Chapter 60
GOLD RUSH
DUNCAN
London Daily Times
The Prince of Wales has landed in sunny California and was promptly rushed off to the Beverly Wiltshire.
He has a series of engagement scheduled over the next two days which includes a red carpet appearance alongside his cousin, actress and screenwriter Leah Roughy.
The two will be attending a gala recognizing the life of legendary British director Merrit Blackstone.
The Prince was tapped to present an award.
It will be a family affair and a nice change of pace for the Prince who has been mostly attending events in more casual clothes.
The ladies of Los Angeles are no doubt atwitter at a prince in a tux.
“Can you just calm down and be normal, Leah?” I asked.
“I am normal,” Leah said. “Hey! Victoria, stop it!”
Leah’s oldest daughter stopped slapping her twin, Bobby. They fought over a handheld video game.
“But he stole it!”
“No. You don’t want to wait your turn,” Leah called her out, her gaze intimidating.
“Why don’t you go watch telly in my bedroom, huh?” I asked.
Victoria grumbled, leaving her brother.
“They’re going to be the death of me!” Leah whinged to her wife.
“It’s fine,” I said. “They’re seven. There is nothing you can do, Leah.”
“I know. But I would love for them to just act normal.”
“This is normal,” Lourdes insisted.
The baby crawled across towards me, looking for another lap.
“So, if this is normal, get off my case,” Leah said. “I promise not to embarrass you in front of the woman you are entangled with.”
“What does entangled mean?” Bobby asked.
“It means your uncle is neither confirmed as dating this woman—noncommittally—nor can he avoid her.”
“That isn’t true, Leah,” I protested. “I have already said she’s my girlfriend. Be nice to her. She’s pretty battered and it’s not easy being her.”
“Yes, Leah. Behave,” Lourdes warned. “He’s been so unsuccessful, that there is little grace given. He’s finally hooked one.”
Bobby snickered at my expense.
Leah raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize we’d codified this with a title?”
“We did,” I said. “While you were busy with life, I was preoccupied with this. And she’s been recovering from surgery while I galivant around. Poor thing.”
“Poor thing indeed. Like a lamb to the slaughter.”
Lourdes playfully slapped Leah’s arm. “Natalie! Calm down!”
“You know the more you act like being with me is a liability and project onto people, the harder it is to make it work. She’s wonderful. I love her. Be normal Leah. Stop being so dramatic.”
“That’s Mummy’s thing,” Bobby said.
He meant Lourdes, the more anxious of his mothers. Leah stifled a laugh and Lourdes glared.
Bobby asked, “What is wrong with Cousin Duncan’s girlfriend?”
Leah groaned. “Nothing. But being Cousin Duncan’s girlfriend is hard.”
That was stating the obvious.
“You love her?” Leah asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Very much. It sounds mad, I know.”
“She’s too young for you,” Leah said. “But she does appear to have things together and your mother likes her.”
“That’s all you need,” Lourdes chuckled. “That’s the difficult bit.”
“But in terms of reality here. Are we talking like you adore her? Like let’s go public level adoration? Or let’s move in together? Because you haven’t done any of that since Vanessa.”
I picked up the baby as she pulled my trousers, situating her on my knee.
“It’s verging on the first one. I selfishly want to fly right into bit number two. It’s dumb.”
Leah’s jaw dropped, scoffing, “He’s actually in love—proof!”
“It’s true. So am I. But when I thought she was really sick—which she was—it was clear this wasn’t just puppy love. I dunno.”
“So you’re really going to just… U-Haul into it?” Leah asked.
“Leah, we were practically living together before we ever codified what we were—both times,” Lourdes shook her head. “People in glass houses.”
I smiled at the baby, “We haven’t discussed anything specific. We’ve been together a few months. I do love her, though. She’s the first person since Vanessa I’ve felt I could settle down with.”
“And does she feel the same?”
“She thinks she could.”
Lourdes seeded doubt. “What does that mean? That seems noncommittal.”
I winced. “I will be completely honest that I don’t know. She’s young and has never been in love before.”
“Oh, God, she really is a baby,” Lourdes sighed.
“Can you two be any less helpful right now? Or do you just enjoy watching me suffer? The reason I even came here, Leah, is because you asked and I thought you might make Eloise feel at ease.”
Leah sat by me, playing with the baby’s chubby hands. “I’m sorry, cousin. I don’t dislike her. I actually like her. That’s why I worry for her. This is a hard job. Your mother would gladly retire in a few months. But leaving you with a twenty-something consort seems an awful burden.”
“I don’t have all the answers, nor do I plan to couch it like that. I want to enjoy her company and ease into it. That means temporarily I must suspend the urge to run headlong into things.”
There was a knock.
“Come in!” Leah called, as if this were her hotel room.
John popped in. “Miss Mills is nearby. They are bringing her up the back entrance.”
“Great,” I said.
“The one thing you can be assured of is that this town is made for celebrities,” Lourdes said. “Love that. We can do whatever and barely get a batted eyelash.”
“I loathe LA, but I digress. She’s not wrong,” Leah said.
“Thanks for the update,” I said.
“And is she staying here then?” Leah asked.
“That was the Prince’s wish, Ms. Lyons-Lennon.”
“Why not, right?” Lourdes asked.
“Because you’re still trying to suggest propriety, right?”
“Ma’am, with all due respect, the entire staff is aware of the… situation. It is fine.”
“We want her to be comfortable,” I said.
“Which is why you sent a plane for her?” Leah snickered. “And why you have been spoiling her with gifts from afar? I don’t even know who you are, cousin.”