Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (33 page)

And why wouldn't she? Tanner asked himself in disgust. yu treat your animals with more kindness than you've tvn your wife.

"Have Lady Stacy, her maid, the boy, and the boy's nurse,

tnoved down-the hall from my room."

"Her maid, sir?"

"Yes, her maid." Tanner's voice was testy.

"Oh, Hettie," Price clarified. "Of course, sir." Price would

have moved to the door then, but Tanner's face was that of a

thundercloud

"Are you saying my wife has no maid?"

"No, sir, but she does have Hettie."

"That'sail? Just Hettie?"

"I believe so, sir. There is no other staff of which I am

aware."

"Who takes care of the boy?"

"I believe Lady Richardson and Hettie do it themselves, my

lord."

Tanner wasn't sure what to do with this. He had sent Stacy

away, too angry to care if she had anything to live on. And by

the time he had wondered about it, she had moved back to

Middlesbrough where he knew her grandfather would take

care of her. But now the old man was dead. He'd seen Morgan.

Andrew Daniels had not died a wealthy man. What was Stacy

living on?

"Would you still like Lady Richardson moved, my lord?"

Price asked. Tanner was glad of the interruption.

"Yes. Have Jeffrey arrange it. Have him see that they're

made very comfortable. On second thought, see to it yourself.

Do you know the rooms I want?"

"Yes, sir. Down the hall from yours. I was going to put the

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child and Hettie in the two adjoining, and Lady Stacy directly

across the hall."

"Good. And Price," Tanner began when the servant began

to move away, "tell Lady Richardson that I will expect her to

join me for dinner tonight. Seven o'clock."

"Yes, sir."

Price left, and Tanner finally reached for his coffee. He

brooded for a long time on the situation in his home, a

situation of his own creating. He asked himself many questions,

ending with whether or not he should have left Stacy in

London. He didn't have answers for each question that came

to mind, but to his last, it was an unqualified no.

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E

; by coming here and keeping him shut away like so much

excess baggage. He trusted her to see to his best, and up until

now Stacy had been too afraid of Tanner to do that. Well, no

more.

As she opened the door to the bedroom, she determined

that as soon as she could figure a way to return to London and

then Middlesbrough, she would do so. Tanner hadn't wanted

her for three and a half years, and even though it looked for a

time like things had changed, he didn't want her now. As much

as it pained her to admit it, there was no reason to stay.

Stacy moved toward the north wing but did not return

immediately to her room. She stood in the massive hall down

from the door and looked out the window. It was a cloudy day,

and Stacy thought it fit her mood.

"I thought I could do this, Lord, but I'm failing miserably,"

she whispered out loud. "What is my responsibility here as a

wife? Do I stay no matter what ? Do I honor Tanner's wishes, no

matter what he expects of me? I wish Elena were here to talk

with. It's not as if we have no place else to go. This is not a fit

place with us tucked away all the time and the servants

glaring at us when we make work for them. *

"Tanner has done everything in his power to kill my love,

Lord, but it's not working. My heart still turns over every time I

see him. I need some help, Father. I need something to tell me

if I should keep on here. I can't do this on my own."

Drew began to cry from inside the room. It was the best

thing Stacy could have heard. As she moved to see to the

trouble, she realized she was not more restful over the situation,

but Drew needed his mother and that was all that

mattered at the moment. She felt that she'd utterly failed him

"You're moving us?" Stacy questioned Price just 30 minutes

after she'd made her resolution.

"Yes, my lady. Lord Tanner has selected rooms for you in

the other wing. If you'll come with me--"

Price cut off when Drew came from behind his mother to

see whom she was talking with. He had been behind her

skins, thinking this all a game, when he popped his little face

out and then moved his whole person to stare up at the

unfamiliar servant in their room.

Price cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak,

but nothing came. He couldn't seem to take his eyes from the

child When he finally looked up, it was to find Stacy smiling at

him, her heart in her eyes.

"Thank you, Price."

"For what, my lady?" The man's voice was hoarse.

"For reacting as you did."

Price's expression told her he understood, but he still

looked as if he couldn't believe his eyes. He had never doubted

Lady Richardson's faithfulness to her husband, but the face of

this child was enough to stop him in his tracks.

Price had been employed by Tanner's father to serve as

Tanner's valet; he had been 12 years old at the time. Tanner

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had been four and a mirror image of the child before ni

Price found himself wanting to let out an emotional shout i

the first time in years. His lord had an heir, a beautiful m;

heir.

Price cleared his throat and slowly said, "If you'll coii

with me, Lady Richardson, I will see that you, young Loi

Richardson, and Hettie are settled comfortably."

"Maybe I should have Hettie pack our things."

"Lord Richardson's orders were clear--a maid will take

care of that. He also wanted me to tell you that he'd like you to

join him for dinner this evening at 7:00."

"Thank you, Price."

And so it was that the small band of neglected visitors

followed Price out of the north wing to their new rooms. Stacy

ignored Hettie's comment about it being long overdue; she

was just glad that Tanner had not been as indifferent as he'd

acted.

Drew skipped along, holding Hettie's hand and trying to

take in parts of Winslow he'd never seen. Hettie kept him

moving fairly fast, but Price noticed the child's interest and

asked Stacy to contact him if she wanted young Lord Richardson

to have a tour.

"I appreciate the offer, Price, but since Tanner hasn't met

Drew, I think we should wait."

"As you wish, my lady. This will be your room."

Price opened a door, and Stacy entered with relief. They

had been heading in the direction of the master bedroom, and

her mind was put to rest to be given another just now.

It was a bedroom she remembered, and in fact was one of

her favorites. Done completely in navy and a deep shade of

rust, it was one of the warmest bedrooms in all of Winslow.

There was a sitting room off the bedroom and a huge dressing

room. Everything was spotless, and a maid stood in attendance,

preparing to pour tea.

"Please wait for Lady Richardson's return," Price told the

maid before leading them across the way to Hettie and Drew's

rooms. They were as marvelous as her own, but other than

237

ig Drew wash his hands in the basin they did not linger.

' quickly moved back across the hall to enjoy tea in Stacy's

_ig room.

An hour later, Tanner, on the way to his own room, was

Bopped in the hall when he heard a child laugh. For long

oments he stood. Another giggle sounded, and with it all

ubts about moving them closer evaporated He knew he

,as going to have to meet the child eventually, but not just yet,

fearing that laugh and knowing he'd done right by Stacy and

ic boy was enough for now.

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for the second time in just weeks, Stacy found herself

rushing down the stairs to see Sunny Hawkesbury. Jeffrey had

put her guest in the main salon. Stacy would have chosen a

smaller, cozier room for their meeting, but she was glad to see

her anywhere. The friends embraced warmly and then sat

close together on the settee to talk in quiet tones.

Sunny wasted no time in asking questions, telling Stacy to

tell her if she was out of line.

"First of all, are you all right?"

"I think so. The events of the past week have been rather

hard, but I think things might be turning."

"Can you tell me about them?"

"When we arrived Tanner wasn't here. I wasn't prepared

for that, but the worst thing that happened was that we were

given rooms in the north wing."

"What were the problems?"

"It's oppressive, cold, and dreadfully dreary. I thought

Drew might be catching something so I went to Tanner about

moving, but he said no. However, he must have had second

thoughts because he did move us. We're in lovely rooms just

down the hall from the master bedroom."

"What did he say about Drew?"

"He hasn't seen him yet."

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Sunny glanced around the cavernous room. "That's not

fhard to believe. Winslow is larger than Bracken. I take it

Rmner doesn't see much of you, either."

"No, but he has asked me to join him for dinner tonight."

"Will you go?"

Stacy's smile was self-mocking. "You don't tell Tanner

no--at least I don't."

"Stacy," Sunny's voice turned urgent. "Is he hurting you?"

"No, not the way you're thinking. My heart feels rather

battered, but he doesn't touch me."

"Should you be staying here?"

"I believe so, yes. I was ready to leave, although I don't

know how I would, when he moved us to more comfortable

rooms. I rather took that as an indication that I should keep on

here."

"Stacy, what did you mean, you don't know howyou would

leave? Surely you can order a carriage for yourself."

"I'm not sure. You see, the servants don't really care for

me. Some of it's my fault because I'm not very assertive, but I

feel as if--"

Jeffrey chose that moment to enter with the tea tray. He

had not knocked but simply entered of his own accord.

"I assumed my lady and her guest would care for tea?"

Jeffrey's voice told them how much he knew he was appreciated.

Stacy glanced at Sunny, who indicated no with a slight

shake of her head.

"No, thank you, Jeffrey, not just now." This came from

Stacy.

Jeffrey's face and body movements communicated his

deep affront, and Sunny could only stare at him. Stacy, being

used to such things, did nothing. Collecting the service, Jeffrey

caught the shocked look in the Duchess of Briscoe's eyes.

He swiftly schooled his features into humble servitude before

leaving the women alone.

"Is that normal?"

"I'm afraid so."

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"I can't believe Tanner puts up with it."

"They don't do it to Tanner."3