The Lost Sister, Kathleen McGurl [best desktop ebook reader txt] 📗

parted her lips slightly and he accepted the invitation. His lips were warm and soft against hers. If only she could bottle this moment and keep it for ever!

But the kiss had to end, and the night was indeed very cold. He pulled her tight against him once more. ‘Miss Higgins, that was the most wonderful thing ever, but I think we should go back inside before we freeze. It wouldn’t do for the officers to find us here frozen together on Christmas Day.’

She smiled. ‘It certainly wouldn’t. Maybe there’s still some dancing going on. Shall we see?’

He kissed her once more – a brief peck this time. ‘Yes, let’s. And, happy Christmas, my dearest Emma.’

‘Happy Christmas, Martin.’

There was just a week left of 1911, the year that had changed Emma’s life. They’d see the New Year in when they were on the return voyage. What would 1912 hold for them? It would bring them closer, she was sure. It would be their year.

Back home, Emma held back from telling Ma about Martin. She didn’t want her mother to worry about another daughter’s suitor. Ruby, now 18, had spoiled things for all of them, through her relationship with Harry Paine. She was still seeing him, and seemed not to care any more who knew it. Ma had been spat at in the butcher’s shop, by a friend of Harry Paine’s wife. And several neighbours were no longer talking to the family. ‘Not as long as you’ve still got that brazen husband-stealing hussy living with you,’ Mrs Williams had said, but she was still prepared to talk to Ma if she thought there was any chance of hearing more gossip.

On every visit home in early 1912, the situation had become worse. Ma told her in hushed tones that there had been some nights when Ruby had not come home at all – and these had coincided with a period when Mrs Paine had gone to visit her sister in Portsmouth who needed nursing. ‘If we can at least keep that quiet it’d be something,’ Ma said. ‘But honestly I am despairing. If he leaves his wife for Ruby then she will always be known as a marriage-breaker, and if he doesn’t then she is soiled goods and no one will have her. She’s done for in this town, lovey, but she can’t seem to see it.’

Ruby remained defiant, telling Emma she loved Harry and that was all that mattered. ‘Does he love you too?’ Emma asked, and Ruby shrugged then said, ‘Yes, well, he must do, mustn’t he?’ Emma wasn’t sure why he ‘must’ but had not wanted to say anything. She and Ruby had been getting along reasonably well, as long as Emma didn’t say anything critical of Harry.

Ruby’s other friends had dropped away. ‘I don’t care,’ Ruby said. ‘They was happy to be part of the group when Harry paid them attention, too. Now he’s picked me over all of them they don’t want to know.’

Or were they ashamed of her, Emma wondered but didn’t say.

Arriving home at the end of March, Emma was excited to see Ruby again, resolving to tell her about Martin, but also nervous to find out what had happened over the last three weeks. Her sister was in a precarious position in her relationship with Harry, and Emma was terrified that she’d push it too far. She’d had nightmares on the ship that she’d come home to find Ruby out of work or fighting in public with Mrs Paine.

She hugged Martin goodbye as they left the ship. ‘Signing on again tomorrow, then?’ he said.

‘I certainly am,’ she replied.

‘I might see you there, but then I’m rushing up to Salisbury to see my folk for a few days before we embark. Next time we’re between voyages, I’ll stay in Southampton.’

‘And I’ll take you to meet Ma and my sisters.’

‘I’d like that. Very much.’ He bent over her then, and kissed her, tenderly, on the lips, just as he had on Christmas Eve, but this time in full view of so many people leaving the ship. He blushed, turned away and hurried off, waving over his shoulder at her. Emma stayed standing where she was for a moment, her fingers on her lips where he had kissed her and sent a thrill through her. Was this how Ruby felt when she was with Harry? If so, Emma thought maybe she could understand why Ruby was prepared to take risks with her reputation. She resolved to be kind to Ruby, to talk to her and see if there was any way out of this mess that would leave Ruby happy, with the man she loved.

She hurried home, expecting to find only Ma and Lily there, for although it was after the time Ruby finished work she’d no doubt be snatching a few hours with Harry while she could. He finished his shift as a department store stockroom clerk half an hour before her shift finished, and always met her after work. His wife thought he was doing overtime, Ruby had told Emma. At least she had thought this, until the gossip-mongers began spreading the word about Ruby. Now, who knew what Mrs Paine thought.

But Ruby was in the house, sitting at the kitchen table in her work uniform, with a cup of tea in her hand and a sour expression on her face. Ma was seated opposite, wringing her hands.

‘Emma, lovey, thank goodness you are home. I hope you had a safe trip. I’ll make you tea – you sit there with your sister.’ The sub-text was clear. Talk to Ruby. Find out what’s happened now. Knock some sense into her.

‘Hello, Ma.’ Emma kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘Tea would be lovely. Ruby – how are things?’

But before Ruby could answer the kitchen door was flung open and Lily bowled in, arms outstretched. ‘Ems! You’re home! Tell me it’s for more than a week this time!’

‘Lily, sweetness, you’ve grown again!’ Emma kissed her little sister. ‘But I’m sorry,