Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8 (2 page)

Boyishly handsome with curly dark hair and brown eyes, he was also charming and intelligent, and she certainly admired his great talent and ambition to be a concert pianist. They had spent many pleasant evenings in the dormitory parlor, she sitting beside him on the piano bench as his slender fingers danced on the ivory keys to bring his music to life.

She had also enjoyed the company of Rudolf’s sister, and when Elenore had left school months ago, she’d stayed in touch, urging Marilee to accept her brother’s proposal.

When school ended, Rudolf and Elenore insisted she visit them for as long as she liked. Sympathetically, they pointed out that since she hadn’t heard from her father in so long, she really had nowhere to go except to the Coltranes.

Marilee had hesitated, wanting time away from Rudolf to search within herself and decide if she wanted to marry him. Now, she bitterly mused, it seemed she had no other choice, since everyone around her apparently considered her a moron.

If only she could get in touch with her father, she thought desperately. She would not let herself believe he was dead. When his letters had abruptly stopped, she’d written in desperation to Czar Nicholas, only to learn a few days later of the revolution and his forced abdication…and she knew there would be no reply. Fear for her father’s safety grew with each passing day.

When Rudolf had gently pointed out that she really had no home of her own, she had proudly reminded him of Daniberry. He was horrified that she could even consider going there, with Germany at war with France. Still, she knew if she had a home, it was the palatial estate just outside Paris that her father had so lovingly built for her mother. Forever would she treasure the memories of that Christmas she’d spent there with her father, the year after Kitty died. They had been so happy, so close, sharing ten beautiful days together. When, sadly, it had to end, he had promised that when her schooling was finished, he would leave Russia and, at long last, they would be together as father and daughter, and make Daniberry the home it was meant to be.

But now, standing at a crossroads in her life, she was determined that she would, ultimately, make the decision on which road to take, and no matter what anyone thought, said, or did, it was going to be
her
choice.

With a sigh of resignation, she got up, bathed, and dressed for the wedding breakfast. Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror, she frowned. She had chosen a simple gray dress with a square neckline, short sleeves, a wide waist belt, and pleated skirt. Her shoes were black leather, with pointed toes and a silver buckle. She wore her chestnut hair parted in the middle, then wound in rolls above her ears. Rudolf liked it that way, just as he approved of conservative colors and styles. She’d never really cared much for fashion, feeling that since she was tall and slender, demure and alluring designs would only look ridiculous on her. Tiny, petite girls like Elenore were meant to wear them. Now, however, she wondered what it would be like to try something new. Her gown for the wedding was certainly different—peach chiffon with a slightly plunging neckline, pouf sleeves, a wide satin belt, and a gently billowing skirt that daintily touched her ankles above silver shoes with the highest heels she’d ever worn. Yet she knew that despite everything, she would still look dull, colorless.

There was a knock, and she heard Jade calling to her. When she opened the door, she could not help thinking that the look of disappointment in her aunt’s eyes matched her own in the mirror.

With a forced smile, Jade said, “Well, I see you’re up and ready for the breakfast, and since we’ve got a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you, if I may.”

Marilee shrugged, gestured to the chairs in front of the fireplace. They sat down, and Jade got straight to the point.

“We’re worried about you, dear,” she began gently. “All of us. You seem so unhappy.”

“I’m sorry if I’m making everyone uncomfortable,” Marilee coolly said, not looking at her but staring down at her folded hands.

“Oh, no, dear. It’s not that. We care. We really do. I just wanted to know if there’s anything I can do, if there’s anything you want to talk about. Heavens, I know you’re worried about your father. We all are, but for the moment, there’s nothing we can do but pray for his safety.”

“I wish I could go look for him,” Marilee said miserably. “I feel so helpless.”

“If I thought it would help, I’d encourage you to do just that.”

Jade absently gave her hand a flutter, as though to wave away unpleasant thoughts on a day that was supposed to be a celebration. “Back to you, my dear. What about that young man you wrote to me about? The Austrian lad? You haven’t said anything about him since you got here, and I had a feeling you might be getting serious about him.”

Marilee told her about Rudolf’s invitation to visit his family and was not surprised that Jade urged her to go.

“There’s no need for you to just sit around here worrying about your father. There’s nothing you can do. Go to Switzerland, dear. It’s safe there, and it might just lead to a proposal.”

Marilee swallowed against the bitterness, the hurt. Jade had not even asked if a proposal was what Marilee wanted. As far as the Coltranes were concerned, it didn’t matter. They just wanted her married and out of their way. “You
did
say you’d go, didn’t you?” Jade prodded.

“I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do.” Marilee saw Jade’s look of disappointment and quickly added, “But I won’t be staying on here after the wedding. I’ll travel, do something…”

“Nonsense! I’m going to be worried enough about Travis and Colt without having to worry about you, too. You’ll either go and visit this young man or you’ll stay here with me.”

“Wait a minute. What are you talking about? What about Travis and Uncle, Colt?”

“It seems,” Jade began, “that my son and my husband think that after all these years they can keep something from me. They forget that I love them so much, know them so well, that I can feel instinctively their every emotion. Travis is going to the front in France because he feels called upon to do his duty to his country. Colt is doing the same in his own way, by serving in the diplomatic corps.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Marilee said, touched that despite her own worries, her aunt found time to care about Marilee’s.

“Enough gloomy conversation,” Jade said too brightly. “I came here to talk to you about your future. I think you should accept Rudolf’s invitation. It’d be good for you.”

Jade then left, and Marilee stared after her, knowing she would quickly spread the word to the rest of the family that they should also encourage her to go. Now she wished she hadn’t told her aunt.

She went to the mirror once more to stare dismally at her reflection.

Would it have made any difference in her life, she wondered with abject misery, had she been born beautiful? Would she have had a different outlook on things had she’ been blessed with that certain flair some girls had that just made them glow—like her aunt? Like Kit and Valerie? They always knew how to dress and seemed to sparkle on every occasion. She, on the other hand, felt like a dusty statue in the corner of someone’s dark and gloomy library, seldom noticed or seen.

It doesn‘t have to be that way
, a little voice within needled.

Suddenly, as though someone else had taken over and was in control, Marilee reached up and began to yank the pins and combs from her hair. She had always hated the slight natural curl, but no more.

With hands that seemed not her own, she picked up a pair of scissors and began to snip at her hair.

And when she was finished, she stared in a mixture of horror and delight, for she had just copied the new style that was sweeping Britain and America—the
Irene Castle bob!

With her natural curl, the effect was pixie-like, and she grinned at herself, genuinely
grinned
,
for the first time in so long she could not remember.

She liked the effect! No,
loved
it, for it made her look young, fresh, and, miracle of miracles—glowing!

Taking a deep breath, she turned from the mirror and made ready to face the reaction of the rest of the family.

Chapter Three

The wedding festivities were set to begin at two o’clock in the Tanners’ splendorous gardens. High-ranking government officials and nobility from all over Spain were expected to be in attendance. Anyone of social status in all of Europe had been invited.

The ceremony would start when the wedding party rode in carriages up the gently rising ridge from the sea, all the way to the crest where Kurt had built the palatial stone palace for Kit.

Afterward there would be a champagne luncheon; then, to entertain guests until the formal dinner later, many activities would be offered—an orchestra playing constantly in the gardens for those who wished to dance, horseback riding, and even bullfights in the huge arena on the castle grounds. Kurt had also made sure his crew was standing by at his docks to offer short cruises along the Mediterranean coastline aboard his lavish yacht, the
Lady Kit
.

In order to give the family one last intimate gathering before the horde of guests began arriving, Jade had arranged for the wedding breakfast to be held at the Coltrane Casita. Valerie would not, of course, be in attendance, in keeping with the tradition that Travis should not see his bride until the wedding.

Carasia, proud of her succession from maid to head housekeeper, carefully checked the breakfast room. Satisfied that all was in order, she opened the double doors to the front hallway, promptly saw Marilee—and screamed!

“Oh, come now, Carasia, is it that bad?” Marilee patted her curly bob, sounding more confident than she felt. “It’s the latest style. It’s called the Irene Castle bob, after the famous American dancer. She and her husband practically invented the foxtrot.” She did a few steps, whirled around, and curtsied.

Carasia’s black eyes rounded with wonder as she took a really good look.
“Dios mio, señorita
, I have never seen a woman with the haircut of a man.”

“It’s the rage of Europe.” Head held high, Marilee walked on into the room, found her place, stood behind her chair…and waited.

“Well, I like it,” Carasia declared, “but I think you should have waited for another time to give everyone such a shock.”

“I
don’t.’’

They turned to see Kit crossing the marble foyer, lavender eyes shining with happiness, coppery red hair glistening. Holding her arms open to Marilee, she cried, “I didn’t recognize you at first. You look absolutely stunning, and I love it! Really!”

They embraced, and Marilee couldn’t help thinking that if her new bob made such a difference, she must have been a lot frumpier than she’d thought.

Kurt was right behind his wife to agree the change was for the better, and, as always, Marilee experienced a little shudder of delight at the sight of him. She had to admit to having had a crush on him from the first moment they met, more than four years ago. Tall, well-built, with broad shoulders and sinewy muscles, he presented an admirable figure in his white suit this morning. His hair was the color of the raven’s wing, and he had rich brown eyes. He was, she determined once more, the most handsome man she’d ever met.

“I can’t believe what a difference it makes.” Kit shook her head in wonder. “Amazing. I’ve been tempted to do the same thing, but I’m afraid Kurt would divorce me.”

Kurt laughed, “No, but I have to admit I like your hair as it is. The thing that’s so fascinating about Marilee, though, is that she did this on her own.”

His attention turned to Joseph and Natasia who were running through the front door ahead of their harried nanny. Kurt scolded them for being so boisterous, but then they spotted their grandparents making their way down the circular stairway and the squealing began once more as they ran to meet them.

Marilee was stung by Kurt’s offhanded remark, then realized with shock that he was right—cutting her hair had probably been the first decision she’d ever made about herself in her whole life. That realization made her feel strange…but wonderful.

Kit gave her an encouraging wink as they waited while Jade and the children came toward the breakfast room.

Marilee tensed, but needn’t have, because Jade took one look at her and cried, “I don’t believe it! I just don’t believe it!” She clapped her hands in delight, then rushed to circle her, all the while marveling at the effect. “Now if we could just get you into some glamorous clothes instead of those matronly costumes they taught you to wear at that mausoleum of a school…”

Colt joined in to agree, and Marilee found herself the center of attention and loved every minute of it.

Travis arrived and at once marveled over his cousin’s new and welcome look.

Marilee was so happy, she almost felt like part of the family, but a casual remark from her uncle brought her sharply back to reality.

“Yes, I’d say with the right clothes and a bit of makeup, we won’t have an old maid on our hands after all.”

Everyone laughed, and Marilee managed a stiff smile which she did not feel. Then Kurt wanted to know her plans since she had finished school, whether she would be staying on in Spain.

Jade replied before Marilee had a chance to speak. “She may be going to Switzerland. Her young man has invited her to visit him and his family.”