Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (17 page)

leave. It took years before he learned that it was because she

had never been without other men. The last one was his

brother.

"Tanner, is something wrong?"

Tanner shook his head to dispel the images that had leapt

into his mind.

"No," he forced the word as he turned toward the door.

"I'd best be on my way."

"All right," Stacy's voice was uncertain now. He hadn't

even kissed her goodbye. She followed him all the way downstairs

and out the door, finally coming to a standstill on the

porch to watch him stride away. When Tanner stopped just

short of boarding the coach and turned back to her, Stacy

spoke, her voice not able to mask her confusion.

"Take care of yourself, Tanner. Tell Edmond I said hello."

Tanner said something too softly to be heard and was back

in front of her in six strides. He pulled her almost fiercely into

his arms, Stacy was breathless when he released her, but she

managed a few more words.

"I love you, Tanner."

He didn't speak, but his gaze softened and the back of his

hand came up to stroke her cheek before he turned, strode to

the carriage, and was driven away.

Stacy didn't stand on the steps for very long. She was too

excited about her coming birthday. With her own long-legged

steps she mounted the stairs to make certain her dress was

perfectly pressed for the following night.

It was close to midnight before Tanner made his way up

the stairs on the night of the third. Price, who had not traveled

121

with him this time, was in attendance, and without a word

Tanner undressed and moved soft-footedly into the bedroom

and toward the bed He was nearly on top of it before he

realized that the covers had been turned down but the bed

was empty.

With a feeling of dread, one that had hung with him since

he'd left, he walked toward Stacy's dressing room. Finding it

empty, he moved to the sitting room.

Stacy, dressed in her new gown, was seated by the fire, and

sitting very upright in a chair. As he approached, Tanner saw

that she was awake and staring at him. Upon seeing the new

dress, anger rose within him so swiftly he thought he would

explode. She had known he would not be home until late. For whom had she dressed?

"Why are you up and dressed like that?" Tanner was

amazed that in his anger his voice sounded so normal.

When Stacy answered she did not sound guilty, only

unhappy. "I thought you were giving me a surprise party."

A stunned silence followed this announcement as the

anger drained out of Tanner.

"I am giving you a surprise party," he admitted after

several heartbeats. "On your birthday, the thirtieth,"

Tanner heard her sigh.

"Whom did you ask about the date of my birthday?"

"Lucinda," Tanner answered, feeling more confused than

ever.

Stacy actually managed a small laugh. "Lucinda has never

been able to get dates straight. My grandfather's birthday is

the thirtieth, not mine."

The room was silent for a full 30 seconds.

"Anastasia," Tanner finally said, his voice deep and intense,

"are you trying to tell me that today is your birthday?"

The question was no more out of his mouth than the clock

on the mantel chimed 12 times. When it ended, Stacy answered

him.

"It was yesterday, actually. I thought you knew, Tanner, and

122

that your trip was a cover for a surprise party. That's why I didn't tell you."

Tanner's relief over the fact that she'd not been with

another man was short-lived. He'd missed his wife's birthday.

In just a few strides he was before Stacy's chair, taking her

hands and pulling her into his embrace. Tanner's heart pounded

with dread as he held her tightly against him.

"You're crushing my new dress," Stacy told him, but her

concern was halfhearted.

"I'll buy you a new one--I'll buy a closet full of new.

dresses." The words came from above her as Tanner rested his

chin on her head and continued to hold her close.

"I'm all right, Tanner," Stacy told him. "I wasn't all right

before you came home, but I am now."

Tanner's eyes slid shut with pain. He hated the thought

that she must have urged Rayna to do her best, and then sat in

her room, looking beautiful and waiting for a party that never

materialized

"I'll make this up to you." Tanner now held her by the arms

and tried to study her face in the small glow of the fire.

"There is no need," Stacy assured him. "I understand, and

it wasn't your fault."

He ignored her words. "Would you like your present

now?"

"You have my present?" Stacy was indescribably pleased.

She told herself that it wasn't the day itself that mattered, but

the celebration. At the moment it suited her fine that her

birthday "party" was going to be just her and Tanner, sitting

together while she opened her gift.

"Wait here," Tanner urged, and Stacy stood still for the

minutes he was gone. It took a little time, but when he returned

he was carrying a jeweler's box and a lighted lantern.

He lit the other two on the mantel before presenting the box

to Stacy.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Stacy opened the top and gasped. Inside lay a necklace.

123

There didn't seem to be any more to it than gold and diamonds,

seemingly hundreds of them.

"Oh, Tanner. It's simply breathtaking."

"I take it you like it?"

"I love it, but--"

"But what?" Tanner prompted her when she stopped and

looked at him in horror.

"What if I lose it?"

Tanner made a low sound in his throat, one of complete

disregard.

"I'll buy you another." This said he lifted the priceless

object from its bed of satin and hooked it around his wife's

neck. Stacy was trembling as she looked in the mirror that

hung over the mantel.

"Oh, Tanner." Stacy didn't seem capable of other words.

Without warning she turned and threw her arms around his

neck. She tried to thank him then, but was interrupted by a

huge yawn that she simply couldn't suppress.

"We'd better get to bed." Tanner's voice was amused

Stacy yawned again. "Would you mind if I didn't come

right now, Tanner?"

The change in him was instantaneous. "No." His voice was

cold, belying the word. "What is it you need to do?"

"It's nothing," Stacy assured him quickly, startled by the

change in him and the note of intolerance in his tone. "If you'll

unbutton me, I'll get ready for bed"

It was as if a bucket of ice had been thrown on their

celebration. Tanner knew he'd caused it with the tone of his

voice, but her reluctance to join him in bed disturbed him no

end

In silence he unbuttoned Stacy. She reached for the back

of her neck and unhooked the necklace. Standing still, necklace

grasped in her hand, she watched her husband stalk from

the sitting room. By the time she gained the bedroom, Tanner

was in bed. For the first time there seemed to be a wall

between them. Tanner told her goodnight but did not touch

124

"Thank you for the necklace," Stacy said from her side of

the bed.

"You're welcome," Tanner answered briefly, leaving Stacy

in the dark as to what she had done or how she was supposed

to fix it.

An hour later Stacy lay listening to Tanner's even breathing

and knew she was going to have to get up. It had all been so

innocent. If only she had told him right away that she needed

something to eat, he might not have grown angry. Stacy silently

sighed at her own lack of courage, her own inability to

stand up for herself.

With very subtle and quiet movements, she slipped from

the covers. She didn't light a lantern until she'd reached her

sitting room and then carried it out into the hall. If Tanner had

been hungry, he'd have rung for a meal, but Stacy couldn't

bring herself to wake someone just to wait on her.

She had just entered the kitchen and set the lantern down

when her husband's voice sounded behind her. He was coldly

furious.

"What are you doing down here?"

"Oh, Tanner," Stacy's hand flew to her throat. "You startled

me.

"Answer my question." He ignored her fear. "What are you

doing down here?"

"I'm sorry I woke you. I tried to go to sleep, I really did, but

I'm hungry and I thought if I ate something, I could sleep. I'll

come back up now so you won't be disturbed."

Stacy picked up the lantern, but Tanner didn't move. Stacy,

afraid of angering him more, simply held her place.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tanner was calming.

"I wanted to, but you seemed so upset. I thought I could

wait until morning,"

125

"Why didn't you ring for something?"

Stacy shrugged, feeling miserably inadequate to be a

[duchess. But that was not all. Things had not been completely

: right between them since they said their goodbyes for the trip,

and Stacy, not really understanding the problem but assuming

she'd done something wrong, didn't know how to put the

relationship back on firm footing.

"Do you really need something to eat?"

"I can wait until morning," Stacy hurried to tell him, but

Tanner just stared at her until she felt compelled to apologize.

"I'm sorry for whatever I've done wrong, Tanner. I think it

must have started a few days ago. I'm not really certain, but

whatever I've done to make you upset, I'm sorry."

Tanner couldn't take the way her eyes stared at him beseechingly

or the sound of her sweet voice in misery. Thoughts

of Leslie had ridden him hard since he'd agreed to marry

Stacy, but never as roughly as in the last 48 hours. His black

|( mood was terrifying his wife, and he was going to have to get a

grip on himself. He was just about to say something when

there was a rustling on the far side of the room.

"Excuse me, my lord, but I thought I heard voices." Winsow's

cook stood across the room. "Is there something I can

get for you?"

"My wife is hungry."

'Very well, I'll fix you right up." The rather plump woman

was cheerful for the middle of the night. "Would you care for

something, your Grace?"

"No. Just see to my wife."

Tanner left then, and Stacy felt utterly wretched. She

stared at the door long after he exited, asking herself what

she'd done.

"Now, my lady, if you'll Just make yourself comfortable in

the dining room, I'll bring something right in."

"I'll be fine here," Stacy told the older woman absently,

missing the servant's shocked expression.

Cook watched Stacy take a chair at the small, crude table