Page 118 of Duchess Material

“Lucy!”

“There is nothing you can do about it, baby!”

Winston dealt with it.

“Fine. Ask them what they want—what curry suits. I’m buying,” Winston groaned.

“You’ve never thought to ask?”

“You’re not an artist! Besides, I’d never ask you to do my bidding.”

Lucy giggled. “You do mine all the time! I will get their orders. They told me they are bringing whisky.”

“Well, that should make it better.”

21

THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB

“So, tonight, we’re changing it up. I’m here recording with my guest of the evening,” Winston said. “And for once, she’s not a spectator—”

“She’s in the hotseat,” Lucy laughed.

“Indeed. Here with me is my lovely fiancée, Lucy Chandler. Lucy, how are you doing this evening?”

“I’m… fine.” Lucy was suddenly nervous, regretting her decision to be Winston’s guest.

Natalie burst into laughter, sensing Lucy’s awkwardness.

“Ignore that,” Winston said.

“Indeed. You quite alright back there?”

Natalie called back, “Sure, sure.”

“Lucy and I are here with guests. I won’t mention who they are only that one of them is related to me and ate literally all our chicken biryani before she let us have any.”

Natalie shrugged and Lucy laughed.

“Luce, I’m going to try to stick to the script as much as possible—”

“Treat me as you would any guest.”

“Good, brilliant. So, we start off with—”

“What do you do? How did you start?”

“Proof you have sat through this a few times.”

“Yeah. I have. But it’s good. I am not an artist. I have no artistic talents—”

“I rather disagree with that, darling. You absolutely do. You’re a brilliant singer. I mean, a genuine star.”

“Can confirm!” Ed called out.

“Okay, I did sing a lot. I am classically trained. That is, however, not my primary job. Nor do they pay me to sing, unfortunately.”

“What do you do, Lucy Chandler?”

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