Page 108 of Duchess Material

“I couldn’t relate,” Patrick joked.

“How did that ever work?”

“It didn’t. I thought it could. It didn’t. Charlotte’s mum was a good sport at first. She was a good friend. It got complicated. It fucked with her head—and mine. I regret it for everything other than Charlotte. And now we’re using a surrogate. It’s just so much better. Not really an option in the UK. I don’t know how gay couples there manage.”

“Well, your sport doesn’t make it easier.”

“Given how often I hear a slur from a supposed fan, yeah. It’s funny. Gays have more rights in the UK. Across the board, they are much better protected. Here, they have almost no rights. Yet, George and I are gay icons in America. There, we’re just meddling and destroying the world.”

“That’s just royalty for you, mate.”

“It’s pervasive. How do you manage?”

“Uh, I take the insults about me wandering around perpetually shirtless on the chin and take comfort because I get to spend most of my time home with Natalie. Strangely, it makes all the bullshit worth it. Of course, it’s not easy. She’s so hard to reach about this stuff. She just ignores it. I struggle. Rumours are devilish things, aren’t they? She’s always having an affair if you’d believe the papers. Any royal under the age of 50 and over the age of 20 is a threat.”

“That’s because they are desperate for their perfect princess to end up with a prince.”

George entered and put the kettle on. “Tea, Ed?”

“Sure, thanks, mate.”

George gave Patrick a kiss. “You need a shower.”

Patrick grumbled, “I will. Gotta slam this shake first. You are so annoying.”

“How can you stand to be so near to him at present?” George asked Ed across the kitchen island.

“I think both of us are immune to sweaty humans in the vicinity. Is love not being able to tell your partner that they stink?”

“It is, I believe,” George answered.

“I will jump in the shower in a moment, Georgie.”

The kettle shut off. George poured two mugs and sat a tin of sachets on the table. Ed chose his favourite and steeped it.

Out of the blue, George said, “She wants to marry you.”

Ed looked up, confused.

“She hasn’t said it, Ed, but she wants to. I know my sister. I have never seen her this wrapped up in anyone in her life. You make her weak in the knees—girlish even. My father hates it. He’ll get over it.”

“How did you even know? Because I think we both came to the same conclusion last night even if we didn’t say it…”

George took a moment. “It’s twinsense.”

“That’s not a real thing, baby!” Patrick snickered.

“It is, too. I know her better than I know myself. She absolutely does want that. The question is… does Ed?”

Ed fought for the words. “I think so. Honestly, last night when she indicated we would end up together, my heart burst. It sounds stupid but I… I l just love her so much. I cannot imagine life without her. I know it’s too soon.”

“Lucy is marrying Winston after like five months of dating. You could be more reckless.”

“George, I don’t know that it’s reckless. They’ve been living like an old married couple since she moved in. Some people are just so perfect together you can’t imagine them apart. I’d argue the same about you.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely,” Ed said. “You two are so perfect together that the idea of you apart doesn’t even cross my mind. Or even Lucy’s, really. That’s what she’s told Nat, anyway. I feel like that with Natalie. She came into my life like a demanding cyclone but damn if I could quit her.”

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