacy's bed was as he'd seen it, covers thrown back and

left. There was no sign of her robe, so he lit the lantern and

went into her dressing room. He paid little attention to her

dresses but quickly spotted a thick, white robe and took hold

of it. He was on his way out when he spotted an envelope. He

would normally have given little notice to such a thing, but it

was addressed to him.

Tanner set the lantern down and looked at the front of the

letter. "Lord Tanner Richardson" was written out in Stacy's

hand. Tanner removed the folded letter without a moment's

hesitation.

"Dear Tanner," it began. "I'm not sure if you knew I was

back in London, but I arrived just this week. I am staying at

Brentwood with Roddy and Lucinda. I would like to see you. I

know I told you I would not return unless you sent for me, but

my grandfather has died and I've come at Lucinda's bidding.

"I would like to see you, Tanner. I would like to talk about

the Cradwell party and explain about Nigel Stanley. I made a

terrible mistake, and if we could only talk, I feel we might

resolve this painful thing between us."

There was more, but Tanner stopped reading. He had

been ready to believe it had all been a mistake--that he had

misunderstood. This was harder to take than Leslie's betrayal.

Stacy's sweetness wove its way into his heart until he felt like a

snared bird. He had loved that snare when they had first

married, but after Stacy's betrayal, he'd felt like it was strangling

him.

Tanner threw both the letter and Stacy's robe to the floor

and exited the wardrobe and bedroom with long, angry

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strides. He dressed with Price's help, giving terse orders

the while.1

"Pack my bag; I'm leaving. See to it that my wife"--it cost)

him just to say the word--"does not get too comfortable in my]

bed."

"You do not want me to accompany you, my lord?"

"No. I shall be gone at least a week, but that's no one's

business. Handle my correspondence as best you can. No

social engagements at all."

"Yes, my lord."

Just 20 minutes later Tanner was in the coach and headed

to London. He was not entirely certain what he needed to do

there, but he had to put some space between himself and his

adulterous wife. He thought he could put it behind him, but

right now that didn't seem possible--the letter had finally

told him that what he'd believed all along was true.

The night they had spent together ran through his mind,

and Tanner knew he would always desire his wife. His next

thoughts were of his son, the precious little boy he was just

getting to know. Tanner's h^aH f*i i k ~i --

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him from the pillow, even though she was somewhat embarrassed,

but her smile slowly faded at Price's serious face.

"Is Lord Richardson dressing, Price?"

"I'm sorry, my lady, but Lord Richardson is not here."

"By not here, do you mean not upstairs?" Her tone was

almost too much for the man.

"No, my lady."

"He's left Winslow?"

"Yes, my lady. Would you like me to send Hettie to you?"

"No, Price, that's all right. I'll get up as soon as you go."

Price bowed his way out, and Stacy lay still for a moment.

If he had left money on the pillow beside her, she couldn't

have felt any cheaper.

Five minutes later Stacy was standing in her dressing

room. She bent slowly and picked up the robe and crumpled

letter. It didn't take long to figure what had happened. Stacy's

eyes closed in agony.

"Oh, Tanner," she whispered. "What have you done?"

Stacy woke slowly and smiled. Surprisingly, she didn't feel

any disorientation waking up in the master bedroom. She

knew exactly where she was and, with the smile still on her

face, rolled toward Tanner's side of the bed. A lopsided frown

replaced the smile when she found the bed empty.

"Tanner," Stacy called softly, hoping he was in his dressing

room.

"Tanner," she tried again and sat up when the door opened

She lay down swiftly however, quickly covering herself with

the bedclothes when Price appeared instead. She grinned at

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stacy was sorry she confided in her aunt. Lucinda was so

angry she could hardly see straight. Tanner had been gone

three days now, and her aunt and uncle had arrived that

morning. They were in the large salon at Winslow. Drew was

on the huge Persian carpet that covered the floor, but Roddy

had brought him a toy and he was not listening to the adults.

"First he takes you from us," she raved, her voice soft but

venomous. "And then leaves you here like so much excess

baggage. He's an absolute beast. I want you to pack your things

immediately. You and Drew are returning with us."

Stacy only shook her head, calm in the face of her aunt's

ire.

"How can you stay here?" Lucinda was incredulous.

"Because I want my marriage to work Running away will

accomplish nothing."

Lucinda sat back in utter defeat. Roddy studied his wife

and then commented.

"Unless you fear for your safety, I think you're wise, Stacy.

What you've told us is heartbreaking, but I think Tanner is

confused."

"Confused!" Lucinda snorted scornfully, but a look from

Roddy silenced her.

"If he is confused," Roddy continued, "then maybe you

can work it out when he returns."

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"I thank you for the vote of confidence, Roddy, but he'll

f probably be angry when he returns. And as you know, Tanner's ' anger has a way of intimidating me."

"But you don't fear he'll harm you?"

"At times I feel emotionally spent, but no, I don't fear

Tanner that way. I think Tanner is wrong to react as he does,

but part of the problem is mine because I'm not bolder when I

know I'm supposed to be. I decided a few days ago that leaving

cannot be an option, or every time I'm upset I'll want to run."

"So you'll stay here no matter what?" Stacy could hear

tears in Lucinda's voice.

"I won't go so far as to say that, but I will stay on just as long

as I can and hope that means I'll be here for the next 60 years."

It was not what Lucinda wanted to hear, but Stacy believed

she was making the right choice. The first time Tanner growled

at her she knew she'd be tempted to hide, but for now, for her

sake as well as Drew's, she must stay.

The subject was dropped when Drew wanted to go upstairs.

Stacy rose to accompany him, but Lucinda, her eyes

alight with adoration for Drew, offered to go instead. Stacy

was happy to agree. Not until after they'd gone did Stacy take

her seat and notice a very thoughtful look on Roddy's face.

"My, but you look serious," Stacy commented lightly. To

her surprise Roddy did not laugh at his own somber demeanor.

"How did you come to this decision, Stacy? I mean, to stay

here with Tanner?" Roddy asked.

"I believe it's what God wants me to do," she answered

simply.

"But how do you know?" Roddy's face was filled with

yearning. "Has God spoken to you in some way?"

"Through His Word, yes. I believe God speaks to His

children through the Bible. I've matured through my study; in

fact, I'm a different person now, Roddy, and that's because of

the time I've spent in God's Word"