Holly shook her head, as if shaking away her concerns about Harry; not that they ever truly went away. ‘I’m fine, honestly. It’s just that Rachel’s had to take Harry up to Bristol Children’s Hospital this morning, and it’s the first time he’s been admitted properly. I guess I’m a bit shell-shocked.’

‘He seemed so well yesterday when we bumped into them at the Priory in the afternoon,’ Charlie said. ‘You know, all things considered.’

‘He’s like any other child, mostly,’ Holly replied. ‘Except that he can go downhill quickly when he has an illness. Rachel thought they’d nipped the chest infection in the bud with the antibiotics, but I’m guessing being out and about for Willowfest was a bit much for him after being confined to barracks all week.’

‘Will he be all right?’ Charlie asked. ‘I mean, how long will he have to stay in the BRHC?’

‘Could be a couple of days, could be a week or more,’ Holly said. ‘If it’s any longer than a day or two, I’ll head up there in the evenings and keep Rachel company. She’ll be going stir-crazy after a while.’ She shook her head. ‘If only those new drugs had been given the go-ahead, this kind of stuff could be sorted out quickly.’ She looked at him keenly. ‘Five days in hospital on an antibiotic IV drip and the costs will start racking up. Sometimes these decisions on drugs seem so short-sighted.’

‘Is this Harry’s aunt talking, or a constituent?’ Charlie said gently.

Holly could feel her eyes brimming and she blinked the tears away impatiently. ‘It’s someone who’s feeling very frustrated that she can’t do more to help a poorly little boy.’

As Charlie pulled her close, Holly felt temporarily reassured and insulated by the warmth of his embrace and the beating of his heart.

‘So, I guess that means Rachel won’t be coming to watch PMQs on Wednesday, then,’ Charlie murmured into her hair.

‘Supposing Harry was out of hospital, I don’t think she’d want to leave him to zoom down to London so soon, even if he was staying with Mum and Dad.’

‘Completely understandable,’ Charlie replied. He pulled back from her slightly. ‘Does that mean that you, er, won’t be there either?’

Holly smiled. ‘It’s been a while since I’ve bunked off for the day, apart from yesterday of course, and Isabella’s already booked in to hold the fort at ComIncense, so I’m sure I can find my way to Westminster. That’s if you still want me to be there?’