Page 130 of The Unlikely Heir
Raymond comes into my office the next morning with a deep frown.
“Your uncle has done an interview this morning,” he says.
“Which uncle?”
“Albert.” Raymond says his name flatly, with no emotion. Only the disappointed droop in his mustache reminds me that for so many years, Raymond worked for my Uncle Albert, the former Prince of Wales.
“You should watch it,” he says.
So I watch it on my phone, my eyes growing wider and wider with horror.
Because train wreck doesn’t even come close to describing the interview. It’s a multi-carriage pile-up that has had an asteroid slam into it. A disaster of epic proportions.
Albert comes across as an entitled snob, practically sneering at the interviewer when he’s challenged on his illegal activity.
“My family has been ruling this country for hundreds of years. It is my birthright to lead this country. It’s preposterous that it’s been snatched away from me just because of a few minor indiscretions. Personally, I feel the immunity to prosecution should apply to the whole royal family, not just the monarch.”
I look up from the screen to stare at Raymond in horror.
“This isn’t good,” I say.
Raymond’s forehead is still marred by a deep crease. “No, it’s not,” he agrees.
“The queen’s press office will handle the official response, but I’ve called Maudie in for a meeting about what we can do to try to stop the endless replays of the interview.”
I nod. “Okay.”
Maudie arrives, and she’s barely taken a seat when she says, “We need a distraction.”
“That’s exactly what I think,” Raymond says.
“Maybe another date with Rose,” Maudie says. “That will generate some positive attention for the monarchy.”
For a second, the room swirls around me.
I’m acutely aware of the beating of my heart just under where Oliver’s dog tags rest against my skin. It almost feels like the cool metal is burning my skin. Which is a scientific contradiction, I know.
“I don’t want to go on another date.” The words are out of me before I can stop them.
“It doesn’t have to be with Rose. If you didn’t have a connection with her, we can find someone else for you to date,” Maudie says.
“Although we don’t want headlines making him out to be some sort of lothario,” Raymond replies.
“But he shouldn’t pursue Rose if he’s not interested.”
“It’ll be a fine balance. We don’t want the papers painting him as a playboy. Especially given his father’s and brother’s reputation.”
Raymond and Maudie continue to talk about my romantic life while I sit there, thinking of Oliver. The way he looks at me. His lopsided smile. His deep laugh.
I can’t keep on denying Oliver. It feels like denying the existence of oxygen.
I take a deep breath. “I don’t want to go on any more dates, full stop.”
That gets both Raymond’s and Maudie’s attention.
“Why not?” Raymond demands to know.
“Because I’m…I have feelings for someone.”
