Page 130 of Duchess Material

And that was it. Winston kissed Lucy, the camera clicked like mad, and they basked in the bliss of this magical, surprising day. As Winston pulled away, he stared at Lucy. She was grinning like the Cheshire cat. She was perfection. All he wanted was to kiss her again. Before he could, she kissed him back, her lips meeting his as if she could no longer fight the urge to do it once more.

It was a perfect day. Winston could not have loved her more if he tried. They dispersed, taking time to have a drink before family photos. Winston and Lucy were in the clouds, unable to come back to Earth’s surface. Who cared? This day was all about them. Winston could not have imagined feeling more fulfilled. Lucy was his wife. He was her husband. It was wild and wonderful.

“Well, Countess, what now?” Natalie teased her friend.

Lucy giggled. “I don’t know, cousin, what shall we do?”

“I vow we eat. I’m famished,” Winston said.

“I think I could manage that,” Lucy said.

23

HONEYMOON PERIOD

Lucy and Winston stayed in a great big suite in London proper on their wedding night before sailing to Bermuda. Unfortunately, the honeymoon period was cut very short by Winston’s plan to notify Lucy’s family of the fact that they had married. Gone were the beautiful sunsets and warm weather. They were welcomed to O’Hare, Chicago’s maddening traffic, and the reality of meeting Lucy’s family for dinner.

Lucy knew her mother and sisters had planned something for their grandmother’s birthday before they left for Vegas. She had communicated this to Winston in a series of offhand comments. Winston had taken notes and planned around it. They would crash the party and admit what they’d done. It was a disaster waiting to happen, but Winston was convinced it would be fine.

Jen and Tim hosted at their brand-new McMansion in Oak Brook. So, that is where Lucy and Winston found themselves tan, a legion of luggage in the rented car parked on the suburban street outside. Lucy only prayed that no one noticed her wedding band—or Winston’s. Neither had taken their bands off since the wedding.

Jane greeted them excitedly as they arrived.

“What is this?” she scoffed.

“Surprise,” Francie laughed. “Winston concocted a plan to surprise you—and Lucy. I helped.”

“Happy birthday, Grandma!” Lucy declared.

Lucy gave her grandmother a tight hug and a big kiss on the cheek. She smelled like pierogi and frosting. And, in the moment, that was more comforting and less disconcerting. Jane gave Winston a big hug and kiss, too. Winston tolerated this. Jane looked ridiculous next to him. She was so tiny and slight. He towered over her. Lucy wondered if they also looked ridiculous. She never noticed the height difference.

“Hi, Francie.” Lucy gave her sister a big hug. “You are a schemer!”

“Well, when Jen insisted that Winston come, I contacted him. He mentioned that you knew about the party. We came up with a plan.”

“Sneaky!”

“I was desperate to see you and get time off on spring break. What can I say?” Francie laughed.

“Oh, you’re here!” Jen dashed out to give Lucy a hug. Brittany followed.

“Yes. We made it.”

“Why are you so tan?” Jen asked.

“Because we were just in Bermuda,” Lucy answered. “Long story.”

“I need a full explanation later.”

Lucy hugged and kissed her mother as Jen gave Winston a hug so big, it looked like it squeezed the life out of him.

“Your house is lovely,” Winston told her. “Such a nice neighbourhood.”

“Oh, you’re too kind, Winston. Come, come, I will show you around.”

Jen pulled him along, leaving Lucy alone with the other female members of her family. She didn’t get the tour.

“I should go with them,” Lucy insisted.

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