Tags:
Fiction,
Historical fiction,
General,
Romance,
Love Stories,
Christian fiction,
Religious,
Christian,
London (England),
Married People,
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
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 his 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
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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
glanced over to ask him a question and found his handsome
face in a fierce frown.
"Are you feeling ill, Roddy?"
"No. I'm just always amazed at the ton's propensity for
gossip."
Stacy stared at him uncomprehendingly.
"I take it you didn't hear that remark concerning you and
me?"
Stacy shook her head no.
"Well, then, we'll let the matter drop."
Stacy nodded in agreement but was troubled by his words.
It was a pity really that her friendship with Roddy had to be put
in a sordid light, because it simply wasn't so. He was only a few
years younger than Lucinda and like a father figure to her.
Even if her heart had moved to romance where he was concerned,
in her mind he belonged to Lucinda. Stacy sighed
softly and did her best to do as Roddy suggested
"I don't believe you've heard a word I've said," Lord Edmond
Black complained to his nephew as their horses stood off the
path in a small copse of trees. "But I'm going to say it again. I
think those horses are a good investment, and I think you
should look into it."
Tanner glanced at the older man for an instant, but his
eyes swung swiftly back to the woman riding through the park
with Roddy Caruthers. Something tightened in his chest as he
watched her smile at her companion, something he hadn't felt
for years.
Edmond