‘Or a batch of Miles’ scones,’ Holly said, smiling wryly. ‘Probably wouldn’t trust anything he could buy here.’ She regarded him levelly. ‘You seem far more suited to this place than he was, even in the short time you’ve been here.’

‘I think he was definitely more Stavenham than Willowbury,’ Charlie said. ‘Although, to be fair, it’s a fine line to walk between the two places, as I’m finding out.’ He reached out a hand to take one of the tempting-looking chocolate brownies that a trader, armed with a ribboned tray, was handing out as she wandered up the street, but Holly grabbed his hand.

‘I, er, wouldn’t, if I were you.’ Her eyes sparkled mischievously. ‘Elsinore’s Artisan Confectionary is notorious around here for including somewhat, er, alternative, ingredients in her brownies.’

Charlie was struck with a vision of the little old lady from The Vicar of Dibley who provided the refreshments for the parish meetings. ‘As in, sardine and chilli-flavoured brownies?’ he asked.

Holly grinned. ‘You are so adorably naive, sometimes. Perhaps it’s better if you think that, but I still wouldn’t recommend risking it.’

Charlie’s eyebrows shot up as he realised what Holly was getting at. ‘Fair enough. But I’m not as square as all that, you know. I did inhale at university.’

‘Really?’

‘Well… sort of. Spent the rest of the evening throwing up, though, so I guess it was a bad batch.’

‘All the more reason to be cautious of Willowbury residents offering you brownies, then!’ Holly grabbed Charlie’s hand again and steered him back towards ComIncense. ‘I’ve got a picnic for us that I just need to pick up while I check back in with Isabella. And I promise there aren’t any illegal substances in any of it!’

‘Sounds good,’ Charlie replied. ‘After all, “MP eats hash brownie and streaks naked through historic religious ruins”, probably won’t do much for my majority.’

‘Actually, in Willowbury you never know,’ Holly smiled. ‘But perhaps over the bridge in Stavenham they might have more of an issue with it.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ Charlie kept smiling. ‘I’m glad I’ve got you by my side to guide me through all this.’

‘I’m glad too,’ Holly said softly. She paused in the street and tugged at Charlie’s hand so that they were close together again. ‘It’s lovely to share this with you,’ she murmured.

As they headed back to ComIncense to pick up their refreshments, Charlie felt a tingle run down his spine. It was as if the stars had all aligned over Willowbury, and he and Holly were at the centre of them. There was definitely magic in the air, this Willowfest weekend, he thought.

28

‘How are you feeling?’ Holly asked as she looked across at Charlie, who was lying, legs stretched out on the picnic blanket, sipping languidly at his glass of mead.