by Lori Wick
Had he been in the coach with them, Tanner might have
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noticed her discomfort, but he'd opted to start the journey on
horseback.
Drew had fallen asleep almost as soon as they had left, and
even though Stacy had shifted his head from her abdomen for
some relief, she was now growing desperate. Suddenly Drew
stirred.
"Mumma," he said in a sleepy voice. "Mumma, I need to be
excused."
Stacy's fist flew to the top of the carriage, and seconds
later the coach slowed to a stop. When the door opened,
Tanner stood there.
"Drew needs to be excused."
"All right." Tanner's voice was calm. "I'll see to him."
"I'll take care of him!" Stacy nearly shouted in his face.
Tanner blinked at her tone before stepping back quickly when
she barged her way from the carriage. Understanding was
only seconds in coming, and he was calling himself every kind
of fool as he followed her into the privacy of the woods.
"Here, Stacy, I'll see to Drew."
Tanner didn't give Stacy time to argue as he lifted Drew in
his arms and went in the opposite direction. Stacy wasted no
time but shot behind some bushes to see to her own needs.
Some minutes later she made her way comfortably back to the
carriage. Tanner and Drew were already there, and Stacy saw
instantly that Tanner's horse was tied to the rear of the carriage.
"Lady Blackwell sent a large hamper along. Would you like
to stop now?"
"I'm really not hungry," Stacy told him. "Would you like to
stop?"
"No, we can wait." Tanner's voice was cordial as he ushered
her and Drew into the carriage. Drew sat in his father's
lap then and entertained the older lord for the next two hours.
Stacy lasted only 20 minutes before she let her head fall
against the side of the coach and went to sleep.
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I
"The White Stag" was the sign above the inn door as
Tanner saw his family into the public room that evening. The
great room was clean and sparsely occupied, making the duke
and his party all the more conspicuous.
Stacy stood holding Drew's hand as Tanner had a few J
words with Price. Every head in the place was turned in their
direction, but Stacy kept her eyes on Tanner. Some minutes
passed before the innkeeper led the way upstairs.
The room the man opened for them was clean, but small.
It sported one full bed, and Stacy wondered about the sleeping
arrangement. She didn't wonder long, however. As soon as the
innkeeper left them, Tanner explained in a soft voice while
Drew stared at his reflection in the glass of the window.
"We'll have our dinner up here, probably delivered in a
few minutes. Price is going to be across the hall, and Drew will
sleep with him."
"I thought Drew would be in here with us."
"There really isn't room. And," Tanner went on when Stacy
opened her mouth, "do not even suggest that the two of you
stay alone because I won't allow it. Price has one of my pistols,
and I have the other. This is the safest arrangement."
"If the inn is not safe, why are we staying here?"
Stacy's voice was as low as Tanner's, but he could read the
panic in her eyes. His hand came up to touch her cheek as he
answered.
"The White Stag is one of the more reputable roadside
inns, but since our clothing and coaches spell money, they all
carry a measure of risk. I assure you, no harm will come to
Drew when he's with Price, and any man coming to this door
will have to go through me."
Stacy had little choice but to agree. She wondered if they
should have stayed on the road When she said as much to
Tanner, he adamantly shook his head.
"You are nearly out on your feet, and we all need to eat."
"I need to eat." Drew had left the window and now stood
looking a bit anxious at his father's side; it had been a long day.
Tanner lifted him into his arms.
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"Our food will be here at any time, and then you're going
to spend the night with Price."
Drew's eyes rounded "Price?"
"That's right, and then in the morning you'll come back in
here for breakfast and we'll head home."
"To Roddy's?"
"No, my darling," Stacy interjected, her heart turning over
for him. "We're going to Winslow."
Drew looked uncertain.
"You know Winslow," his father said. "Your room is brown
and gold and you have a huge nursery to play in."
Now it was time for Stacy to share Drew's confusion.
Mother and son stared at Tanner until he frowned fiercely.
"You were never shown the nursery, were you?" Tanner's
voice was tight, but Stacy could see that he was trying to
control his anger and that it was not directed at her.
In answer to his question, she only shook her head and
tried not to think about going back to Tanner's difficult staff.
More might have been said on the subject, because Stacy truly
believed it needed to be discussed, but there was no more
opportunity. Someone knocked then, and their food was
delivered
Because they left the inn early and the roads were fairly
dry, they made good time going home. The coaches pulled up
just after noon, and Tanner held Stacy's elbow as they went
inside. Standing ready to greet them was a man Stacy had
never seen before.
"This is Reece," Tanner explained "He is the new head of
housekeeping. He will introduce you to the rest of the staff as
needed."
"Hello, Reece," Stacy, in a state of shock, spoke to the kind-looking
man.
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Reece bowed low, his posture and very expression begging
to serve her. "Welcome home, my lady. I hope we
can serve you well. This is Juliet." Reece brought forth a young maid. "She will be your personal maid until you wish
to choose another. Would you like Juliet to go with you
now?"
"No," Tanner answered for her. "I'll see my wife upstairs
and will send for you later."
"Yes, my lord." Reece bowed again and backed away so
they could pass. Several other staff members were present, all
complete strangers to Stacy. Their faces were all wreathed in
smiles, however, and the young duchess had the impression
that any one of them would hand her the shirt off his back.
Once Tanner and Stacy gained the upper floor, Stacy
questioned her husband.
"I take it you've replaced some of the staff?"
"Not some of them, but the whole."
Stacy stopped in the hall. "Even cook?"
Tanner gently shook his head. "Let me amend that, I've
dismissed everyone but Price and cook."
Stacy just stood and stared at him. She would have continued
to do so, but he reached for her hand and led her through
a door. Not until that moment did Stacy realize it was the
master bedroom suite. With a heart pounding with unidentified
emotion, Stacy allowed herself to
be led through her old
sitting room, past the dressing room, and into Winslow's
spectacular master bedroom. Tanner brought them to a halt
but didn't turn to Stacy or even look at her. Stacy hated to
question him and break the sweet communion that had existed
between them since he came for her, but she had to know.
"Tanner, if you're going to change your mind about my
being in here with you, I'd rather start down the hall."
"We've slept in the same bed for the last two nights."
Tanner's voice betrayed none of his feelings.
"I realize that," Stacy spoke evenly. "But you didn't really
have much choice."
This time Tanner didn't answer. He reached for the small
satchel in Stacy's other hand and tossed it onto the bed. Stacy
knew that would have to be answer enough.
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the fork in stacy's hand felt weighted as she tried to eat
the lunch set before her. She had been quite weary for several
days before Tanner came for her, and frankly she was tired of
being tired. But what could she do? It must be the pregnancy.
A glance at Drew told her he was equally exhausted, and
Stacy knew it was also the carriage ride home. She was looking
forward to putting him to bed and climbing in herself.
However, it wasn't that simple.
At Roddy and Lucinda's or at the Blackwells', she would
have taken Drew right into bed with her, but she didn't feel as
free to do that here. Her bed now was also Tanner's, and she
didn't know if he approved of such a thing.
At the moment, Stacy missed Hettie terribly. Irrepressible
Hettie, with her sharp tongue and stubborn ways, would have
taken Drew off to his bed, put herself in the fireside chair in
his room to sleep, and allowed Stacy to find her own rest.
Stacy had just about decided to go to Drew's room with him
when Tanner came to her rescue. He entered the small dining
room and bent to speak closely into her ear.
"I've asked Price to put Drew down for his nap so you can
rest."
"Oh." Stacy was surprised and uncertain, "I don't mind
putting him down."
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"I know you don't, but he and Price are getting along well,
and Drew will do well with him until other arrangements can
be made."
This statement sounded somewhat cryptic to Stacy, but she
was too tired to argue. She watched her son carefully as
Tanner broke the news to him, waiting for him to cry for her or
complain. Once his face and hands were clean, however, he
kissed his mother and skipped off with Tanner's man as if it
were an everyday occurrence.
Juliet was waiting for her in her sitting room, and although
Stacy felt a bit awkward in her presence, Juliet's manner was
kind and matter-of-fact. Within minutes Stacy was down to
her shift and tucked into bed. The sheets were cold at first and
caused her to become quite wide awake for a moment, but it
didn't last. Very soon, while praising God for bringing her
home and for Tanner's efforts to take care of her, Stacy fell
sound asleep.
Two hours later, she was just beginning to stir. She rolled
to her back, feeling fully refreshed and contemplating rising
when Tanner came in from his dressing room. He sat down on
the edge of the bed and leaned over her. Stacy stared up into
his face, wishing again that she knew his thoughts.
"I'm glad to see you looking so rested. When I came into
the dining room I thought I might need to carry you upstairs."
"I doubt if you could lift me at this point."
One of Tanner's brows flew upward "Your face is just
starting to fill out so you look like the girl I married, Stacy."
Stacy's eyes widened, and Tanner shook his head.
"I suppose you've got some silly notion that I find you
repulsive while in your present state."
Stacy blushed at his perception. "The thought did cross my
mind"
"Oh, Anastasia." Tanner's voice was low. "Nothing could
be further from the truth."
Stacy watched his eyes move warmly over her, his scrutiny
ending with her stomach and the way it rounded the blankets.
For the first time, he touched her. Stacy lay still as he placed
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his hand gently on her distended abdomen and splayed his
long fingers wide.
"You might get kicked," Stacy whispered, as if a louder
voice might break the spell.
The baby moved as though on cue. Stacy watched her
husband's face as he moved his other hand to his wife's
stomach and stared in wonder.
"Will you be cold if I draw the covers back?"
"No."
Tanner did so, anxious to feel the baby through just the
light fabric of her shift, but it seemed that the little person
inside had settled once again.
"Does he move often?"
"All day."
"Does it bother you?"
"Only when I'm trying to sleep."
"Your stomach is hard." Tanner's hands were still spanning
her middle.
"Harder sometimes than others."
"Am I hurting you?"
"No," Stacy chuckled. "Drew climbs all over me. Speaking
of Drew, I should get up and check on him."
"He's been up a few minutes, and he's still with Price.
Before you go to him, I want to talk to you about something."
Tanner's hands came away from her now, and after he
replaced the covers, Stacy lay watching him.
"I've hired a nanny."
Stacy's entire frame stiffened. Alarm covered her face as
she half sat up.
"Tanner, I--"
"Just a minute," he cut her off, but there was nothing
dictatorial in his tone. "Let me explain."
"Hettie--" Stacy started again.
"Will come back as ornery as ever, I have no doubts about
that." Tanner's voice was dry. "But her recovery will not erase
the years. She's getting too old to be shadowing a boy as active
as Drew."
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The words so echoed Stacy's thoughts of late that she lay
back to hear him out.
"The nanny's name is Mrs. Maxwell, and she was recommended
to me by Sunny." Tanner let that sink in a moment
before going on. "She is not here to take yours or Hettie's job,
but to give you both a hand. She will have no other responsibilities
here at Winslow other than to see to Drew. She will
be free to help at a moment's notice."
"Is Drew with her now?" Stacy's voice was accusing, but
Tanner did not take offense.
"No, as I said, he's with Price. I honestly think he will fall
for her as soon as they meet, but I didn't want that to happen
without talking to you."
"How old a woman is she?"
"Mid-fifties."
"Where is her husband?"
"She's a widow. Her children are all grown. She has two
grandchildren, who, I have assured her, would be welcome to
visit here if you approve her staying."
Stacy took a deep breath. She was a little surprised that
Tanner had done this after he'd gone to so much troubl
e to fire
and rehire the staff for her. Stacy hated to admit it to herself,
but Tanner's hiring a nanny without first talking to her felt just
a little sneaky. Such thoughts flew out of Stacy's mind, however,
on Tanner's next sentence.
"She shares your beliefs."
"She what?" Stacy could hardly believe her ears.
"Mrs. Maxwell believes as you do, that you can have a
personal relationship with God. I think if you meet her, you'll
find her most suitable for Drew's needs."
Stacy momentarily found herself without words. With the
exception of Price, Tanner was not in the habit of becoming
well acquainted with any of his servants. Stacy couldn't help
wondering how he'd come by this knowledge.
"Will you meet her?" Tanner pressed, his expression giving
nothing away as he watched Stacy's face.
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'Yes, I will. IVe been concerned about Hettie for
time. She's been with me for so long she seems more liki
mother than a servant. I know you balk at our familiarity, but]
can't cast her aside."L
"I think I understand I have a feeling that Hettie will dol
some balking herself over any changes we make, but on thtfl
inside she's bound to be relieved."., 1
Stacy could hardly argue with that. And who know, Stacy 1
thought to herself. If Mrs. Maxwell is a sister in Christ, maybe 1 she'll have some positive impact on Hettie.
Mrs. Maxwell was all Stacy could have prayed for. She was
gentle-mannered and soft-spoken, and her humble willingness
to please put Stacy immediately at ease with her. Stacy
was present when she met Drew, and just as Tanner had
predicted, he took to her right away.
It took a number of days for Stacy to recover from the long
carriage ride, and during that time Mrs. Maxwell was invaluable.
She seemed highly sensitive to Stacy's fatigue and would,
with the most gentle of urgings, distract Drew from talking
overly much or making unreasonable demands.
Stacy couldn't have been more grateful, as word came to
them just a few weeks after they'd arrived home that Hettie
would need to stay where she was. Lady Blackwell assured
Stacy that Hettie was not on her deathbed, but that she was
still very ill. Stacy wanted to go to her, but in her condition
Tanner had to refuse.
To relieve Stacy's mind, however, Tanner sent a servant to
check on Hettie and return with a report. It was just as Lady
Blackwell had said She was not dying, but neither was she
ready for the long journey home to Winslow.
