Page 74 of Convenient Rivals

“There’s a second part of your trust fund, which was held back until you were thirty. It’s twenty million pounds.”

“And?”

“There are some conditions.”

“Go on.”

“You have to be married to get the money.”

“Is that it?”

“You can’t be married to someone from our circles. It has to be a commoner. If you marry someone privileged, the money would default back to me. Your grandfather’s belief was that if you married another trust-fund kid, you wouldn’t need the money.”

“I can see him saying that. And what if I’m not married by my thirtieth?”

“Then it defaults to me again.”

“And what were you planning to do with the money?”

“I was going to hold it for you until you got married.”

“I see. Well, I’m marrying Gregory, so that’s the problem solved. I’ve spoken with grandfather’s solicitor, and because Gregory has no financial support from his parents, and hasn’t since the age of eighteen, he meets your ‘commoner’ description, as you put it.”

He caught Gregory’s smirk before he looked away. He should have had this conversation with his mother as soon as he found out, but having her here in his space, with Gregory by his side, gave him a confidence he’d never had with her before.

“You can’t do this, Oscar. We need that money,” she whispered, as if saying it aloud would make her dirty.

“What on earth do you need the money for? You’re sitting on a fortune.”

He was shocked to see his mother break down in tears. Gregory looked uncomfortable, and Oscar wasn’t sure what to do. They weren’t a tactile family, but his instinct was to comfort, so he shifted his chair across and pulled her into a hug. She cried on his shoulder for five minutes. Gregory looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, but Oscar needed him here. He did not know what his mother was going to say, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be good.

“Are you ready to talk?” he asked her gently.

She nodded, and dried her eyes with a monogrammed silk handkerchief. She pulled it out of thin air. He had absolutely no doubt she’d bought it from Harrods.

“You have two sisters.”

That’s not what he was expecting to hear. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He looked across at Gregory, who was trying not to laugh. Oscar frowned at him.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Sorry, but it’s refreshing to know it’s not just my family who’s fucked up.”

His mother looked shocked, but Oscar couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

“This isn’t funny. Your father’s reputation is on the line here because of that woman.”

“What woman?” he asked, calming down.

“That wom – that slut who seduced your father.”

Oscar reeled at hearing his mother swear, but was also sceptical about his father being an innocent party in all this.

“How old are my sisters?”

His mother mumbled something.

“What was that?”

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