The two camps had merged into one lump, crowded around the altar. Good Lord, they hadn’t been fighting, had they? Everyone turned expectantly.

George cleared her throat, trying to put together the right words. Then she saw something and stopped dead. “Harry . . .”

“My lady?”

“Look.” She pointed.

A Persian carpet of lights danced on the formerly dingy floor: cobalt blues, ruby reds, and amber yellows. She followed the beam of light back to its source, the rose window above the altar. It glowed, lit from without by sunshine.

“The sun has come out,” George whispered in awe. “I’d almost forgotten what it looked like. Do you think it’s shining in Yorkshire as well?”

Harry’s green eyes sparkled down at her. “I have no doubt, my lady.”

“Ahem.” George looked up to see Violet staring at them in a rather exasperated manner. “Well?”

She smiled. “I shall be marrying Mr. Pye today.”

Violet squealed.

“About time,” someone, probably Oscar, muttered.

George ignored that and tried to look contrite as she turned to poor Cecil. “I am so sorry, Cecil. I—”

But Cecil interrupted, “Don’t worry your head, old thing. I shall dine out on this tale for the next year. It isn’t every day a fellow is left at the altar.”

“Eh?” A cry from the front pew brought everyone around. The vicar straightened his wig. He returned his spectacles to his nose and searched the gathering until his eyes lit on George. “Now, then, young lady. Which of these gentlemen will you marry?”

“This one.” She squeezed Harry’s arm.

The vicar inspected Harry and sniffed. “Doesn’t look that much different from the other one.”

“Nevertheless”—she fought to remain sober-faced— “this is the man I want.”

“Very well.” The vicar frowned at Harry. “Have you a license?”

“Yes.” He produced the piece of paper. “And my brothers will serve as groomsmen.”

Bennet walked to Harry’s side and stood with Will just a little behind him. The boy looked both terrified and excited.

“Brothers?” Violet hissed.

“I’ll explain later,” George said. She blinked back sudden tears.

“My dinner is waiting, so let us commence.” The vicar cleared his throat noisily. He began again in the same falsetto voice he’d used before, “Dearly beloved . . .”

Everything else was different.

The sun shone through the rose window, lighting and warming the little church. Tony looked relieved, as if a terrible burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Ralph grinned next to him. Oscar winked at George as she caught his eye. Violet kept shooting puzzled glances at Bennet, but in between she grinned at George. Bennet stood a little awkwardly beside Harry, but he seemed proud as well. Will was bouncing on his toes in excitement.

And Harry . . .