Duke, Actually

by Jenny Holiday

“Ah, yes, the puzzling American tradition of bankrupting its young people before they even begin their careers.”

He was tempted to say that a person could be lucky and unhappy, that those two qualities were not mutually exclusive,

The answer was that indulging in snow angels and impromptu outings to the ballet felt like exposing herself somehow. Putting on display the tender, inner part of her that was capable of taking delight in innocent pursuits, and that, in turn, felt like she was setting herself up to be mocked.

If she saw the people she trusted rarely-to-never, what did that mean for her life? Not to be too melodramatic, but what did that mean for her soul?

“Oh,” she said to Leo, “I am going to have fun.” She did not have fun.

“Whoever came up with the notion that one should feel guilty about things that bring one pleasure should be shot.”

Mother’s “good” breeding kicked in, and she fake smiled.

her… W H A T?????

If the past week, with all its talking and cavorting, felt like a movie montage, he knew what kind of movie it was. A romance. Or, worse, one of those dreadful Hallmark movies Americans seemed to love where they just made up a fake European country so they could have a fairy tale free from the inconvenient constraints of reality.

If Dani gave him her heart, he wouldn’t break it. He would actively do everything in his power to not break it. No matter what it cost him. If he could have that vision, her in a white dress, her eyes finding him automatically in a room full of people, he would do anything.

“I’ve been helping you extract Father from potentially embarrassing situations since I was a child, and I’m not doing it anymore. I’ve spent my whole life listening to you two tell me what’s wrong with me. Seb and I have spent our whole lives being abused by Father while you stood by and let him. Why would I help you? Why have I been helping you for so long?”

And I will secretly love you.

is that fear worth more to you than what’s potentially on the other side of it?”

She had learned from Max that sometimes you had to let yourself feel what you felt, even if what you felt went against all reason.