Emmerdale: Why Belle is worried after Kammy's love declaration

Belle Dingle has worked hard to put Tom King behind her, but this week's episodes of Emmerdale put that progress under severe strain. News that her abusive ex-husband is about to walk free arrives at the worst possible moment, and when Kammy Hadiq tries to show how much he cares by telling her he loves her, Belle cannot cope and runs off.

Why Tom King's release has shaken Belle

The trouble starts when Belle's Victim Liaison Officer calls round to tell her that Tom will soon be released from prison. Belle is assured that he will be bound by strict licence conditions, but the news still knocks her sideways, and Kammy can see how frightened she is.

Tom's abuse of Belle ran for more than a year on screen. He isolated her from her family, monitored her every move, physically abused her and used her beloved dog Piper against her, until his crimes finally caught up with him and he was jailed. For a full recap, our guide to what Tom King did to Belle covers the story from the beginning.

Matters become more complicated when Charles overhears Belle confiding in Nicola. In his role as a prison chaplain, Charles has been speaking to Tom, and he reveals that Tom says he has accepted responsibility for what he did and wants Belle's forgiveness. Far from offering comfort, the news leaves Belle feeling that Tom is already back in her head before he has even left prison, and she makes up her mind to visit him and face him herself.

When Cain returns from a fishing trip, he quickly senses that something is wrong. He joins Kammy in urging Belle not to go to the prison, and she agrees to stay away, although the decision brings her little peace. She is now terrified that Tom will come looking for her once he is free.

Rhona's support and a warning for Cain

Help comes from Rhona Goskirk, who knows from her own past what it means to live through an abusive relationship. Talking things through with Rhona allows Belle to feel more in control, and she comes away in a more hopeful frame of mind. Privately, however, Rhona gives Cain a stark warning that if Tom does come back, he could be more dangerous than ever.

The news reaches beyond the Dingles, too. Nicola is hit by fresh grief as she wrestles with whether Jimmy would have wanted her to help his nephew, and Kev offers his support while she weighs up what to do.

Kammy's declaration and the questions it leaves

It is against this backdrop that Kammy, worried sick about keeping Belle safe, blurts out that he loves her. Belle is overwhelmed, cannot bring herself to reply and runs off, leaving Kammy wondering whether he has ruined things between them.

That moment leaves several questions for the couple. The most pressing is whether Belle's silence is a rejection of Kammy or simply a sign of how much she is carrying, given that the declaration comes in the same week she learns her abuser is about to be freed.

Then there is Tom himself, and whether his apparent remorse can be trusted. Rhona's warning suggests not, and when James Chase's return to the role was announced, he said the audience "knows exactly who he is and what he is capable of". Producer Laura Shaw described his comeback as "reigniting a complex and challenging story", which hardly points to a quiet reunion with the village.

Finally, it remains to be seen whether Belle will keep to her decision to stay away from Tom, and how Cain and the rest of the Dingles will react if he tries to make contact after his release.

Emmerdale has not yet revealed how Belle will answer Kammy, or how close Tom will come to the village once he is out, but with his release drawing nearer, the coming weeks look set to test Belle and everyone around her.

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and ITVX.

Images: ITV.