Beginning to undress, the thought strikes Seth that at this time of night he can be back home in Liverpool in just two hours. He thinks about the three pints of Guinness and then about Naomi. Having removed all his clothes, he slips naked between the fresh cotton sheets and tries to conjure the warmth and presence of Jude’s body next to him. In Jude’s arms, in the absolute knowledge and confidence of their love for one another, sleep comes easily.

Walking the few hundred yards to the chapel, Seth reflects on the rightness of his decision not to flee back to Liverpool in the small hours. Rising early, he had walked a couple of miles through the village and its immediate surroundings, along the beach and up into the centre of the ancient stone circle in Cae Cynhaeaf, the field behind the parish church, where he’d said goodbye to his home patch. Back at the house by eight thirty, little was said at the breakfast table, indeed, he’d been left with a pot of coffee and the local paper. Children from the village still gather at the chapel gates, just like he and Naomi had done when they were children. The kids distract him… bring him from his thoughts to face Robby, standing at the doors of the chapel with an usher, smiling mischievously as he climbs the steps.

Naomi looks beautiful. Seth is surprised that she must have won the battle against tradition, since she is walking down the aisle between her parents. Ceinwen looks elegant, but then this is the occasion on which she has to out-do Mrs Caradog the Minister’s wife, who, in Seth’s judgement has chosen the wrong colour. Miss Morris hasn’t been let down by the new spring collection in London House. The Bristol set look city sophisticated, like a troupe of extras from the set of an American soap opera. Robby looks so stunningly handsome Seth gets an erection. Mr Caradog handles the bi-lingual service well; Naomi says her vows in Welsh, Chris speaks his in English. It’s a simple, dignified ceremony, and most importantly, Mr Caradog keeps his Welsh orator’s tongue from straying.

The village park is used for the photographs, rhododendrons providing a deep purple backdrop. Anti Ceridwen tells Seth loudly that it’s time he took some lucky girl down the aisle. Anti Delyth joins in, ‘Are you going steady yet?’ The two sisters agree with one another that Seth would make some girl a good husband. They share their observations with anyone within earshot who can understand Welsh. Seth smiles at his aunts but beneath the smile are thoughts miles from their delusions. But he plays the family game, one last time.