Page 133 of The Unlikely Heir

I rub between my brows, feeling a headache threatening.

“We can’t ignore this any longer, Prime Minister,” Toby says. And there’s a heaviness in his voice, an underlying warning tone.

Most of the issues around Callum and me being in a relationship actually affect Callum more than me because the royal family are the ones who are supposed to maintain political neutrality. But I’ve also got to be aware of my own conflict of interest regarding my decisions relating to the royal family, decisions like this one.

My ministers are staring expectantly at me, waiting for my response.

I scrape a hand across my jaw.

I took an oath when I became prime minister to be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Katharine, her heirs, and successors, according to law. But my ultimate allegiance always has to be to the people of the United Kingdom who elected my government to represent them.

Our lack of a codified constitution means there’s no blueprint for abolishing the monarchy, but it’s widely accepted that a referendum would be required, where the British public vote on whether they still want a monarchy.

A referendum would mean that Queen Katharine and Callum would have to campaign for their jobs.

How much would the public use the referendum as a chance to punish the royal family for their misdeeds?

I feel the weight of all the gazes on me. Toby’s, in particular, feels like it’s made of lead.

This should be a simple decision for me to make.

And it would be if there wasn’t the small, complicating factor that I’m currently in love with the Prince of Wales.

How will Callum react if I do this? Since he became the heir, he’s been working so hard to prevent this exact situation. How will he feel if I’m the one who calls a referendum and makes life so much harder for him?

And then there’s the part of my brain that’s run through the implications. If we hold a referendum and the public votes to abolish the monarchy, the government and the royal family won’t be able to ignore the people’s will. Callum will no longer be heir to the throne, and we can be together without any issues. The prime minister and a private citizen. Nothing newsworthy or constitutionally unsound.

I try to swat the thought away before it takes root.

My relationship with Callum can’t sway me either way on this issue.

What would I do if I weren’t in love with Callum?

I’d call for a referendum. Without hesitation. With so much controversy around the conduct of the royal family and the massive public outcry demanding a referendum, I would never deny the British public the chance to have their voices known on this issue.

I think of the staircase here at Number Ten lined with all the photographs of British prime ministers, all the other historic decisions that have been made in this very room, decisions that have had implications for millions of people.

This is a decision about the future of our country.

And the British public deserves the right to decide how they want to be ruled.

I take a deep breath. “We’ll call a referendum.”

There’s an outbreak of chatter around the table at my words.

“But I need to talk to the queen first before the news becomes public.” My voice cuts through the noise, and my ministers of Her Majesty’s government fall silent.

The magnitude of the decision we’ve just made seems to hang heavy in the air.

I know I need to talk to Queen Katharine, but I also need to talk to Callum. And I know that neither will be an easy conversation.

“We at least owe the royal family that,” I add.

ChapterThirty-Five

Callum

I’m escorted down to see my grandmother with Raymond on one side, Maudie on the other. It’s like they don’t trust that I won’t bolt outside to the front of Buckingham Palace and proclaim my love for Oliver to all the protesters and paparazzi gathered at the gate.