Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (46 page)

hours. "Mrs. Maxwell, if anyone is looking for us, Lord Drew

and I have gone fishing. We will be back in a few hours."

The nanny never blinked or commented beyond a respectful

"Yes, my lady," but Stacy could feel her surprise. At

the moment, however, she didn't care. She walked out to the

stable with her son to collect the poles, all the while asking

herself if she could drive a pony trap over her enormous

stomach. One look at their small size, however, and she

changed her mind. She couldn't bear the thought of a pony

pulling her or of having to control one of the larger animals.

Drew had actually had a nap that day. Often these days he

did not fall asleep, but after nearly two hours of sleep he was

in rare form. Stacy had to call him back several times. He was

so excited to be out and making noise that he simply forgot

himself.

They both worked up something of a sweat on the way, but

because the air near the creek seemed cooler to Stacy, she was

thankful they had both dressed warmly as they settled down

to fish. In no time at all they caught several. The smell, which

usually never bothered Stacy, was a bit strong to her today, but

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Drew was so helpful and entertaining that she determined not

to let it spoil their time.

The beginning of the walk home wasn't much fun for

Stacy. Drew carried the fish himself, but Stacy's legs felt like

lead as they trudged through the fields toward Winslow. However,

Drew, who was still feeling like he'd been set free,

managed for at least part of the time to pull Stacy's mind from

her painful body and legs.

"I'm going to eat a whole fish by myself."

"Are you now?"

"Yes, and then I'm going to share with Papa and Mrs.

Maxwell."

"I'm sure they'll enjoy that. Will I get some fish?"

"Oh, Mum!" Drew's huge eyes were comical. "You'll get

the first one because you caught the most. Remember that big

one?"

Stacy laughed when Drew stopped on the path and made

fish lips. She roared when he moved his lips and crossed his

eyes. She was still laughing when Winslow came into view.

Drew was beginning to stagger under the weight of the fish,

which only added to his hilarity. Stacy was so glad they'd gone

that she swooped suddenly and caught Drew in her arms, fish

and all.

"I love you, Drew."

"Oh, Mum, I love you too. Papa!" Drew, while still in his

mother's embrace, spotted his father. He was coming toward

them on the path, his face expressionless but his stride purposeful.

He bent and lifted Drew as soon as he was beside them. He

then reached for the string offish without looking at Stacy and

led them back to Winslow. Stacy sighed gently to herself. He

was coldly furious. As tired as she felt, she knew she would be

in tears if he shouted at her.

Drew talked to his father nonstop on the short walk

inside, and Stacy realized how much she missed his joyful,

happy moods. He was so rarely solemn that it had been like

watching a different child.

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Mrs. Maxwell was waiting for them, as was Reece. The ttt were handed off to Reece, who immediately retired them ft)

the kitchen. Drew was still in his father's arms, but Stacy didnl

wait for Tanner to give the orders.

"Drew, please go with Mrs. Maxwell now. She will give yom your bath. I'm going to eat in my room tonight, Mrs. Maxwell]

Will you please bring Drew to me when he's ready for bed?"

"Certainly, my lady. Come along, Lord Drew. We'll have

you cleaned up in no time."

"I caught fish, Mrs. Maxwell. I used a hook."

"Did you now?"

Stacy watched them for a moment and then without even

glancing at her husband took the stairs herself.

You're a coward, Stacy, she rebuked herself as she walked

away, knowing that Tanner was still standing at the bottom of

the stairs. But try as she might she could not make herself go

back down or even find the energy to turn around and face

him.

Thankfully, Juliet was waiting for her in her sitting room.

For a young woman she was certainly competent, and in a very

short time, Stacy was luxuriating in her bath. The aches in her body and even the coldness in her husband's eyes gradually

receded. She soaked for nearly an hour before Juliet brought

her a lovely peignoir. It was voluminous, something Stacy's

shape welcomed.

"Would you like a dressing gown, my lady?"

"Yes."

When she was warmly covered, Stacy sat at her dressing

table and let Juliet brush her hair. Since it was wet, the maid

left it down so Stacy could sit before the fire to eat and let her

hair dry.

Dinner was quite the feast, but Stacy was not overly hungry.

She felt thoughtful, meditative even, over her outing with

Drew, Tanner would not seek her out, she was certain of that.

And even if he did bring the subject up, Stacy realized she was

not sorry for her actions. In fact, the joy she saw in her little

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r's face was enough to convince her that she would do it

fagain should he ask.

A knock at the door interrupted Stacy's musings, and a

moment later Drew and Mrs. Maxwell came through. Drew sat

in what was left of his mother's lap, and Mrs. Maxwell took a

chair out of the way.

"Are you going to read to me tonight, Mum?"

"Well, now," Stacy spoke softly, her eyes on his precious

face. "I'm rather tired. How would you like to tell me a story?"

Drew's eyes rounded with delight.

"All right. How about the story of Ruth? Would you like to

hear that one?"

Stacy was telling him yes when Tanner came soft-footedly

into the room. Drew did not notice his presence, and Stacy,

although surprised to see him, did not give him away.

"Ruth was married, but her husband died," Drew began.

"She lived in Moab with her mother, I think." Drew didn't

understand about in-laws, so Stacy let it pass. "Anyway, they

went back to where Naomi lived, and then Ruth went to work

in the fields. Bozus--"

"Boaz," Stacy corrected him.

"Boaz," Drew started again, "owned the field, and when

he saw Ruth he told his servants to be kind to her. They were,

and then Naomi sent Ruth to Boaz, so Boaz would know he

could marry her. They were married and had a baby named

Jesse."

"Obed," Stacy corrected gently.

"Oh, that's right, Obed And then Obed had Jesse and

Jesse had David and then," Drew's voice grew as triumphant

as Stacy's whenever she told the story, "a long time later,

Joseph was born, and he was married to Mary, and Mary had Jesus. Jesus was not Joseph's son, because He was the Son of God."

"Oh, Drew." Stacy's voice was soft with wonder. She had

talked to him about these things almost from the time he was

born, but Stacy had not realized just how much he had taken

in. She could feel Tanner's eyes on them in the dim light of the

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fire, but she kept her own gaze averted A jaw-popping

from Drew reminded Stacy of how late it was getting.

"You best head off now, my darling."

"All right, Mumma. Good night."

They kissed sweetly, and then he crawled from her lap;

moved toward Mrs. Maxwell. Tanner chose that moment

come out of the shadows.

"Come along, old man," he said as he swung Drew up ont

his shoulders and moved to the door. "I'll cart you off to bed*!

"Good night, Mum," Drew managed one last time. Mrs.

Maxwell followed her young charge, and Stacy found herself 1

alone. She was growing more weary by the second, so she took

herself toward the bedroom before she fell asleep in the chair.

Knowing it would be disastrous at this point to lie down,

Stacy sat on the edge of the bed to read her Bible. She read

from Jeremiah 9, verses 23 and 24.

"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his

wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not

the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory

in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the

Lord who exerciseth lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness

in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the

Lord"

These were the verses Lady Andrea had shared with Stacy

concerning Romans 12. Stacy had been worried about her

attitude. She feared that she might be thinking of herself more

highly than she ought to by telling people how God was

working in her life and heart. The verses in Jeremiah gave her

peace, as long as she gave God the glory, she was moving with

a right attitude and heart. The verses also gave her a direction

for prayer, something she would have spent some time doing

right then, but she was growing very weary.

She stood and removed her robe, absently wondering

when Tanner would come to bed. She had just turned the

lantern down low when he entered. Stacy turned from the bed

where she'd been ready to climb in and watched him. He

stood for a moment, his eyes seeming to assess her before

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loving to turn the lantern higher, Stacy said nothing to the

Beold anger in his eyes, and Tanner, obviously expecting some-Fthing,

began to pace. Stacy watched him in silence. Finally he

,, stopped and pinned her to the floor with furious eyes.

"It is beyond me, Anastasia, how you could go fishing in

your condition."

He began to pace again, and quite suddenly Stacy was

overcome with anger, rage actually. Her hands fisted in front

of her. When Tanner stopped and pointed a finger at her,

ready to go again, Stacy cut him off.

"Don't you say a word to me, Tanner Richardson! Don't you

even so much as scowl in my direction!"

Tanner was so taken aback by this outburst that the anger

was surprised right out of him.

"Drew's entire life has been turned upside down in the

last year. His grandpapa, the only father he'd ever known,

suddenly leaves, and he can't talk to him or play with him

anymore. Then we move to London where everything smells

and he sees water but he can't fish. You come on the scene

when he's finally beginning to adjust to Brentwood, and we're

whisked out here to Winslow where we're treated like so

much baggage--and unwanted baggage to boot!

"He no more finds out that you're his father, then we go

away again. Now his mother is starting to rival his pony for

size, and his father is so busy with work that he doesn't have a

moment to give him.

"I will take Drew fishing if he asks me, and no one will

gainsay me! I will take him until my pains begin, if that's what

it takes for him to know that he's loved and cared for."

Stacy was trembling from head to foot. She turned and

walked on shaking legs to the window and simply stared at the

glass. Never had she felt so angry and alone. She heard Tanner