Who Brings Forth the Wind

by Lori Wick

  I'm not sure if you knew I was back in London,

  but I arrived just this week. I am staying at Brentood

  with Roddy and Lucinda. I would like to see

  you. I know I told you I would not return unless you

  sent for me, but my grandfather has died and I've

  come at Lucinda's bidding.

  I would like to see you, Tanner. I would like to

  talk about the Cradwell party and explain about

  Nigel Stanley. I made a terrible mistake, and if we

  could only talk, I feel we might resolve this painful

  thing between us.

  There has never been anyone but you, Tanner. I

  was very naive concerning Lord Stanley, and I didn't

  understand his intentions quickly enough to allow

  me to escape him, so when you came in, it looked as

  though we'd met. I don't know what possessed him

  to tell you we loved each other because I'd never

  seen him before the party, and, aside from that, I

  was already in love with you. Please send for me,

  Tanner, and give me a chance to explain.

  Always yours,

  Stacy

  He balled the letter in his hand, but not out of anger. For

  weeks now he'd kept Stacy at arm's length, never letting her

  close to his heart. He had been ready to believe her innocence,

  but when he'd read the first part of the letter where he

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  thought she'd all but confessed, he'd gone back to keeping her

  as far from him as possible.

  Leslie's face swam through his mind. For the first time he

  pushed it away with barely a thought. Stacy herself reminded

  him that she was not Leslie. That fact was never more evident

  to Tanner than it was right now.

  His anger had been putting distance between him and

  Stacy even before they were married. If he was going to get his

  wife back, Tanner knew he was going to have to get a grip on

  himself. He'd ask her first. If that didn't work, he'd tell her she

  was coming back so he could prove he was ready to be the

  husband and father he needed to be.

  Tanner knew he couldn't take one more day without her at

  Winslow. Even though the shadows were long, Tanner ordered

  his carriage. Price packed and accompanied him, and the next

  morning he was at Brentwood, ready to see his wife.

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  "Tell me where she is, Lucinda."

  "No."

  "Did Stacy ask you to hide her?"

  Lucinda hesitated just long enough for Tanner to realize

  she was lying. "Yes, she did. She's tired of the way she's treated

  at Winslow and tired of you. You're despicable and cruel, and

  you don't deserve her! She never wants to see you again!"

  It was quite obvious that Lucinda was verbalizing her own

  feelings and those she wished were Stacy's.

  "You have no right to play with people's lives, Lucinda."

  Tanner's voice was calm, and Lucinda looked uncertain for the

  first time. "Now tell me where she is."

  The older woman looked as if she might be considering

  it, but then her chin came out and she slowly shook her head

  Tanner's eyes bored into hers, but still she did not flinch.

  Without a word, Tanner turned on his heel and walked out.

  "What do you mean she's not here?"

  "Just what I said," Lucinda told him unsympathetically.

  "She's not here, nor is Drew. They've gone to stay with friends

  in the country."

  Tanner frowned. The only friends Stacy had in the country

  were their neighbors around Winslow, and outside of Brandon

  and Sunny, he knew she wouldn't visit them. Even without

  asking, Tanner knew she was not at Bracken.

  "When do you expect them back?" Tanner was keeping a

  tight grip on his temper.

  "Oh," Lucinda said airily, covering the fact that they'd only

  just left, "Stacy desperately needs a rest. She'll probably stay

  until the baby is born."

  Tanner would tolerate no such thing. It was the second

  week in October and he'd already missed her birthday. There

  was no way he'd let anyone keep him from his wife and son

  until sometime the next year.

  "You deliberately waited until I was gone, and then you

  sent them away," Roddy railed at his wife. "How could you, Lucinda? You cannot run other people's lives."

  "Now you sound like Tanner." She spat the words.

  "Tanner was here?" Roddy was incredulous, but Lucinda,

  having regretted telling him, would not look in his direction.

  He'd returned an hour earlier with flowers for both Stacy and

  his wife and a hat for Drew, only to be told they been sent

  away, and no one except Lucinda knew where. All of their own

  coachmen and coaches were present, telling Roddy that

  Lucinda had hired someone else. Roddy had no one to question.

  "Lucinda, did you tell Tanner where she is?"

  "No, and I won't tell you. You're too soft, and I know you

  would tell him. I'll not give Tanner Richardson another chance

  to hurt my girl."

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  Roddy sat down in absolute defeat. He'd never seen

  Lucinda quite this consumed. When Stacy arrived he'd been

  troubled about the relationship. But when Tanner came looking

  for his wife--in Roddy Caruthers' book that meant he

  cared.

  Oh, Cinda, he thought as he watched her try to ignore him. What have you done?

  They didn't speak of it again, and after a few days Lucinda

  began to believe that Roddy had come around to her way of

  thinking. There was a strain between them, but Lucinda refused

  to acknowledge it, smiling a little too brightly when

  Roddy was in the room and suggesting one party or tea after another. She would have been livid if she'd known that Roddy

  was investigating Stacy's whereabouts each morning when he

  left the house.

  Tanner stayed in London for a week but came up with

  nothing. He considered calling in the police, but Lucinda was

  Stacy's aunt, and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. He was

  on the verge of hiring an investigator when he thought maybe

  he should check with Brandon and Sunny. He knew Stacy

  wouldn't be there, but he hoped that with all the time Stacy

  spent with Sunny, the duchess would know something.

  He arrived unannounced at Bracken near dinnertime, but

  the Hawkesburys made him feel welcome. Soon he was sitting

  down to eat with them. Tanner had no idea how drained he

  appeared.

  "Did you know that Stacy left Winslow?" he asked partway

  through the meal.

  "Yes," Sunny answered "I just received a letter."

  "A letter? Does it say where she is?" Tanner nearly rose

  from his chair.

  "Why, she's in London with Roddy and Lucinda. Didn't you

  know?"

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  Tanner sighed deeply and explained Sunny's emotions

  were wrung out once again by this unsettled couple. Just when

  it seemed that Tanner was finally ready to be a husband to

  Stacy, Lucinda had to pull this.

  "Did she ever say anything to you, Sunny, that might tell

  me where she is?"

  "I don't think so. I mean, Lucinda has friends everywhere,

  in the country and
all over London. Maybe someone on her

  staff would know something."

  "Or you might try questioning your own staff, Tanner.

  They might be of some help."

  "I doubt that," Sunny said softly, but Tanner had heard.

  "What did you mean, Sunny?"

  "Your staff is not very close to Stacy, so I doubt if she would

  confide in any of them."

  Tanner studied her and knew there was more. "Is there

  anything else you'd like to tell me?"

  Looking uncomfortable, the duchess suddenly knew what

  Stacy was at times afraid of. There was an intensity about

  Tanner that could be unnerving, but she knew she had to be

  honest.

  "Some of the staff at Winslow make things pretty hard for

  Stacy."

  "In what way?"

  Sunny explained what she'd seen and the little Stacy had

  shared with her. "Stacy isn't the type to complain. In fact, if it

  wasn't for Drew, she probably wouldn't have said a word, but

  Drew naturally brings out the mother in her. She talked to me

  out of concern for him."

  Tanner was quiet, but a hardness entered his eye. He

  remembered his fish dinner with Stacy and Drew and how

  little food they'd had on the table before his trays arrived.

  Just looking at him, Brandon could see that his friend was

  developing a plan. After a moment he asked, "What will you

  do?"

  Tanner answered immediately. "I'll go back to Winslow

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  *SZ pounds S pounds JSSSS!ZSSS Ka S3SSST- .SK

  stacy wandered through. the gallery, her round tummy

  preceding her, and studied the portraits of generations of

  Blackwells. Some looked stuffy and old before their time, and

  some looked like they had lived life to the fullest.

  Of course it wasn't fair to judge a person by his portrait,

  but Stacy felt as if she had to examine them all before seeking

  out the one she came to see, the one who reminded her of

  Tanner.

  Lord and Lady Blackwell were no relation to her husband

  whatsoever, but one of their ancestors bore a striking resemblance

  to Tanner. It certainly wasn't the same as being with

  him, but it was nice to look into brown eyes so like his and to

  study that firm chin that even Drew was beginning to sport.

  Stacy now stood before the portrait. It was as she remembered

  it, but today she didn't enjoy it as much because she

  missed Tanner terribly and ached over the fact that he hadn't

  sought her out. It seemed that things really were over between

  them. Stacy thought maybe she should return to Middlesbrough.

  Lord and Lady Blackwell couldn't have been kinder,

  but Stacy was starting to lose hope.

  With Stacy's feelings about London, Lucinda had had no

  trouble coaxing her out into the country. However, she had

  been here for weeks with almost no contact from Lucinda and

  none at all from Roddy. The letters that had come from her

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  aunt were so bland, never addressing Stacy's questions, that]

  she felt completely out of touch. Stacy missed everyone so1 much she was considering returning to Brentwood for a visit

  before leaving on her way north, but the first time she had

  mentioned a possible trip, Lady Blackwell had acted oddly.

  Stacy had thought little of this and decided to stay put for

  the time. But then the previous night, when once again Stacy

  mentioned going to see her aunt and uncle, Lady Blackwell

  stumbled all over her words until Lord Blackwell gently

  explained that they were rather busy right now and maybe

  another time would be best.

  Stacy couldn't believe her ears. Surely they understood

  that she could go without them. Not to mention the fact that

  this was the first time they'd denied her anything. Up until j

  now they couldn't do enough for her. She and Drew had been 1

  lavished with gifts to meet every possible want or need. Meals 1

  were centered around them and so sumptuous that Stacy

  thought she might be putting on more weight than necessary.

  She mentioned it to Hettie at one point, but Hettie only

  shook her head.^

  "You're swollen with child. How did you expect to look?"

  "I guess you're right," Stacy sighed. "But if Tanner ever

  does come for me, he won't be able to get his arms around

  me."

  "Are you still hoping for that?"

  "You know I am."

  The older woman snorted.

  "Now what does that mean?" Stacy wanted to know. In all

  of the weeks that Stacy had been waiting for Tanner to come

  Hettie had never said a word against him.

  "It means that even if he is looking for you, I wonder if he'll

  be able to find you."

  "What are you saying, Hettie?" The duchess' voice became f firm.

  "I'm saying I don't like the way we left London. Your aunt

  was so nervous she jumped at the slightest noise. And it

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  seemed strange to me that a hired coach and driver brought us

  here."

  Stacy stared at her, and understanding dawned. You knew,

  Stacy, she said to herself. You 'we known for days that all was

  not right here, and you've wondered for weeks why Lucinda

  and Roddy never visited. Tanner didn 't come, and thafs all

  you've cared about. Instead of drowning in self-pity, you

  should have been more aware.

  "What are you going to do?" Hettie asked.

  "Nothing right now. I'm going to sleep on it and then confront the Blackwells in the morning."

  "You make it sound as if it were bedtime."

  "I know it's just past lunch, but I think better in the

  morning. If the Blackwells won't help me, I'll have the day to

  decide how to get us back to London."

  Hettie finally agreed that it was a good plan. Both women

  would have been filled with joy had they realized that even as

  they spoke, help was on the way.

  If Roddy had ever thought there was anything dimwitted

  about his wife, he now knew better. He would never have

  believed that she could so completely cover her tracks. It

  seemed as if Stacy and Drew had vanished off the face of the

  earth.

  Not a single coach company would admit to having done

  business with her, nor would any of the coachmen. He racked

  his brain for every family they knew, even the slightest of

  acquaintances, and had them all checked out, but to no avail.

  Weeks later, he'd finally written to Noel and Elena, not wanting

  to upset them but desperate to find Stacy.

  Elena had written back, stating that they had heard from Stacy. She had misplaced the letter, but remembered that she

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  and Drew were doing fine and staying with someone named

  Blackmore or something similar.

  It had been all Roddy needed. Little wonder he'd never

  considered the Blackwells. Decades before, Lady Blackwell

  and Lucinda had quarreled. Lucinda hadn't spoken to her in 30

  years.

  Now as Roddy's carriage took him deep into the country,

  he let his heart feel all the ache he'd tried to squelch. Never

  had he been so disappointed in anyone as he was with Lucinda

 
or himself, for he knew he was partially to blame.

  Lucinda had been running the lives of others for years,

  and Roddy had allowed it with nary a word. He realized now

  that he should have been bolder on countless occasions. He

  could have and should have told her to mind her own business.

  Roddy wondered if perhaps this was why Stacy was so

  special to him. They both feared confronting the people they

  loved the most. Stacy had been so heavy on his mind in the last

  weeks that the thought of getting this close and being wrong

  made him a bundle of nerves. He also began to know panic at

  the thought that Stacy would be there, but the Blackwells

  would forbid him entrance.

  "Please help me, God," Roddy prayed, not for the first

  time. He knew it was a selfish prayer and that finding her was

  partly selfish also. He had questions he needed to ask, and he

  believed with all of his heart that the only person who could

  answer them was Stacy.

  Stacy heard voices from her place in the library. They were

  not raised in anger, but something was not right. She was able

  to come to the door without being spotted and did so to

  eavesdrop shamelessly.

  "I tell you she's not here." This came from Lady Blackwell.

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  "And I believe that she is." Stacy heard Roddy's voice but

  kept still.

  "I don't know where you've gotten this ridiculous notion,

  but I must ask you to leave."

  "I will not leave until I'm certain Lady Stacy and her son

  are not here."

  "Please--"

  "No." Roddy's voice was firm. "Now tell me the truth; tell

  me where--"

  Roddy cut off when Stacy suddenly stepped into view. The

  sigh that escaped his chest was heartfelt. Stacy came forward,

  but Lady Blackwell wouldn't look at her, even when she spoke.

  "Lucinda asked me to keep you and hold all of your letters

  to Brentwood. It had been so long since she and I had--" The

  older woman stopped and looked helplessly at Stacy. "I'm

  sorry."

  Both Stacy and Roddy watched her walk away, head down,

  steps laden. It was a posture that Stacy would have normally

  pitied, but the import of Lady Blackwell's words were pressing

  in upon her. All these weeks, months actually, she'd waited to

  hear from someone or dreamed of looking up and seeing

  Tanner approaching, but no one had even known where she

  was. No one but Lucinda.

  "Roddy, what has Lucinda done?"

  Roddy took in her flushed features and doubted his wisdom