it. Not yet. But I have a responsibility as Deputy Leader to watch the leader for tell-tale signs of…slight instability, paranoia, erratic behaviour, lack of concentration on the job, not listening to good advice from colleagues and senior advisors. I mean, are you completely happy with the way policy has been developed lately? I certainly have my reservations, Tristan. I feel I have a duty to this party, and to Rodney himself, to keep an even more watchful eye on him from now on. Last thing we need in our fragile state in the polls is the leader saying or doing something he shouldn’t. But the signs are there, that’s all I’m saying. I mean, no right-minded Richmond would ever have raised his voice to teacher’s pet Miss Culverhouse, especially not in front of colleagues like that.”
“What, he actually shouted?” Tristan asked, alarmed.
Colin nodded gravely. “We all just couldn’t believe it, I didn’t know where to look. He was thumping the table, interrupting. I didn’t realise that he was going to pin so much on Cornish devolution until recently, you know as well as I do that he sees the issue as make or break.”
“Has anybody else said anything? Has anyone else been talking?” Tristan asked, nonplussed. “Although I do agree with you on Cornish devolution and suspect it may be taking up too much of Rodney’s precious time, I haven’t noticed erratic behaviour. He remained incredibly calm during my...resignation.”
Colin simply smiled sourly again. “There has been talk, yes, people worried that he may be…losing touch with reality, but I don’t wish to name names right now. I don’t want to say too much, not at this stage anyway.”
“Of course not.” Tristan replied, his striking blue eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. For someone who didn’t wish to say very much, Colin was doing an awful lot of talking. It was well known that Rodney was prone to dark moods at times, but for the Deputy Leader to be waging a private war by briefing against him to a sacked colleague was incredibly suspicious. A word or two with Derek Bradbury wouldn’t hurt.
“But why tell all this to me? I’m out, I’ve no influence over him anymore, not that I really did in the first place.” Tristan said.
“I’m sure you’re shrewd enough to realise exactly what this could mean, Tristan.” Colin said smoothly, but Tristan said nothing. “Ok let me stop beating around the bush here. Perhaps we need to start thinking about the future, the direction we want the party to take. You and I are not that much older than Rodney, and the Party is much bigger than one man. I doubt that you wish to just sit back and watch it all go pear-shaped.”
“So you do want us to form an alliance?” Tristan was tired of Colin’s games. In fact, Tristan was tired full-stop. He didn’t really feel like thinking about the party’s direction at that moment, his brain was awash with alcohol and exhaustion. He just wanted to go home and crawl into bed, thinking of a certain someone. He hoped she was ok after her run-in with Rodney. It sounded ghastly. Perhaps she would confide in him at lunch?
“‘Alliance’ makes it sound so – so formal, as if there is a common enemy to face.” The Deputy produced a smooth smile. Tristan blinked and held his breath, trying to stay focussed on Colin’s brewing plot. Colin stood and stalked the perimeter of his office. “I would like to think of it more as a joining of talents, nothing official, just colleagues keeping an eye on the situation, keeping our ears to the ground.”
Tristan raised a lazy eyebrow. His second double whisky had now found its way to his stomach and he felt strangely queasy. “Right. So, you’re gathering evidence for a new leadership bid, then?”
Colin feigned shock. His hand drifted casually along the edge of his desk until it reached the drawer. He turned the lock and
“What, he actually shouted?” Tristan asked, alarmed.
Colin nodded gravely. “We all just couldn’t believe it, I didn’t know where to look. He was thumping the table, interrupting. I didn’t realise that he was going to pin so much on Cornish devolution until recently, you know as well as I do that he sees the issue as make or break.”
“Has anybody else said anything? Has anyone else been talking?” Tristan asked, nonplussed. “Although I do agree with you on Cornish devolution and suspect it may be taking up too much of Rodney’s precious time, I haven’t noticed erratic behaviour. He remained incredibly calm during my...resignation.”
Colin simply smiled sourly again. “There has been talk, yes, people worried that he may be…losing touch with reality, but I don’t wish to name names right now. I don’t want to say too much, not at this stage anyway.”
“Of course not.” Tristan replied, his striking blue eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. For someone who didn’t wish to say very much, Colin was doing an awful lot of talking. It was well known that Rodney was prone to dark moods at times, but for the Deputy Leader to be waging a private war by briefing against him to a sacked colleague was incredibly suspicious. A word or two with Derek Bradbury wouldn’t hurt.
“But why tell all this to me? I’m out, I’ve no influence over him anymore, not that I really did in the first place.” Tristan said.
“I’m sure you’re shrewd enough to realise exactly what this could mean, Tristan.” Colin said smoothly, but Tristan said nothing. “Ok let me stop beating around the bush here. Perhaps we need to start thinking about the future, the direction we want the party to take. You and I are not that much older than Rodney, and the Party is much bigger than one man. I doubt that you wish to just sit back and watch it all go pear-shaped.”
“So you do want us to form an alliance?” Tristan was tired of Colin’s games. In fact, Tristan was tired full-stop. He didn’t really feel like thinking about the party’s direction at that moment, his brain was awash with alcohol and exhaustion. He just wanted to go home and crawl into bed, thinking of a certain someone. He hoped she was ok after her run-in with Rodney. It sounded ghastly. Perhaps she would confide in him at lunch?
“‘Alliance’ makes it sound so – so formal, as if there is a common enemy to face.” The Deputy produced a smooth smile. Tristan blinked and held his breath, trying to stay focussed on Colin’s brewing plot. Colin stood and stalked the perimeter of his office. “I would like to think of it more as a joining of talents, nothing official, just colleagues keeping an eye on the situation, keeping our ears to the ground.”
Tristan raised a lazy eyebrow. His second double whisky had now found its way to his stomach and he felt strangely queasy. “Right. So, you’re gathering evidence for a new leadership bid, then?”
Colin feigned shock. His hand drifted casually along the edge of his desk until it reached the drawer. He turned the lock and
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