He half-turned in his seat, settling back and surveying her through narrowed eyes. He made no attempt to touch her and they looked at each other for a few moments without speaking before he drew in a deep breath, his voice quiet and husky as he said, ‘We have known each other for over three years and I have loved you that long.’ As she opened her mouth, he said, ‘No, let me finish before you say anything. I am thirteen years older than you but I don’t see that as a problem in one way – in another, I am conscious that I have lived in a kind of limbo for some time now, and that at thirty-seven the time has come where I want a future in sight. A future that centres round you, a future where you would be my wife.’

‘Edward, please—’

‘You have always made it clear you wish us to remain as friends and I have respected that, while hoping that in time you would grow to feel as I do. Sometimes I feel you care about me but then at others . . .’ He shook his head. ‘And so I have continued to tread lightly, to give you time. I know you have had your heart broken in the past and that you carry that sadness with you – perhaps you still care about the man in question, I don’t know, because we have never talked about it or anything of substance in a romantic sense.’ He paused. ‘Do you care about him still?’

For a fleeting second Ruby was tempted to say she did because that would be the easy way out of this, but she couldn’t lie to him, he deserved better than that.

‘Not in the way you mean, no. He is a different person now and so am I, and I see quite clearly we would never have been truly happy together. We were childhood sweethearts but we are children no longer and in growing up we have changed.’ She swallowed hard. ‘Perhaps I have changed the most because I know being a wife and having a family is not for me.’

‘I don’t believe that,’ he said softly. ‘Are you trying to let me down gently because you don’t love me?’

‘Edward, please—’

‘That’s the second time you have said that but I’m afraid tonight it won’t work, Ruby. I have told you how I feel and I want an honest answer from you. Don’t worry about my feelings. I’m big enough and ugly enough to take it. Do you care for me?’

‘You know that you and Clarissa are my dearest friends.’

‘That’s not what I’m asking.’

Her voice was low as she murmured, ‘Friendship is all there can be between us, Edward. You must see that?’