by Lori Wick
Stacy wouldn't have minded the ride so much, except that
she'd been under the impression that Tanner would be with
them. When he hadn't been with the coach that morning at
8:00, Stacy thought they would be meeting him. Now they were
only about 45 minutes from Winslow, and there had been no
sign. Stacy decided to sit back and not worry about it.
Just short of an hour later, Winslow came into view. Not
even Hettie could find a negative word for its grandiose
beauty. Stacy's chest heaved with pleasure at the sight of it. She
had truly loved their home.
Let this be a beginning, Father. I don't know why Tanner
came ahead of us, but let this be a time of repair for this
damaged marriage. Help Tanner put his pride away and
accept Drew so we can be a real family.
"Mumma."
"Yes, dear."
"I'm hungry."
"All right, darling. We'll be inside in just a moment."
And indeed they were, but it was not the warm welcome
Stacy had expected. It was Jeffrey and not Tanner who was at
the door to meet them, and his manner was even more frigid
than Stacy had remembered.
"Hello, Jeffrey. Is Lord Richardson here?"
"No, he is not."
226
227
"Oh." Stacy was starting to feel alarmed "Is he out riding?"
"No." Joffrey's voice clearly said it was none of her business,
but he still explained "Lord Richardson is still in London.
When he plans to return I do not know. I did receive word that
you were coming, but since his lordship is not here, maybe
you should return to London."
"My orders were to bring her ladyship here," a gruff voice
spoke up from behind Stacy. It was the grouchy old carriage
driver, Stacy smiled at him gratefully, but he didn't return the
smile.
He had not come inside for Lady Stacy, but for himself. He
was tired and nothing could make him drive all the way back
to London right now. Knowing Joffrey as he did, he'd come
inside just to make certain that the self-seeking head of staff
didn't talk the duchess into returning,
"Very well," Joffrey stated with a sigh, as though Winslow
were his own and he alone was put out by their presence. "I'll
show you to your rooms."
Ignoring Hettie's dark looks, Stacy followed, thankful to
be going to her room and getting a chance to be alone. She
glanced over her shoulder and sighed with relief to see a
footman handling their trunks. For a time she felt certain she
would have to lug her own.
Her pleasure over the trunks was short-lived. Stacy's heart
sank when she saw that Joffrey was leading them toward the
north wing. Her heart begged God to give her strength and to
calm the resentment rising within her that Tanner would be
so thoughtless.
"Will two rooms be enough?"
Stacy stared at Joffrey, amazed at his daring. He clearly
hated her and was doing nothing to hide it. She knew Hettie
wanted her to take the servant down a peg, but surprisingly
enough she felt too much compassion for that. They were all
taking their cue from the duke, and he despised her. Stacy told
herself not to be a quitter, but she knew if the coachman was
willing she would leave immediately.
"Two rooms will be fine," Stacy answered finally and ; entered the room with Drew. She nearly balked when she felt
how cold the air was once she passed over the threshold
The three of them stood still as the trunks were placed on
the floor and the servants left. Joffrey started to leave but
turned back. His manner said that it caused him great pains to
do so.
"Dinner will be served at 6:30 in the main dining room."
This said, he left, closing the door behind him.
Stacy looked over at Hettie to see that the old woman's jaw
had actually swung open. Had Stacy not felt so miserable, she
would have laughed.
"Mumma, I'm hungry."
Stacy quickly knelt in front of him. She hugged him before
answering, more for her own need of comfort than his.
"Joffrey left before I could tell him that we haven't eaten.
I'll get you something, all right?"
"I'm cold"
"Well, Hettie can warm you up--"
"I'll see about the food," the old servant cut in, her voice
odd. Stacy stared at her, thinking she must be very tired, and
then nodded
As soon as Hettie left, Stacy changed Drew into warmer
clothing and played a game with him, intended to warm them
both. She was hungry herself, and the feeling that no one
outside of London cared for them was pressing down on her
with every passing second. Stacy would have been greatly
cheered if she could have seen Hettie downstairs in the
kitchen right then. At least she would have been certain that
someone at Winslow cared for her.
"I told you earlier," Joffrey said with his nose in the air,
"dinner will be served at 6:30. As a servant, you may eat when
the duchess is through."
228
4
"Don't you try your uppity ways with me," Hettie nearl
hissedathim. "NowyouVegottenminutestohaveatrayupi
Lady Stacy--a nice full tray for all three of us."m
"I do not take orders from elderly servants who do notf
know their place."
Hettie's thin chest heaved, and her eyes narrowed. "I mean'
what I say. You've got ten minutes to have that tray ready. If you
don't, I'll tell Lord Richardson everything. He can't stay away
forever, and when he comes I'll tell him every word you said"
Hettie turned and started away, but paused and looked back.
"And you'd best remember one more thing. That's the
duchess you're serving up there, and that boy is the future
Duke of Cambridge."
Jeffrey looked uncertain for the first time. Hettie left, and
cook erased the smug expression from her face just before
Jeffrey turned to look at her. She began putting a tray together
without being asked, determining then and there that she
would be the one to deliver it.
Four days passed before Tanner returned to Winslow.
Stacy found out quite by accident that he was back when she
ran into Price in the hallway.
"Hello, Price." Her voice told of her genuine pleasure at
seeing him, but Price read the strain in her face.
"Good morning, my lady."
"Are you just back from London?"
"Last night," he told her gently.
"Is..." Stacy began and hesitated "Is Tanner with you?"
"Yes, my lady, he's here."
Stacy did not want to keep him, so she thanked him and
moved back to her rooms. It was like living as a prisoner. She
was afraid to let Drew make any noise for fear of disturbing
someone. The notion was ridiculous since they were so far
229
Sway from the rest of the house, but Stacy was not coping very
11. In fact, the strain was beginning to tell on both of them.
:y knew she was losing weight, and Drew's tan little face
_ growing pale and dr
awn.
ft Stacy hoped all of that might change with Tanner's arrival,
|but this was not the case. Two more days passed, and in that 1 time he never sought them out or even saw them. Stacy was
.totally confused as to why she'd been brought here. He
'wanted nothing to do with her. She reminded herself how
much she was hated. He was trying to humiliate her, and
unfortunately it was working. Stacy felt more downtrodden
then she ever had in her life. Thankfully, Drew's sneezes
changed all of that.
He and Stacy were playing on the floor where they spent
much of their time. They had tried going out of doors, but both
the gardener and the stablemaster had made it quite clear
with their looks and actions that their presence was not
wanted. Stacy could not rest under their frowning looks and
shaking heads.
Now this morning Drew began to sneeze as he played.
Stacy felt his forehead and found it cool, but his little hands
were so cold she felt frightened. She gathered him into her
arms and held him almost fiercely. Drew let out one more
sneeze, and Stacy realized this was the very thing she had
feared--but she was doing nothing about it. She could handle
the fact that Tanner didn't care about her, but Drew was
another matter.
"Hettie," Stacy announced as she put Drew back on the
floor and rose. "I need to see Lord Richardson. Will you please
see that Drew stays warm?"
Stacy's color was high as she said this, and Hettie nearly
cackled with glee. The old woman had wondered how much
more Stacy was going to take.
"Bye-bye, Mumma."
"I'll be back soon."
"Hettie?" Drew spoke when his mother had left.
"Urn hmm?"
230
"Why are you smiling, Hettie?"
She didn't answer his question. "Come over here, Di
close to the fire. Sit in my lap, and I'll tell you a story."
Tanner Richardson, a man of tremendous willpower,
been struggling for days to forget that his wife and her sum
were in the house. He hadn't gotten a thing done in all than
time, but this morning was different. He had finally forced nisi
mind to the task at hand and had put in several productive
hours of work on business matters. He was not happy to have
someone knock on the study door.
He opened his mouth to say that he did not want to be
disturbed, but hesitated. Stacy, never far from his mind, might
be seeking him out. He sincerely doubted it, but on the
chance she was he wanted to hear what she had to say.
"Come in," he called and watched with satisfaction as his
wife came tentatively through the door.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Tanner, but I need to ask you
something."
"What is it?" His voice sounded more impatient than he
felt, but it had its usual effect. Stacy's hands came together in a
nervous gesture, and her voice turned hesitant.
"Would it be possible for us to move out of the north
wing?"
Tanner frowned. "I was under the impression that you
chose the rooms yourself."
Stacy didn't know how to reply to this. It wasn't true, but
she couldn't bring herself to tell of Jeffrey's actions, reprehensible
as they were.
"What seems to be the problem?"
Stacy nearly sighed with relief that he cared enough to
ask.
"The rooms are rather cold."
231
"Well you can certainly askjoffrey to supply you with extra
ikets." His voice was that of a parent addressing a simple
id.
"We're not cold at night, just during the day."
Tanner's mouth twisted cynically. "Now, that's the probfl,
isn't it. You have no business keeping that boy in all day.
suVe probably coddled him until he's a monster. Get out
ring the day, Stacy, and you won't be cold in your rooms."
This said, Tanner bent his head back over his papers. She
fnad been dismissed with his tone and gesture. She stared at
the top of his head for a moment, but the fight had gone out of ' her. She turned and let herself back out the door. Once outside,
she stood for a moment in misery.
"That was telling him, Stacy. You really set things straight."
"Were you speaking to me, my lady?"
Stacy hadn't even noticed the faithful servant.
"No, Price," she told him softly.
The servant watched for long moments as she moved up
the stairs withaheavy tread. When Stacy was out of sight, Price
moved into the study.
233
PRICE MOVED ABOUT THE STUDY VERY QUIETLY, not wanting tO
disturb his lordship but sensing he might be needed. He
delivered the coffee he'd been carrying and prepared it just as
Lord Richardson liked, but the cup was not touched. Tanner
sat with his eyes on some distant spot, his papers in front of
him, forgotten.
"Did you pass my wife when you came in?"
"Yes, sir."
"How did she seem?"
Price hesitated, and Tanner finally looked at him.
"She seemed," Price hesitated over the words, "she seemed
somewhat defeated, my lord."
Tanner wondered why this brought him no pleasure.
Again he had believed it would be good to see her humbled
and miserable, but he hated this.
"It isn't like Stacy to complain." Tanner said this more to
himself than anyone else, but Price still answered.
"I believe that her concern might be for the child's well-being."
Alarm slammed through Tanner. It didn't matter that he
wanted nothing to do with the boy; the thought of his becoming
ill was not to be tolerated. And then there was Stacy. She
had not been happy with the way he'd treated her, but there
was something more.
233
"Did Lady Stacy look all right to you?"
"She seemed thin, my lord, but I have not seen her of late
_ am probably not the one to judge."
But Tanner was one to judge. She did seem thinner, even
;e he'd seen her at Roddy and Luanda's.
And why wouldn't she? Tanner asked himself in disgust. yu treat your animals with more kindness than you've tvn your wife.
"Have Lady Stacy, her maid, the boy, and the boy's nurse,
tnoved down-the hall from my room."
"Her maid, sir?"
"Yes, her maid." Tanner's voice was testy.
"Oh, Hettie," Price clarified. "Of course, sir." Price would
have moved to the door then, but Tanner's face was that of a
thundercloud
"Are you saying my wife has no maid?"
"No, sir, but she does have Hettie."
"That'sail? Just Hettie?"
"I believe so, sir. There is no other staff of which I am
aware."
"Who takes care of the boy?"
"I believe Lady Richardson and Hettie do it themselves, my
lord."
Tanner wasn't sure what to do with this. He had sent Stacy
away, too angry to care if she had anything to live on. And by
the time he had wondered about it, she had moved back to
Middlesbrough where he knew her grandfather would take
care of her. But now t
he old man was dead. He'd seen Morgan.
Andrew Daniels had not died a wealthy man. What was Stacy
living on?
"Would you still like Lady Richardson moved, my lord?"
Price asked. Tanner was glad of the interruption.
"Yes. Have Jeffrey arrange it. Have him see that they're
made very comfortable. On second thought, see to it yourself.
Do you know the rooms I want?"
"Yes, sir. Down the hall from yours. I was going to put the
234
child and Hettie in the two adjoining, and Lady Stacy directly
across the hall."
"Good. And Price," Tanner began when the servant began
to move away, "tell Lady Richardson that I will expect her to
join me for dinner tonight. Seven o'clock."
"Yes, sir."
Price left, and Tanner finally reached for his coffee. He
brooded for a long time on the situation in his home, a
situation of his own creating. He asked himself many questions,
ending with whether or not he should have left Stacy in
London. He didn't have answers for each question that came
to mind, but to his last, it was an unqualified no.
235
E
; by coming here and keeping him shut away like so much
excess baggage. He trusted her to see to his best, and up until
now Stacy had been too afraid of Tanner to do that. Well, no
more.
As she opened the door to the bedroom, she determined
that as soon as she could figure a way to return to London and
then Middlesbrough, she would do so. Tanner hadn't wanted
her for three and a half years, and even though it looked for a
time like things had changed, he didn't want her now. As much
as it pained her to admit it, there was no reason to stay.
Stacy moved toward the north wing but did not return
immediately to her room. She stood in the massive hall down
from the door and looked out the window. It was a cloudy day,
and Stacy thought it fit her mood.
"I thought I could do this, Lord, but I'm failing miserably,"
she whispered out loud. "What is my responsibility here as a
wife? Do I stay no matter what ? Do I honor Tanner's wishes, no
matter what he expects of me? I wish Elena were here to talk
with. It's not as if we have no place else to go. This is not a fit
place with us tucked away all the time and the servants
glaring at us when we make work for them. *
"Tanner has done everything in his power to kill my love,
Lord, but it's not working. My heart still turns over every time I
see him. I need some help, Father. I need something to tell me
