Who Brings Forth the Wind (Kensington Chronicles) by Lori Wick Page B

riding gloves he'd dropped on the table. He turned toward
    the door without a word, and Lucinda did not try to speak to
    him. His pride had obviously been wounded, and she had no
    desire to rub salt in the wound. It was relief enough to see him
    go. He must realize now that she meant business concerning
    Stacy. Stacy, she reminded herself, must not know that he'd
    even been to call.
    Across the foyer in the library Stacy chose the book she
    desired and moved back toward the door. She hadn't even
    bothered to close it, since she'd known just what she was
    looking for. Halfway across the carpet, however, she was so
    startled that she dropped the book and simply stared.
    Tanner stood in the doorway, his eyes hooded and almost
    angry. Unlike the day before in the park, Stacy's gaze didn't
    soften; this time his look was too foreboding, and she was too
    surprised to find him in Aunt Lucinda's home.
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    Stacy watched as his eyes traveled over her dress. It was
    the red velvet she'd brought from home. Without moving from
    the doorway, he spoke.
    "That color is dreadful on you."
    Stacy shrugged apologetically and glanced down at the
    skirt. "Aunt Lucinda doesn't care for it either."
    At the sound of her voice Tanner had to draw nearer; it was
    as though he had no choice. He stopped a foot away from her
    and, feeling mesmerized, just stared into her wide, blue eyes.
    Every woman who's ever meant anything to me has been
    full of lies and deceit, he thought. Can this sweetness in her be
    real, or does it only last as long as she gets her way?
    "I'm not the marrying kind, Stacy," Tanner told her without
    preamble.
    He spoke the words as though they'd been discussing the
    matter, but as abrupt as they seemed, Stacy wasn't surprised to
    hear them. She nodded, her eyes regretful but understanding.
    It was almost more than Tanner could take. He wanted her
    to show her true self, to yell at him or lash out, but instead she
    continued to offer him only sweet sensitivity.
    Suddenly his hands grasped her upper arms in a grip that
    was firm but not bruising. It was as if he needed to be touching
    her to make his point.
    "I'm not the marrying kind, Stacy, and your aunt is completely
    unreasonable."
    His grasp had brought her so close that Stacy could feel his
    breath. She should have felt frightened, but instead her heart
    turned over with love for him. Her voice told him as much.
    "I'm not sure what you want of me, but I must do as
    Lucinda asks. It's what my grandfather would wish." Stacy
    paused before going on, almost talking to herself. "July is
    already here. Just a few weeks now, and it will be time for me
    to go home. It will be easier then."
    Defeat Washed over Tanner. He hadn't really expected her
    to leave with him on the spot, but he had halfway hoped she
    would at least be open to some discussion. It never once
    occurred to him that she didn't even realize he wanted her for
    a mistress.
    Tanner didn't speak again. He felt he had said it all. As his
    hands slowly released her, his eyes moved slowly over her
    face, as if to memorize every detail of her lovely features.
    When his inspection was complete, he brushed a soft kiss
    across her lips, moved to the door without looking back, and
    walked away.
    Stacy found a chair and sat down hard Her eyes focused
    unseeingly on the book she'd dropped on the floor. She sat for
    the next hour and stared at it, wondering how she was ever
    going to get over Lord Tanner Richardson.
    Just four days before Stacy was to leave for Middlesbrough,
    she and Roddy took a long ride in the park. As they
    rode, Stacy would fall into moments of quiet contemplation.
    Roddy knew she was thinking of Tanner. He alone knew that
    she'd seen him in Lucinda's library. What Stacy didn't know
    was that Tanner had not given up that day. He'd been to see
    Lucinda twice more in an attempt to reason with her, explaining
    what a wonderful life he could offer Stacy.
    Amazingly, Lucinda had not been offended. She had