Mabel looked at Gethin who was trying to cheer his mother up. ‘I’d say that you love him, and it’s the fear of losing him that brings it to the fore. Don’t forget you’ve got an awful lot more on your mind than just Felix.’

‘My parents, you mean?’

Mabel nodded. ‘You’re not free to be in love when you’ve got the worry of your parents hanging over your head – that’s why your feelings only come out when you think that Felix is in danger.’

‘The only thing I can say for certain, is the thought of losing Felix is more than I can bear,’ said Roz.

Mabel blinked up at her, tears shining in her eyes. ‘Whichever way you look at it, you love that boy.’ She was looking at Gethin who had turned to face them. ‘What a pair we are! Both in love, and both on our own.’

‘Like thousands of other women,’ said Roz quietly, ‘and all because of one hateful little man.’

Gethin was approaching the girls and Roz could tell from his stance that he felt awkward. She slipped her arm out of Mabel’s and smiled at him. ‘So long, Gethin, good luck with everything, and take care. I’ll leave you to say goodbye to Mabel.’

‘Thanks, Roz.’ He placed an arm around Mabel’s shoulders. ‘Come now, I can’t have my favourite milkmaid in tears!’

Sniffing loudly, Mabel tried not to look at Gethin. She knew her eyes must be puffy from crying and she didn’t want him to remember her that way, but Gethin was having none of it. Placing his finger beneath her chin, he raised it up so that he could gaze into her eyes. ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’

Cursing the tears which fell, she went to wipe them away, but Gethin had beaten her to it. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, then her lips. Mabel felt as though her feet had left the floor, until she remembered that Gethin’s parents were only a stone’s throw away. Blushing to the tips of her ears, she broke away hastily and glanced shyly at his parents and Roz, who appeared to be showing great interest in the locomotive.

‘What does this mean?’ she asked, looking coyly at Gethin who was smiling with amusement at her embarrassment.

‘That I’m your beau. If you’ll have me, of course …’ he said, giving her a cheeky wink.

Mabel felt as though all her Christmases had come at once. ‘Of course I will, I just wish …’ she heaved a sigh, ‘… only there’s no point in wishing, is there?’