Who Brings Forth the Wind Read online

  damper on her outings, but most of the time she was determined

  to enjoy herself and go home rich with memories and

  experiences.

  Every memory of home gave her a slight pang. She was

  truly pleased to be in London, but she missed her grandfather,

  Elena, Elena's girls, and Hettie terribly. When her feelings of

  homesickness threatened to overwhelm her, she thought of

  her dresses. They were the most beautiful she'd ever seen.

  Stacy found herself feeling very pleased that Lucinda had

  not listened to her about her grandfather's wishes. Had she

  done so, she would not have been stepping out in London with

  clothes that made her feel as if she belonged. So often her

  words to Hettie about being a country mouse came to mind.

  Most of the time she still felt that way inside, but on the outside

  she knew she was at the height of fashion.

  The dress she wore this day was a dark blue water silk of

  elegant simplicity. The neckline was high with a white lace

  inset. The same lace trimmed Stacy's three-quarter-length

  sleeves. The skirt was of a medium fullness, and the bodice

  accentuated the line of her waist and full bosom. As they

  climbed down from the carriage before Featherstone, Lady

  Andrea Brent's mansion, Lucinda felt a surge of pride in Stacy.

  Featherstone sat on the Thames and was one of London's

  most talked-about residences. Stacy and Lucinda were inside,

  standing in the vast foyer, before Stacy learned that Andrea

  was a duchess.

  "He said, 'The duchess will be with you in a moment,' Aunt

  Lucinda. Did he mean Lady Andrea?"

  "Well, of course," Lucinda frowned at her. "What did you

  think?"

  "I don't know. None of the other ladies I met this week

  were--" Stacy cut off her sentence when the servant reappeared

  and directed them forward.

  He opened a door at the rear of the foyer and led them into

  a huge parlor. Andrea was inside and rose immediately to

  greet them.

  "Come in, Lucinda." She greeted her with a kiss. "And you

  must be Stacy. Lucinda has told me so much about you." Stacy

  returned the spontaneous embrace, thinking that she liked

  Lady Andrea very much.

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  29

  "Please sit down." Andrea indicated the chairs and continued

  to speak as they moved "Your dress is lovely, Stacy

  Something tells me the two of you have been shopping."

  Lucinda looked so pleased that Stacy had to stifle a laugh.

  "We have been shopping," Lucinda announced proudly and

  went on to tell Andrea all they'd been about.

  Stacy found herself quelling laughter again, this time at

  herself, when she remembered the quiet existence she believed

  Aunt Lucinda led. Why, the older woman had more

  friends than Stacy could keep track of! Stacy glanced up at

  Andrea to find her hostess's eyes on her. They shared a small,

  almost secret, smile, and Stacy had the impression that Lady

  Andrea could read her thoughts.

  With an effort, the younger woman then concentrated on

  what her aunt was saying. She learned that they would be

  having tea with someone else the next day and then attending

  the Parkinsons' ball on Saturday night. The following Saturday

  it would be the Madisons' ball.

  Stacy's eyes, having just been so amused, must have now

  shown her shock over this news. Both women smiled at her.

  "You'll have a wonderful time, Stacy," Andrea assured her.

  "If your dress is half as lovely as it is today, you'll be the talk of

  the room." Andrea could see in an instant that she'd said the

  wrong thing. A moment later Stacy's words confirmed this.

  "I don't want to be the talk of the room," she said softly,

  and Lucinda's voice was tight when she spoke.

  "Honestly, Stacy, you would think you don't even like all

  the new things I've bought you or want to show them off."

  "Oh, no, Aunt Lucinda," Stacy was Instantly contrite. "I

  love my new dresses." Her answer was an honest one, but

  Stacy was far too timid to tell Lucinda she didn't care to be

  on display.

  Lucinda, choosing to ignore Stacy's discomfort, nodded

  her stubborn chin as though she'd won the battle. Lady Brent

  was thankful that tea was announced. Neither of her guests

  noticed her scrutiny of Stacy's quiet face or her worried frown

  over Lucinda's control of the girl. Thankfully, tea-time passed

  smoothly.

  Two hours later Andrea was seeing her guests to the door.

  The older women conversed as they walked, and Stacy was

  content to listen. All three of them were surprised when the

  front door suddenly opened and in swept the most beautiful

  woman Stacy had ever seen.

  "Sunny!" Andrea cried and rushed forward to embrace the

  lovely chestnut-haired girl.

  "Hello, Mum. Am I interrupting?"

  "Of course not. Come and meet Stacy. You know Lucinda

  Warbrook."

  "Of course. It's lovely to see you, Lady Warbrook."

  "And this is her niece, Stacy Daniels. Stacy, this is my

  daughter-in-law, Sunny."

  "Hello, Stacy." Sunny greeted her with genuine kindness,

  "I hope you're not leaving."

  "Actually, we are," Stacy told her with real regret.

  "My timing is awful." Sunny pulled a face that did nothing

  to detract from her lovely appearance. "At least I can walk you

  out."

  This said, Sunny tucked her arm in Stacy's and began to

  chatter as they walked out the front door toward the waiting

  carriage.

  "I think I know your cousin. Is her name Elena?"

  "Yes," Stacy answered with surprised pleasure. "How do

  you know her?"

  "We met a few years ago, just after she married your

  grandfather's cousin. She was in London for a visit, and I think

  she was expecting her first child."

  "That would be Harmony. She's had another little girl

  since then; they named her Brittany."

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  "Those are lovely names. Do you miss Elena and the

  girls?"

  "I can't tell you how much," Stacy told her fervently and

  then pulled a face of her own. "I also miss our home in the

  country. London is so huge and noisy."

  "You forgot smelly," Sunny added.

  Stacy laughed. "How could anyone forget that?"

  "I prefer the country myself," Sunny told her as they

  walked. "Maybe you'll have a chance to visit Bracken while

  you're here. We would love to have you."

  Stacy looked delighted and then uncertain. "I'm not exactly

  sure what Aunt Lucinda has in mind," she admitted softly.

  The two older women were following slowly, so Sunny

  only had time to nod in comprehension and say just as quietly,

  "I think I understand. Lucinda must feel she's been given a live

  doll to play with."

  Stacy laughed softly at the accurate description of her

  relationship with Lucinda and found Sunny grinning at her.

  "I like you, Stacy Daniels," Sunny told her.

  "And I like you, Sunny," Stacy barely had time to reply

  before being joined
by Lucinda and Andrea.

  Stacy thanked her hostess and climbed into the carriage

  without ceremony. As it pulled away, Lucinda commented on

  having just spotted the duke as he joined his wife and mother.

  Stacy wanted to question her on the spot, but Lucinda continued

  to speak.

  "It had been on the tip of my tongue to ask Sunny if she was

  here with Brandon."

  "Brandon?"

  "Yes," Lucinda answered absently. "Sunny's husband, Brandon

  Hawkesbury, the Duke of Briscoe."

  Stacy's eyes widened a bit, but Lucinda didn't seem to

  notice. Stacy was very quiet on the ride home.

  "WELL, what did you think of her?" Andrea asked of Sunny

  when they were finally alone.

  "I think she's the sweetest thing I've ever met. And," Sunny

  paused for emphasis, "I know her cousin, Elena, who happens

  to be a believer. We met a few years ago, and she told me at the

  time that she was praying for Stacy's salvation. I find it very

  exciting that the Lord put us together, however briefly."

  "Put who together?" Brandon asked as he joined the ladies

  and they went in to lunch.

  Sunny explained her encounter with Stacy, and when

  Brandon prayed before they ate, he asked God to bless Stacy

  and give her further contact with Sunny.

  They were halfway through the meal before Brandon

  commented cryptically on his mother's lack of enthusiasm.

  "Over what?" Andrea wanted to know, thinking she'd

  been quite pleased over Stacy's visit.

  "I was so excited about Stacy," Sunny admitted softly to

  her spouse, "that I forgot to tell her."

  Andrea looked from her son to her daughter-in-law, and a

  slow smile pulled her mouth into a huge grin.

  "I thought there was something going on, Sunny." She rose

  and kissed her cheek. "You have that special glow about you."

  Brandon and Sunny exchanged a glance, one of love and

  sharing. The meal continued with a discussion about how old

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  their first child, Sterling, would be when his younger brother

  or sister was born.

  Stacy moved into the parlor at Lucinda's and collapsed

  into a chair. Her feet were throbbing, but she was as lightearted

  as a child. She had survived her first London ball, and

  it had been the most exciting night of her life.

  The ballroom and dining room at the Parkinsons' had

  been absolutely beautiful. Stacy needed only to close her eyes

  to see the lovely candelabras and hear the music play. She had

  danced for hours.

  "I think she's asleep," Roddy commented as he came into

  the room and made himself comfortable.

  Stacy's eyes opened, and she smiled. Lucinda had invited

  him in to rest by the fire.

  "Sleepy, but not sleeping. I was thinking of the dance."

  "I was thinking of it myself," Lucinda put in as she made

  herself comfortable across from Stacy, eyeing her maternally.

  "I think Lord Culbertson was quite taken with you."

  "He's so nice," Stacy commented sweetly, "and he loves to fish," she added with enthusiasm, her blue eyes sparkling.

  Roddy chuckled over Lucinda's good-natured groan.

  "Is that all you spoke of?" the older woman wanted to

  know.

  "Well," Stacy sat up straight and tried to think, wanting to

  please her aunt, "he told me about his horses, and I told him

  about Noel's stables."

  "My dear Stacy," Lucinda's look was pained, "Lord Culbertson

  raises some of the finest horses in England."

  Stacy's fine mood was deserting her. She tried to think of

  something else they spoke of that would pacify her aunt.

  "He said my dress was pretty and my hair. And he didn't

  seem to mind that we were of the same height."

  "But you spent most of the time discussing fishing?" Roddy

  asked gently.

  Stacy nodded, looking miserable now. "I'm sorry, Aunt

  Lucinda. I hope I didn't embarrass you."

  Stacy's look, that of a child who had disappointed her

  mother, was too much for the older woman. Lucinda's own

  look became a mask of shame.

  "You could never embarrass me, Stacy. I couldn't have

  been prouder of you tonight if you had been my very own

  daughter. I'm sure Lord Culbertson was captivated."

  Stacy looked uncertain, but she did feel a little better. "At

  least he wasn't a duke," Stacy added as an afterthought. "They

  still intimidate me."

  "Why is that?" Roddy wished to know.

  "I guess because the only one I've ever been acquainted with is rather mean. His wife is even worse. Each time I see

  them, they make me feel like some sort of country vermin. It

  makes me feel as though I've no right to be moving in their

  circles.

  "Sunny and Andrea are certainly nice people, but it may

  take some time for me to get beyond their titles. I know it must

  sound silly to you, but I've no lofty aspirations. My grandfather

  is a viscount. I've always assumed I'd marry a viscount or a

  baron who led a simple life, and that's always been fine."

  Lucinda did not look overly pleased with this news, but

  Roddy was able to catch her eye and with a slight move of his

  head, keep her hushed. Stacy, growing sleepier by the moment,

  didn't notice their silent exchange.

  "Goodnight, Aunt Lucinda. Goodnight, Roddy; I'll be

  ready in the morning," she bid them softy as she stood. They

  returned her wishes for a good night and watched her exit the

  room.

  "It's silly of her to be afraid," Lucinda said immediately,

  her tone impatient.

  "Be that as it may, she is. I see no reason to try to calm her,

  since it's very unlikely that she will encounter many dukes."

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  &

  Lucinda didn't seem very satisfied with his logic. She

  named the few eligible dukes out loud, all 80 if they were a

  day, until Roddy stopped her with a soft rebuke.

  "Cinda! You don't actually have your sights set on a duke,

  do you?"

  "No," she admitted "In fact, I thinkLord Culbertson might

  do very well for Stacy, and he's a marquess."

  "He's also old enough to be her father." Roddy's voice was

  dry.

  "Well, we might not be able to be so picky," Lucinda nearly

  snapped.

  "Why must she marry at all?" Roddy questioned, not at all

  put off by her bad humor. His question only gained him a

  quelling look, one that amused him more than anything else.

  A moment's silence passed before Roddy suggested the only

  young, single duke he knew.

  "There is always Lord Richardson." Roddy worked to keep

  his face bland while Lucinda's flushed with anger.

  "Don't be ridiculous! He's the biggest cynic in all of England

  and all wrong for Stacy." Lucinda's foot beat a rapid tatoo on

  the floor. Roddy watched her for a moment and then stood

  with a lazy stretch.

  "This conversation has worn me out. Remind Stacy that I'll

  be here at 10:00 sharp for our ride."

  With that he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Lucinda's

  brow. Her anger melted at h
is tenderness, and even

  though no more words were said, their eyes held for just a

  moment before Roddy crossed the room to the door.

  "Thank you. I think this one must be my favorite."

  "Roddy's head will swell when he's seen in the park with

  you."

  Stacy smiled shyly without answering. Lucinda patted the

  side of the bed, and she took a seat.

  "Are you having a good time with me, dear?" Lucinda's

  eyes were eager.

  "Oh, yes, Aunt Lucinda. It's been wonderful." Stacy hesitated

  before going on. "Are you pleased with me?"

  Lucinda's answer was to tenderly cup Stacy's soft, rosy

  cheeks in her perfectly manicured hands and place a gentle

  kiss upon her forehead. Stacy was very touched by the gesture

  and was surprised to see tears in Lucinda's eyes. The older

  woman busied herself with her bedclothes to cover the fact,

  but Stacy had seen them nonetheless.

  "Aunt Lucinda?"

  "Yes, dear." Lucinda's voice held a catch.

  "May I ask you a question?"

  "Of course." She cleared her throat and finally looked up.

  "Why have you never married Roddy?"

  Lucinda's eyes, which had first held expectancy, became

  very thoughtful, but she wasn't long in answering.

  "He's never asked me."

  Stacy tipped her head to one side. "But you love him?"

  "Yes" was the serene reply. "I have for years."

  Stacy nodded, feeling closer to her aunt than ever before.

  Silence passed for a moment, a gentle silence with no hint of

  strain or awkwardness, before Craig knocked and announced

  that Roddy had arrived for Stacy.

  "Oh, Stacy, that color is beautiful on you," Lucinda complimented

  her the next morning when Stacy entered her

  bedroom wearing a pale yellow riding habit with a white

  blouse and short jacket.

  "I'm probably the most envied man in the park today,"

  Roddy commented from the back of his horse. Stacy smiled.

  "Aunt Lucinda said your head would swell when you were

  seen with me today," Stacy admitted and then looked swiftly

  38

  37

  at Roddy to see if she'd offended him with Luanda's words.

  On the contrary, his shoulders were shaking with laughter.

  They rode on in silence for a time. Roddy took them down

  one of his favorite paths. They were halfway to the other side

  when they passed another group of riders. Stacy recognized a

  few from the Parkinsons' ball and smiled, but in her mind the

  entire event passed without exception. Not so for Roddy. Stacy