‘How cosy,’ Miles Fairbother’s voice cut through their good mood like a knife through lard.

Holly was instinctively on her guard and drew breath to retort, but Charlie, who was still holding her hand, squeezed it gently, as if in warning.

‘Hello, Miles,’ he said softly. ‘What can we do for you?’

‘Your office said I could find you here,’ Miles said. ‘I’ve been trying to reach you to let you know something. I assume you don’t mind if she listens in, too?’ He gestured to Holly dismissively, who tried not to bristle.

‘And what would that be?’ Charlie still had hold of Holly’s hand, but he stepped a little closer to her protectively at the perceived dismissal.

‘As of the next parliamentary session, Fairbrothers will be withdrawing their support for your office and any future election campaigns,’ Miles announced, evidently taking great satisfaction in breaking the news. ‘I feel that your… associations with certain other interests in the constituency are not in line with the values we at Fairbrothers support.’

‘And what would those be, Miles?’ Charlie’s voice was calm, although Holly winced as he squeezed her hand a little more tightly.

‘Oh, I’m sure you know,’ Miles replied, a deceptively light tone in his voice. ‘While you and your, er, friend, might be more progressive in your attitudes to showing yourself canoodling on social media, and playing the politics of emotion rather than economics, I feel that our aims are, at best, incompatible.’

Charlie shook his head. ‘You surprise me, Miles. From what I understand, you’re not above a bit of behaviour unbecoming to the party yourself, at least if the saga over the premises you’re standing in is anything to go by. Don’t you think it’s about time you called it quits and crawled back to the rock you live under?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ Miles’ eyes began to protrude at Charlie’s forthright tone. ‘Have you forgotten I was one of the local party’s biggest donors? You need me.’

‘Really?’ Charlie said innocently. ‘You see, I rather think that you just told me you were withdrawing support for me and my office. So, actually, if I was to tell you to shove your overpriced gluten-free bread rolls up your arse, there would be very little you could do about it.’

Miles’ jaw dropped. ‘Well, I think we know where we both stand, then.’ He looked from Charlie to Holly. ‘Your predecessor was a much better MP, you know. Was far more aligned with tradition, and the importance of it. I’m surprised you can call yourself a party member with the way you’ve been making decisions since you got in. Mark my words, you’d better enjoy it while you can, because you’ll soon lose that cosy majority without me and my like behind you.’