Page 10 of Duchess Material

Natalie shook her head. “Because she loved you. You two are saps.”

“I am a sap. Your mother is my moral compass.”

Ed chuckled. “My mother often reminds my father she doesn’t generally fancy English men. However, his knowledge of Shakespeare and general demeanour impressed her. I wonder how they ever made it work. She drives him batty and he’s an absolute child at times.”

“That’s all men.” Natalie rolled her eyes.

Robbie snickered.

“I feel more evolved.”

“You feel a great many things, Edwin.”

He shook his head but stared at her lovingly. Ed had nothing but adoration for her. She was the strangest person he had ever met. How they managed to find one another again after nearly a decade was a thing of wonder. But damn if she wasn’t electric. Ed was so glad Natalie was back.

“What was your favourite part of the trip, Natalie?” Robbie changed the subject.

“I think seeing all the planes. In terms of meeting with people, I got to meet this group of women who were fixing cars in Kampala. They had babies strapped to their backs and were wrenching like it was nothing. So badass! Women are warriors. There is nothing we cannot do. You will not tell me otherwise.”

Robbie smiled. “True. True. There is a reason man did not evolve to carry children.”

Ed sat his drink down. “I couldn’t fix a car. I have an English degree. I don’t know an engine from a carburettor.”

Natalie patted his leg. “A carburettor is part of an engine. It mixes gas and air.”

“See, I learned something,” Ed said.

“You slay me, darling.”

Robbie shook his head. “Well, I am glad you met many interesting people. You earned a few days off. Your mum and I are over-the-moon with your progress, Natalie. You’re wonderful at the job. I will leave you kids in peace. Nice seeing you again, Ed.”

“You as well, sir,” Ed replied.

“Thank you for the whisky, Daddy,” Natalie said.

The King left. Natalie turned to Ed, looking for an analysis.

Ed shrugged. “What? He was surprisingly fine. Is he planning to skin me alive or something?”

Natalie giggled. “No. He was relaxed.”

“I don’t think he likes the ad campaign.”

“I don’t care what he thinks. You are dead sexy. And you are all mine.” Natalie leaned in and kissed Ed. He had not a care in the world.

3

AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE

Lucy woke the next morning to her period—a dreadful, awful period. She had to give Winston the good—and bad—news. She found him making a massive fry up in the kitchen. Bless him, he’d run to Boots, too. There was a pregnancy test on the kitchen island. He pulled out all the stops. She wondered if this would make him pull back or not. Part of her had already fallen for him so deeply over the past month, she could not help herself. The other part of her was guarded. She was worried she’d sabotage herself before it ever had the chance to grow legs.

Lucy marvelled at how fortunate she was to wake up with this person who treated her like gold. No one ever doted on her as Winston had the night before. He was so wonderful. She had a pang of guilt for not being pregnant. He was there with the dogs—all four looking at him like he hung the moon. If anyone deserved to be a dad, it was probably Winston. He’d make a remarkable one someday.

“Winston,” Lucy said.

“Yes, Luce?” he asked.

She shook the pregnancy test and discarded it. “Well, good news is, I have my period. Bad news is, it is a whopper of one and… well, you’re going to want to avoid me for quite some time.”

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