‘Break it up, you two!’ Rachel’s voice interrupted their private world as she tapped her sister on the shoulder. ‘You’ve both got a rep to protect, remember? And Charlie’s got a speech to make after the fancy-dress competition.’

‘Bugger, I’d forgotten I’d agreed to that,’ murmured Charlie. ‘What do I have to say again?’

‘Oh, something diplomatic and bland, as usual,’ Holly teased. ‘I’m sure you’ll manage.’

If he’d had more blood flow to his brain at that moment, rather than other areas, Charlie would have been able to think of a suitable pithy response, but as it was, he let it slide.

Slipping a hand into Holly’s, he smiled back at her and Rachel. ‘I’d better have a look around, then, hadn’t I? Get a feel for the standard of fancy dress.’ Although, he thought, it would be difficult to tell who was actually going to be entering the competition and who just dressed that way normally, as far as Willowbury was concerned. As a bearded, barefooted, purple-cloaked man strolled past them, tambourine in hand, Charlie shook his head. No matter how well he thought he’d settled into Willowbury, the place and its people never failed to surprise him. As he and Holly watched Rachel walking, or, rather, being dragged away, by Harry to see a stall that was selling a wide variety of sugary treats, especially designed, it seemed, to attract younger visitors to Willowfest, he really did feel as though he was becoming a part of this friendly but unusual place.

The bunting that flapped between the lamp posts on the High Street paled in comparison to the multitude of colours that the people of Willowbury themselves were wearing. Everywhere Charlie looked, there were jugglers, stilt walkers, people wearing jesters’ hats, fairy wings, medieval costumes, and sometimes all three at once. The air was alive with the different sounds of folk music blended with more Eastern-inspired cymbals and instruments, and, rising above it all, some plainsong emanating from the ruins of the Priory behind the High Street. It was a riot of sounds, colours and activity, and Charlie, who should have been overwhelmed, felt strangely at ease.

Of course, that may have been more to do with having Holly beside him to guide him through the town. She pointed out things as they wended their way towards the grounds of the Priory, where a more structured concert was due to start in the mid-afternoon.

‘You were right,’ Charlie said, eyes still on stalks as they wandered. ‘This really is like nothing else I’ve ever seen before.’

‘It must give Westminster a run for its money,’ Holly smiled. ‘I can’t remember ever seeing Hugo here.’

‘He probably barricaded himself in at home with a bottle of Scotch and the weekend papers!’ Charlie laughed.