Page 114 of Duchess Material

“Somewhere. Give me a moment, please.”

“Her Majesty is asking for them. When you find them, please run them up to Clara, alright?”

“Yes, Miss Chandler.”

Natalie heard Lucy turn, heels clicking and called, “Lucy Chandler! Come here!”

Lucy’s head soon peeked in the doorway. “Oh, hello. You’re back.”

“Fortunately, or unfortunately. Good morning, darling. You’re putting in for half a day of vacation in the middle of the week. Can I ask why?”

“Oh, it’s just… something minor.”

Lucy shut the door.

“Why not take Friday, too?”

“I’m not sure I have time. We are supposed to receive the new Dutch Ambassador and—”

“Lucy, what is happening? Are you doing the egg thing finally? Why? Do the two of you not want to just have sex? I know the answer to that is fuck no. Wait… are you? Oh my God! You are!”

Lucy shook her head and sat across from Natalie’s desk. “No, God, no. I’m not pregnant.”

“Oh, sorry. I just… it’s odd for you. I know you’re off the following Friday to go to Vegas—”

“Yeah, about that. If I can’t go—”

“You don’t want to go.”

“Fuck. No.”

“Well, that makes sense. I don’t want you to go—for your own sake. What is going on?”

“It’s stupid, really. Winston is hosting this thing at that place by our house—Marquis?”

“Oh, yeah, we went there once with you. Ed likes it.”

“Cool, yeah. Well, they offer private dining and there’s this cocktail dude. He does some things and sets this or that on fire. I dunno. Either way, Winston has hired the place for some sort of thing. He’s inviting his family. I feel alone. Can you come with?”

Natalie compared her calendar to Ed’s on a separate screen.

“If I can bring Ed, yeah.”

“That’s fine, sure.” Lucy smiled, looking nervous.

“Lucy, you’re a dreadful liar. What is going on? Why a Thursday?”

“You know me. I’m a cheapskate—”

“I don’t fucking buy it, darling.”

“Okay, but you cannot tell anyone.”

Natalie was excited. She loved surprises.

Lucy continued, sensing agreement, and brimming with excitement. “So, Winston’s dad is a massive dick—”

“Lucy, everyone knows that! Tell me something I don’t know!”

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