Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (4 page)

since. Stacy had met more people in the last three days than

she had in all her life.

They had all been kind, but Stacy could not shake the

feeling that she was here on inspection. It put something of a

damper on her outings, but most of the time she was determined

to enjoy herself and go home rich with memories and

experiences.

Every memory of home gave her a slight pang. She was

truly pleased to be in London, but she missed her grandfather,

Elena, Elena's girls, and Hettie terribly. When her feelings of

homesickness threatened to overwhelm her, she thought of

her dresses. They were the most beautiful she'd ever seen.

Stacy found herself feeling very pleased that Lucinda had

not listened to her about her grandfather's wishes. Had she

done so, she would not have been stepping out in London with

clothes that made her feel as if she belonged. So often her

words to Hettie about being a country mouse came to mind.

Most of the time she still felt that way inside, but on the outside

she knew she was at the height of fashion.

The dress she wore this day was a dark blue water silk of

elegant simplicity. The neckline was high with a white lace

inset. The same lace trimmed Stacy's three-quarter-length

sleeves. The skirt was of a medium fullness, and the bodice

accentuated the line of her waist and full bosom. As they

climbed down from the carriage before Featherstone, Lady

Andrea Brent's mansion, Lucinda felt a surge of pride in Stacy.

Featherstone sat on the Thames and was one of London's

most talked-about residences. Stacy and Lucinda were inside,

standing in the vast foyer, before Stacy learned that Andrea

was a duchess.

"He said, 'The duchess will be with you in a moment,' Aunt

Lucinda. Did he mean Lady Andrea?"

"Well, of course," Lucinda frowned at her. "What did you

think?"

"I don't know. None of the other ladies I met this week

were--" Stacy cut off her sentence when the servant reappeared

and directed them forward.

He opened a door at the rear of the foyer and led them into

a huge parlor. Andrea was inside and rose immediately to

greet them.

"Come in, Lucinda." She greeted her with a kiss. "And you

must be Stacy. Lucinda has told me so much about you." Stacy

returned the spontaneous embrace, thinking that she liked

Lady Andrea very much.

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"Please sit down." Andrea indicated the chairs and continued

to speak as they moved "Your dress is lovely, Stacy

Something tells me the two of you have been shopping."

Lucinda looked so pleased that Stacy had to stifle a laugh.

"We have been shopping," Lucinda announced proudly and

went on to tell Andrea all they'd been about.

Stacy found herself quelling laughter again, this time at

herself, when she remembered the quiet existence she believed

Aunt Lucinda led. Why, the older woman had more

friends than Stacy could keep track of! Stacy glanced up at

Andrea to find her hostess's eyes on her. They shared a small,

almost secret, smile, and Stacy had the impression that Lady

Andrea could read her thoughts.

With an effort, the younger woman then concentrated on

what her aunt was saying. She learned that they would be

having tea with someone else the next day and then attending

the Parkinsons' ball on Saturday night. The following Saturday

it would be the Madisons' ball.

Stacy's eyes, having just been so amused, must have now

shown her shock over this news. Both women smiled at her.

"You'll have a wonderful time, Stacy," Andrea assured her.

"If your dress is half as lovely as it is today, you'll be the talk of

the room." Andrea could see in an instant that she'd said the

wrong thing. A moment later Stacy's words confirmed this.

"I don't want to be the talk of the room," she said softly,

and Lucinda's voice was tight when she spoke.

"Honestly, Stacy, you would think you don't even like all

the new things I've bought you or want to show them off."

"Oh, no, Aunt Lucinda," Stacy was Instantly contrite. "I

love my new dresses." Her answer was an honest one, but

Stacy was far too timid to tell Lucinda she didn't care to be

on display.

Lucinda, choosing to ignore Stacy's discomfort, nodded

her stubborn chin as though she'd won the battle. Lady Brent

was thankful that tea was announced. Neither of her guests

noticed her scrutiny of Stacy's quiet face or her worried frown

over Lucinda's control of the girl. Thankfully, tea-time passed

smoothly.

Two hours later Andrea was seeing her guests to the door.

The older women conversed as they walked, and Stacy was

content to listen. All three of them were surprised when the

front door suddenly opened and in swept the most beautiful

woman Stacy had ever seen.

"Sunny!" Andrea cried and rushed forward to embrace the

lovely chestnut-haired girl.

"Hello, Mum. Am I interrupting?"

"Of course not. Come and meet Stacy. You know Lucinda

Warbrook."

"Of course. It's lovely to see you, Lady Warbrook."

"And this is her niece, Stacy Daniels. Stacy, this is my

daughter-in-law, Sunny."

"Hello, Stacy." Sunny greeted her with genuine kindness,

"I hope you're not leaving."

"Actually, we are," Stacy told her with real regret.

"My timing is awful." Sunny pulled a face that did nothing

to detract from her lovely appearance. "At least I can walk you

out."

This said, Sunny tucked her arm in Stacy's and began to

chatter as they walked out the front door toward the waiting

carriage.

"I think I know your cousin. Is her name Elena?"

"Yes," Stacy answered with surprised pleasure. "How do

you know her?"

"We met a few years ago, just after she married your

grandfather's cousin. She was in London for a visit, and I think

she was expecting her first child."

"That would be Harmony. She's had another little girl

since then; they named her Brittany."

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"Those are lovely names. Do you miss Elena and the

girls?"

"I can't tell you how much," Stacy told her fervently and

then pulled a face of her own. "I also miss our home in the

country. London is so huge and noisy."

"You forgot smelly," Sunny added.

Stacy laughed. "How could anyone forget that?"

"I prefer the country myself," Sunny told her as they

walked. "Maybe you'll have a chance to visit Bracken while

you're here. We would love to have you."

Stacy looked delighted and then uncertain. "I'm not exactly

sure what Aunt Lucinda has in mind," she admitted softly.

The two older women were following slowly, so Sunny

only had time to nod in comprehension and say just as quietly,

"I think I understand. Lucinda must feel she's been given a live

doll to play with."

Stacy laughed softly at the accurate description of her

relationship with Lucinda and found Sunny grinning at her.

"I like you, Stacy Daniels," Sunny told her.

"And I like you, Sunny," Stacy barely had time to reply

before being joined by Lucinda and Andrea.

Stacy thanked her hostess and climbed into the carriage

without ceremony. As it pulled away, Lucinda commented on

having just spotted the duke as he joined his wife and mother.

Stacy wanted to question her on the spot, but Lucinda continued

to speak.

"It had been on the tip of my tongue to ask Sunny if she was

here with Brandon."

"Brandon?"

"Yes," Lucinda answered absently. "Sunny's husband, Brandon

Hawkesbury, the Duke of Briscoe."

Stacy's eyes widened a bit, but Lucinda didn't seem to

notice. Stacy was very quiet on the ride home.

"WELL, what did you think of her?" Andrea asked of Sunny

when they were finally alone.

"I think she's the sweetest thing I've ever met. And," Sunny

paused for emphasis, "I know her cousin, Elena, who happens

to be a believer. We met a few years ago, and she told me at the

time that she was praying for Stacy's salvation. I find it very

exciting that the Lord put us together, however briefly."

"Put who together?" Brandon asked as he joined the ladies

and they went in to lunch.

Sunny explained her encounter with Stacy, and when

Brandon prayed before they ate, he asked God to bless Stacy

and give her further contact with Sunny.

They were halfway through the meal before Brandon

commented cryptically on his mother's lack of enthusiasm.

"Over what?" Andrea wanted to know, thinking she'd

been quite pleased over Stacy's visit.

"I was so excited about Stacy," Sunny admitted softly to

her spouse, "that I forgot to tell her."

Andrea looked from her son to her daughter-in-law, and a

slow smile pulled her mouth into a huge grin.

"I thought there was something going on, Sunny." She rose

and kissed her cheek. "You have that special glow about you."

Brandon and Sunny exchanged a glance, one of love and

sharing. The meal continued with a discussion about how old

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their first child, Sterling, would be when his younger brother

or sister was born.

Stacy moved into the parlor at Lucinda's and collapsed

into a chair. Her feet were throbbing, but she was as lightearted

as a child. She had survived her first London ball, and

it had been the most exciting night of her life.

The ballroom and dining room at the Parkinsons' had

been absolutely beautiful. Stacy needed only to close her eyes

to see the lovely candelabras and hear the music play. She had

danced for hours.

"I think she's asleep," Roddy commented as he came into

the room and made himself comfortable.

Stacy's eyes opened, and she smiled. Lucinda had invited

him in to rest by the fire.

"Sleepy, but not sleeping. I was thinking of the dance."

"I was thinking of it myself," Lucinda put in as she made

herself comfortable across from Stacy, eyeing her maternally.

"I think Lord Culbertson was quite taken with you."

"He's so nice," Stacy commented sweetly, "and he loves to fish," she added with enthusiasm, her blue eyes sparkling.

Roddy chuckled over Lucinda's good-natured groan.

"Is that all you spoke of?" the older woman wanted to

know.

"Well," Stacy sat up straight and tried to think, wanting to

please her aunt, "he told me about his horses, and I told him

about Noel's stables."

"My dear Stacy," Lucinda's look was pained, "Lord Culbertson

raises some of the finest horses in England."

Stacy's fine mood was deserting her. She tried to think of

something else they spoke of that would pacify her aunt.

"He said my dress was pretty and my hair. And he didn't

seem to mind that we were of the same height."