Page 124 of Duchess Material

“He’s gorgeous and you never—”

“He is twice your age, and you should know better. He’s a womaniser of the worst kind, darling. And his cinematic choices were dubious at best. You deserve better.”

“You realise that everyone gets laid but me, right?”

“Kiersten—”

“No, really. George is getting married. You and Ed can’t keep your hands off one another, Paul goes through my friends like it is his fucking job and here we are. In this car. A celebrity—a gorgeous one with a divine accent—wanted me and you stepped in.”

“I’m going to sound like Dad for a moment. Forgive me. But, Kiersten, you will thank me later when this didn’t end up in the tabloids. You will have your fun. I can assure you—”

“I am at uni all day. When I’m not there, I’m at the barn. I am surrounded by women. I have no access to men. I am like an animal kept apart. It is horrendous. I’ve had sex one time and it was a grave disappointment. So, I pulled back. Sex is supposed to be magical, yes? Wonderful and make you giddy?”

Natalie sighed and squeezed her sister’s hand. “It does… when it’s good. That’s not always the case, love.”

“Well, I wouldn’t even know.”

“Kiersten, I had the first sexual experience of my life at twenty-one. I was clueless. It was with someone a bit older—not old like bloody Allan there—and he was wonderful. The next time, I did it with someone my own age who couldn’t tell the difference between my knee and my clit. I was overly frustrated. Sexual awakening isn’t a linear process. You are still so young. This feels big now. I know. My twin was getting laid on a regular basis and sleeping with Patrick and these beautiful women. I felt like... why couldn’t I land someone good like that—”

Kiersten opened her mouth, but Natalie cut her off. “Yes, I do include Lucy in that. She may appear meek and mild. She’s also magnetic in a girl-next-door way that I am not. Men flock to talk to her. I was always a bit jealous George could land a 10 and I couldn’t find someone who knew how to push my buttons. Of course, we became close, and I realise that was silly.”

“Even Lucy?”

“Lucy has men fawning over her, but she’d never know it—not unlike yourself. Kiersten, out of all of us, you’re the stunner. I command you to find some hot young man and go wild. It gets better, alright? You won’t spend your whole twenties celibate. It will happen when you least expected it.”

“So, you eventually found a man who could… you know?”

“Bring me to orgasm, yes? A couple. Many were just shit people. Easy to find one or the other but not both.”

“And Ed?”

“Is both.”

“I will never find someone who is equal parts dashing and sweet, not to mention actually likes me!”

“I did,” Natalie said. “And you will.”

“Your first time didn’t suck?”

“No. He was gorgeous, and he took care of me first. I was so terrified; I wasn’t even able to have an orgasm at first. I had no idea why anyone would elect to go down on me. But it was fun. It spoiled me for others, which I have told him since—”

“Wait, is it someone we know!?”

Natalie blushed. “It was Ed.”

“Ed?!”

“We met at a party where we were both in costume, so he had no idea who I was until the morning after. I raced out of there and back to Nira’s room so fast. God, he was gorgeous. Still is. And he’s all mine.”

“You are absolutely mooning over him.”

“Because I love him!”

“When will it happen for me, Nat?”

“When you don’t expect it at all. You’ve got to give things up to the universe and simply trust it will work out.”

“That’s really unsatisfying.”

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