Just then, he heard a rustle in the hay and felt a body nestle up close to him. He thought it must be Akiko, but it was Rose’s voice that whispered in his ear, ‘I’m cold.’

Jack took off his coat and laid it over her. But she moved closer and put her arm round him. He pulled away. ‘Rose, no …’

‘Don’t you remember our first kiss?’ she murmured.

‘Of course,’ replied Jack, ‘but my heart belongs to another now.’

Rose drew him to her. ‘Can’t I steal it back?’

Jack gently shook his head. ‘Akiko and I are forever bound to one another.’

‘You’re so loyal, Jack,’ replied Rose, her tone both approving and disappointed. ‘Perhaps too loyal. Do you really think she’ll stay in England, for you?’ Rejected, Rose disentangled herself and turned her back to him, taking his coat with her.

Jack stared up blankly into the darkness, as unsettled by his emotions as by the storm. He was sorry he’d upset Rose, but added to that she had pricked the doubt that was clouding his heart from the moment they had stepped on to English shores. There was always the question of whether Akiko would stay or not, although he’d harboured the hope that she would. But now, after everything that had happened, he couldn’t see why she would want to stay in this cold, brutal and unforgiving country.

Jack glanced over to where Akiko lay. She wasn’t there, and he saw her crouching by the barn door, peering into the rain-soaked night. He rose quietly and joined her. She didn’t acknowledge him, just kept her gaze on the lightning in the distant clouds.

‘I’m sorry about last night …’ he began.

‘And tonight?’ she asked pointedly.

Jack let out a regretful sigh. She’d seen him and Rose together. ‘It’s not what you think. Rose was cold, so I gave her my coat.’

‘Oh? She looked warm enough to me,’ replied Akiko, her eyes glistening with tears.

Jack took Akiko’s hand, her soft skin cold to the touch. ‘I told her that you and I are forever bound to one another, that my heart belongs to you.’

Akiko turned to him, a hesitant smile upon her lips. He gently wiped away her tears.

‘I realize England is not what you hoped for … or I hoped for … or even promised,’ Jack went on. ‘I know you’re homesick. Once we find Jess, I can arrange passage on a ship back to Japan for you … if that’s what you want.’

‘And what will you do?’ asked Akiko.