‘You’re just like every other politician,’ Holly said, her voice now deceptively calm. ‘On our side so long as it’s convenient. So long as you can gain some kind of capital out of it. And as soon as the going gets a little bit tough, you renege on your promises and leave us all out in the cold.’ She went to the door of her lounge and opened it. ‘At least I know where I stand, now.’

‘That’s not true!’ Charlie heard the frantic note in his own voice and hated himself almost as much for it as he did the decision to take Cora Mellish’s advice. ‘It wasn’t as simple as that, I promise you. The NHS is not a bottomless pit of resources; decisions have to be made. The money for that drug could fund so many chemotherapy treatments for women with breast cancer; each course of treatment could fund five trainee nurses for a year. We can’t ignore the finances here.’

‘Don’t bullshit me with that pseudo-political bollocks, Charlie!’ Holly’s voice was rising. ‘It might wash with your so-called colleagues, but it doesn’t work with me. You know Harry; you know the difference this could make to his life. And yet you still choose to do nothing. Well, I hope you’re happy once you get to a plum job in the Department of Health.’

Charlie took a step back, as if she’d slapped him. ‘Do you think I’d sell Harry out just for a job?’ he said. ‘Is that really what you think of me?’

‘I thought you had principles,’ Holly said. ‘I thought, when you came to Willowbury, that you wanted to stand up for the people who live here. Harry might not be old enough to vote, but Rachel and I are. Why weren’t you standing up for us?’

‘Holly,’ his voice was quiet. ‘The maternity unit at the local hospital is under threat of closure. Can you imagine the pressure that’s going to put on St Michael’s in Bristol? On Musgrove Park in Taunton? In the grand scheme of things, we have to make choices. I have to choose to step away from this now, because I might be able to do something later, when I’m in a better position to help. It’s not personal.’

‘How can you say it’s not personal?’ Holly didn’t care that she was shouting again now. ‘After all the time you’ve spent with me and my family. All the time we’ve spent…’

And at that moment, Charlie knew she felt that he’d utterly betrayed her. He could still feel the way his knees went weak when he kissed her; the silk of her hair as he ran his fingers through it. It was all for nothing now; he’d done the unforgivable.