Chapter 31

My first few months on my new job was nothing short of amazing. There were lows but there were a lot more highs.

June.

After our California nuptials, Archie and I escaped to the British Virgin Islands for a week for our honeymoon.

The BVI was one of our favorite places to go. It was beautiful and we always stayed in the same quiet, secluded house. No one knew where we were except our family which was amazing because of no paparazzi.

"You know what I realized?" Archie began

I looked over at him as we sat by the pool, "What?"

"We're very much beach people. My parents like the mountains and skiing and shit, but there's nowhere we want to go more than a beach." he explained to me, "I can't wait to bring our children to the beach and build sandcastles, watch dolphins."

I smiled, "It's so cute to hear you talk about 'our children'. It's just one of those things that I'm excited to make a reality. Well not quite yet but in the near future."

"We have to finish remodeling Kensington first." Archie said as he ate some pineapple, "Also I'm not looking forward to going straight to the Royal Ascot when we get back."

"At least you'll be tan and with your wife this time around." I reminded him of the brighter side of things, "Plus it's your Dad's favorite event and Alex is finally coming back."

Archie nodded, "Yeah, yeah, but I like being here with you and the beautiful blue water."

"I know. Just soak it all in now." I told him

And we did.

We spent a lot of time on the beach, cooking, in the pool, and then on the plane back to London, we were home for all of four hours before we were only our way to the Royal Ascot.

Since marrying Archie, I'd gotten used to the conservative dresses but the hats were still getting used to. My stylist, Lillian, dressed me in a midi blue dress with sheer long sleeves and of course, a matching hat.

I looked at Archie who had on a morning suit with a top hat.

"What's cookin' good lookin'?" I asked him with a big smile on my face

He grabbed my hands and just looked at me, "How'd I get so lucky?"

"I'd kiss you but I don't want to miss up my lipstick." I spoke and right after it left my mouth, Archie gave me a kiss on my forehead

"Let's go before we're late." our assistant rushed us

We got to ride in a carriage with Winston and Ruth which brought back all of the feels from our wedding. We talked about how beautiful our vows were, the California wedding, and how our honeymoon went.

The Royal Ascot went as it should.

We got to socialize with other royals and aristocrats, plus I really liked talking to Frances' family. Archie and I were really close to his Moms' family which was a good feeling, it was like she was almost still her.

It was still bothersome that we couldn't necessarily 'crack' her journals. I could never figure out what she meant by that she tried and Annie wasn't budging or she was always out of the country.

But nevertheless, we still had a good time.

Other than Wimbledon, late July/mid-August was a slow month for the Royal Family. Archie and I mostly spent that month remodeling our part of Kensington. We got new floors, painted the walls, got some new furniture, and we just made it our own.

But that wasn't the important part of July. Sure it was nice to remodel our new humble abode, go to the Balmoral Castle with his family, Hawaii with mine, and see Matilda get engaged to her boyfriend of two years, Daniel, who we all called 'Dan' or 'Danny'.

But July was the month of my now husband's birth.

He was turning twenty-nine and now I could officially say he was pushing thirty without being wrong.

"Happy birthday, Arch." I walked into our bedroom with a tray full of food

Archie sat up in bed with bright eyes and a big smile, "You didn't."

"I did." I nodded my head before I began to sing the traditionally 'happy birthday' to him

He blew out the single candle I had in a Funfetti cupcake, "Thank you, baby."

I gave him a kiss, "How does it feel?"

"Happy, very happy." he ate a piece of bacon, "You did a good job."

"Thank you." I stroked his cheek, "I love you so much and I'm very thankful for you."

For Archie's birthday, we just had a quiet night in at our place. We set up a fort in the living room like how we did the night he proposed to me, had our steak and potatoes, and watched some romcoms. We also planned our annual back to school giveback day at Buckingham Palace.

It was an event that was important to us especially since his Mom was the one who founded it.

The day of the giveback felt so far away, but the end of August snuck up on us so quickly.

But the event was just as special as it always was.

We had games, bounce houses, school supplies, plus I really like that our platform gave us a way to give back and interact with the children.

That event was a nice way to get back into the swing of things because September was a whirlwind.

It was definitely the busiest month of our marriage by far.

We went to Ireland for four days, ten days worth of events in the Uk, and then we got to go to Morocco for four days which was a really cool experience for me.

I thought I'd only get to see the world if I were a pilot or a travel Instagram influencer, but being a duchess was giving me a whole new perspective. There were time I missed working for Burberry but I also liked the platform I had now.

But with that came getting used to life in the public eye.

As Archie said a lot when we say tabloids, "Damned if you do, damned if you don't."

There was no way I was going to please everyone in the world, but as long as I knew I was doing something positive and impactful then that's all that mattered.

Archie and I blinked and it was October.

It signified six months of being married, planning Matilda's wedding around the clock, and the month of Winston's birth was celebrated with the Trooping of Colour which was a big deal in the UK.

Everyone had to dress up and wear a hat and my favorite part - ride in a carriage. We also got to walk out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace which reminded me a lot of our wedding and brought back those amazing memories.

At Winston's birthday party we had dinner, laughs, and lots of dancing.

"Look how cute, Arch." I said as I held his rambunctious one-year-old cousin who was making faces

"Time for one of your own perhaps?" his other cousin spoke

I looked at Archie, "One day."

I thought that was the end of it until we were laying in bed that night.

"When are you going back to the states?" Archie asked me since Thanksgiving was next month and I couldn't remember I went to my family and not vice versa.

"The twenty-fifth, do you know if you can come?" I wondered

He nodded, "The day before Thanksgiving which is better than nothing."

"Absolutely. I think Alex is just gonna go to my parents' place instead of coming back." I informed him

"Oh, she absolutely is. She hates coming back here." Archie laughed, "What will our children do?"

I frowned, "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, "I dunno. Where will we spend Christmas or the holidays?"

"I feel like that's not a right-now problem, you know? I don't know, it's such a weird situation." I sighed

"No, you're right. Let's just cross that bridge when we get there." Archie agreed with me, "Although, I can't wait to see what their voice will sound like."

I let out a small laugh, "Probably more British if we're raising them here, but we'll have to wait and see."

"Not if you let me pounce on you tonight." Archie began to kiss my neck

I jokingly pushed his head away, "You wish."