Page 86 of Ungodly Rich

Then the elevator doors opened again, and Percy stepped inside, holding a wrapped box like a supplicant presenting an offering at a temple. For an instant, Julia worried that maybe she should have brought something too—flowers? A candle? No, Bruce and Tara were her future in-laws; she shouldn’t have to behave like a guest each time she entered their home. And really, Percy shouldn’t have to, either.

Julia hadn’t known that Harry’s cousin was coming today, but she felt grateful for his presence. Here, at least, was an ally.

Tara accepted the box from Percy without saying thank you, as if it were her due. “Gyokuro tea. What were you doing in Japan?”

Japan? Percy had just been shopping with Julia last weekend. How had he gone to Japan and back since then?

“I went over for a few days to help Dylan with something,” Percy explained.

“Another full-moon rave?” Tara shook her head reprovingly. “Dylan issupposedto be partying, but you should be above such escapades.”

Julia didn’t understand. Why was Dylansupposedto party, while Hermes was expected to dart about the globe like an errand boy, fulfilling the demands of various family members? Not to mention that the full-moon rave was in Thailand, not Japan.

“I bet Japan was lovely,” Julia said, beaming at Percy. “Even if you couldn’t see the cherry blossoms this time of year.”

Tara ignored Julia. She turned to Percy and made a flitting motion with her hand, almost the way one might shoo off a fly. “I’m afraid I can’t discuss anything now. As you can see, we’re all busy. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?”

That was when Julia realized that Percy hadn’t been invited to the cake tasting. He’d come over at Tara’s bidding, probably to do another “favor” for her.

“I’m glad you’re here, Percy! We were about to taste cake samples.” Julia kept smiling as sweetly as she could. “Would you please stay?”

All the heads in the room swiveled in her direction. She could tell from their confused, annoyed expressions that they thought she’d overstepped. They operated under a strange double standard, treating Percy like he was the hired help and they were living in aDownton Abbey–esque world where he was supposed to eat with the servants, not the lords of the manor.

Well, it was time someone put an end to it.

“I’d love to,” Percy said softly. Julia could tell that he was genuinely touched.

As they all headed into the dining room, Julia caught Valentine stealing glances at her outfit. The other woman frowned, probably annoyed that Julia had suddenly become chic.

And you said I wouldn’t make the cut.

• • •

When they got into the car that afternoon, it took several minutes before Julia realized that they were going the wrong direction.

“Excuse me, driver. We need to turn around,” Julia began, but Harry put a hand on hers, and she fell silent.

“Actually, I have a little surprise planned for the two of us.” He grinned in excitement. “We’re heading to the Thirty-Fourth Street heliport on the East River.”

Julia’s smile faltered a little. A helipad meant more excess, more throwing around great sums of money.

An hour later, when their helicopter touched down in a clearing in the middle of the Catskills, she realized that she’d misjudged Harry.

“We’re going camping?” she asked eagerly. They had camped once in New Zealand, in Fiordland National Park, where they’d woken up to a breathtaking view of Milford Sound. Julia remembered nestling into Harry’s shoulder, drinking the coffee that he’d brewed for them over the fire, the grounds a little sticky on her tongue. The sun had glittered like fire over the sound’s placid waters and the dramatic snowcapped mountains that surrounded them.

As if reading her mind, Harry said, “I know it’s not Fiordland, but I figured we needed to get out of the city for a while. To just…breathe.”

Julia nodded, grateful, and followed Harry’s lead as they stepped out of the helicopter. A pair of backpacks waited for them, fully stocked with gear: a pair of sleeping bags, a tent, water bottles.

“My favorite spot in the Catskills is a couple of hours away,” Harry explained. “Is that all right?”

“Of course.”

After they’d changed into athletic gear, Harry slung his bag effortlessly over his shoulder, then helped Julia adjust the straps of her pack.

It was midafternoon; shadows were beginning to gather in the underbrush, lengthening as she and Harry walked along the trail. Julia fell silent. The scents of earth and growing things twined around them, heady like perfume.

“You love it out here,” she observed, watching Harry.