‘Absolutely,’ Holly replied. She took his arm, and Rachel followed behind as they took a stroll towards the ruined nave, where their guests were waiting for them. At the end of the nave stood Charlie, conventional in a morning suit but wearing a substantial buttonhole of spring flowers.
‘This may not be legally binding, but it certainly feels special,’ Holly murmured to him as she reached the nave. She drew a quick breath as she saw up close just how gorgeous Charlie looked in his morning suit, the purple waistcoat a vibrant splash of colour, and a perfect match for Harry’s trousers. They’d had a quieter ceremony in the chapel at Westminster last week, with just their parents in attendance. This blessing in the grounds of the Priory was less formal, but meant just as much to them both, taking place, as it was, in the heart of the town they’d both come to love. As Holly handed her small bouquet of freesias to Harry, who scuttled off back to the chair Rachel had saved for him next to her and his grandmother, Holly once again marvelled at the change in the little boy. His ‘off’ days were substantially fewer since he’d been on the new medication, and the hope that he could now live a longer, more healthy life filled her with gratitude and joy every time she looked at him.
Mariad O’Flaherty, the reader and cleaner of auras, also doubled as a priestess in her downtime, and, resplendent in the robes of her Pagan office, she drew Holly and Charlie closer together on the bridge of the Priory nave. ‘I bring you together in the grounds of this sacred space, sacred not just to Christians but to all faiths and followers, to bless your marriage and sanctify it in the eyes of those you love and care for.’ Mariad smiled around at the assembled guests, and then took Holly and Charlie’s left hands. Binding them together with a long, silken scarf, she whispered, ‘Your turn.’
Charlie looked down at Holly, and she was breathtaken by the love and intensity in his eyes. ‘When I first met you, Holly Renton, you were a sensible, quiet, shy student who jumped at her own shadow and had far too old a head on your shoulders.’ He grinned as Holly felt herself shaking her head, but smiling; she allowed him to continue. ‘Fifteen years passed between our first and our second meeting, and although it took us both a while to realise we’d met before, once we had, to me it felt as though I’d known you always.’ Charlie squeezed the hand that was bound with Holly’s. ‘And that’s how I want us to be, always. I know we might not always agree politically—’ he paused again as laughter rippled its way around the assembled guests, ‘but I know that we will manage, because if there’s one thing you’ve taught me, it’s that love, and passion, will win over everything else in the end.’
A ripple of applause went round the guests, and Holly waited a moment for it to subside.
‘Charlie Thorpe,’ she began, staring up into his happy, open face. ‘When I first met you, you were a geeky, earnest, slightly pompous teenager with ambitions. Fifteen years passed before we met again, and…’ she paused mischievously, ‘when we did, I still thought you were pompous and ambitious.’
Charlie laughed. ‘Fair enough,’ he murmured.
‘But then I realised that, underneath all of that burning ideology, was a heart that also burned for love, and for justice, and with a genuine desire to be good, and do good. And that I loved you for it. And I will love you, for always.’ She paused again, and smiled mischievously. ‘And you’re great in bed,’ she murmured, so that only he could hear.
Mariad, who, thankfully, hadn’t heard the last part, or at least if she had, she didn’t appear in the least shocked, lifted their hands as they turned to the guests. ‘I bless this union, and join with you, their friends and loved ones, to wish them happy, healthy and long lives. Blessed be!’
A cheer went up from the guests as Charlie and Holly turned back to one another and kissed. As their lips met, a shaft of sunlight bathed them warmly, and the ley lines seemed to quiver under their feet.
‘Welcome home to Willowbury, Mr Thorpe,’ Holly smiled as they parted.
‘Thank you, Mrs Thorpe,’ Charlie replied. ‘I wouldn’t want to ever be anywhere else.’