Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8 (4 page)

“I don’t understand…” she gasped, shaking her head in wonder. “Is all this supposed to be for me? And if so, why?”

Kit giggled with little-girl delight, pleased and relieved that Marilee did not seem offended. “Of course it’s for you. I just thought this was a good time for you to stop looking like a birthday cake and start dressing like the glamorous
femme fatale
you really are!”

Marilee could not help laughing at that declaration, but then began to blink back tears of happiness as she paused to admiringly and lovingly touch the hem of a stunning gold lamé evening dress. The neckline was low, edged in tiny diamonds and pearls, the waist high, with the skirt draped to ankle length. She did not have to try it on to know it would fit perfectly, for she knew Kit would have somehow managed to have everything designed and made to size.

“I just don’t know what to say,” she softly cried, overcome with emotion. “I can’t believe you went to this much trouble for me.”

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while now, and this was the perfect opportunity. Besides,” Kit gently pointed out, “I was afraid you wouldn’t have nerve enough to do it for yourself. I always thought you were a little mouse, remember?”

They giggled together as they rushed around the room trying to decide which gown would be worn that night, but could not make up their minds before it was time for Marilee to meet with Jade.

“We’ll do it later,” Kit promised, then left.

Feeling better than she had in a long time, Marilee hurried to Jade’s room and found Valerie already there and absolutely trembling with the ecstatic joy of her wedding day. She had always reminded Marilee of what an angel would be like if one floated down to earth—soft golden hair, eyes the color of a summer sky, a sweet smile and disposition to match. Fragile. An almost ethereal air about her. Everyone loved her, and Marilee had never heard Valerie say an unkind word about anyone.

“Marilee! Your hair!” Valerie cried, rushing to give her a hug of greeting. “I love it. You look so…so sophisticated!”

“No longer a birthday cake?” Marilee laughed.

Valerie blinked, not understanding, but then Jade said, “Girls, time is short, and I want to talk to you. It won’t be long before the guests start arriving, so come sit down, please.”

They positioned themselves on the divan, with Jade in a chair opposite. From a pocket she brought forth a small pouch of red velvet, tied with a gold cord, and laid it on the table between them. She looked at each young woman in turn, then began to speak in a voice that was tremulous with emotion. “This is a very special day for me, and I wanted to celebrate it by giving each of you something to remember it by. On Kit’s wedding day I gave her the diamond-and-emerald earrings her father gave to me on our wedding day.

“On
your
wedding day, Valerie”—she paused to give her a loving gaze—“I want you to have this.” She reached into the pouch, then held something out to her.

Curious, Valerie took it; then her fingers began to tremble as she saw what it was, and she nearly dropped it as she stammered, “This—this is the ring Travis’s grandmother gave to you on your wedding day. Travis told me about it. He said his grandfather gave it to her on their tenth wedding anniversary.”

Jade nodded as she looked fondly at the pearl-and-emerald ring. “I want you to have it, with the wish that the love Travis Coltrane had for Kitty; that Colt has for me, is carried on with my son’s love for you.”

Marilee felt awkward and she started to rise, but her aunt held up a hand for her to remain seated. “I could come back later, Aunt Jade,” she suggested.

“Don’t go, please.”

Marilee sank back onto the divan.

“The truth is, this is a very emotional time for me,” Jade admitted. “With the world in such turmoil, there’s no telling when, or if, we’ll all ever be together again. So I wanted to give each of you something meaningful, as a symbol of my love for you.”

She reached into the pouch once more, then held her hand out to Marilee.

“Oh, my God!” For a moment, Marilee could only stare at the stunning gold, garnet, and ruby pendant, for it was the most exquisite piece she had ever seen. Then she touched it ever so cautiously, as though it might burn her flesh. Incredulous, she whispered, “You’re actually giving this…to
me
?”

“Yes. It was a special gift to me from Nicholas on my wedding day. He had it fashioned by the Imperial Court jeweler, Peter Carl Fabergé. Now it’s yours, as a token of my affection for you, Marilee.”

Marilee stood to walk around the table and embrace her aunt. She felt deep, abiding gratitude…and guilt for the way she had been regarding the Coltranes.

“I’ll treasure this forever,” she fervently vowed.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door, and Jade frowned, for she’d left word they not be disturbed. “Yes, what is it?” she called irritably.

The door opened with an apologetic hesitancy. Kit’s head housekeeper, Lowinda, appeared, looking quite agitated herself. “I am sorry,
señora
,” she cried, wringing her hands. “I know you requested not to be disturbed, but there is an early guest downstairs who demands to see the
señorita
at once.” She nodded almost accusingly at Marilee, as though it were
her
fault this was all happening.

Marilee blinked, bewildered. “But I’m not expecting anyone. Who—”

Lowinda sniffed with disdain, still blaming her for the chastisement she was surely to get from her mistress. She walked to where Marilee was standing, held out a small white card with stiff fingers.

Marilee, completely baffled, took it, then gasped as the name leaped out at her: Herr
Rudolf of Hapsburg
.

Chapter Five

In her efforts to give her brother and his bride a wedding that they would never forget, Kit Coltrane Tanner’s imagination had soared to superb heights.

Kurt Tanner had lovingly gone along with his wife’s every whim and wish, surprising even himself by consenting to her most astonishing request. Large spiders were brought in from China and set free in the trees lining the driveway to the castle. For weeks great webs had been spun, and on the morning of the wedding, workers had been given bags of gold and silver dust and, with bellows, coated the webs. This created a fantastic canopy, aerial and metallic, that billowed in the moving air, quivering and glinting in the morning light.

Gallons of imported and expensive French perfume had been sprayed into the air so that the entire area was fogged in sweet fragrance.

The wedding party was taken by carriage from the rear of the castle so they would have full benefit of the startling view that awaited them when they reached the great webbed canopy.

Travis and Colt, his best man, led the procession, both awed by the wonderland that had been created.

Then came Jade, riding with Kit, little Joseph, and Natasia in a gold-and-white horse-drawn carriage.

Jade could only stare in astonishment, while Joseph clapped his hands in delight. Natasia did not understand the beauty nature had created, and merely looked around with wide, almost frightened eyes as she sucked her thumb.

Marilee rode alone in a small blue carnage, the skirt of her peach-colored silk gown billowing about her on the leather seat. She was only dimly aware of the gold-and silver-dusted webs, did not even notice the overwhelming sweetness of the air, and smiled vaguely, absently, at the strange faces of the guests mingling along the driveway for a better view of the bridal parade. She was still dazed by Rudolf’s unexpected arrival. There had not been much time for conversation, only a few moments of greeting. He had laughed with delight to have taken her so totally by surprise, roguishly warning he’d come to abduct her and carry her away by force, if need be, to his own castle in Zurich.

A footman was waiting now to take the reins of the horse from her driver; another stood by to help her alight.

She smiled demurely at Travis, Uncle Colt, and could not help glancing about till she met Rudolf’s gaze. He was standing close to one side, looking at her with open adoration. A few of the unmarried girls in attendance hovered nearby and, seeing the way he was looking at Marilee, began to glower with disappointment.

She took her place, then turned to await Valerie’s arrival.

Everyone was excited, whispering among themselves as the orchestra began to play the wedding procession, and they strained to see the arrival of the bride.

And then it came into view—the pink-and-white carriage, drawn by six stunning white horses, all wearing pink velvet coats, with pink harnesses adorned with little golden bells. They strutted and high-stepped, but with gentle precision, the way they had been carefully trained, so as not to cause the princess they carried to be jostled from her throne.

Valerie was radiant in her wedding gown of white satin and lace. A fortune in diamonds studded the billowing skirt, and her tiara was fashioned of emeralds and pearls, her veil brushed with thousands of tiny diamond chips.

When her carriage reached the pagoda, where the ceremony would take place, Travis could restrain himself no longer. A footman moved to help her alight, but he stepped out of place to brush him aside and set her gently on the ground. An approving ripple went through the two thousand or more guests in attendance, crowded there on the lawn, as he went one step further. Unable to resist, he lifted her veil and whispered, “God, you’re beautiful, and I love you so,” and he kissed her tenderly before taking her hand to lead her to her place before the altar.

Colt and Jade exchanged loving, amused glances for their son’s impromptu behavior.

Kit and Kurt also looked at each other and smiled, for they knew what it meant to be so dazzlingly in love.

Marilee saw what went on, then lowered her eyes to stare at her satin shoes, not about to glance at Rudolf for she knew, somehow, that she just couldn’t look at him that way, knew he was expecting her to, and she didn’t want to hurt him.

The music faded, ended, and a hush fell over the crowd. The minister began to speak, asking everyone to bow their heads in an opening prayer. Then Travis and Valerie exchanged their vows, and finally Travis was lifting her veil, kissing her as his wife. Everyone cheered.

Colt had his turn to kiss the bride; then other men playfully joined in, brushing their lips against Valerie’s glowing, upturned cheek. And Travis turned to kiss the ladies, first his mother, then Kit, finally Marilee.

She felt a possessive hand on her arm and found herself looking up into Rudolf’s adoring gaze. “You’re more beautiful than the bride,” he said, his voice a soft caress as he slipped his arm around her, slowly guiding her away from the crowd. “I’m living for the day when you’re
my
bride, you know.”

“Rudolf, not here,” she protested. “We can talk later about—”

“About so many things.” He laughed. “Like when I can expect you in Zurich, and when we can announce our engagement. Oh, Marilee, my mother is so anxious to meet you. In fact, you can blame her for my showing up like this. She and Elenore both insisted that I come here and persuade you to go back with me.”

“I can’t do that. Not now. I’ve got so much on my mind right now, Rudolf.”

“Like what?” he challenged, then softly intoned, “I know you’re worried about your father, Marilee, but there’s nothing you can do. Worrying isn’t going to help. Russia is in such a turmoil now that it’s no wonder he can’t get a letter out, if…” His voice trailed pointedly.

“
If
he’s still alive,” she finished tightly. “I won’t let myself believe he’s dead, Rudolf.”

“I know, I know.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “But you must face reality. It’s just a matter of time till the Bolsheviks succeed in overthrowing Kerensky and his Provisional Government. There’s going to be even more bloodshed. If your father
is
still alive, and dear God, I pray he is, he’d be wise to leave Russia.

“Tell me,” he suddenly urged, “what do you think happened to your father when the Czar was arrested shortly after he abdicated? You’ve told me they were close friends and confidants. Don’t you suppose he’s also being held as a political prisoner?”

“No. I told you my uncle Colt has a lot of influential friends in high places, and the American Embassy in Russia told him they had no evidence he was arrested, but they don’t have any idea where he is, either.” She shut her eyes, attempting to close out the misery Rudolf’s probing questions provoked. “If you don’t mind, I really don’t want to talk about any of this just now. This is supposed to be a happy day, and—”

“I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to cause you any distress.”

“I know, Rudolf. And I don’t mean to be difficult, and I’m certainly not trifling with you. It’s just that I have to make a few decisions on my own…”

“Like changing your hairstyle.” He smiled, nodding at her new bob.

“Do you like it?”

He pursed his lips. “Frankly, I like long hair on women. It will grow out.”

She felt like telling him she had no intention of letting it grow out, but decided there was enough tension between them for the moment. “I really need to be getting back to the guests, and I’d like some champagne, too.”

They had reached the statuary with its surrounding hedges. Suddenly he pulled her out of sight of anyone and crushed her against him, his lips pressing down on hers in an almost bruising kiss. Then, just as abruptly, he released her and brazenly said, “I’d rather stay here and taste your lips than champagne.”