Page 83 of The Un-Apparent Heir

George shrugged. “My life is fun but I don’t need a fucking lecture from you as well as Nat.”

“I’m not open to that but won’t cast stones. Although maybe that’s what Tony wants?”

“Nah. I think Winston is a serial monogamist who loves you to bits. He’d fight a war for you. Natalie would, too, but she’d win. The thing is, you two deserve a second chance and I hope you get one. Your kids need to see what a badass their mum is. They need to watch you fix everything. You and Natalie could take on the world and save it, but only if you’re here. Give yourself that chance. Give them that chance.”

Lucy appraised George’s earnest and sincere face. This vulnerable confession was an outpouring she didn’t know he could give—certainly not on Winston’s behalf.

“Is he telling you to say this?” Lucy asked.

George chuckled. “I tried to ring him and give him a piece of my mind and he said he didn’t want to talk, so no. Out of respect for you, he was keeping it private. Natalie has probably already ripped him a new arsehole along with his mother. He’s broken, Lucy, but he must fix this on his own. Maybe with some help, but… he’s capable of it.”

Lucy hoped Winston could fix it. She wanted Winston back but needed to feel alive. Without both, there was no way forward.

21

A REQUEST

“What is it you need, Natalie? I am overwhelmed this morning and I didn’t even know if you knew how to find your way into London any more.”

Natalie stood before her father’s desk, arms crossed. She rolled her eyes.

“Ha-ha. You’re hilarious.”

“So my children say. Are you quite alright? You look pale.”

“Exhausted. Feeling a bit off. You know, the usual for a woman in my condition. I need two things from you. One, I want the go-ahead to do our release well before they announce your surgery. Ed wants this—Ed needs this. It will mean the world to him?—”

“Fine, fine. You two have waited more than patiently to shout this out. Go on, let the world know,” Robbie said.

Natalie smiled. Her father was in a better mood than she anticipated.

“How is George?” Robbie asked. “You haven’t killed him yet, I assume?”

“He’s lovely. Our house is a disaster. Ed and I have never been happier than with our loud life...”

Robbie grinned. “I know the feeling, but I don’t want to get too attached to the idea of George sticking around for longer.”

“He’s staying—and with us—until they figure out what to do. But a bit about that. We will need to massage the press, build a strategy, and manage his reintroduction. I have ideas, but?—”

“Great. It’s your problem, manage it how you see fit.”

Natalie cocked her head. “Daddy, please tell me you are not about to up and die on us because you are just rolling over?—”

Robbie shook his head and let out a long sigh. “Natalie, darling girl, You are every bit your grandmother sometimes—you want a fight where it does not exist. I admit you are the better strategist. I count myself a fine one, but… you have outplayed me many times. I trust you and Edwin have discussed whatever this strategy is.”

“The strategy is to rein George in until he can be useful. He needs handling.”

“And how do you propose that? Patrick doesn’t want?—”

“Lord Hewlett is retiring. We must ensure the new Lord Chamberlain is in place as soon as possible. Name that person.”

“Alright, I was in no hurry. Lord Hewlett is willing to hold on.”

“His service to this family is positively unmatched. He deserves a retirement, but he’s been out the door for months.”

“So, find someone. What do you think we need in that person?”

“A shrewd task manager, someone who knows the household better than I do, and someone to mine details and evaluate the politics of a situation. They also must be willing to tell George to shut up when he gets in one of the moods you share with him. Oh, and to call me out.”

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