I vote for a "telling" post. I assume that the PM post can be inserted wherever appropriate. Next question would be, if there is agreement, "what happens next?"
Boro, you have it right that the three are cousins, all grandkids of Gaffer Hugo. And Tansy and Bunny are friends, not relation. At least not
close relation. Although Hobbits being Hobbits, they may be fifth cousins twice or thrice removed, for all we know.