Twin of Ice (Montgomery/Taggert 6)

“Honey, even I know that ladies don’t wear hats with their bathrobes.”

Houston was paralyzed. He didn’t mind!

“Unless you want ever’body to see you like that, you’d better get inside.”

“Yes,” she said, recovering herself and climbing to the top while he watched. Once on the balcony, she leaned over the side. “Kane,” she called to him, “your wedding gift is in your office.”

He grinned up at her. “See you real soon, baby.”

With that he stuck his hands in his pockets and went away whistling, nodding at the people he passed.

“Houston,” Opal said from behind her. “If you don’t get ready now, you’re going to miss your own wedding.”

“I’d rather die,” she said with great feeling and returned to her bedroom.

Ten minutes later, Kane was unwrapping the package Houston’d put on his desk. Inside were two boxes of cigars and a note.

These are the finest Cuban cigars made. Each month two more boxes of the best cigars available in the world will be delivered to Mr. Kane Taggert.

It was signed with the name of a cigar store in Key West, Florida.

Kane was just lighting one when Edan entered. He held out the box to him. “From Houston. How in the world do you think she got these here in time?”

Edan took a moment to enjoy the cigar. “If I’m learning anything in life, it’s to not underestimate that lady.”

“Any woman who’d buy cigars like these is indeed a lady. Well,” he said heavily, “I guess I better go get dressed. You wanta come help me tie things?”

“Sure.”

Chapter 14

The wedding dress was of Houston’s own design, simple but elaborate in its simplicity. It was of ivory silk satin cut in a long, gentle princess style with no horizontal seams from the high neck to the tip of the twelve-foot train. About the waist, extending over her breasts and flowing down her hips, was an intricate Persian design done in thousands of hand-applied seed pearls. The sleeves from shoulder to elbow were huge, their size further emphasizing the tiny waist of the dress. The tight cuffs that extended from elbow to wrist carried a repeat pattern done in pearls.

Houston stood very still as her friends attached the veil to her head. It was a five-yard-long froth of handmade Irish lace called Youghal, a bold design of wild flowers set off by spiked leaves. The complicated pattern of the lace complemented the satin smoothness of the dress.

Tia held out Houston’s teardrop-shaped bouquet of orange blossoms and white rosebuds, made to reach from her hands to just graze the floor as she walked.

Opal looked up at her daughter with tears glistening in her eyes. “Houston . . . ” she began but could say nothing else.

Houston kissed her mother’s check. “I’m getting the best of men.”

“Yes, I know.” She handed Houston a little corsage of pink rosebuds. “These are from your sister. She thought that she’d wear red roses and you could wear pink. I guess she’s right that you don’t have to dress alike.”

“Our veils are different,” Houston said as Sarah pinned the flowers over the veil just above Houston’s left ear.

“Ready?” Tia asked. “I believe that’s your music.”

Blair was standing at the head of the double stairs waiting for her sister. Solemnly, they embraced.

“I love you more than you know,” Blair whispered. There were slight tears in her eyes as she pulled away. “I guess we should get this spectacle over.”

The polished brass rails of the staircase were covered with fern leaves and at regular intervals hung clusters of three calla lilies. Beneath the arch of the stairs was a twelve-piece string orchestra now playing the wedding march.

With heads held high, both twins walked slowly down the stairs, one curving east, one curving westward. Below them, in silence, the guests looked up at the beautiful women. Their tightly-fitted dresses were identical except for the lace veils, which varied in pattern and type of lace. The color of rosebuds at the sides of their heads also distinguished one twin from the other.

When the women reached the main hallway, the crowd pulled back and the twins walked straight ahead, down the short corridor outside the library door.

Once outside the door, they paused and waited for the six organs placed around the enormous room to begin playing. Inside, seated, but now rising, were the close friends and relatives of the couples.