Page 15 of Duchess Material

“He did. June. Back home. We talk all the time. I’m very happy for him. And Sheena, obviously.”

Winston’s younger brother, Gerry, had been in a relationship with Sheena for years. He’d recently proposed. They planned to marry at the local parish church near their family’s estate in the Scottish borders. Winston spent much his early life there until his mother returned to London and enrolled him in school. His parents had an ugly divorce when he was ten. Winston had a terrible relationship with his own father, but was close to his mother and stepfather, Bruno.

Winston signed the document and handed it back. As his mother’s heir, he was often a second signatory. The older he got, the more he did. In general, his younger brother managed the horse breeding operation. Winston wasn’t much for the horse business and preferred London to Scotland. He’d have to make the change someday. For now, his brother and mother managed most of the ground game. Winston was an unlikely choice for a duke as an artist with a podcast.

“Well, I will be out of your hair, then. Goodbye little Holly and darling Vince.” Rita set the puppy aside and stood.

Winston hugged and kissed his mother. “I promise to come to dinner this weekend, okay?”

“Well, I know I have a better chance since Lucy is scheduled to be travelling with Natalie to Belfast on Sunday.”

Winston blushed.

“I won’t say it’s uncomplicated, Winston,” his mother said. “But if you do love her, say it already. And do something about it. Don’t hold back. You will never find a perfect arrangement or perfect timing. Lucy is a lovely girl. And you two coexist in relative peace.”

It was true. They were great together.

“I will,” Winston agreed.

* * *

“Hello, my babies,” Lucy laughed, arriving home to her pack of unruly mutts.

Lucy smelled dinner already on offer. It was heaven after a long day at the office preparing for her trip with Natalie to Belfast. The sheer number of engagements and media appearances was daunting. Natalie, now the Princess of Wales, had taken over when her brother, Lucy’s ex, abdicated. After much confusion about how her role would work and her changing from military service to service directly in her father’s employ, she was finally settling into the role. Parliament passed the bill granting George’s title to Natalie.

Winston laughed as she entered the kitchen. “They’ve been waiting at the door for you for an hour. You outrank food.”

“I’m such a dog mom. What is up for dinner?”

“I put in a chicken and potatoes,” Winston replied.

“You’re the absolute best.” Lucy kissed him quick then helped herself to a glass of wine. “How was editing?”

“I did alright,” Winston already poured himself one in her absence. “How was work?”

“Fucking crazy, as per usual.”

“Well, you will get to eat dinner as soon as this chicken is ready.”

Lucy set the table, flanked by the dogs, as Winston cut the chicken. They were finally ready to eat. Lucy was the better cook, but Winston did okay for himself when he stuck to his strong suits—a proper roast and his Bolognese sauce. The latter of those was legendary.

“Thanks again. This is great,” Lucy said. “My compliments to the chef.”

“It hit the spot after my sad lunch of biscuits and a bit of cheese. I got lost in my edits.”

She smiled. “Much better, then.”

“My mum came by. And found Vince. She’s now worried about our sanity. And I think she’s questioning anything now.”

Lucy laughed. “We are crazy. I don’t question it. It is confirmed. Five dogs. Three was bad enough. Four was worse. Five is insanity. And what do you mean? Are we not alright?”

Winston sat his silverware down and dabbed his lips with a napkin.

“Well, I mean, what would we say? What could we say, Lucy?”

“I don’t know,” Lucy said. “The truth is too out there for anyone. The only one who has an inkling is Nat. And that’s fine for now but… maybe it is time to talk about it, I guess.”

Winston hadn’t wavered. He still loved her. Lucy supposed she loved him deep down, but she wasn’t sure the chemistry was there. She worried they were better as friends. There was also the matter of their histories. Her ex was Winston’s second cousin, the former Prince of Wales. It was an ethical grey area for them both. Lucy wanted to fall for Winston but was always nervous to take the plunge. They’d been on the bubble, trying to figure out life together for the past month.

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