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!’