"Because of your
insistence that you are the rightful ruler of Britain.
"
Morgan turns to face Geoff. "Do you feel threatened? Is your grip on power less solid than you hoped it would be?"
"The Conservative and Labour parties are facing total annihilation at the forthcoming General Election. All reliable polling says that we'll have a Reform landslide. I'll be Prime Minister within a month.
" Geoff smiles faintly.
"God help me.
"
"But not
king."
"I still can't
grasp why you're so fixated on that
title.
"
"Because it was denied to me by a usurper. Regardless of what you tell me of the changes Britain has undergone-." She stops.
"Have you any
idea how often royal dynasties have been overthrown since you retreated into Albion?
"
"No." She looks around at us. "That is not what this is about. You wish to make me an
offer. You wish for me to renounce my claim."
"You don't
have a claim. There are multiple acts of parliament covering the royal succession and none of them mention you.
Yes, at one time you could have argued your case, but that time was a
very long time ago. That
said, I would rather that you pursued whatever outcome which you think that you deserve
peacefully than make assaults upon the country.
"
"What manner of nation is it that gives a claimant the freedom to call for the overthrow of their monarch?"
"The fact that you don't
know is an ample demonstration of why you're unsuited to the office.
" Geoff pauses for a moment.
"We've.. settled things with Buckingham Palace. The succession is being altered so that the people involved with the Caligula club won't inherit. In exchange, the people who
were involved won't be prosecuted. The press aren't happy, but they learn to live with it.
"
"And the
new Crown Prince is unwed?"
"No, he's married. But his
son isn't. We don't
arrange marriages for royals these days. Whether or not he weds your daughter is up to
him.
"
