Page 44 of Duchess Material

He laughed, relieved and surprised. “Nat, why are you putting up with this?”

“Because I love and admire you. Also, my father and yours will both be relieved to see you on camera with clothes on.”

Ed chortled. “Fully clothed Edwin Winslow.”

“Upgrade from pants model?” Natalie giggled.

“I guess so.”

She played with the collar of his shirt. “I’ll miss your pecks. We’ll have to make the most out of reunion sex.”

“How do you feel about reunion sex and a spenny dinner?”

Natalie kissed him and unbuttoned his shirt. “I love the idea. And I know a place we can go that’s chill but will blow your mind.”

* * *

“We could have sprung for car service,” Winston said. “Honestly, darling, it’s no bother at all.”

“Look, if we show up with a driver at my grandmother’s, it’s gonna be crazy,” Lucy said. “I can’t handle the questions. You asking for this damn upgrade is bad enough.”

“You already want to strangle me, Lulu?” He packed their luggage in the hatch of the Escalade he’d insisted on.

Only the best for the Earl of Lauderdale.

“You can’t sweettalk me, baby. No. I don’t want to strangle you. I want you to be slightly less posh to appear… normal, alright? Be your normal down-to-earth self. Exude less ‘British aristocrat’ energy, alright?”

“Sure, sure,” Winston agreed. “Sorry.”

“You’re nervous?” Lucy could tell he was a bit keyed up.

“Is it obvious?”

Lucy giggled and left the parking lot. “Don’t be. My grandmother doesn’t take shit from anyone—including and especially my dad. He’s the one who is likely to be an asshat. Ignore him. His opinions don’t matter. My Mum and sisters adore you, okay? Don’t worry about it. Grandma will, too.”

Winston nodded. “I hope so.”

They made their way onto 294 and eventually south on 355. The drive enthralled Winston.

“I am glad you’re here, Winston,”

“I am, too. I would have been miserable without you. I’ve barely seen you, Luce. It’s hard,” Winston said.

“It’s a busy time. Christmas will be… well, I guess we won’t see one another.”

“Let’s not say that,” Winston said. “Let’s leave the door open.”

Lucy smiled a bit to herself.

“Are you going home?”

“Hell no!” Lucy replied. “No. This is my first trip back in years and it will be my last for a bit. If people want to visit us, they can but I’m not around otherwise.”

“Well, let’s think on it.”

They drove towards New Lennox before heading to Warwick, a tiny up crop between New Lennox and Mokena. There, lived Lucy’s grandmother Jane Pokorski in a small, neat little house not too far from the world’s best pizza joint.

Lucy pointed out the place as they passed. “That pizza is bomb. We can agree to go get the pizza tonight. Get a drink while waiting for it. It’s an easy walk. It’s amazing.”

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