Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (55 page)

"Only on business. I'm married myself now, just six months,

and we make our home in France."

Stacy smiled a very genuine smile. "I'm pleased for you,

Nigel, and I wish you all the best."

"Thank you, Lady Richardson. Your understanding and

forgiveness confound me, but I am eternally grateful."

He left then, being shown to the door by Reece. Stacy

stood in the parlor where he'd left her.

390

How odd, she mused, but then thought better of it. He

needed to make things right, and she admired his doing so

instead of pushing that whole incident into some corner of his

mind to pretend it never happened.

For the first time, Stacy was able to think of the Cradwell

party without pain. The nightmare had come to an end; the

problem had been resolved. She understood now that a part of

her had still been living in the shadows of that painful time.

Stacy felt now a sort of freedom come over her with Nigel's

apology. She would have to tell Tanner, in a gentle way, what

had transpired

"Stacy."

Stacy's calm reverie was shattered. Her head snapped to

the door. That had been Tanner's voice; she was sure of it. She

ran for the closed portal, wrenched it open, and ran for the

stairs. He was at the bottom, wearing only a robe. His face was

completely drained of color.

"Oh, Tanner. Please go back to bed Whatever possessed

you to get up?"

"Where is he?" Tanner gasped as he sank to the bottom

step.

"Who?" Stacy really didn't know.

"Stanley" Tanner could barely talk. "I know he's come to

offer for you. I've got to set the record straight--you're mine

and we both know it. Unless I tell him, he'll not believe you

won't go with him."

Tanner was completely spent then, and Stacy put her arms

around him until he caught his breath. She laid her head

against his shoulder, and when she looked at him after a

moment, found his color improved.

"He came to tell me how much he regretted his actions of

the past. Nigel is married now and not even living in England.

He's already left."

"He didn't want you?"

"No, and it wouldn't have mattered if he had."

Tanner pulled her head back down to his shoulder. He

391

held her close for long minutes. Stacy heard him sigh deeply

before speaking quietly.

"I'm ready, Stacy. I'm ready to hear what happened."

Stacy lifted her head, and their eyes met. She never looked

away as she told her story.

"I was so naive in those days," she began. "I look back now

on the way Lord Stanley acted and wonder how I could have

been so innocent, but I was.

"He watched me constantly. I realize now that his behavior

was obvious to everyone but me. Had I understood, I would have been a little cooler to him, but since I didn't, I was my

usual friendly self. Because he was already smitten, he took

every smile as an invitation.

"He approached me in the conservatory on Saturday, but I

still didn't catch on. Then Sunday, he completely lost his head.

When you came in I was trying to push him away, but for all his

slim build he was fairly strong.

"I'm sorry I didn't know, Tanner. I'm sorry--"

"Shhh," Tanner cut her off, his eyes still holding hers.

"There is nothing for you to apologize over. I'm sorry I didn't

give you time to explain. The loss has been my own.

"In the last weeks," Tanner told her, "I've figured out much

of what you just told me. You're certainly right about Stanley;

his actions were peculiar. His eyes looked of blood lust, like a

hound on the hunt. I let my emotions run over the top of me, or

I would have come to more reasonable conclusions much

sooner."

Stacy sighed then and put her head on his shoulder. She'd

thought that it was over when Nigel apologized. Now she was

certain of it. Content as Stacy was to sit there all day, she

remembered just how ill Tanner had been. Stacy was on the

verge of suggesting they go upstairs when he spoke.

"I haven't been easy to live with. I know that, and I might

be a little late in coming to this, but I'm going to make it up to

you, Stacy. When I'm finally on my feet again, I'm going to

show you I'm worthy of your love."

392

"Tanner," Stacy said, lifting hei head. "Whatevei are you

talking about?"

"You've stopped saying it, you know. Not even when I told

you I loved you did you say it in return--not that I blame you.

But just give me time; I'll win your love back."

"Oh, Tanner. I've never stopped loving you, but when we

first came back I knew you didn't want to hear it. I guess I just

got out of practice. I'm sorry."

"I love you, Stacy."

"And I love you, Tanner."

He kissed her and then held her close once again. They

made quite a sight at the bottom of the stairs, Stacy in a

beautiful day-dress and Tanner in his robe, but no one disturbed

them and they didn't care.

"I only just thought of something. We never took that trip

to France, the one we were going to take for our first anniversary."

"No, I guess we didn't."

"So how about it? I figure we could leave in about a

month's time. What do you say?"

The chances of seeing Nigel Stanley were slim to none, but

still Stacy could not find any enthusiasm about going.

"Not interested?" Tanner questioned her silence, trying

not to read anything there.

"Not in France," she admitted "But I understand Greece is

beautiful in the fall."

"Ah, Stacy," Tanner said with a sigh. "You're so good for my

heart."

"Am I?" she smiled

"Yes. And we'll have no more of this nonsense about your

hurting my chest. I'm not up to much, but I want to hold you,

and no one is going to stop me."

"All right," Stacy agreed. "I'll ask Reece to have the extra

bed removed."

Tanner grinned. "I already did that."

Stacy would have spoken, but Tanner kissed her surprised

mouth, and suddenly Stacy didn't have anything to say at all

twenty-three years later

stacy stood in the shade of a huge willow tree and

watched her family's antics. She shook her head at their energy

and then turned and made her way toward the house. When

she arrived at the back terrace she sat on the swing, from

which she was still able to see her children and grandchildren.

Drew, married to a lovely girl for two years now, swung his

little daughter, Penny, high in the air and caught her on a burst

of giggles. It always took Stacy's breath away to watch, but

Penny clearly loved it. Hettie, who was too old now to get

around, was sure to be up in her room watching as well.

Next Stacy spotted Alexa as she threw a ball to her son,

Joey. Alexa was a Hawkesbury now, having married Sterling,

who was the image of Brandon, three years before. Both

couples were as happy as they could be. They had found

Christian mates and dedicated their lives to Him first and

then to one another.

Stacy's mind moved to Chase. He'd come after Alexa by a

few years and had been away at school for some time. He had

only just finished his studies and was now living in London

with Roddy. Lucinda had died five years earlier, and everyone

was relieved that Chase would be there to keep company with

him.

394

395

Lucinda had never been very comfortable with Roddy's

talk of Christ and the Bible. On her deathbed, however, she

had told Roddy she had made things right.

The girls who had come after Chase were on the lawn

now. Kendra was 18 and Pippa 17. They both missed Chase

terribly, but it helped to have Drew and Alexa, with their

families, near.

The Duchess of Cambridge continued to study her brood,

but after a moment she no longer saw them. Her mind's eye

had turned to Tanner and his behavior of the past week. Never

had she seen him in such a mood Not that he was usually

impossible, but something had definitely changed.

So many years before he had promised Stacy that he

would be worthy of her love, and he had been. They had

experienced their ups and downs, but Stacy could never fault

Tanner's efforts as a husband and father. His children adored

him and better yet knew him, because he had taken the time

in their lives to be there. In fact, before coming home from

London that day, he'd planned to check on Chase and see to

his well-being.

God's grace amazed Stacy repeatedly when she thought

about the way all her children had come to Him, even though

their father had had little voice in the matter for all these

years.

Tanner still enjoyed his debates with Brandon, and in fact

the four of them had only grown closer as the years passed,

but Tanner, to Stacy's knowledge, had never made Christ his

Lord. Still she prayed, believing.

"Wool gathering?"

Stacy smiled at the sound of that deep voice and rose to

embrace her husband.

"How was your trip?" she asked, their arms still tight

around each other.

"Good."

"And Chase?"

"Looking well. I think he and Roddy are going to do

splendidly."

Stacy gave a heartfelt sigh. "That's a relief." She stood in

the circle of his arms just staring at him for a full minute.

Finally she spoke. "Tanner, what's come over you? I can't

quite put my finger on it, but you seem quite different."

Tanner gently kissed her brow, his look very tranquil.

"I believe the Scriptures call it being 'a new creature in

Christ.'"

Stacy stood in quiet shock for the space of several heartbeats.

"Oh, my darling Tanner," Stacy whispered when she could

talk. Her hands came up to frame his face, and she looked at

him through tear-filled eyes.

"When did this happen, Tanner?"

"About a week ago," he said, his voice more serene than

Stacy had ever heard "It's been an especially fine year for my

investments, and I was sitting in my office congratulating

myself as usual for my fine business acumen, when it suddenly

occurred to me that without God I would have nothing.

"I felt as if I'd been struck. You, the children--everything

is from God. He is the Provider and Savior. I couldn't go on

after that. I wrestled for some minutes, but I knew I could

never again pretend that I had been responsible."

"But how did you--?1'

"I've been listening to you talk to the children for years,

sweetheart. I prayed and told Him that I believe in Him and

need a Savior for my sins. And you well know He never turns

anyone away."

Stacy was overcome then. Tanner could count on one

hand the times he'd seen her break down in all the years