Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (54 page)

obviously haven't received my letter about your wound--they

want us to come up for some hunting as soon as we're able.

Elena goes on to say that little Noel is getting just huge, and

Brittany still asks about Drew every day

"Now, these two are business," Stacy continued as she

sorted the post. "Do you want them here or on your desk?"

"Why don't you give them to Price."

"I'll do that. Oh, I almost forgot--"

"Excuse me, my lady," Reece interrupted them.

"Yes, Reece. What is it?"

384

"It's Felicity, my lady. She's says her baby has a slight cold

and could she please leave and go to the doctor in the village

or send for him to come here."

"Send for him, by all means," Stacy told him. "And tell

Felicity not to worry. I'll be in to see her later."

"One of our maids has a baby?" Tanner didn't speak until

after Reece had left. Stacy nearly laughed at his baffled expression.

"No. Felicity isAlexa'swet nurse. Her baby is just six weeks

old His name is Robert."

Tanner could only stare at her.

"What is it, Tanner?" Stacy asked, not recalling that she

and Tanner had never discussed this.

"Alexa needed a wet nurse?"

"Well, yes. I sent for one after the accident because I

couldn't be with her all the time."

"But why couldn't you?"

Now it was Stacy's turn to stare. Did he really not understand

how many hours she'd spent in this room? Her voice was

gentle, however, when she answered him in just a handful of

words.

"Because you needed me more than Alexa did"

Tanner's world rocked Feeding Alexa herself had been

very important to Stacy. He knew there was not another woman

in all the earth like his wife. She cared for him without

complaint. She took his verbal abuse without comment. And

now, when he needed her, she had even set her baby aside to

be with him. He felt humbled beyond explanation, and for the

first time in his life he realized his true feelings for his wife

went far beyond respect and admiration.

When Tanner had remained quiet, Stacy assumed he

didn't want to hear any more letters. Stacy had stood to bend

over him and check his dressing. He spoke while she was

poised above him, a study in concentration.

"I love you, Anastasia."

Stacy froze, certain she had heard wrong. Her eyes moved

slowly to lock with his.

385

'Yes, you heard me correctly. I love you, Stacy."

Stacy straightened slowly, and Tanner watched as her hand

came to her lips. Huge tears puddled in her eyes and spilled

down her cheeks. Tanner had never actually seen her break

down before, and all he could do was watch helplessly from

the bed.

A door sounded then, and both knew they were going to

be interrupted. Stacy turned swiftly from the bed and moved

to the window in an effort to control herself. Her whole frame

shook as she tried to suppress sobs, but it wasn't working.

Price, who had been the one at the door, sized up the

situation immediately and excused himself. Pain ripped through

Tanner's chest and shoulder as he shifted to see her. He

listened for a long moment to her tears before calling to her.

"Sweetheart. Come back over here."

She did not come immediately. He called to her several

more times before she returned and he was able to urge her

into the chair near the bed Tanner gasped his way into a

sitting position and handed Stacy the edge of the sheet to dry

her tears.

"I just can't... I didn't think you would ever... that is, I

hoped, but I didn't know..,"

Tanner didn't try to quiet her. Her reaction spoke volumes

to him as to how much she'd hoped and waited for him to say

the words. It occurred to him suddenly, however, that she had

not returned the words. In fact she hadn't said them in many

months. Tanner wondered if perhaps she didn't feel as strongly

about him as she once had. It saddened him to think that he

might have waited too long, but he vowed that as soon as he

was able to get out of bed, he would not just tell Stacy, but show

her in a thousand different ways that his love was real.

Stacy walked around in a cloud for the remainder of the day.

Tanner was feeling remarkably better by dinnertime, and Stacy

386

later found herself pulled in two directions. She wanted to

hold her husband and be held in return, but fear for his wound

was very real. Tanner, on the other hand, had no such qualms.

After dinner, while Stacy was still checking his dressing,

she felt Tanner's free hand in the middle of her back. Before

she could even guess what he might be up to, he pulled her

down against him and kissed her.

Stacy struggled, thinking that her weight would start the

bleeding again.

"Tanner," she gasped. "You can't do that."

Stacy escaped and stepped away from the bed to talk.

"Tanner," she tried to sound stern. "Behave yourself."

"I am behaving myself. I'm behaving like a man in love

with his wife. Now come back over here."

"No." Stacy sounded more adamant than she felt.

"Do as I tell you, Anastasia."

There was that tone. The one that always made Stacy feel

helpless. She returned, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed

"I love you," he said again. "And I want the spare bed out of

here tonight."

Stacy shook her head. There was no way she was going to

jeopardize his recovery by sleeping in the same bed and

possibly endangering his wound

"Yes, Stacy." Tanner's voice was velvety smooth, but ever

when he ordered, Stacy stood her ground Tanner was none too

happy with her over it, but he saw that he'd pushed far enough.

Stacy was lulled into a false sense of security when Tanner

suddenly gave up. She left him for a time to ready herself for

bed, feeling distinctly triumphant. She'd have fainted with

horror had she seen Tanner actually standing by the bed after

she left.

The effort was almost more than he could take, but once

up, he found it not too bad. His injury screamed at him, but he

ignored the pain and the trembling in his lower limbs. Just a

few minutes was all he could last, but it was enough to give

him confidence for the morrow. Thankfully he was back in

bed before Stacy or Price could make an appearance

"Do you have plans TO GROW teeth any time soon?"

The question was good-naturedly posed to Alexa by her

papa. As usual, she grinned and even drooled with delight on

the good side of his chest.

Drew had been in for an hour that morning, and now it

was Alexa's turn. Stacy was careful to watch Tanner for signs

of fatigue, but he seemed a hundred percent better. She smiled

to herself when she thought of how swiftly the change had

come about. It came with his declaration of love. Stacy's heart

was swelling with joy over yesterday's events.

My husband loves me, she told the Lord the night before

while spending some quiet moments alone in her sitting

room. /rs more than I ever hoped for, Father. You have brought

a miracle in this marriage, and I thank You from deep in my

heart.

"Stacy, I think she's doing something." Tanner's voice was

distressed, his face chagrined.

Stacy glanced down at Alexa's red, strained features and

laughed. She pulled the bellpull, and when Price arrived she

asked him to send for Hettie. Hettie was completely undisturbed

over the task at hand and crooned softly to her charge

as she took her from the room.

"You look like you could use some sleep."

388

Tanner yawned before answering. "I think you're right.

You wouldn't like to climb in with me, would you?"

Stacy smiled. "I've got some things to do, and then I'll

come up. Do you want anything before I go?"

"No."

They kissed then, and Stacy made her way around the bed

to gather some papers from a small writing desk. She quietly

straightened a few things in the room, and then, with a final

glance at her sleeping husband, made for the door. She had

not reached the threshold of Tanner's dressing room when

Price came in. He stopped in front of her, and Stacy studied his

anxious eyes.

"What is it, Price?"

Price glanced at Tanner, and Stacy's eyes followed his, but

he was asleep.

"Lord Stanley is here."

Stacy stared at him.

"Nigel Stanley?"

"Yes, my lady. He wishes to see you."

Stacy took a deep breath. What in the world could he

want?

"All right. Tell Lord Stanley I'll be down shortly."

Price nodded and left. Stacy looked one more time at

Tanner. He was on his side, facing away from her; otherwise

Stacy would have seen that his eyes were wide open and dark

with a myriad of emotions.

Nigel Stanley looked older to Stacy, older than she had

expected. It wasn't that his hair had turned gray or that he'd

shrunken in frame, but his eyes and mouth had lost their

youth. There was a sadness in the depths of his eyes, and there

were deep grooves at the sides of his mouth.

"Hello, Lord Stanley. I understand you wanted to see me."

Stacy congratulated herself over her calm. She wasn't afraid of

389

this man, but she did not want hijn in her life or disturbing her

marriage as he'd done before.

"Yes, thank you for seeing me. I wouldn't have blamed you

if you'd had me thrown from your property."

"Won't you sit down?"

He did, but Stacy could see he was not at ease. Stacy sat

also and waited Nigel cleared his throat at least three times

before he began.

"I know that much time has passed, and I'm sorry for that,

but I wanted to see you today to express my deepest regrets

over my past actions. My actions on that day bring me extreme

shame, and I know they caused you great distress.

"I stalked you that weekend, totally thoughtless of your

person. It's something for which I have no excuse. I came to

tell you how sorry I am for the way I acted"

Nigel stood abruptly, and Stacy did the same. He'd clearly

come to say that and no more.

"Thank you, Nigel. I appreciate your stopping. The rumors

were evidently false."

A ghost of a smile lifted one side of his mouth. "I suppose

you heard that your husband killed me in a duel."

"Murdered you actually," Stacy replied, feeling shame that

she'd ever believed such a thing of Tanner. ''You did rather

disappear."

"Having been raised in Paris, I had not been in London all

that long when I attended the party. So when I made such a

fool of myself over you, I thought it the better part of valor to

make myself scarce."

"But you're back in England now?"