Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (5 page)

"But you spent most of the time discussing fishing?" Roddy

asked gently.

Stacy nodded, looking miserable now. "I'm sorry, Aunt

Lucinda. I hope I didn't embarrass you."

Stacy's look, that of a child who had disappointed her

mother, was too much for the older woman. Lucinda's own

look became a mask of shame.

"You could never embarrass me, Stacy. I couldn't have

been prouder of you tonight if you had been my very own

daughter. I'm sure Lord Culbertson was captivated."

Stacy looked uncertain, but she did feel a little better. "At

least he wasn't a duke," Stacy added as an afterthought. "They

still intimidate me."

"Why is that?" Roddy wished to know.

"I guess because the only one I've ever been acquainted with is rather mean. His wife is even worse. Each time I see

them, they make me feel like some sort of country vermin. It

makes me feel as though I've no right to be moving in their

circles.

"Sunny and Andrea are certainly nice people, but it may

take some time for me to get beyond their titles. I know it must

sound silly to you, but I've no lofty aspirations. My grandfather

is a viscount. I've always assumed I'd marry a viscount or a

baron who led a simple life, and that's always been fine."

Lucinda did not look overly pleased with this news, but

Roddy was able to catch her eye and with a slight move of his

head, keep her hushed. Stacy, growing sleepier by the moment,

didn't notice their silent exchange.

"Goodnight, Aunt Lucinda. Goodnight, Roddy; I'll be

ready in the morning," she bid them softy as she stood. They

returned her wishes for a good night and watched her exit the

room.

"It's silly of her to be afraid," Lucinda said immediately,

her tone impatient.

"Be that as it may, she is. I see no reason to try to calm her,

since it's very unlikely that she will encounter many dukes."

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&

Lucinda didn't seem very satisfied with his logic. She

named the few eligible dukes out loud, all 80 if they were a

day, until Roddy stopped her with a soft rebuke.

"Cinda! You don't actually have your sights set on a duke,

do you?"

"No," she admitted "In fact, I thinkLord Culbertson might

do very well for Stacy, and he's a marquess."

"He's also old enough to be her father." Roddy's voice was

dry.

"Well, we might not be able to be so picky," Lucinda nearly

snapped.

"Why must she marry at all?" Roddy questioned, not at all

put off by her bad humor. His question only gained him a

quelling look, one that amused him more than anything else.

A moment's silence passed before Roddy suggested the only

young, single duke he knew.

"There is always Lord Richardson." Roddy worked to keep

his face bland while Lucinda's flushed with anger.

"Don't be ridiculous! He's the biggest cynic in all of England

and all wrong for Stacy." Lucinda's foot beat a rapid tatoo on

the floor. Roddy watched her for a moment and then stood

with a lazy stretch.

"This conversation has worn me out. Remind Stacy that I'll

be here at 10:00 sharp for our ride."

With that he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Lucinda's

brow. Her anger melted at his tenderness, and even

though no more words were said, their eyes held for just a

moment before Roddy crossed the room to the door.

"Thank you. I think this one must be my favorite."

"Roddy's head will swell when he's seen in the park with

you."

Stacy smiled shyly without answering. Lucinda patted the

side of the bed, and she took a seat.

"Are you having a good time with me, dear?" Lucinda's

eyes were eager.

"Oh, yes, Aunt Lucinda. It's been wonderful." Stacy hesitated

before going on. "Are you pleased with me?"

Lucinda's answer was to tenderly cup Stacy's soft, rosy

cheeks in her perfectly manicured hands and place a gentle

kiss upon her forehead. Stacy was very touched by the gesture

and was surprised to see tears in Lucinda's eyes. The older

woman busied herself with her bedclothes to cover the fact,

but Stacy had seen them nonetheless.

"Aunt Lucinda?"

"Yes, dear." Lucinda's voice held a catch.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Of course." She cleared her throat and finally looked up.

"Why have you never married Roddy?"

Lucinda's eyes, which had first held expectancy, became

very thoughtful, but she wasn't long in answering.

"He's never asked me."

Stacy tipped her head to one side. "But you love him?"

"Yes" was the serene reply. "I have for years."

Stacy nodded, feeling closer to her aunt than ever before.

Silence passed for a moment, a gentle silence with no hint of

strain or awkwardness, before Craig knocked and announced

that Roddy had arrived for Stacy.

"Oh, Stacy, that color is beautiful on you," Lucinda complimented

her the next morning when Stacy entered her

bedroom wearing a pale yellow riding habit with a white

blouse and short jacket.

"I'm probably the most envied man in the park today,"

Roddy commented from the back of his horse. Stacy smiled.

"Aunt Lucinda said your head would swell when you were

seen with me today," Stacy admitted and then looked swiftly

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37

at Roddy to see if she'd offended him with Luanda's words.

On the contrary, his shoulders were shaking with laughter.

They rode on in silence for a time. Roddy took them down

one of his favorite paths. They were halfway to the other side

when they passed another group of riders. Stacy recognized a

few from the Parkinsons' ball and smiled, but in her mind the

entire event passed without exception. Not so for Roddy. Stacy

glanced over to ask him a question and found his handsome

face in a fierce frown.

"Are you feeling ill, Roddy?"

"No. I'm just always amazed at the ton's propensity for

gossip."

Stacy stared at him uncomprehendingly.

"I take it you didn't hear that remark concerning you and

me?"

Stacy shook her head no.

"Well, then, we'll let the matter drop."

Stacy nodded in agreement but was troubled by his words.

It was a pity really that her friendship with Roddy had to be put

in a sordid light, because it simply wasn't so. He was only a few

years younger than Lucinda and like a father figure to her.

Even if her heart had moved to romance where he was concerned,

in her mind he belonged to Lucinda. Stacy sighed

softly and did her best to do as Roddy suggested

"I don't believe you've heard a word I've said," Lord Edmond

Black complained to his nephew as their horses stood off the

path in a small copse of trees. "But I'm going to say it again. I

think those horses are a good investment, and I think you

should look into it."

Tanner glanced at the older man for an instant, but his

eyes swung swiftly back to the woman riding through the park

with Roddy Caruthers. Something tightened in his chest as he

watched her smile at her companion, something he hadn't felt

for years.

Edmond was talking again, so Tanner turned and tried to

pay attention, but almost immediately, as though they couldn't

help themselves, his eyes sought out the girl once again. This

time he watched her until she disappeared from view, wondering

absently how long her hair might be, and about her relationship

to Caruthers.

"Tanner!"

Tanner's handsome head swung slowly back to his uncle.

The look he gave the older man was one of pure boredom.

Tm listening, Edmond."

Edmond grunted with irritation. "You were doing nothing

of the kind. You were watching Luanda's niece."

"Lucinda Warbrook?"

"Certainly." Edmond's voice was still testy. "Daniels is the

girl's name. Her grandfather is Andrew Daniels, Viscount

Garemont. She never had a coming out, but she's here for the

summer and Lucinda is dressing her like a princess and introducing

her all over town."

Tanner listened intently, something he was not prone to

do with Edmond. Edmond loved to gossip, and Tanner simply

didn't care to hear about everyone in London. However, this

tall-looking girl in the yellow riding habit captivated him.

"Now as I was saying..." Edmond began again, as their

ride resumed, but Tanner's mind was still elsewhere.

The younger man had just remembered the invitation he

had received to the Madisons' ball. He usually hated those

affairs, but the thought of possibly seeing Lucinda Warbrook's

niece was enough to make him reconsider.

39

the night of the madrons' ball, Stacy was dressed long

before Lucinda. She sat before the dressing table mirror and

thought how lovely the emerald necklace looked with her

green dress. Lucinda had done a wonderful job choosing the

new settings for the family stones. In fact Stacy had already

worn the ruby last week.

When Rayna finished stacking her hair high atop her head,

Stacy walked downstairs to wait in the parlor with Roddy. She

wondered in some amazement at how many hours he had

stood in this parlor waiting for Lucinda to appear over the

course of the years.

"Oh, my, Roddy," she commented as she came in. "You

look very dashing tonight." Stacy moved to where he stood

near the mantel and kissed his cheek. They had grown closer

almost daily, and small touches were now customary and

warm.

"Thank you, my dear." He accepted the compliment with a

sparkle in his eye.

Stacy's grandfather had never been a demonstrative man,

and now to have Roddy here to pat her hand or cheek and to

accept her embraces and kisses was more special to Stacy

than she could have put into words. It didn't cause her to miss

Andrew Daniels any less, but it added a warm dimension to

her life that she'd never before experienced.

Stacy and Roddy talked for the better part of an hour, both

beginning to think that Lucinda was never going to make an

appearance. Roddy's coach was waiting when she did come,

however, so they were swiftly on their way.

"The Madisons are an old family," Lucinda explained on

the way. "They have several daughters and one son. I would

advise you to get to know him, but I think he's a bit of a

libertine and a little young for you."

Stacy smiled in the darkness of the coach interior. Her

aunt was forever out to see her married. Her grandfather had

told Lucinda in no uncertain terms not to push this point, but

Lucinda did as she wished.

"Now don't hesitate to dance with Lord Culbertson. You

did well at the Parkinsons' ball; however, you must always

watch who you're seen with. I want you to enjoy yourself, but