Mermaids Singing (43 page)

Kitty stared out of the window at the fields flashing past in stripes of brown and lime green, confined by hedgerows covered in white hawthorn blossom, reminiscent of bridal lace; this time it was Jem who filled her thoughts.

Betty had checked with the shipping office when she sent word to Jem, and they had confirmed that the
Mairangi
was expected to arrive within the week. Kitty’s heart gave a bunny hop inside her chest at the thought of seeing him again. It was something of a shock to realise that her feelings for Jem had slowly, very slowly, been changing. She had directed so much time and effort in pursuing her ambition, and in caring for those around her, that she had never given herself time to examine her own feelings. She must have been blind, so blind that she had not realised that her childish affection for Jem had gradually been deepening into love. Kitty fingered the half of the gold sovereign that was still warm from contact with her body. Jem had always been kind to her, patient and understanding, especially when memories of Sid’s brutal attacks had made her shy away from physical contact. Maggie had been right in putting Sid well and truly in the past. If Maggie and Bella could both move on, then so could she. For the first time, Kitty felt the past slipping back into history where it belonged. She had only to hold out her hand, unafraid, and grasp the future.

Kitty watched the platform of Stratford Station slide away as the train moved on towards Bethnal Green, then it would be Liverpool Street, the end of the line and she would be almost home.

Kitty hefted her overnight bag off the luggage rack as the train came to a halt beneath the vaulted glass roof of Liverpool Street Station. The compartment was empty now, the farmer and his wife having got off way back down the line in Shenfield. Tugging the leather strap to let the window down, Kitty reached out and unlocked the carriage door. Stepping onto the platform, she took a deep breath of the sooty London air; the country was lovely but a bit too green and quiet for her liking. This was where she belonged. With her head held high, she walked briskly along the platform, a fluttery, excited feeling in her stomach, as if a thousand butterflies were flying around inside, ready to burst out in a rainbow of bright colours. A loud whistle and a cloud of steam enveloped her as she went past the huge iron beast of a steam engine and, as the vapour cleared, she saw Jem standing behind the ticket barrier. At first she thought it was a mirage, just wishful thinking, but he stood head and shoulders taller than most of the crowd, his lean, tanned face split with a huge grin.

Slipping past the ticket collector with a wink and a smile, Jem strode towards her, lifting her off her feet and kissing her on the lips with no holding back.

Gasping for air, Kitty was half laughing, half crying as he set her down on her feet.

‘Kitty, you’re a sight for sore eyes,’ Jem said, holding her tightly, regardless of the people milling about them.

‘Jem, I can’t believe it. What are you doing here?’ Kitty cried, holding onto her straw hat, which had tipped over one eye with the force of Jem’s embrace.

‘I arrived home last night, didn’t I?’ Jem said, grinning. ‘And found you’d gone to blooming Mableton Manor. Ma said you’d be back today, so I’ve been here to meet every train since first thing.’

‘Oh, Jem, that’s so like you.’ Kitty wound her arms around his neck, smiling into his eyes. ‘I’m so glad to see you.’

Jem’s eyes darkened and his arms tightened around her. ‘Them’s the words I’ve been waiting to hear. I love you, Kitty.’

Kitty pulled his head down so that their lips were touching. ‘And I love you too, Jem. I really do love you.’ The words came tumbling out like diamond drops, precious and true.

The shadows of the past had slipped away; the future was yet to come. The one thing Kitty knew for certain was that they would face it together.

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