Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (11 page)

was used to hearing it.

"No," Lucinda said, and suddenly felt herself blushing like

a girl.

"Did I cause that flush?" Roddy's grin nearly left his face.

Lucinda could only stare at him. "What has come over you,

Roddy?"

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She was more confused than ever when he only kissed her

again and sat back in contentment. She watched him reach for

the newspaper he'd been enjoying and settle down to read He

obviously wasn't going to answer her.

Lucinda might have run from the room if he had. Roddy

Caruthers, who had been in love with Lucinda Warbrook for

years, was now amid his plan of attack to win the lovely lady's

hand.

It wasn't that he doubted Stacy's words about Lucinda's

loving him; it was just that he wanted to take no chances of

losing her. He was no longer afraid of rejection, but of not

being taken seriously. They had been friends for so long that if

he suddenly declared himself, she might not believe him

sincere. Such an action would also cause her to question the

change in him after so many years. He knew he would be

honest with her, and in so doing might lead her to believe that

Stacy had somehow betrayed her trust.

So with his usual level head, Roddy decided to bide his

time. He'd waited many years; a few more months wouldn't

matter. He'd be alongside Lucinda as she saw Stacy safely

married; then it would be his turn.

He could still feel Lucinda's eyes on him at the moment,

and indeed, was about to take pity on her and explain, but

Craig entered quietly to tell Lucinda that Lord Richardson had

arrived.

Lucinda's brows rose. She thought they would not see him

until the next day when the papers announced the engagement,

but perhaps he had come about something other than

his engagement. Lucinda nearly laughed at her own thoughts

when she saw Tanner's face. There was no doubt that he was

here to see Stacy.

"Hello, Tanner," Lucinda greeted him as Roddy stood and

the two shook hands. "Please, sit down."

"Thank you, Lucinda," Tanner responded but remained

standing, "but I'd really like to see Stacy." Tanner had to bite

back the word "alone."

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He stood erect and waited for Lucinda's response. At the

lent he was tense enough to force his way into Stacy's

if and Lucinda was obviously aware of this fact. Her voice

very gentle when she answered him.

"She's in the garden, Tanner. When you're done, maybe

I'd both like to come in and join us in the large salon for

r

Tanner accepted with a nod of his head and moved toward

i door. Lucinda and Roddy exchanged a glance after he left,

it neither of them spoke.

Stacy pushed herself from the grassy turf and stood look-I

Ing down at her progress Aunt Lucinda had a gardener, but his

| kills among the English daisies were lacking. They were a

small flower and took careful weeding. Stacy could under- pounds Stand why he didn't care to bother, but she loved the work.

She dusted her dirty hands together and had just wiped

the moisture from her upper lip when she looked up to see

I Tanner approaching. With a quick glance at her filthy hands,

she put them behind her back.

"Hello." Tanner's bass voice ran over Stacy's nerves as he

stopped some five feet away and greeted her, his eyes serious.

"Hello." Stacy's own voice was breathless. She was thrilled

to see him but knew she must look a mess.

Tanner's eyes moved over her, taking in the dirt smears on

the front of her dress, her hair falling from its chignon, the

hands held carefully behind her back, and finally the smear of

mud above her upper lip.

"What are you hiding behind you?" he asked as he moved

to a nearby bench and made himself comfortable. Stacy

watched his legs, clad in knee-high black boots and gray

riding trousers, stretch out seemingly for miles before she

looked back to his face. His brows were raised in expectation,

and Stacy remembered that he'd asked her a question.

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"Just my hands," she answered honestly.

Tanner looked skeptical. "You're sure?"|

"Yes," Stacy said, beginning to feel rather silly. With her]

hands still out of sight, she moved to the opposite bench, |

carefully tucking her hands under the folds of her skirt as she;

sat down.

As surreptitiously as she made the move, Tanner didn't

miss a thing. He'd told himself if he could only see her, he

would feel better, and in fact he was growing more relaxed

with every passing second. She was the most restful woman

he had ever known.

"How are you, Tanner?" Stacy's sweet voice broke into his

musings.

"I'm doing fine."

"Are you really?" Stacy's voice seemed to lift with pleasure.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

Color leapt into her cheeks as she admitted softly, "I

thought you might have come to tell me you changed your

mind"

Tanner found it very disconcerting to be read so easily. It

caused him to realize just how little he really knew this

woman. She was soft-spoken, graceful, and very trusting, but

beyond those qualities, Tanner was at a loss.

It became suddenly clear to him that he was going to

marry this woman. He knew that more doubts would surface

as the days went on, but he was going to marry Stacy Daniels.

"I haven't changed my mind," Tanner told her seriously,

and Stacy had to look away from the intensity in his eyes. She

cast about for something to say and only looked at him when

she was ready to speak.

"Did you see Lucinda and Roddy? They're inside." Stacy

knew she sounded inane, but he was still watching her so

intently that she began to feel very unsettled.

"Yes." Tanner's scrutiny eased some. "They're expecting

us later for tea."

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could only nod, glad she was alone with him but not

what to say.

len is your birthday, Stacy?" Tanner asked suddenly.

"Not until October."

?*And you'll be--?"

"Twenty-two," Stacy supplied nervously. "That's rather

isn't it?"

"Not in the least," Tanner told her emphatically, feeling

Ite glad that she wasn't a starry-eyed teen.

"When is your birthday?"

"Next May. I'll be 29." Tanner hesitated before a warm

rkle lit his eyes. "Rather old, isn't it?"

Stacy laughed, and Tanner found he liked the sound. Spot

a newspaper by her side then, he noticed at the same time

it she was still hiding her hands.

"What have you been reading?" Tanner asked, gesturing

rard the paper. "The London Times. I just finished an article about Nanking."

"Nanking?" Tanner questioned her. He had read the same

paper and not seen the feature.

"Well, yes," Stacy said hesitantly, wondering if he'd be

bored if she shared. But he had that expectant, almost impatient

look she was coming to recognize. She hurried to

explain.

"Nanking, China, is a city that sits on the Yangtze River. The article says that an army of 500,000, composed entirely of women--" Stacy was now warming to her subject--"and led by female officers, was formed in Nanking during a rebellion."

Stacy stopped when she realized her hands had come out

of hiding to gesture as she spoke. She quickly hid them and

shrugged apologetically. "I just found it rather interesting."

Tanner did not reply but sat staring at her as if seeing her

for the first time. Stacy felt like a fool. She stood awkwardly.

"If Aunt Lucinda is expecting us for tea, I'd best go freshen

up."

80

With surprising agility for a man his size, Tanner stood,]

moving silently to block her path. He reached his long arms'

around her and gently brought forth the hands she'd hidden

once again to hold them within his own.

He examined the dirt under her nails and on her palms

and then looked to find her standing still with mortification.

She was staring no higher than his shirtfront.

"You were weeding?"

Stacy nodded, utterly humiliated. She was engaged to a

duke, and here she was digging in the dirt like a child at play.

What must Tanner think?

"You did a nice job," Tanner told her as though she'd asked

the question out loud Still, she wouldn't look at him.

"Look at me, Anastasia," he commanded, and Stacy felt

helpless to resist. Tanner spoke when her eyes met his.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetheart. If

you enjoy gardens, then you're going to love Winslow."

"Winslow?"

"My home in the country."

Stacy never thought of his living anywhere but London.

She was still taking this in when she questioned him about the

dirt.

"And you really don't mind my working in the garden?"

"Not in the least."

Stacy's sigh was of such relief that Tanner smiled.

"I even like you with dirt on your upper lip."

This time Stacy didn't sigh with relief. Her eyes widened in

horror. Tanner only laughed as he gazed into those huge, blue

orbs.

Gf

Q/en/

when the letter arrived from Stacy's grandfather, it was

ptrly enough to put her in tears. He would not be at tier

Iding. Andrew explained very gently that he couldn't have

;n happier for her, but his eyesight was so unpredictable r that he feared embarrassing her by falling in the aisle or

ic equally foolish act.

If Stacy could have talked with him and heard this in

>n, she might have felt better, but reading of his decision

ie her feel helpless with grief. She debated going home to

...sit until the wedding day, but Lucinda talked her out of it,

^explaining that with fittings for her trousseau and dozens of

Other tasks, she was needed in London.

, . To top it off, a letter from Elena came the same day. She ^as expecting again, and Noel did not want her making the

$ long trip in such warm weather. The double blow was devastating

to Stacy.

She sat in the window seat of the upstairs salon, completely

awash with heartache. Tanner had come to the door,

not entering, but simply enjoying the way the sunlight played

on her golden hair. Stacy didn't notice his presence.

When she finally heard his footsteps on the carpet, she

turned. Hurting over the news from home, it was the first time

she didn't feel delighted at seeing him. This was especially

82

surprising since Tanner had just been away for a few days. He

noticed the change in her immediately and tensed over what

she might say. It didn't occur to him until he saw the letters in

her lap that her reaction might not have anything to do with

him.

With Stacy curled on the window seat there wasn't much

room, but Tanner managed to sit down beside her. With a