Page 76 of Duchess Material

“So, she calls George Papa and you Dad?” Natalie clarified. “This is new.”

Patrick said. “It just started. George has made a couple friends back in Chicago with kids. It’s been nice. Interesting to see families like ours.”

“I’m basically a carpool mum,” George called out.

“He embraces it. Drops her at the little preschool by our house. Goes shopping. Picks her up.”

“You’re Mum. Of course, you are!”

“If only. I am a hot mess.”

“Mum had help, Georgie. You lost your nanny.”

George shrugged. “Well, we have the part-time nanny, but you’re right.”

“We have a magnum of champagne and we’re wasting it,” Patrick pointed out.

“It’s alright. This is life. Life with my darling niece.”

“It’s fine,” Ed said. “I’ve missed the chaos Natalie brings. And Charlotte is a doll.”

“She really is,” Natalie sighed, happily.

“Nat is falling in love with being auntie,” Patrick joked.

“It’s all I could ask for. Come on, darling. We have biscuits for days.”

“Cookies,” Patrick clarified. “Do you want a cookie, sweetheart?”

Charlotte and George emerged.

“Cookie? Yes!” Charlotte screeched.

“She’s bilingual. He’s trying to indoctrinate her,” George told Natalie. “But I will win this war.”

“We’re raising them in the States. They need to understand American words!”

Back downstairs, the adults drank through the bottle of champagne in the cosy family room off the family kitchen. Natalie’s house had one big staff kitchen downstairs and a family living area complete with a den and smaller, practical kitchen. Charlotte played with a puzzle until she started to nod off on Patrick’s lap. George spirited her away to put her down for the night.

Patrick soon left, citing he was tired, leaving Natalie alone with Ed.

“I’m sorry for the additional people—”

“No, Nat, don’t,” Ed assured her. “I mean, yes, I had thought I would rush in here and take you right to bed but, it was nice to catch up. Charlotte is a sweetie. It’s alright.”

“I love her. She warms my cold heart.”

“Your heart is not that cold, Natalie. You can be remarkably warm when you try.”

Natalie pulled a face.

Ed played with her hair. “You’re trying not to think about me leaving?”

Natalie nodded.

“I will come home. I swear. I’m in Indy for a week and then home.”

“I will be here being boring.”

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