Love and Triumph: The Coltrane Saga, Book 8 Read online

  “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.”

  Marilee felt her c
heeks blazing and could not resist snapping, “Please don’t worry about me. I promise I won’t be a burden to this family, no matter what the future holds.”

  An awkward silence descended like a giant, invisible shroud. Everyone exchanged uncomfortable glances, then Jade quickly changed the subject. “I think it’s time we got back to matters at hand, like proposing a few little intimate toasts together, before half of Spain arrives for the wedding.” Her trailing laugh was forced, tense.

  “Here, here!” Colt boomed his approval, got to his feet, and lifted his glass of champagne to Travis. “A toast to my son on his wedding day, with the good wish that he will forever be as happy in his marriage as his father and grandfather before him.”

  The toasting passed to Jade, Kit, Kurt, finally to Marilee; by then she was feeling as bubbly as the champagne. “To Travis,” she said boldly, tipsily, “whom I’ve loved like family, even though he wasn’t…”

  Jade decided it was time to end the breakfast. Everyone began to file out of the room, but she called to Marilee just as she got to the door. “I’ll be leaving for Kit’s house in half an hour, and I’d like for you to ride with me. Can you be ready?”

  Marilee glanced at her watch and asked, “Why so early? We’ve lots of time.”

  Jade gave her a secret smile “You’ll see. Just be ready.”

  Marilee nodded, continued on her way.

  “What is wrong with her?” Colt demanded, exasperated. “I have to admit I’m getting a little bit sick of feeling like I’m walking on eggs every time she’s around.”

  “Well, I’m going to see if I can talk her into going to Switzerland. She really needs to go,” Jade said.

  “Maybe you’d like to go with her, get away for a while,” Colt suggested.

  “I’ve thought about it. It might take my mind off worrying about Travis going into the war and you getting involved.”

  He swore under his breath. “How did you find out? Did Valerie tell you?”

  She touched his cheek with her fingertips.

  “I didn’t know for a fact, but I could feel it, so please, let’s not pretend any longer.”

  “I just wanted to get through the wedding. This is supposed to be a happy time, and I didn’t want to have any more shadows than we’ve already got.”

  Quietly, lovingly, she said, “Coltranes have always used shadows as a shield against the painful glare of reality. I intend to remember that.”

  He kissed her gratefully and whispered, “Thanks for reminding me of the family philosophy.”

  “You taught me, remember?” She smiled. “Now let’s go see our son properly married, and then maybe we can sneak away from yet another reception and take a second honeymoon.”

  He grinned. “Honey, that sounds great, but I don’t think the first one ever ended.”

  Chapter Four

  Marilee sat next to Kit on the plush leather seats in the rear of the new Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. They wore fashionable ankle-length dust coats, with wide-brimmed hats and veils covering their faces. As Jade settled behind the steering wheel in front, they exchanged uncomfortable glances.

  Jade sensed their apprehension. “You needn’t be so nervous. I’ve had driving lessons.”

  “The car was only delivered last week,” Kit reminded her. “How many lessons have you had?”

  “It’s a simple car to drive. Really. It has a four-speed gearbox with direct third and overdrive on fourth.”

  “I know. I know. I’ve heard Daddy go on and on about this model.” She rolled her eyes at Marilee and whispered, “And with a horsepower of forty-eight giving it a top speed of over a hundred kilometers, I’d prefer to have the horses pulling me!”

  Jade pretended to be angry. “Much more talk like that and you’ll walk home, young lady.” Suddenly they were thrown forward, then backward, as she made a quick, jerking start, finally easing out into the driveway and heading for the open road.

  Kit said to Marilee, “When Mother drives, Kurt and I don’t ride together with her. We’re afraid of leaving the children orphans.”

  They burst into laughter, but Jade ignored them.

  Marilee settled back to enjoy the ride. It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, with a peacock-blue sky shared by billowing clouds that would periodically offer relief from a brazen sun.

  Marveling at the landscape, she became lost in her own imagination. How easy it was to think of Spain as Europe’s lady of mystery, dressed in black velvet and holding a red rose…eager suitors crossing her courtyard. Yes, she mused dreamily, Lady Spain was the eternal enchantress.

  Suddenly Kit urged, “Tell me about Rudolf!”

  Marilee shrugged. “I guess you could say he’s handsome, charming, polite, well-bred. Very talented. He’s studying to be a concert pianist. His family lived in Vienna before the war but fled to Switzerland.”

  “Do you love him?”

  Jade was aghast. “Kit! Don’t be so nosy!”

  Kit ignored her and pressed on. “Well, do you?”

  Marilee stared at her for a few seconds, then, with candor and honesty, asked, “How am I supposed to know?”

  Kit started to laughed but realized Marilee was quite serious. “A girl just knows,” she said. “Like when you’re saving a rare and special bottle of wine, and you wonder when the occasion will come when you want to open it, and when it does, somehow you just know it and realize that was why you were saving it.

  “It’s the same with love. You just know,” she repeated emphatically.

  Marilee laughed. “That sounds very romantic, but I don’t think you were quite that sure about Kurt. I remember, when you first met him, you couldn’t stand him.”

  “That’s right. You loathed him, as I recall,” Jade teased.

  “We had personal problems,” Kit said defensively. “I won his precious horse in a race and didn’t know he was stolen, remember? Kurt wanted him back, but I felt like he was mine. Of course, now I’m happier than I ever thought I could be, and so will you be when you meet the right man.”

  “Maybe she already has,” Jade was quick to suggest.

  “He’s Austrian, and you’re half Russian. Does that ever cause any dissent?” Kit asked. “After all, when the Russians attacked in Galicia last year, they killed over a million Austrians and took nearly half a million prisoners. Your father is an officer in the Czar’s brigade, or was, before Nicholas abdicated, and he was also a top-ranking adviser. Does Rudolf know all that?”

  Marilee nodded. “It’s never caused any problems. Actually, he seems fascinated with my Russian heritage and asks a lot of questions, but there’s not much I can tell him—only things Daddy has told me through the years.”

  “I wish we knew where he was,” Kit murmured. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

  “Since Christmas. I think he’s either with Nicholas or working underground. Either way, I keep telling myself he’s all right. He has to be,” she added vehemently.

  Determined that the day was not to be shadowed, Jade cheerily agreed. “Of course he’s fine. Drakar is brave, courageous, and resourceful, and no matter why he’s out of touch, he can take care of himself.”

  They reached a fork in the road. The curve to the left went to the rear of the Tanner property, where the servants’ compound was located, as well as service buildings and barns. Jade started to turn toward the right, where the road disappeared within a grove of orange trees.

  “No!” Kit cried, leaning forward to point to the service road. “That way! I have a surprise you can’t see till time for the wedding procession. I had to make Valerie promise not to go on the front lawn, and I’m determined you all aren’t going to see it, either.”

  Jade nodded, willing to cooperate.

  They passed the cattle pens and barns, then came to the elaborate stables and training rings for the prize Hispanos. “There’s Pegasus,” Kit said proudly, pointing to a magnificent horse lazily grazing in the distance. “He’s sired four beautiful colts so far.”

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sp; Passing through the servants’ compound, Marilee was once again dazzled by it all and wanted to know, “Just how many people does it take to keep this place running?”

  Kit thought a moment, then replied, “I think around fifty altogether. Kurt has a secretary who keeps all the records, so I’m not sure, exactly. I know I have about twenty servants in the house, but not all at once, of course. They work in shifts. Then there are the stablehands and the horse trainers.”

  “And that doesn’t even include the vaqueros, who live on a different section of the ranch,” Jade put in. “They’ve got their own little village a few miles away.”

  “Well, it’s necessary,” Kit explained. “After all, Kurt has enlarged his operations. He has about fifty thousand head of cattle, plus he’s raising bulls for three major arenas, and now we have the Hispanos. The vineyard is also growing, and he said we’ll probably need to build some cottages for those workers in the next few years.”

  Marilee laughed. “And I thought Daniberry was a palace. Compared to your, castle, it’s hardly a cottage.”

  Jade slowed as they approached the massive structure, and Kit said thoughtfully, “You know, I never wanted anything this colossal, but it seemed so important to Kurt to build it for us that I went along. I was amazed how fast he did it, too, but then he kept the construction workers going twenty-four hours a day.”

  “Four stories.” Jade shook her head in wonder. “Sixty rooms. An indoor swimming pool. A solarium that goes through all the floors. And I thought the Czar’s Winter Palace was sumptuous!”

  The outer yards were splendid to behold, with gardens of wisteria and roses and jasmine and honeysuckle, and exotic plants from the Orient and Central America. There was even a pagoda with charming tinkling bells, and a magnificent statuary.

  “It was Kurt’s dream,” Kit said almost wistfully. “I was content with my little farmhouse, but if it makes him happy, it makes me happy.”

  “And me, too, dear,” Jade was quick to declare, “even though I do think he went a little overboard.”