Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (12 page)

glance at the papers in her lap, he spoke.

"Bad news?"

"Yes," Stacy told him in a voice he'd never heard before--

thick, almost husky. Tanner carefully studied her face, noticing

not for the first time that Stacy was not prone to tears.

"My grandfather can't make the wedding."

"Not enough notice?"

"No, that's not it. His eyesight is failing so badly and--"

Stacy cut off, swallowing hard. "Would you like to read the

letter?"

Tanner took it from her outstretched fingers and read

swiftly and silently. His look was very compassionate when he

finished, but Stacy's gaze was directed out the window, her

lovely profile etched in misery.

Tanner noticed the other note in her hand.

"Is there more?" he asked as he returned Andrew's letter.

"Yes. Elena can't come either. She's married to my grandfather's

cousin, Noel, and although Noel is old enough to be

my father, Elena is my age and we're very close."

"Yes, I remember your telling me."

Stacy looked into his wonderful dark brown eyes for just a

moment before turning to the window once again. Tanner

gave her the silence, his mind thoughtful.

"I'm sorry, Tanner," Stacy spoke abruptly, and Tanner

watched her make almost a physical effort to cheer up. "You've

come to visit me, and all I do is sit here and mope. How was

your trip?" She smiled at him, but it didn't quite reach her

eyes.

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Tanner could have kissed her on the spot. Lucinda had

mentioned to him one day that Stacy usually put the happiness

of others ahead of herself, but this was the first time he'd

actually witnessed it.

"Would you like to go for a walk or a ride?" Stacy asked

when Tanner stayed quiet. She felt a headache coming on and

wondered if the change of scene might do her good.

"I think a ride sounds delightful, but you should write your

letter first."

"My letter?" Stacy asked, wondering what she had missed

"Why to your grandfather, of course, telling him to expect

us a few days after the wedding. We're going to honeymoon in

the Cleveland Hills and spend some time in Middlesbrough."

"You told me you wanted to honeymoon in the south of

France."

"France will still be there in a year. We'll go for our first

anniversary."

Stacy's hands went to her mouth. Her eyes searched Tanner's

face for signs of teasing but found only caring.

"Oh, Tanner," was all Stacy could say.

He felt her tremble as she laid her cheek against his

shoulder. Never had he known someone for whom it was so

satisfying to give of himself. She never took anything for

granted or lightly. It had taken a gem the size of a bird's egg to

gain that kind of expression from Leslie.

Tanner's heart clenched. Why did Leslie always come to

mind? She and Stacy were not even remotely the same, and yet

since becoming engaged, she haunted his times of peace with

Stacy. He remembered the one who lied and cheated on him at

times when he should have been enjoying the precious woman

at his side.

"Thank you, Tanner." Stacy lifted her head so she could

see his face. "I love you," she whispered, her heart so full she

could hardly breathe.

"You're welcome," he spoke gently, his eyes holding her

own. Stacy thought he might kiss her, but a moment later they

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were joined by Craig, who was there to tell Stacy that Edmond

Black had come to call.

Tanner's uncle was as different from his nephew as any

man could be. Tanner was very tall; Edmond very short. Tanner's

hair was dark with just a touch of gray at the temples.

Edmond's hair was the color of new straw, and even though he

was years older than his nephew, there didn't seem to be a

gray hair in sight. Tanner's frame was very muscular, from his

broad shoulders to the heavy muscles in his legs. Edmond had

a round look about him that could only be described as dough-like.

And this was not where the differences ended. Tanner was

quiet, sometimes broodingly so. His uncle seemed to talk

nonstop and loudly. He wasn't always very discreet about his

subjects either, and several times Stacy noticed a look of near

anger cross her intended's face as his uncle carried on raucously.

Stacy didn't really find him offensive, just boring. In

fact, she had only been half-listening to him for the past

hour, allowing her thoughts to wander to her honeymoon

with Tanner. One sentence from Edmond's mouth, however,

brought Stacy quickly back to earth.

"Been telling him for years that he needed another wife.

Some say, 'The third time's a charm,' but I believe in number

two myself." Edmond, who had never been married, carried

on, completely oblivious to Tanner's black look or Stacy's

shocked expression.

Lucinda, who had been silent through this exchange and

not caring one wit about her breach of manners, rang for tea in

the midst of Edmond's diatribe.

"Oh, tea," the older man stumbled "Is it that late already?

Sorry, Lucinda, must be off. Standing engagement, you know.

.ce to meet you, my dear," he offered to Stacy, never

ing how pale her face had become. "Are you coming,

i?"

F--lt 'I'll be along." Tanner rose and watched as Edmond bid

| hostess goodbye and hurried out the door to his usual

Jay afternoon poker game.

Stacy still hadn't looked at him, and the paleness of her

sonly reminded him of Edmond's loose tongue, angering

all the more. Thinking to put the subject to rest for all

^, he asked her to walk him to the door. Stacy complied.

"Edmond talks too much," Tanner's voice was tight when

stopped and were alone in the entryway.

"But you were married?"

"Yes, but we will not speak of it," Tanner's voice was livid v, and Stacy's stomach clenched. "She's dead and has notho

to do with us. Do you understand me, Anastasia?"

" Stacy nodded. She realized that his anger was not directed

her, but still it terrified her. She'd rather cut off her own

id than disobey him.

"I'll come by and see you tomorrow. Maybe we'll go for the

e we missed today."

Again Stacy only nodded. Tanner had nothing more to say

Jto her and turned toward the door without touching her. He

rtisually ignored his uncle's indiscretion, but this time he was

ing to find him, and when he was through, Edmond Black

was going to think twice before talking about his nephew's

past again.

An hour later Tanner returned to his town house, feeling

satisfied over his confrontation with Edmond

They had not actually come to blows, but Tanner believed

he'd made himself more than clear concerning Edmond's

propensity to talk. He had no doubts that the older man would

continue to gossip at will, but Tanner also believed that neither

his, Stacy's, nor Leslie's names would be mentioned.

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Back in the parlor, Lucinda waited for Stacy to retui

When Stacy did not make an appearance, Lucinda sought h

out in the foyer. She found her standing very still, staring at tl

far wall.

"Come back in for your tea," Lucinda spoke as she placed J

gentle arm around the younger woman's waist.

Stacy obeyed mindlessly, sitting down and doing nothing]

with the cup Lucinda placed in her hands. Not until Luanda]

sat beside her and touched her hand did she seem able to

think.

"I had no idea.",

"Of course you didn't, my dear, and I wasn't certain If I:

should tell you."

Stacy nodded with understanding. It really had been Tanner's

place to tell her, but he didn't want the subject discussed

Lucinda watched Stacy, her heart in pain. Aubrey had held

many secrets while they'd been married, and Lucinda wanted

desperately for Stacy's marriage to be different. If she didn't

believe with all of her heart that Tanner really cared, she

would have called the marriage off right then. There was so

much Stacy didn't know, but again Lucinda was uncertain how

much to share. She decided to be brief.

"Stacy," she began. "Tanner did not have a happy childhood,

nor did he have a happy first marriage. In fact they were

so painful that Tanner has had difficulty putting those times

behind him. He's going to react harshly at times because of

those memories. There will be areas that he's going to feel are

better left alone. It's not very fair to you, but right now, that's

the way it is. Maybe in time Tanner will feel he can share. If

you have any doubts about the marriage, Stacy, you can

tell me."

"No, Aunt Lucinda, no doubts," Stacy told her without

hesitation. In truth, a huge weight had been lifted from Stacy's

shoulders. Tanner barely knew her. In time, after they were

married and had a chance to really know one another, Tanner

would open his heart.

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;y's mind went to the times, including today, that she I told Tanner she loved him. He always smiled tenderly or

her in response, but he never said those words to her.

| Stacy knew he felt them; she knew it with all her heart,

iring them had been important to her until now, but sudy

words didn't matter anymore. Just as Tanner would

icday share his past with Stacy, he would also come to tell

about the love he carried in his heart.

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Two davs before the wedding, Stacy experienced a severe

attack of nerves. The thought of becoming Tanner's wife, the

Duchess of Cambridge, was suddenly overwhelming. Fortunately

Roddy, a gentle presence in Stacy's tempestuous

world, was on hand when the panic hit.

"I'm really just a country girl, Roddy. I don't know if Tanner

realizes that. I've never been to court. I never even had a

desire to go to court. I really am just a country girl," she

repeated herself. "Have I ever told you that I love to go

fishing?"

Roddy smiled at her lack of artifice. "You're going to be the

loveliest bride of the year," he told her.

"But then I'll be married." Stacy stated the obvious, and

Roddy had to hold his laughter at her look. "What if I'm not a

good wife? What if Tanner needs me to organize a dinner

party or a weekend with friends? I've never done anything on

a large scale. I can't imagine what Tanner would say if he

knew. I just can't imagine."

"Can't imagine what?" Tanner's voice asked from the edge

of the room. Stacy turned to him, her color high, her voice

sounding like that of a lost little girl.

"Middlesbrough is not tondon, Tanner," she told him.

"All right," Tanner answered carefully as he moved toward

her.

"My grandfather is not a duke."

"I believe I knew that." Tanner's voice was extremely

gentle. He'd come over because he had to see her, had to be