Emotions churning, she started to have second thoughts. Everything had happened so fast. Perhaps she should have waited, given herself time to be sure that this was what she wanted? But no, of course it was. As much as she loved Sunday and Tom, she was also aware that they were very protective of her, to the point that she felt stifled sometimes. Why, a young man only had to look at her and Tom would usher her away like a mother hen would usher her chicks away from a fox. At least in London she would have freedom. And if her mother was as famous in the music halls as Miss Fox had told her she was, then she was sure to know some very exciting people. Kitty could just see herself attending balls in fabulous gowns on the arms of dashing young gentlemen who would all be vying for her attention. She smiled to herself – but then as another thought occurred to her, it turned into a frown. What if Miss Fox’s visit had been nothing more than a cruel joke? What if they arrived at the station to find she wasn’t there? How foolish she would look then if she had to return to Treetops with her tail between her legs.

They were almost there now and Kitty leaned anxiously to one side so that she could see across Ben’s shoulder. The large hand on the big clock above the station entrance was ticking away the minutes. It was almost twenty past three. And then as Tom pulled up in front of the doors, Miss Fox suddenly emerged, glancing this way and that. She looked exactly as she had the day before and Kitty let out her breath on a sigh of relief.

Once the car was parked they piled out of it, and when Tom had untied Kitty’s luggage they all went to meet Miss Fox.

‘Good afternoon,’ she greeted them civilly, and then she said to Kitty, ‘I thought you might change your mind, my dear.’

When Kitty shook her head, she turned about and they followed her onto the platform. There were just seven minutes to go now until the train was due and Kitty’s hands began to shake.

Ben was the first to give her a self-conscious hug. ‘You take care now,’ he muttered thickly and Kitty beamed up at him with tears trembling on her lovely dark lashes.

It was Tom’s turn then and he simply held her close for a second before stepping away from her, blinking rapidly. And now there was only Sunday left and she began to cry, great tearing sobs that shook her whole body as she hugged Kitty to her.

‘Just remember, we will always be here for you, do you hear?’

Kitty nodded, her own cheeks wet as behind them the sound of the train chugging towards the station could be heard. It bore down on them like some great fire-breathing dragon and drew to a halt in a hiss of steam and smoke that surrounded them like fog.