Page 142 of The Unlikely Heir

I glance back at Nicholas.

“I plan to fulfill my duty,” I tell my brother.

ChapterThirty-Nine

Oliver

I’m sitting in my office when there’s a soft knock on my door.

“Come in.”

“The latest economic projections from the Treasury just came through,” Toby says. He places the folder on my desk.

“Thanks.” I take off my glasses and rub between my eyes.

Toby studies me critically. “You look knackered. Like you haven’t slept for a week.”

“Good observational powers. It’s probably because I haven’t slept properly for a week.”

I play with my fountain pen to avoid his gaze.

Toby waits, saying nothing. I’m familiar with his tactics. He used the same ones to get me to open up about my breakup with Garett. I haven’t talked to him about Callum yet because I haven’t wanted to hear his analysis of the situation, have it laid out in cold, hard terms how absolutely untenable my relationship with Callum is.

I finally break, raising my gaze to his. “So, I won’t see you tomorrow. I’m flying out for Caernarfon early in the morning.”

Toby pounces on the opportunity like a squirrel on the last acorn of autumn.

“How is the Prince of Wales feeling about the investiture?”

His words cause pain to flash through me.

I don’t know how Callum feels about it because we haven’t spoken in the last week.

Not talking to Callum has been like missing a limb.

“We’re not talking at the moment,” I say.

Toby’s eyebrows fly up. “You’re not?”

“No. Apparently, when you threaten your boyfriend’s future and the thousand-year legacy of his family, he gets pissed off.”

Toby tilts his head. “Are you all right about it?”

I exhale slowly. “No, I’m not all right. But have I ever let not being all right interfere with doing my job?”

Toby nods, understanding on his face. He starts to retreat, but my next words stop him in his tracks.

“Do you ever wonder if it’s worth it? This job. The personal sacrifices we make?”

Toby whirls around, studying me. “You’re not talking about your relationship with Garett, are you?” he asks.

“No, I’m not talking about Garett. Ultimately, it’s just a job, right? The British public hires and fires us at their whim. You give it your all, but at the end of the day, it’s still just a bloody job.” My gaze flies up to the portrait of Winston Churchill before going back to Toby.

“Who is going to be there at your deathbed?” I continue. “Who is ultimately going to mourn you when you pass away? It’s your family.” I claw my hands through my hair. “I wasn’t born with much of a family. If I want a family, I have to create one myself.”

Toby takes a step towards me. “You can create a family with someone who isn’t the Prince of Wales. Who won’t one day be king. You can keep your job and still have a family. Those concepts are not mutually exclusive.”

I study my leather pen holder gifted to me by the president of South Africa. “I know I can create a family with someone else,” I say finally.