Page 111 of Duchess Material

“The budget isn’t a real concern,” Winston said. “It’s more that we’ve got some dodgy dads, and no one wants to deal with that. This is about us, you know? We just want to keep it small.”

“Let me give you the list. C’mon.”

They followed the woman back down and looked at the venues. One was just around the corner from their house. Something to consider.

“Can we get back to you on the venue?” Lucy asked.

“We need to know today, love.”

“Why are things so difficult here,” Lucy groaned. “It’s just a friggin’ wedding.”

“We’re like this. It’s the sort of bizarre you quite literally signed up for, Luce,” Winston said. “His Majesty’s government and all that.”

“I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind when I see him tomorrow.”

Winston snickered and pulled her close in hug.

He kissed Lucy on the top of the head. “Let me ring them.”

Winston dialled the venue and spoke with a man named Larry. “I know this is last minute, but I was wondering if you might have any availability to host a very small elopement about thirty days from now?”

“Just a moment.”

Winston heard a keyboard clicking and then the man responded.

“I have a Thursday afternoon available—the 16th. It would go into evening. You’d have the whole place. Unfortunately, we’re booked every Friday and Saturday. Would you like to place a hold?”

“Give me a second,” Winston said. “I have to talk to my fiancée.”

Winston walked back into the office. The registrar woman had made Lucy a cup of tea and was talking about her cats. Lucy was showing the woman pictures of their dogs. Lucy couldn’t go anywhere without making a friend.

“The 16th,” Winston said. “What have you got for the 16th?”

“I fly to Vegas the next week. My sister is getting married. It’s her hen party. I don’t want to go.”

Winston needed her to be faster.

She scrolled on her mobile. “I have an engagement on the books for 10.”

“Enough time to get ready for a 4PM booking? We’d have the evening after that.”

“If not, I can ask her to move it… maybe. Ugh. It’s a joint engagement with Princess Kiersten. I guess we will see.”

“Should I book it? They are full up, Lulu. I’m dying here.”

“Book it. I will make it work,” Lucy answered.

Winston returned to the conversation with Larry. “She says we can make 4 PM work.”

“We usually add on private dining—”

“We’ve been to your place before it’s nice. Let’s do that.”

“How many? Four?”

“We are just us.”

“You need two witnesses, or I can’t book it.”

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