Holly smiled, despite the thump in her temples that reminded her of the double apple brandies after their meal at The Travellers’ Rest last night. They’d wandered back to her place, half-cut, and tumbled into bed, both of them rather too full of food and decent drink to do more than cuddle up. However, from the way Charlie was pulling her close now, Holly knew he’d made a pretty full recovery.

‘You don’t have time for any of that sort of thing,’ she murmured as he wrapped one of her thighs around his. ‘You’ve got that train to catch.’

‘Surely we’ve got time for a quick one,’ he murmured into her ear, sending tingles down her neck with his breath. ‘Lying beside you all night has got me halfway there already.’

‘You’re the one with the schedule,’ she replied. ‘I don’t have to open up the shop until nine.’

Needing no further encouragement, Charlie made good on his word.

‘Is it wrong to tell you that I’m going to miss you like mad between now and Wednesday?’ Charlie said an hour later as they both stood on the Bristol-bound platform of Willowbury station. What it lacked in romantic charm, being a new installation only a decade old, the rising sun made up for as it shone warmly down on the only two passengers up early enough for the train to Bristol.

‘No,’ Holly smiled, and then nestled into his arms. ‘I’m feeling a bit Brief Encounter, seeing you off on the platform. But I’ll be down in a couple of days to watch you be amazing in the Commons.’

‘Don’t say it like that,’ Charlie laughed nervously. ‘I’m petrified enough as it is.’

‘You’ll smash it,’ Holly said. ‘Not just for Harry, but for all of the CF patients out there who need you to speak up.’ Her clear gaze locked with his, and despite their tiredness after a night well spent, and an impromptu early morning, both could see love and hope reflected.

‘I meant what I said, that night at Willowfest,’ Charlie said softly. ‘I’m in love with you, Holly. I can’t imagine ever being without you.’

Holly’s heart fluttered in her chest at his bare and frank admission. ‘I love you too, Charlie. And, I think, even if you hadn’t turned up in my life as the political animal that you are, if we’d met in another way, doing something else, I still would.’

‘I’m glad,’ Charlie whispered as he drew her to him again. ‘I’m glad you don’t just love me for the power!’

Holly laughed. ‘Don’t get above yourself. You’re not Prime Minister yet!’

As the tinny voice of the automated train announcer spoke its presence with a mechanical ping, Charlie held Holly tighter. ‘I really will miss you, you know.’