Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) (9 page)

The same heart leaped in relief when someone's hands

joined his own. He watched as they probed gently about her

head and neck.

"We'll take her to Lady Brent's."

Upon hearing that stern voice, Roddy's eyes snapped up.

He shouldn't have been surprised. The Duke of Cambridge

managed to appear wherever Stacy went. There was no thought

of arguing with the younger man; all thoughts were for Stacy's

welfare. And if Tanner's concerned face was any indication-- it looked carved from stone--she would receive the best of

care.

The next minutes passed in a flurry of activity as Tanner

ordered a gawking youth to Featherstone to warn Andrea of

their arrival. Roddy remounted and captured the reins of

Stacy's horse while Tanner lifted Stacy in his arms and swung

abroad his own horse. Featherstone was just moments away,

but it felt like forever to Roddy.

Stacy was unconscious through the transport and the summoning

of the doctor and Aunt Lucinda. In fact nearly 30

minutes passed before she opened painful eyes to find Tanner

bending over her, Roddy hovering in the background

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Lady Andrea was also in attendance, but Stacy did not notice

her.

"What's happened?" she whispered, her eyes on Tanner's

face.

"You were thrown from your horse. How do you feel?"

She felt horrible but didn't answer. Her head was pounding

and it hurt to blink, but Tanner was there and for the

moment the pain didn't matter. He looked tired to her. Without

thought of place or circumstances Stacy reached and

tenderly brushed the dark hair from his brow.

Tanner caught her hand and held it as though he were

drowning. Roddy's gentle clearing of his throat reminded him

they were not alone. After returning Stacy's hand to the coverlet,

he stood and moved from her side. All of this was accomplished

just before Lucinda swept into the room.

Tanner had little choice in the next minutes but to stand

back and watch as Lucinda talked with Roddy, Andrea, and

then the doctor when he arrived. Stacy lay silent during the

proceedings, and when the doctor said she could be moved,

Tanner held his place as Roddy saw her to Lucinda's waiting

coach. Lucinda was on her way out when she stopped and

turned back to the room. Andrea was by the sofa Stacy had just

vacated, and Tanner was by the mantel, his look guarded

"Thank you for seeing to Stacy," she began to Tanner, but

had to stop and clear her throat. "She means more to me than I

can say, and I am grateful for your assistance.

"I am concerned, however, that she was seen on your

horse. The gossip concerning your visits to the house has

been swiftly escalating. As relieved as I am that she is going to

be fine, I fear this latest incident will destroy what is left of

Stacy's reputation.

"Given a choice I would want you to repeat your actions in

order to ensure her safety, but I find myself rather thankful

that she is scheduled to leave for home in four days' time. She

will be free from the gossiping tongues of London and hopefully

put this painful time behind her."

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The room was utterly silent when Lucinda left, Andrea was

uncertain what she should do or say, and Tanner's face, although

impassive, had drained of color during Lucinda's

speech.

Andrea knew all the signs--Tanner and Stacy were in love.

Tanner, however, had worked at his reputation as a confirmed

bachelor, and Stacy was as guileless a girl as Andrea had ever

met. It wasn't very hard to see why Lucinda was worried about

the relationship.

Andrea searched for some words to take the pain from the

young duke's eyes. When none came, she prayed. She was still

praying when he thanked her kindly for her assistance and

made his way for the door.

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of London, he let down the wall for a brief look back and was

stunned that the anguish of their affair could still cut so

deeply.

But in the midst of this agony he was amazed to see

someone else's pain. He saw Stacy as she thudded to the

ground from atop her horse, and then her eyes when they

opened as she lay so pale on the couch at Featherstone. He'd

known that her head hurt. Yet she made no word of complaint,

only looked at him in tenderness before brushing the hair

from his brow.

Tanner's chest rose with a deep sigh. He was ready to

return home, slowly now, but with a solid purpose in his heart.

He wasn't certain he could live with his decision concerning

Stacy, but the thought of her leaving London was simply not to

be entertained.

Tanner pushed his mount until the horse was blown and

lathered. He'd sought out one of London's largest parks in an

effort to ride and think. It would have been an ideal time to

return to his estate in the country, but putting that many miles

between him and Stacy was more than he could take right

now.

If he couldn't take the miles between London and Winsow,

what he would do in four days' time when Stacy went

home for good? Tanner's torturous thoughts plagued him.

When had Stacy Daniels gotten so deeply under his skin? And

why? What was it about the girl that was causing him to

consider marriage, something he vowed would never happen

again?

His faithless wife came to mind then, as did his brother,

William, along with all the pain he had experienced in the

first months after their deaths. The betrayal and anger and

then the cold bitterness that ate at him for more than a year

before he determined not to give them another moment of

thought. Now, sitting alone on horseback in a remote section

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lucinda regarded tanner with serious eyes as he stood

across the library from her the morning after the accident. He

had quietly and with surprising humbleness asked for Stacy's

hand in marriage. It was what Lucinda had been hoping for.

With this commitment, she now believed he would make

Stacy a fine husband, but it suddenly occurred to her that she

didn't know Stacy's heart.

Roddy had assured her that Stacy loved Tanner, but Lucinda

had never heard this from Stacy's lips or really seen

anything to confirm it. Luanda's guilt over all her niece had

been through weighed heavily upon her. The last thing she

would do was force Stacy into a union she did not desire.

"I find your offer quite satisfactory, but I will not accept

until I've spoken with Stacy."

"Are you worried that she won't agree?" One of Tanner's

brows rose in what Lucinda could only label a sinister fashion.

"Exactly," Lucinda told him. "I realize it's not the custom

to consult the woman, but Stacy is not some bubble-headed

girl who cannot be trusted to know her own mind. I will speak

to her and let you know."

Tanner's look was full of amusement now. "You'll be wasting

your breath, Lucinda." He called her by name for the first

time. "I assure you, Stacy will accept."

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"Nevertheless," the older woman stated firmly, "I will find

for myself."

"On three conditions," Tanner told her. Lucinda knew she

now seeing the man, the duke, who always had his own

/. "You must find out within the hour how she feels, and you

lust do so without telling her of my offer."

"And the third condition?"

**You will allow me to ask her for her hand in marriage."

Lucinda looked perplexed It was happening a little too

Swiftly for her comfort, but she didn't know how to slow the

process.

"Yesterday I watched Stacy fall from a horse and lie unconscious

in the park," Tanner said when Lucinda remained

itilent. "I want the right as her intended to visit her and see for

myself that she is well. I want this settled today"

Lucinda felt she had no choice. She had managed to hold

him off for many weeks now and knew it was not wise to push

f$" her advantage. She would never have given into Tanner's request for a mistress, but now that he'd made a legitimate

offer of marriage, Lucinda felt she needed to go along with his

desires as much as she was able.

"As you wish. I will send word to you as soon as I know.

And," Lucinda paused, "you may plan on joining us for dinner.

Come early, and I will see to it that you have a few minutes

alone with Stacy. And I do mean a few minutes."

Tanner nodded and replaced his hat. "Until 7:30?"

"Seven-thirty," Lucinda confirmed and stood quietly as he

left.

"Another pillow, Lady Stacy?"

"No, Rayna, I'm fine. You don't need to stay. I'm going to sit

here very quietly. I promise to ring if I need something."

The maid looked uncertain, but Stacy put her head back

against the settee and shut her eyes until she knew she was

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alone. She smiled and opened her eyes when the door closed

They were all like a bunch of mother hens.

Most of Lucinda's staff were beyond their fortieth year, and

they had all adopted Stacy when she moved in. She was

surprised she had put on only a few pounds since coming-- they were forever sneaking things into her room. They showed

Stacy repeatedly how much they cared

Up to now all the pampering had been fun, but after Stacy

had been brought home yesterday, they'd all been frantic. She

did have a concussion, but she was not dying as Rayna and

Craig both seemed to think. It would be wonderful to walk in

the garden, but knowing it would stop the hearts of half the

staff, Stacy resigned herself to staying in her room.

When Lucinda knocked on the door, Stacy nearly lay back

and pretended to be sleeping. But she had never been good at

deception and simply waited for the entrance of the next

anxious servant. To her surprise it was Lucinda.

"How are you, dear?" Lucinda asked after placing a kiss on

her cheek.

"I'm fine. A little tired perhaps, but I'm doing well."

Lucinda smiled, seeing that it was true. Stacy's color was

good, and she had already learned from Rayna that she'd had a

good night's sleep. They talked on for a time, and Lucinda

asked to see Stacy's needlework. It was in a basket by the

settee, and in a moment Stacy had retrieved it to proudly

display her art.

"It's beautiful, dear. I especially love the use of the blues."

Stacy smiled her thanks and gazed on as Lucinda continued

to study the intricate needlepoint. When Lucinda spoke,

her voice was so casual that Stacy was taken unaware.

"It was very kind of Lord Richardson to take you to Lady

Brent's yesterday."

Lucinda watched surreptitiously as the color crept into

Stacy's cheeks and her eyes slid shut with remembrance.

Lucinda's own eyes closed for a moment as well, and when she

looked at Stacy again, the younger woman's gaze was distant