Page 122 of Duchess Material

“This is a unique thing with women. I admire it,” Winston admitted.

“Men don’t do this,” Ed sat at the table and crowded Natalie’s mic. “We don’t. Women amaze me sometimes. I feel like media prizes male ‘bonding’, but they miss out on the truth.”

“It’s true. Your mother and mine are their own sort of love story as were your grandmother and mine before them, Winston,” Natalie pointed out. “Women support one another. We care.”

“I admire it,” Ed admitted. “And I know better than to stick my hand into it.”

“Best to step away,” Winston chuckled. “No, I’m grateful that we can both have our own friendships and it’s fine. Lucy is a gem. I don’t blame you, Natalie.”

“Don’t steal her from me, Winston,” Natalie said. “I need her.”

“I won’t,” Winston agreed. “I love her, but she likes her job too much. It wouldn’t be Lucy without her carrying the world around with her. Whatever makes her happy.”

Lucy was choked up. “Aww, I love you, Winston. You’re so sweet.”

“The two of you are going to make me vomit,” Natalie admitted. “But I love you. I wish you all the happiness. The fact that she would even come on here is notable. Lucy does not talk about things. She’s remarkably buttoned-up.”

“And you, Natalie?” Ed laughed.

“Don’t know the meaning,” Natalie answered.

* * *

“So, you should have me charm him?” Natalie asked.

Robbie looked annoyed. Arms crossed, she said, “Do not shout at me, Natalie. He is fine.”

“He is a cad! A rake! An utter dickhead! You would have me join him for an evening?”

“I’m not asking you to go do anything nefarious. Attend the documentary premiere with him. It’s for charity. He asked for you, specifically.”

“I wonder why,” Natalie said.

“Why are you all wound up? He’s a celebrity. You deal with celebrities every day. I agreed to let you spend next week getting flight hours to keep a certification. So, you can take Mr. Walsh to the cinema at the very least.”

Natalie pulled a face.

“He’s known to be a womaniser,” Vanna said. “Really, Robert, would you think this is best?”

“He is the producer and he’s a key ally in the environmental space. What is so different about him, Natalie?”

“He’s a ladies’ man, he asked for me specifically, and my boyfriend just headed back to America. Hmm… what could I be bothered by?”

“Could you have asked her before you said yes?” Vanna sighed.

“You already said yes!?”

“You are walking the red carpet with him at a film premiere.”

“You wouldn’t let me take Ed but yes, take Allan Walsh to a film? Sure.”

“I never said you couldn’t take Ed. I only knew Ed would not be around.”

“He’s the son of a billionaire—a nepo baby—and I don’t date the sons of billionaires who are nepo babies. Never mind that I don’t date anyone right now because I am taken. I’m with Ed. I’d spend every waking hour with him at present if only I were allowed to. But I’m not and I can’t.”

“You are the ultimate in nepo babies, sweetheart,” Vanna said. “And given your origin story, perhaps don’t lean into the not-dating-billionaires line. Still, I agree. Robert, this could upset Ed.”

“If Ed is so insecure that you can’t—”

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