Page 47 of Duchess Material

Dwight opened the fridge loudly, grabbed a beer, shook his head, and slammed the door. As he left, Lucy wanted to cry.

“Ignore him, sweetie. He’s trying to get a rise out of someone. Your mother already warned him. She’s happy for you. She says the Queen and Princess are both lovely. He just misses you.”

He didn’t. He missed controlling Lucy.

“Well, it was my choice to go to school there and to leave. I’m a citizen now but it’s petty to bring that up. I came home to see you and my sisters and mom. That’s it. He can pound sand. If he pulls that in front of Winston, Winston will put him on his arse. Ass, I mean… like… sorry. It gets to me.”

“You’re practically one of them!”

She was one of them.

“Winston seems gentle.” Jane said.

“He is. He’s also protective of his family. And he knows Dad can be a dickhead.”

“He can, yes. I’m happy for you. I’m not much for redheads but he’s cute. What does he do?”

“He does a podcast and he’s an artist,” Lucy answered.

Jane looked at her granddaughter suspiciously. “And he can support you? Your mother said he lives in a church he made into a house. A great big one…”

“He does. He doesn’t have to support me, grandma. I make good money now. And, anyway, he’s fine.”

She did not want to say, “He’s worth millions and his mother is worth billions.” Nor did she say, “If only you knew the real estate he will inherit when his mother dies.” And Lucy did not point out Winston was an earl. She wasn’t digging into that. At the end of the day, Lucy was self-made. She was doing good things. She was a mover and a shaker—Winston or no. His money would never define her. She’d worried about that with George. She’d become more protective over time with it.

Lucy met up with Winston and checked in. He was happy.

“It’s been fine. Your grandmother is a hoot.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“That Tim…”

“Oh, yes,” Lucy giggled.

Almost on cue, Tim clinked his glass of cheap champagne he probably thought was liquid gold.

“Toast, toast!” Jen announced.

The other cousins and aunts and uncles assembled.

“I just wanted to say I appreciate you all welcoming me here so warmly,” Tim said. “I know we won’t be around tomorrow but we’re both happy to be here.”

“We are, yeah.” Jen beamed at him like a lovesick puppy.

They were spending Thanksgiving at his parents’ pretentious catered country club dinner. It was an annual thing. Grandma’s amazing, brined turkey was better. Lucy was sure of it.

“It means the world to me to have your support. I love Jennifer so much,” Tim said. “She’s smart and sweet and gorgeous, of course.”

“Yes, of course,” Lucy whispered to Winston, trying not to roll her eyes.

He stifled a snicker.

Tim continued, “Which is why I wanted…”

Tim got down on one knee as Jennifer started sobbing and covered her mouth.

“I wanted to ask you the all-important question. Jennifer Chandler, would you marry me?”

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