Page 132 of The Unlikely Heir

It doesn’t seem like an ideal time to share this realization with anyone though.

“What? How? How the fuck did this happen?” Raymond’s eyes are wild.

“Okay, so you with Oliver Hartwell is a completely different proposition,” Maudie says slowly.

Raymond rounds on her. “What do you mean, it’s a completely different proposition? That’s the fucking understatement of the century! It’s a nightmare of epic proportions, that’s what it is! No, it’s beyond a nightmare. No one’s imagination could actually conjure up this scenario. I thought I’d considered all the worst-case scenarios for the royal family, but I never came up with this!”

“Oliver is popular with the British public,” I say.

Raymond glares at me like I’m the worst thing ever invented.

“The British royal family managed to survive when so many of the other European royal houses fell by being completely apolitical. Now, at this crucial period for the monarchy, when nearly one hundred thousand people have already signed a petition for a referendum on the monarchy, we’ve got the Prince of Wales fucking the prime minister. I’d say most of the British public will not believe you’re politically neutral when you’re screwing the prime minister!

“And Conservative voters are far more likely to support the monarchy than Labour voters. So by being with the Labour prime minister, you’re going to alienate the monarchy’s most stalwart supporters!”

His breathing is coming in shallow pants now. “You realize that since Charles I lost his head after the civil war, the role of the British monarchy has been to represent the whole country and stay far away from the nitty-gritty of politics. The separation of powers between the monarchy and government is essential to the successful running of the country, but apparently, you’ve decided that what your dick wants is more important than the constitutional monarchy that sixty-seven million people depend on!”

“Does Her Majesty know?” Maudie interrupts Raymond’s rant.

My stomach falls away. “No.”

Raymond stands abruptly. “We need to talk to her now. I’ll ring her private secretary.”

He grabs his phone as my stomach clenches into a tight ball.

“Hi, Clive, it’s Raymond. We’ve got a situation here. Can we arrange a meeting with the queen as soon as possible? No, it’s not about the Albert interview. It’s something else. Worse.” Raymond’s eyes slide to mine, then away like he can’t bear to look at me. “Tell her it’s an emergency.”

My stomach hollows.

I’ve tried to convince myself that perhaps Oliver and I together isn’t that big of a deal. After all, we live in a Western democracy where people are free to be with whomever they choose.

It’s the part of my brain that still looks at a rainbow and wants to believe there are leprechauns frolicking in pots of gold at the end of it.

Because it’s becoming very obvious from Raymond’s and Maudie’s reactions that this is a very big deal.

ChapterThirty-Four

Oliver

“What the fuck was Albert thinking?”

“Do you think he’s deliberately trying to sabotage the monarchy now that he’s not heir to the throne?”

My cabinet ministers are abuzz about the former Prince of Wales’ interview.

“It’s like someone on the Titanic lighting a fire to speed the demise along,” Rosalia comments.

Toby looks up from his phone, fixing me with a look. "You need to see this, Prime Minister.”

He thrusts his screen in front of my face, pressing play on a news clip. It’s Harry Matheson, a smarmy expression on his handsome face as he addresses the press surrounding him.

“The interview with the former Prince of Wales revealed the depth of arrogance and privilege of the royal family. Yet somehow, Oliver Hartwell and his government seem determined to protect the monarchy at any cost. Their actions show their disdain and disregard for democracy and how completely out of touch they are with the British public.”

Toby pulls the screen away, his face is grim. “The petition is so close to reaching one hundred thousand signatures. If we don’t call the referendum now, he’ll annihilate us in the debate in Parliament. And public sentiment will be against us, which means it will become an election-year issue.”

“Are we really prepared to go down in history as the government that calls for an end to the monarchy?” Cornelia asks.

“We’re not calling for an end of the monarchy. We’re just giving the British public a chance to have their say,” Rosalia replies.