Who Brings Forth the Wind

by Lori Wick

  166

  want it to be for me and not because of our child " This was;

  said calmly, but with conviction.

  Two hours later Stacy stood in front of Tanner's town

  house and tried to breathe normally She was so fearful of his

  anger that she wanted to climb back into the coach and return

  to Brentwood. One thing was stopping her. Almost everything

  had changed in the last weeks, but there was one fact in this

  whole ugly mixup that had been unfailing. Stacy was still head

  over heels in love with Tanner Richardson.

  She wished it wasn't so, but wishing was not going to

  inge her heart. So wirh a ff**Hw*f'*'

  Lucinda nodded throughout Stacy's explanation and whei

  she finished, urged her to follow her heart. Stacy had grownl

  up so much in the last months, Lucinda couldn't have been

  prouder. When Lucinda left the room so Stacy could dress, the feeling of pride still lingered, but so did a feeling of loss, the

  loss of Stacy's innocence.

  ,, .._ .Axuicuuur ana Knocked.

  with relief when Price answered the door.

  "Hello, Price." Stacy's voice was hesitant, "Is he here?"

  Stacy's heart had leaped into her eyes, and even knowing how

  Tanner was going to react, Price could not turn her away.

  "He's here," Price told her and drew her inside.

  "May I see him?" Stacy asked as soon as the door closed.

  "He doesn't really care to be disturbed." Price attempted

  to soften what Tanner had actually said

  "Oh, Price, I'm sorry to put you in this position, but will

  you please ask him to see me?"

  Price nodded reluctantly, and Stacy stood still as he moved

  to a door off the entryway, leaving it open as he let himself

  inside.

  "I told you I wanted quiet." Tanner's voice was little better

  than a growl.

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  "I'm sorry, sir, but Lady Richardson is here and would like

  see you."

  "Well, I don't care to see her. Tell her to get out."

  Stacy had expected nothing more, but she still felt as if

  ;'d been slapped. She remained still until Price reappeared,

  lin leaving the door open. The loyal servant said nothing,

  ily looked at Stacy and felt an urge to kick his longtime

  ster.

  "Maybe I could leave a message for Lord Richardson,"

  | Stacy suggested, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Price

  nodded and did nothing to stop Stacy when she moved toward

  the open portal. Stacy halted just outside where she could see

  Tanner at his desk. He never looked up, but she knew he heard

  every word. She spoke to Price without ever taking her eyes off

  her husband

  "Please tell Lord Richardson that I'm taking the train to

  Middlesbrough to my grandfather's. Tell him that if he wants

  to talk with me, he only needs to send word and I'll return

  immediately. I don't plan to come back unless he contacts me,

  but, please," Stacy's voice wavered and she hesitated before

  going on, "please also tell him that I love him."

  Stacy stood for just a moment longer, but Tanner never

  looked up. Price, seeing that she had gone deathly pale again,

  gently took her arm and led her to the door and down to the

  waiting coach. He saw her on her way, silently holding his own

  anger in check over the way Tanner had treated her. How Lord

  Richardson could think that Stacy was anything like Leslie was

  beyond him.

  Price hovered nearby for most of the day, hoping that

  Tanner would come to his senses and go after her, but the

  young duke never left the house. It was with great pain that

  Price received word the next morning that Stacy had taken a

  northbound train out of London.

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  G/mAo/m

  middlesbrough

  Six months later

  stacy carefully lowered herself into a chair and smiled

  at Elena's laughter.

  "You can laugh, Elena, but I'm not sure I'm going to live

  through this," Stacy said good-naturedly.

  "Trust me, you will. And you'll be so thrilled with the little

  person God gives you, you'll actually forget all of this discomfort."

  "I hope you're right. I can't believe I've two weeks to go."

  "You might not go that long," Elena said as she studied

  Stacy's huge abdomen. "You certainly look like the baby could

  come anytime."

  "Tanner is a large man; maybe the baby is just big." Stacy

  gently rubbed her stomach as she spoke.

  Watching her, Elena felt an ache beyond words for the pain

  Stacy had known these last months. But at the same time, she

  rejoiced, for it was because of that pain that she'd come to

  Christ. Stacy came home from London ill with grief and

  exhaustion. She'd been welcomed with open arms by her

  grandfather, and they were as close as they'd ever been, but it

  was to Elena that Stacy turned for comfort.

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  twas during some of the first days, when Stacy was beside

  ielf with anguish, that Elena gently introduced her to the

  ; who could fill the void in her heart and soothe the pain.

  , quiet moment with both Noel and Elena present, Stacy

  jndered her life and heart to Jesus Christ. She'd always

  ^d of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

  she had never applied any of the facts to herself in a

  sonal way.

  Elena had pointed out in a tender way that the Bible, God's

  rd, says that all have sinned and need a Savior. Stacy read te Bible verses herself and realized for the first time what a

  .-apreme act of love God had displayed by sending His Son to

  Mie in her place. With a heart aching to be comforted, Stacy

  Ireached out in belief to accept Christ's gift of salvation.

  "Any word from Tanner?" Elena asked gently, as she often

  lid--not to pry, but so Stacy would know how much she cared

  "No, no word"

  "Do you still write?"

  "Every week."

  "What do you usually say?" Elena voiced a question she'd

  never broached before.

  "I tell him about village events and how grandfather is

  doing. Sometimes I talk about you and Noel and the children. I

  even tell him how I fill my days."

  "But you never mention the baby"

  "No. I've been tempted, Elena, I really have. But whenever

  I feel that I just have to tell him, I remember that he thinks I've

  been unfaithful. He probably wouldn't even believe that the

  baby is his."

  "How about your newfound faith? Do you ever talk about

  Christ?"

  "Not in so many words. Tanner can be so hard, and I'm

  afraid of his scorn. I'm sure he'll think I've turned into some

  kind of religious fanatic. I tell him I'm praying for him, but I

  never come right out and say I'm a new creature in Christ."

  Elena nodded, thinking Stacy was the most amazing

  woman on earth. Elena had met Tanner Richardson only once,

  170

  and now found herself having to fight the feeling that the ma

  did not deserve a wife like Stacy. She knew that Stacy,

  wonderful example to Elena, continued to show love to hii

  even afte
r he'd sent her away with a coldness that was frigh

  ening. Stacy's explanation of Tanner's first marriage was j

  great help, and although Elena didn't understand, neither dif|

  she hate Tanner. She continued to pray for him even as shej

  was completely confused by his actions., ]

  A sharp, indrawn breath from Stacy suddenly snapped'

  Elena out of her musings. Elena looked over to see Stacy

  breathing hard, her face a mask of shock. As the contraction

  abated, she spoke.

  "That hurt," she gasped.

  Elena's voice was tender. "Yes, it does, but you really will

  be all right."

  "I want to go home, Elena." Stacy's voice was Just short of anic.

  "I want to see Papa."I

  Elena didn't answer because she was already ringing for a I

  servant. Within five minutes Stacy was headed to Morgan,

  Elena by her side. Stacy had another contraction in the coach

  and another as she walked in the front door. Hettie was there

  to assist her, and her grandfather, who was almost completely

  blind now, hovered nearby. Elena spoke words of encouragement

  as they made their way upstairs, and all of them wondered

  if it was going to be a long day and possibly a longer night.

  "She's lost a lot of blood."

  The physician's voice came to Stacy as if through a fog. She

  wanted to open her eyes and ask whom they were talking

  about, but her body wouldn't obey. At least the pain was gone.

  Her brow furrowed when she realized she hadn't heard a baby

  cry. Wasn't all the pain supposed to give her a baby? Again she

  wanted to ask questions but couldn't seem to make herself

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  ik. She floated on the brink of sleep for some moments

  fore she drifted out completely.

  It was a day and a half later, when Hettie was forcing water

  m her throat, that Stacy woke to coherency. It took a

  ment to find her bearings, but after just a second of awkrdness

  she lifted her head and drank with thirst. Hettie's

  teyes were suspiciously moist by the time Stacy lay back down

  fwith a sigh.

  "Thank you." The younger woman's voice was little better

  than a croak.

  Hettie had to clear her throat before she could speak in

  her matter-of-fact tone. "I thought we were going to lose you,

  love."

  "My baby, Hettie." Stacy's senses were quickly returning

  to her, and she gave no thought to her own life. "Where is my

  baby?"

  "He's in the cradle yonder."

  "He?"

  "Um hmm. A boy--the biggest I've ever seen."

  "A boy." Stacy said out loud, but in her heart she prayed as

  a strange mixture of delight and sadness filled her.

  I've given Tanner an heir, Lord Will he ever know? Will be

  ever want us back? My little boy is the future Duke of Cambridge.

  Will the present duke ever acknowledge him?

  Please give me peace. Please help me to see Your hand in

  all of this so I can go on and be the mother I need to be. Please

  cause Tanner to miss me and send for me.

  Averse came to Stacy then, one from Philippians 4, exhorting

  believers to give up anxiety and put everything in God's

  care. She meditated on the words until she felt drowsy again.

  She would have dropped off, but the sound of a small cry

  brought her fully awake.

  The little person in the cradle was at full volume by the

  time Hettie got to the cradle, lifted him into her arms, and

  brought him to his mother's side. Hettie jostled him gently as

  she spoke.

  172

  "Do you feel up to nursing, love? I've a girl here from tti

  village, a nice clean girl named Felicity whose baby is a montM

  old. She's let him nurse since she's plenty to spare, but fl thought you might want to do it yourself."'

  Stacy could only stare at the longtime servant. What was

  she talking about? Had she really been asleep that long?

  "What day is it, Hettie?"

  Hettie saw the confusion in her mistress' face and kindly

  explained

  "The baby was born late Wednesday night and this is

  Friday morning. We had to get him some nourishment."

  Stacy nodded, her face clearing. She wouldn't have believed

  she could sleep that long, but then she realized how

  achy her body felt. Suddenly the doctor's comment about the

  loss of blood made sense. The thought of another woman

  feeding her baby was a bit disconcerting, but she was glad

  someone had been found.

  "Well, love," Hettie went on, "do you want to give it a go?

  I've no doubt you'll have plenty of milk, but it's a full commitment

  once you start."

  Every inch of Stacy's body ached, but at the moment all

  that mattered was the howling infant just out of her reach.

  With the rise of Stacy's arm, Hettie moved. She gently laid the

  little lord in the crook of his mother's arm and fought tears

  once again.

  Stacy took one look at the screaming infant and laughed.

  He was red with fury, his face balled up in anger, and Stacy

  didn't know when anything was so precious or so funny.

  "Shhh," she spoke softly, laughter still filling her voice.

  "Don't cry, my darling. Mummy's here."

  To Stacy's delight and amazement, the baby stopped crying

  and turned yet unfocused eyes toward her voice.

  "There now," she continued tenderly. "Everything is going

  to be fine. Hettie and I are going to take very good care of

  you." Stacy spoke for a few minutes longer, but the infant's

  fascination with the voice was quickly overridden by hunger.

  Once again he began to howl.

  173

  With a bit of maneuvering Hettie helped Stacy into a

  ition on her side so she could nurse her baby. Her body

  ^..ied at her to lie still, but she ignored its demands and

  ;d in fascination at the child who finally lay quiet at her

  ist. He was beautiful, with a head full of blond hair and

  __ i like the petal of a rose. In fact he was pretty enough to be

  t'girl. Stacy said as much to Hettie.

  "It might be better if he had been" was Hettie's negative

  iment.

  "Why do you say that?"

  "If his father gets wind of his arrival, he'll probably come

  -and take the boy."

  1 Hettie did not stick around after she spoke these depressing

  thoughts, and Stacy, who suddenly had much on her mind,

  was glad for some moments alone.

  "What are you going to call him?"

  The question came from Andrew Daniels as he sat at

  Stacy's bedside. After feeding the baby she had slept for a time,

  but now she'd had some lunch. Even though she was as yet

  unable to sit up, she felt much refreshed and was thrilled with

  her grandfather's presence.

  "I was thinking on that just before I fell asleep. He's going

  to be Andrew." Stacy watched as a look of delight came over the old man's face. "Andrew Tanner Richardson, and I'll call

  him Drew for short."

  Andrew cleared his throat a few times. "It's a fine name.

  He's a fine boy."

  "He is, isn't he?" Stacy's voice held the tone of a child

  desperately ne
eding approval. Again Andrew cleared his

  throat.

  "We almost sacrificed you to have him, and I wouldn't have

  cared for that, but I'm glad he's here."

  174

  "Are you really glad he's here? I mean, I made such

  awful mess of my marriage. I wasn't really sure you'd

  pleased about my having Tanner's child."

  The viscount's face tightened in anger. "The breakup oj your marriage was not your fault, and I don't want to hear you

  say such a thing again. It's your husband who's the loser. He'sa

  got a beautiful wife and now a son, and it's his loss for not|

  claiming either of you."1

  Stacy had grown very quiet in the midst of his anger. When ]

  the old man was done, he turned fading eyes to her face. He

  could barely see her, but the serenity in her gaze was unmistakable. She had changed so much since coming home and

  spending time with Elena. At first it had been hard for Andrew

  to see her turn to Elena so often, but then he watched her go

  from despair to hope and he could no longer find it in his heart

  to begrudge her the help.

  And if the truth be stated, Stacy's relationship with Elena

  had caused no distance between her and the man who raised

  her. Grandfather and granddaughter were as close as they had

  ever been.

  "Are you going to write Tanner and tell him he has an

  heir?" The question came after just a moment of silence, but

  Stacy answered immediately.

  "No. I seriously doubt that his knowing would, change

  anything, and it would only feel like one more rejection."

  "But you will continue to write to him?"

  "Yes. As soon as I'm on my feet again. I tried to get Hettie to

  take down a letter for me, but when she found out it was to

  Tanner, she refused."

  Andrew nodded. Hettie had muttered to herself for an

  hour after Stacy's request, and it wasn't at all hard to figure

  out what had set her off. The older woman had never taken to

  Stacy's marrying someone from London, no matter who he

  was. Then when she'd met him, she thought him too good-looking

  and smooth to be real. Once Stacy returned to

  Middlesbrough, and Hettie had heard the entire story of the

  way she'd been sent away, dislike had turned to loathing.

  175

  f

  ^Andrew's reflections were interrupted when Stacy yawned

  I better let you get some rest," he commented

  Stacy smiled sleepily. "I could use some sleep. Hettie said

  Felicity has been wonderful, but Drew can be rather