‘I’m not hungover,’ Holly said mutinously but couldn’t help herself smiling. ‘Well, OK, maybe I am a little bit. But I had to get through last night somehow.’

Slowly, gently, Charlie dipped his head until his lips were within a breath of Holly’s own. She felt relieved that, as a consequence of last night’s excess of booze, she’d cleaned her teeth a few times when she’d got up. Their lips met in the gentlest of kisses that again took her back to when they’d first met, but as those kisses became deeper, more passionate, she realised they were heading in a much more grown-up direction.

Sliding a hand around the back of Charlie’s neck, she encountered the waves of hair that curled on his collar. Her knees grew week, and it wasn’t just from lack of breakfast.

‘Is that an apology then?’ Charlie asked as they broke apart.

‘For what?’ Holly asked, trying to catch her breath.

‘For having a public barney with one of my wealthiest but most obnoxious constituents!’

Holly laughed shakily. ‘I guess so.’

‘When can I see you again?’ Charlie asked. His arms were still tightly around her. ‘I’ve got to head back to London from here, I’m afraid, but I should be back tomorrow evening, if you’re free.’

Holly shook her head. ‘I’m going to be tied up tomorrow and all weekend stocktaking, in between opening hours. And getting ready for Willowfest, which is happening the weekend after, of course.’

‘Willowfest?’ Charlie looked blank. ‘Oh yes. What with spending so much time on that speech for the dinner dance last weekend, I’d forgotten that was coming up.’ He furrowed his brow. ‘Remind me exactly what it is, again?’

‘The Folk and Fey festival that takes place here every year,’ Holly replied. ‘Did your amazing agent not brief you?’

‘Folk and what?’ Charlie replied.

Holly pulled away slightly but kept her hand firmly clasped in Charlie’s as they began to walk back to ComIncense.

‘It’s evolved over the years,’ she explained as they headed out of the Priory grounds, ‘but it’s basically a weekend of folk music, fancy dress and celebrations of all things fey.’

‘Again, Holly, I’m none the wiser.’

Holly laughed. ‘Why does that not surprise me?’ She turned and gestured across to the ruined Priory buildings. ‘All this, believe it or not, is thought to have been erected on a cross-section of some of the strongest ley lines in the country. It forms one point of a spiritual triangle, with Stonehenge and Avebury stone circle at the other points. If you do happen to believe in such things, it means there’s a huge amount of spiritual energy in this place, centred on the Priory grounds but radiating outwards through the town.’

‘If you believe in such things,’ Charlie echoed.