Love and Splendor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 5 by Patricia Hagan Page B

only tea due to the excited churning within her. It was, she knew, going to be an event she would always remember. To her family, it might seem she was merely on display as a most eligible and rich young debutante, but she knew better. Opening the shop meant a firm statement of her own independence. The events surrounding it, no matter how lush and expensive, were merely of a business nature as far as she was concerned.
    The most renowned coiffeur in Paris, Mimi Letrouse, arrived at the Coltrane mansion promptly at nine that morning to do first Kitty’s hair, then Dani’s.
    Dani sat impatiently while Mimi painstakingly curled each tress of her autumn-gold hair with a heated iron. Then, each was twisted and pulled high up on her head, in layer after layer, every ringlet fastened with a specially designed heart-shaped clip of gold, set with tiny emeralds and edged in diamond chips. These had been a gift from her father from a trip to South Africa, and he’d had them especially made for her to wear on a very special occasion.
    That occasion, Dani knew, was most definitely now.
     
     
    When his wife made her way down the grand staircase, Travis Coltrane felt his heart quicken at the dazzling sight. She was still the most beautiful and exciting woman he had ever known. Dressed in a gown of purple satin, her lavender eyes glowed as though electrified beneath long, dusty lashes. Lush, firm breasts strained against the thickly beaded bodice. Ribbons of green satin umbrellaed down the skirt and were dotted with gleaming white pearls set in rosettes of lavender lace. At her slender throat were the elegant emeralds he had given her so long ago, set in gold filigree and interspersed with delicate rubies and tiny diamonds.
    She reached the marbled foyer, and he gently brushed his lips to her forehead and murmured huskily, “You are lovely, and you drive me crazy…”
    Kitty laughed, wickedly glancing at his white silk trousers and noting the slight bulge. “Travis, you always were insatiable.”
    Then, on silent cue, they stopped their whispered bantering to turn almost reverently to the stairs once more. Dani stood at the top, awesomely beautiful in her simplicity. Her gown was of gold lamé. Strapless, unadorned, it hugged every line of her body as it cascaded smoothly, like liquid fire, to the floor. With her cinnamon tresses afire with emeralds and diamonds, she wore no other jewelry. White gloves reached to her elbows. Her shoes were also gold.
    Kitty felt her eyes fill with tears as she whispered, “Oh, Dani, my darling, you are truly beautiful…”
    Travis went to clasp her hand as she reached the foyer, and he forced his voice around the emotional lump that had risen in his throat. “God, honey, if only your mother could see you…”
     
     
    When the Coltranes arrived at the Tuileries Gardens, they gazed upon a seemingly endless sea of people amid a myriad of softly blowing canopies, the entire seascape drowning in flowers of every color and kind.
    Dani caught her breath, held it, then let it out slowly to speak in a quivering voice. “I never dreamed it would be like this.”
    Travis smiled encouragingly. “It’s all yours, my sweet. Enjoy every minute.”
    For the first hour of the gala, Dani was literally smothered by the swarm of well-wishers who pushed forward to congratulate her on the opening, and the fabulous party. She smiled, made appropriate comments, all the while feeling heady with the fragrance of the flowers, the delicious champagne, and the divine sound of music from three orchestras that filled the air.
    When Cyril Arpel appeared suddenly to stand at her side, he did not leave. Dandily dressed in formal attire of red velvet and black satin, he had never felt more ebullient. After all, people were looking at him as he stood next to the ravishing Dani Coltrane, as though he were her escort.
    Cyril hoped the attention would last all evening. Whenever Darn finished a conversation with someone, he would