‘Yes, Mama, but … What’s a trousseau?’
Chapter 52
2024
Over the years, Hetty Bainbridge had ridden horses, travelled by coach and even been in a sail boat on the family lake with Charlie. She had never, of course, flown.
And yet here she was, huddled next to Stella, clutching her hand tightly as she surveyed her unfamiliar surroundings. She was sitting in a large metal tube with large combustion engines attached. It was nightmarish – and what was worse, she was ‘only’ flying to New York in this terrifying contraption.
Oh, but her life was now so diverting, she thought, wondering how Etta was getting on.
Now that she’d gone through them herself, Aggie had shared the rest of Etta’s diaries with her and Hetty had decided that Etta must indeed be happy. How could she not be, with such a fairytale ending? Hetty had felt deep, deep relief: the bracelet was here to stay. She’d wrapped it carefully in one of Aggie’s silk scarves and placed it back in the box they’d found it in. She’d had enough time travelling for one lifetime.
Her ancestor – or her descendant, depending on how onelooked at it – had gone on to do truly outstanding things. And now it was her own turn.
She gazed out of the window and was horrified to see London quickly vanishing from under her. The skyscrapers seemed akin to dollhouses.
Tingles shot through her hand as Stella squeezed it. ‘You’ll be okay,’ she whispered.
Hetty turned to look at Stella, whose face was closer than she’d expected. ‘Do you think so?’
‘I know so.’
Stella’s breath seemed to caress Hetty’s face. Right at that moment, all Hetty could think of was her cushiony, pillowy lips. Time seemed to slow. They moved closer and Hetty’s heart beat harder than ever. This was going to be it. Her first kiss, and with the most beautiful, perfect woman she had ever set eyes on.
Except it wasn’t, because suddenly there was the ping of a bell and around them, seatbelts unclicked as the plane levelled out. The moment was gone.
Hetty felt her shoulders drop in disappointment, but Stella was smiling.
‘Don’t you worry,’ she whispered. ‘You’ve got the rest of our lives to kiss me.’
