Jem leaned over Lily to grab his bag and liberated his canteen. He sat up and unscrewed the top before taking a long, deep swig.

‘Fire not providing enough heat?’ Lily asked, wondering whether he’d pick up on her tone.

Jem wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, frowning. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Rum. That canteen is filled with rum, instead of water.’

‘Ah … yeah.’ He placed it to the side and looked down at his empty hands. ‘I just thought … I don’t know. If it gets any colder, or if we’re nervous tomorrow, it just felt like a good idea, I guess.’

Lily smiled. ‘I’m not mad! I’m just curious why you didn’t tell me back at the lighthouse. I’d have told you that it’s a bloody brilliant idea and that we should’ve both brought water and rum. Anyway, I’m hardly in any position to judge you since I already – accidentally, I might add – had a pretty huge mouthful of the stuff.’

‘I’d have done anything to see your face if you were expecting water!’ Jem chuckled.

‘Honestly? I nearly died.’ Lily dramatically opened her eyes wide, and then broke into a sarcastic grin. They laughed together, thankful for a break in the tension. As it grew later, they became more and more aware of the mountain they had to climb in the morning.

Lily and Jem muddled together a quick dinner of buttered bread and tea made with boiled water and pine needles before settling down on the makeshift bed of blankets. They’d both rolled up their rucksacks, which transformed them into makeshift pillows on which to rest their heads. To begin with, there was a gulf between them, an abyss. Neither one wanted to breach the gap, both wanting to avoid any awkwardness. The longer Lily lay there though, the colder she became, until her whole body was wracked with uncontrollable shivers.

Whether he sensed her discomfort or simply heard her teeth chattering with violent vigour, Jem edged closer and stretched his arm out, encouraging Lily to draw herself close so they could share their warmth under the same blanket. She didn’t need asking twice. Lily was tentative but deliberate with her movements as she closed the gap between them and pressed against the warmth of Jem’s torso. His core heat hadn’t been affected at all by the plunging temperatures: he was still burning hot. Lily felt relief flood through her as she closed her eyes, finally warm, and drifted into a welcome sleep as Jem wrapped a comforting arm around her back, pulling her closer.

Chapter Forty

Rain tore itself from the heavy grey clouds with terrifying force. The cave provided adequate but not perfect shelter and Lily was awakened by rogue icy droplets dampening her exposed skin. She scrunched her face against the cold and shifted her weight, only to find that she was still trapped inside the cocoon of Jem’s arms. He was fast asleep. He looked like a different person to the one she knew. His furrowed brow and stern demeanour had disappeared. Sleep was his only refuge. Lily hoped that, after today, this peacefulness would spread over his whole being and he might finally be able to relax and enjoy being a young man, without the pain and the responsibility that he had borne so bravely, alone, for so long.