Page 105 of The Unlikely Heir

“That can be said of so much of the wealth of the UK, not just your family,” I feel obliged to point out. “The wealth of so many nations was built off exploiting others.”

Callum sighs. “I know, but sometimes when I see the privilege my family has, the accumulation of wealth and power that came at the expense of countless people in history, it does make me wonder about the ethics of continuing this legacy.” Callum blows out a deep breath. “But I think…I think I can do things differently when I’m king. Look to redistribute some of the wealth. I mean, it seems ridiculous that my family has so much money when there are people in this country struggling to put food on their table. I won’t be able to touch the assets that belong to the Crown Estate, but I could look at selling some personal assets that belong to my family.”

“Would you be able to do that without the rest of your family’s permission?”

Callum shrugs. “I inherit it all, apparently. And there are definitely things we don’t need. I mean, my great-great-grandfather’s stamp collection is worth a hundred million pounds, and my great-grandmother’s Fabergé egg collection is worth twenty million pounds. No one would miss either of those, but that money could make a difference in people’s lives.”

“You could do a quick scout around the castles and palaces and have a massive car boot sale,” I suggest.

Callum laughs.

“I’m not particularly popular in my family already, and I’m not sure that would increase my popularity.”

“Based on their own behavior, I don’t think most of your relatives have any right to question you.”

“I know. This whole thing is just so embarrassing for the royal family. I had lunch with Gran the other day, and she’s keeping a stiff upper lip, but I can see how she’s so mortified by everything my uncles and cousins did.”

“We can’t be held responsible for the actions of our relatives. It’s something I learned a long time ago from my mother.”

Callum’s forehead crumples. “Why, what did your mother do?”

“What, haven’t you seen some of the interviews my mother’s done about me? I thought you were a master at googling.”

“Clearly, my Google skills have let me down on this occasion because I don’t remember seeing anything. And I’ve stalked you online quite intensively.”

“Hold on a second.” I scroll to find the link that the masochistic side of me has saved and then send it to Callum.

“Click on it,” I urge.

Callum obeys my instructions, and suddenly, my mother’s strong Essex accent is ringing from his screen.

“When he was three, he had a Superman shirt he refused to take off. I eventually had to wrestle him to the ground, and he screamed like a banshee. But that’s Ollie. He’s always been incredibly stubborn.”

Callum’s eyebrows shoot up. “She told embarrassing stories from your childhood to the whole country?”

“She basically told stories of anything she could think of to earn money. There was always another Oliver angle to exploit. When my breakup from Garett was announced, she was on the front page in theDaily Chroniclespeculating about whether I’d cheated on him based on the breakup I had with my first boyfriend.”

My mother had flittered in and out of my life irregularly, leaving my grandparents to do the hard work of raising me, so at least she didn’t have a normal quota of stories about me. But she had enough.

“Oh my god, Oliver.”

The sympathy in Callum’s voice makes me continue softly, “The thing is, I’m not embarrassed by the stories she tells. I’m not embarrassed by my life before I entered politics.” I take a deep breath. “But she’s prepared to sell me out to the highest bidder, which makes it obvious that my mother doesn’t love me. That’s what is embarrassing.”

I’ve never said that to anyone before. I’d put on a stoic front when it happened, and Garett never tried to peer underneath to see my real feelings.

But it hurt.

The one person who was supposed to love me unconditionally in this world happily sold me out.

“It’s not a reflection on you, you know that, right? It took me a while to work that out with Cliff. It’s a reflection of who he is, not me.” Callum’s voice is gentle.

“I know that logically. Somehow, it’s harder to accept emotionally though.”

“You deserve to be loved so much more than that.”

“I wonder where I could find someone to love me,” I say.

Callum gives a small grin. “I don’t think you have to look very far.”