Page 121 of Duchess Material

“You don’t think I could?”

“I have watched you shoot a gun. It’s… a mess, darling.”

“Well, at least you’re honest,” Lucy said with a shrug.

“You two are also mates?”

“Best mates, yes,” Natalie replied. “She keeps my head attached. Ed, what would you say my relationship status is with Lucy?”

Ed looked up from his book. “Co-dependent.”

“He said co-dependent,” Winston clarified. “Boy, does that spell trouble for me?”

“Your mother and mine are co-dependent. It’s fine, darling,” Natalie said.

Winston chuckled.

“So, what is the hardest part of your job, Lucy?”

“I think trying to cover all the bases and set expectations at the same time,” Lucy answered. “You might have delays. She might see a plane.”

“See a plane?”

Lucy looked at Natalie, who shrugged.

“Yeah, so if we’re in an engagement and anyone mentions a plane or there is a plane somewhere, we’re going to need to add twenty minutes. If someone has a horse or talks about a horse, minimum of ten minutes. And just letting people know that she’s a living, breathing human who needs a moment. Most people are super kind but… sometimes people just don’t understand why she’s a minute late. Alternatively, if something goes awry, I must tell her that something has exploded. And then I manage those expectations. And that’s all without trying to communicate with His Majesty’s office or her mother’s. It’s a lot. It’s my job to manage it.”

“She’s brilliant at it. When she left, Mummy cried. But she was glad I got to keep her.”

“Natalie, you’re not helping. The whole point is to let the guest explain what they do!”

“Sorry, cuz. You got us both.”

“Because Lucy invited you.”

“But you didn’t want me here?”

“I wanted the biryani, Nat.”

“Fair, fair.”

“Luce, it’s been brilliant. Natalie, I’m glad to be done,” Winston joked.

“You are the worst.”

“I’m not even the worst. You just can’t let anyone else get a word in edgewise!”

“You sound like my father.”

“No comment. I can sympathise given that he must deal with you, your mother, and my mother all at the same time. As a person who gets flustered and is grateful for Lucy to manage things, I can understand.”

“She’s good at that, yeah. Again, I adore her. She’s the best,” Natalie said. “And I’m happy you’re going to marry her because she deserves to have someone take care of her.”

“You’re going to make me cry,” Lucy teared up.

“What is going on?”

“We’re just having a love fest, Winston,” Natalie said. “And you’d be good to just let it happen.”

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