by Laura Burton
Mature trees shrouded the gravel path a mile off the main road. Julie’s heart raced as she looked out the window in a vain attempt to see what was ahead. Harry took her hand and squeezed; she turned to look at him, while biting her lip.
“She’s going to love you. Don’t worry. Besides, we won’t stay long.”
Julie tried to remind herself, she was just his date. Not a potential daughter-in-law. There was no need to be nervous.
“Right,” she said determined.
The car pulled up beside a large, stone water fountain in front of an elegant country estate. The cream-colored house had climbing ivy near the front porch and more windows than Julie could count. It was like she was walking into a Jane Austen novel. This kind of home would usually be open to the public for tours. Farther along the path was a parking area full of expensive-looking cars.
“What a beautiful home,” she remarked as they climbed the stone steps to the front door. Harry rang the bell and a woman pulled the door open instantly.
“Harold, darling, it’s lovely to see your face.” The woman had tight auburn curls and a narrow pair of spectacles balancing precariously on the tip of her nose. She was short, possibly shorter than Emily. Her inky eyes flitted to Julie before looking back at her son. The two of them embraced and shared pleasantries as Julie stood waiting. She wondered what the expectations were in this situation. Would Harry introduce her and she… offer a hand? Kiss on the cheek? Social etiquette confused her at the best of times, but high-class British etiquette was a whole different kettle of fish.
“Mother, this is Julie Andrews.” Harry held his hand to the small of Julie’s back, prompting her to step forward. Harry’s mother eyed Julie as she made a small noise of surprise—as if she had not seen Julie standing there at all. Julie offered a hand just as Harry’s mother clasped hers together.
“Hello, Mrs. Jackson, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Julie said in her best impression of a Downton Abbey character. Her shaking hand sat hovering midair before she carefully lowered it.
“My dear,” Harry’s mother said with a slight incline of her head. “I haven’t been Mrs. Jackson for almost a decade now. Heather Bowood.”
Duh, Julie. One minute in and you’ve already put your foot in it.
Mrs. Bowood glanced at Harry, giving an exaggerated smile that did not reach her eyes.
“My darling, you did not mention that? I say, how little you seem to know about each other.”
Julie marveled at how Mrs. Bowood reached that conclusion from the small mishap. She sensed a long visit ahead. Harry was wrong, there was every reason to be nervous, and from the strange vibes she was getting from Mrs. Bowood, he was wrong that his mother would love her.
“Well, please come in and meet the others.” She turned on her heel and walked into the hall. Julie eyed Harry nervously as he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then closed the door behind them.
The house had tall ceilings and an oak staircase in the center. An open fireplace sat on the right and as they walked past it, Julie’s eyes took in the sight of the largest tapestry she had ever seen hanging above it.
“We’re in the orangery,” Mrs. Bowood said cheerfully. They walked through a newly renovated kitchen and into a room made up of mostly glass. A collection of patterned furniture sat around a large coffee table positioned in front of the garden. Or gardens, Julie thought. As far as the eye could see was English countryside. There were two people seated already, one was an older gentleman wearing a light grey suit––similar shade to the few hairs he had above his ears. A young red-headed woman sat, looking serene and elegant, with her hand resting on the gentleman’s arm. As they entered the room, the young woman was laughing and flicking her hair back. The two of them rose to their feet and greeted Harry, neither of them acknowledging Julie’s existence.
“Harold, good to see you. How was your flight?” the gentleman said. Harry hugged the man and turned to the redhead with a look of polite surprise. The color in his face drained and a vein in his neck bulged.
“Ebony? I did not expect to see you here.”
Mrs. Bowood gestured for Harry and Julie to take a seat beside the redheaded woman. As they settled, she was grinning ear to ear. It appeared an evil plan was coming together.
“Oh, how rude of me. Ebony, this is Julie Andrews, Harold’s friend,” Mrs. Bowood said delightedly. She turned to Julie, her narrow eyes glinting behind the small glasses. “Julie, this is Ebony Holmes. Harold’s former fiancé.”
Ebony held out her hand to Julie. She was acting like the Queen herself, bobbing her heading and grinning in a similar fashion to Mrs. Bowood.
“Any friend of Harold’s is a friend of mine.”
Harry turned his head back and forth as if seated at Wimbledon. It seemed he could not decide who to look at. Ebony, his ex-fiancé ,or Julie, his… friend.
Well, this just got awkward.
Chapter Sixteen
True Love
“Where is Phillipe?” Harry asked. Ebony’s green eyes traveled down his body slowly as she bit her lip. He knew what she was doing in her imagination, and he didn’t like it. Ebony Holmes was the last person he expected to see at his mother’s house. When she left Harry for Phillipe, there was a mutual understanding between his mother and former fiancé that they were not on speaking terms. Harry wondered when his mother had buried the hatchet and accepted the cheating woman back into her life—and why?
“Phillipe and I are getting a divorce. We’ve been separated for a while now.” Ebony took a napkin from her Louis Vuitton purse and dabbed the corner of her eye.
“Phillipe had been spending a lot of time in Spain,” Harry’s mother explained in a low tone. “He’s found himself a mistress over there. It’s been quite traumatizing for Ebony.”
Harry resisted the urge to smile.
That’s karma for you.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Harry lied. He glanced at Julie. She sat with her back perfectly straight and a look of thunder on her face. He wanted to laugh. Clearly, she had never mastered the skill of hiding her emotions. She looked at Ebony like she was an offensive odor.
“Harry never mentioned you,” Julie said to Ebony.
“Funny, Harold never mentioned you either… before this week,” Harry’s mother shot back in a silky voice.
This brunch was a mistake. Harry eyed his mother as he hummed. He realized now that on the phone she’d been trying to set him up with Ebony all this time. She didn’t actually expect him to bring a plus-one to the charity event. And yet, a week ago he wasn’t planning on bringing a plus-one and only invited Julie because he couldn’t bring himself to tell his mother the truth. What a mess, he thought.
“So, Julie, tell me about your family,” Mr. Bowood said evenly as he crossed one leg over the other.
“My parents are lawyers,” Julie said, mirroring his body language. “They own run a firm in London.”
“Oh, so you’re not from New York?” Harry’s mother piped up. Harry watched Julie handle the conversation. A tirade of questions followed like arrows flying in her direction.
Julie explained that she grew up in London, an only child. And attended boarding school, where she went on to study at Oxford University.
“What year? I attended Oxford,” Harry asked without thinking. Heat rose to his face as he looked around the people in the room. It was a question usually asked on a first date. Did he just let the cat out of the bag that he and Julie barely knew each other?
“It was after you were there,” Julie said, waving a hand aside casually.
“What did you study? What you do now?”
Julie told them that she studied fashion and spent some time in Paris working for Estelle’s Fashion line.
“Impressive. So, you’re a designer?” Mr. Bowood asked mildly. Julie didn’t answer right away, she appeared to be considering her options.
“Sure,” she said finally.
Harry’s heart sank. She didn’t need to lie abo
ut her work.
They enjoyed tea and scones while Mr. Bowood led the conversation to politics. They discussed various views on Brexit, and Harry’s mother shared some elaborate conspiracy theories. Ebony hummed in agreement and nodded along, while Julie sat silent, a polite smile on her face.
His mother was just getting into her theories around Area 51 when Harry decided enough was enough.
“Well, sorry we can’t stay. We need to get ready for this evening,” Harry said as he got to his feet, and everyone followed suit.
“I’ll see you later.” Ebony leaned in and kissed Harry on the cheek. A waft of her familiar perfume covered his body like a cloak. The once-appealing scent was now a stench that made him slightly nauseous. Flashes of memories crossed his mind’s eye—of Phillipe and Ebony walking hand in hand. Laughing.
Harry secured Julie’s hand in his and they left the house without speaking. The car waited on the drive and Thomas opened the door for them.
“Well, that was… interesting,” Julie said as they fastened their seatbelts. Harry looked at her as she tucked a section of hair behind her ear and blinked back at him. With the sun shining in through the windows, her amber eyes looked more golden today. The light reflected off her glossy lips and before his brain could stop him, Harry acted on instinct.
He shrugged off his jacket and wrapped his arms around Julie’s small frame, starling her. He hugged her so tightly, she made a squeal. He loosened his grip and planted light kisses on her hair, then moved to her cheek.
“Harry,” Julie said in a surprised tone. He nuzzled his face in her neck and ran his hands up and down her back. He needed to feel close to her.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally, breaking away. The car rolled away from the house and bumped along the gravel path back to the main road. Julie’s face was flushed and she looked out of her window with a grin. “You’re right, that visit was… interesting.”
Julie looked back and the two of them shared a silent conversation with their eyes. At least, that’s what Harry thought was happening.
“So, Ebony was your fiancé? What happened?” Julie asked, her voice was pitched much higher than normal. Harry knew she must have wanted to ask the whole time. Perhaps that was why she didn’t join in the conversation… in case it slipped out. Harry would have liked that, to see Ebony’s victim act torn to shreds when he said to the whole room that he broke off their engagement because she was a cheat.
“She… wasn’t who I thought she was.” It was oddly difficult to tell Julie about Ebony. Besides, on reflection, he had realized that the two of them were wrong for each other. She was high-maintenance and outspoken. Always barking orders to Harry and making excuses to be out in public, so they’d be featured in some gossip column alongside a Kardashian. It was a loveless relationship, yet at the time Harry didn’t see it. He was so desperate to be loved that he was blinded by the fact Ebony was just using him for her own ambitions.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell your parents the truth.” Julie’s words interrupted Harry’s thoughts. He rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone and studied the guilty look on her face. A small worry line had formed between her brows.
“I felt so small. To say I’m just a seamstress when your mum assumed I was a fashion designer… it was too humiliating.” She averted her eyes.
Julie was the polar opposite of Ebony. She was sweet, funny, and gentle. Even when she was dishonest, she ended up confessing the truth. Harry’s heart swelled and he leaned in to give her the softest kiss.
“I understand why you did it,” he said as he broke away. He took her hands and pressed his lips against her smooth knuckles. “Just promise you’ll never lie to me.”
Julie pressed a hand up to Harry’s chest, the warmth from her fingertips radiated through his whole body. As if she had special healing powers, the ache in his stomach and flashbacks of Ebony dissipated.
“All right.” Julie walked her fingers to his shoulder and squeezed. “Seeing as we’re being honest, I want you to know. I don’t think your mum likes me.”
Harry laughed.
“Well, I do.” He kissed her again. “In fact, you have bewitched me. You are all I can think about. Being with you is all I want.” He pulled up the sleeve of her cardigan and kissed her arm.
“Me too,” Julie said in revered tones. Her words were almost drowned out by the rumble of the car engine.
“I’m glad we met and I’m happy you’re here.” Harry leaned in for a deeper kiss when the car pulled to an abrupt stop. Harry and Julie jolted forward, then lurched back again.
“Apologies, sir.” Thomas had rolled down the glass divider and his dark eyes were looking at Harry from the rearview mirror.
“Is everything all right?” Harry asked.
“Yes, sir, the security team are just clearing the road. No need for alarm. Just stay in the car.” The tone of Thomas’ voice did not make Harry feel settled. He had known Thomas for too many years to not know when something was wrong. A few years back, Thomas had tried to insist that there was nothing to worry about, when they were sitting in a traffic jam downtown. His voice was a little strained, and Harry discovered that a bank robbery was taking place, which led to a car chase around the city.
Harry patted Julie’s knee before he took off his seatbelt.
“Stay here. I’m going to check it out,” he said to Julie, who––not sensing any reason to be alarmed––gave a nod.
Harry pushed open the door and climbed out of the car. The gravel crunched underneath his feet as he marched to the front. The sun was hidden behind a batch of clouds and the air was eerily still. Benjamin and four of his men were standing in a line, immobile, looking ahead. Whatever they were observing was obscured by their forms.
“What is it?” he shouted. Benjamin turned, his face grim.
As Harry approached, two of the security staff moved aside and then he saw it. A giant piece of blue tarp was fastened to a pair of oak trees on either side of the road. It hung like a banner, sporting large words written in red.
Last warning. Leave her… or the consequences will be deadly.
Chapter Seventeen
Dangerous Escalation
Julie decided she couldn’t just sit in the car and wait. Long minutes had passed and curiosity got the better of her. She got out of the car and tiptoed to the front to see why they’d been stopped for so long. She wondered if a tree had fallen or a farmer was crossing with a herd of cows. Either of those scenarios would have been plausible—and far better than what she saw. A couple of men in dark suits were untying a piece of rope, attached to a blue tarp. To the side lay an animal. At such a distance, she could not guess what it was exactly. Then she saw the writing, in dripping red ink.
“Is that blood?” she asked aloud. Harry had his hand to his head and turned quickly on the spot. His face drained of color.
“No, it’s not.” He hurried over to Julie, rubbing the back of his neck.
“But that dead animal… did someone––”
“It’s fake. Just someone playing a prank,” Harry said quickly.
“Don’t lie to me, Harry,” Julie warned. “That doesn’t look like a couple of kids pulling a prank. It’s a death threat.” Saying the words aloud made it sound worse than it had in her head. Julie swallowed against the uncomfortable tightness in her throat. Who would go to such lengths to send a message to Harry? She thought they left the weird stalker in New York. But this message was clear. Whoever they were, they knew where Harry would be. Surely this was beyond the scope of what the media would do? Or a jealous fan?
“It’s been staged. The goat is a prop. They used fake blood for the lettering, sir,” Benjamin said as he approached. The men removed the tarp from the trees and folded it.
“We’re collecting the evidence and will take it to the authorities.”
“Shouldn’t we have called them out here? Now there will be multiple prints all over it,” Harry asked. Benjamin shook his head.
“No. We
need to get you both out of harm’s way. I’ll deal with this. My team will escort you home.”
Harry gave a nod and took Julie’s hand.
“Right,” he said. “Come on.”
They returned to the car and Julie’s imagination ran wild. They had been in the Bowood’s home for almost two hours. Someone set this up, perfectly primed for their return. But who? An old school nemesis? One who now resided in New York as well?
“Do you have any idea why this keeps happening?” she asked Harry as the car pulled forward once more.
“No,” he said. “I thought it was someone in New York, but now I get the feeling there maybe more than one person.”
“But why, Harry? Why would anyone have a problem with you dating me?”
Harry looked thoughtful as he scratched his chin.
“Well, not to sound big-headed or anything… but I was named one of the top sexiest men in Estelle’s fashion magazine.”
Julie looked at him incredulously and resisted the urge to laugh. She couldn’t be sure if he was joking or not.
“What has that got to do with anything?”
Harry shrugged and shifted in his seat. A dimple formed in his cheek as he grinned.
Julie took the opportunity to outline his face with her eyes. His face was perfectly sculpted, as if by an expert. And his slightly wavy hair made Julie want to drag her hands through it. Her eyes lowered to his lips; they were becoming familiar to her now. Plump and smooth. Yes, she could see why Estelle named him this year’s top sexiest man.
“You know, I’ve heard stories from these actors. Matt had a crazy woman send him some pretty vile pictures, threatening to do terrible things if he didn’t break up with his girlfriend.”
Julie opened her mouth, but no sound came out. After a moment she found her voice.
“So, are you telling me this is normal for you? ‘Oh look, a dead goat with fan mail written in blood.’ Just another day in the office?”