A/N: I don't know how much I like this story anymore but let me know what you think. It was quite different before but I took on board all the advice I received and this is the result.

At the afternoon tea break, Kitty decided to take hers outside. And even though Thomas wasn't anywhere in sight, it didn't occur to her that he might, in fact, be outside already. When Kitty went out into the courtyard, her eyes were fixed on her tea, making sure it didn't spill. She only looked up when the cup was placed safely down on the table, and was met with the very face she had been trying to avoid. Forgetting about her tea, Kitty turned to leave.

"Kitty, wait!" Thomas called. Thinking of what Mrs Hughes had said earlier, Kitty stopped but didn't turn around. "Please, Kitty? Talk to me...?" The sadness in his voice softened her some and made her turn around.

But, on the other hand, she didn't want him to think that she was no longer angry at him. She was still very angry. She pushed haughtily past him to sit at the picnic bench where her tea had been left behind. She picked up it to sip it but, with the cup halfway to her mouth, she hesitated. Thomas hadn't followed her.

"Well?" she gestured to the seat across the table opposite her, "I'd rather not sit here talking to myself." Thomas shook himself and moved to sit in the designated seat. Kitty took the sip she had paused, eyes locked on her tea. Then she put the cup back on the saucer and put both cup and saucer down, slowly and deliberately. She only lifted her eyes when her tea sat firmly on the table.

Looking at him square on, she spoke. "That wasn't a very nice thing to do to Sarah, Thomas."

He was the first to look away, shaking his head.

"I want to be honest with you, Kitty, so I'm just going to say it: I have done, and still do, many not very nice things. But," now he met her eyes again, "for the first time in my life, I feel ashamed," he paused, speaking slowly now, "Because I like you, Kitty...and-and that's what you do to me." Now Kitty had to look away, the intensity in his eyes making her blush. It made her feel strangely warm in the pit of her stomach to hear her suspicions confirmed. She paused for a minute, thinking about her next words.

"The thing is, Thomas, I like you too. A lot," she stirred her tea with her finger absently, still not looking at him, "But I like the kind, gentle you. The man I saw then was vicious and angry," she raised her eyes to find that his head was to the side, staring across the courtyard. In his face, she saw some of the anger, but mostly she saw shame and that convinced her more than any amount of words ever could. He was genuinely ashamed of his actions...because of her. What he was saying really was the truth.

Without thinking, Kitty reached out and took his chin in her hand, turning him to look at her again. He was clearly surprised by this action but didn't try to pull away.

"I was disappointed, Thomas. I thought that no-one knew what they were talking about when they spoke ill of you. Because the man I knew was so far from their descriptions that they must have meant someone else," realising she was holding his chin, she quickly let go, lowering her hand, "So to see it confirmed made me so very upset. Yes, I was angry too, but that was more at myself for not listening, thinking I knew best."

Looking down at clasped her hands on the table in front of her, she tried to ignore the feeling in her fingers where she had touched him. Then she gave him a very direct look. "Prove them wrong for me, Thomas. Make me stop being angry at myself...because I'm right about who you are, I know it."

He nodded. "I will, Kitty. I'm different with you, I can't explain it. I just hate to see you disappointed in me. "

"Okay. I'm holding you to that, Thomas." They sat silently for a moment or two, Kitty drinking her tea and Thomas finishing his cigarette. When he had, he stubbed it out and met her eyes again.

"Am I forgiven then?" he asked.

Kitty made an exaggerated show of thinking. "Yes, I think probably you are. But I might not be so lenient next time." She spoke playfully but there was a serious undercurrent. He saw both and replied in the same manner.

"I understand."

"Now that we've made up, I could quite easily to sit here talking all day. However, I imagine that our tea break is almost over," she grumbled.

"I suppose," he conceded. He stood, gathering up her teacup. She rose as well and linked her arm through his.

"I'm sorry for giving you the cold shoulder," she said, stopping him, "It was childish of me."

"Don't be," he shook his head, "It's strange, but I feel as though I deserved it."

"Maybe the first day, or so, yes," she grinned, "But not three." She suddenly realised how close they were standing and fear swelled up inside her as she remembered the last time she had been this close to a man. Her smile faltered and she stepped back abruptly, no longer touching him. Thomas looked concerned, and just a little hurt.

"Are you alright?"

Get a grip, Kitty told herself firmly. She put a new smile on, brighter and more cheerful than before, and took his arm again. His concerned look held for a moment, then he matched her smile with one of his own and they went back inside together.

Mrs Hughes watched them as they came in, pleased that they had made up but concerned. She didn't know this side of Thomas, and she wasn't sure she was ready to trust it yet...