Page 62 of Duchess Material

“Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t have to suffer the agony of hearing them going at it. Luce, have you ever learned to keep it down? Can you try tonight to shut up?”

“George!” Patrick covered his face, mortified.

“George, you need to apologise,” Vanna insisted.

“I needn’t do—”

Lucy burst into tears and dropped her napkin.

She stood. “I’m gonna go.”

Winston followed suit. He roared, “I should beat your arse!”

“You don’t get to fucking talk to me like that!”

“You’re a private citizen, same as me! Fuck off into the sun!” Winston used a phrase Lucy planted in his brain.

Winston slammed the door. The room fell silent. Natalie looked at her father, pleading with him to say something. Her mother was near tears. Vanna always cried in a conflict scenario.

Robbie was clear. “You should be ashamed of yourself! George, that girl has been nothing but gracious! She is fiercely protective of this family and its secrets. She could have gone out and made millions with a damn memoir. She could have sued us. Still, she stands by Natalie’s side. And, to her credit, your sister has masterfully taken over. If this runs Lucy off, you’ve made Natalie’s job difficult, you’ve alienated one of your best mates and your cousin, and you’ve embarrassed us. Listen to your fiancé. This is rubbish behaviour!”

Natalie was in disbelief over Robbie’s affirmation. but thankful he stood up for Lucy.

“You’d be angry,” George quipped back.

Robbie was about to speak when Duncan interjected.

“I punched him square in the face over your mother and what good did it do? Vanora is a saint and, still, she held it against me. And I don’t blame her. And guess what? We got the fuck over it. I apologised and moved on. I already had. Look at Patrick. Do you love him? Is he not the reason you blew up the life you knew? Is squabbling over Lucy is good for him? Productive? Signals maturity and readiness to enter a lifelong commitment?”

Everything Duncan said was spot on.

“I couldn’t have said it any better myself.” Robbie endorsed his twin brother’s diatribe.

“I don’t hold a candle for Lucy. Patrick knows.”

“No, but it’s embarrassing, Georgie. It’s terrible that you think she should suffer and be unhappy. For what? What is Lucy’s crime? Loving you when you were clearly emotionally involved with me? Being understanding as you found yourself? Loving your family? Defending you and taking the high road? Being lovely with Charlotte? What? I don’t care about your arguments with Winston. I think they are stupid and embarrassing, but… Lucy? You only embarrassed her.”

“It was loud—”

Rita snapped to her feet and bellowed, “Are we not adults, George? God, if I had a dime for every time I have heard your mother and father, I’d be a rich woman!”

“Mairead!” Bruno groaned.

Vanna glared at her. Rita was pissed.

Nina stole her mother’s wineglass. “Mummy, we’re cutting you off.”

“Well, it’s true. We’re all adults here,” Rita said. “I refuse to apologise for Winston’s supposed indiscretion. One, I love Lucy dearly. Two, he loved her unrequited for ages. Out of a courtesy for you, he never said anything, George. Never. It’s not my fault you all were too blind to see it. He treats her like a queen—as she deserves. You left her to pick up the pieces. We love you are happy with Patrick—we adore him and Charlotte. But as the person who changed your nappies more times than I can count, young man, I will not sit by and let you throw the poor girl under the bus. If you ever loved and respected her, you need to bloody well apologise immediately and stop this nonsense!”

In a last-ditch effort, George looked to their mother.

She took a moment. She stared down. She was not about to give George an out. He looked bereft.

“You must apologise or you’re sleeping in the doghouse,” Patrick said.

“Pat, why do you care—”

“Because, George, any woman who welcomed our kid after your decision is worthy of nothing but grace. I’m still the chivalrous type and a terrible mama’s boy but… she is the sweetest girl. Women put up with too much from men. And if someone said something like that to Charlotte, I would beat his ass!”

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