Knowing that when she let her mind go down this particular route it resulted in bitter heartache and confusion, Ruby steered the conversation to Clarissa’s recent holiday and let her friend enthuse about Paris. ‘Here.’ Clarissa passed over a large embossed carrier bag that had a Parisian designer’s name on it. ‘An early Christmas gift but I knew it would suit you. Oh, and there are some French fashion magazines too; I know you don’t speak French but the illustrations will give you an idea or two, won’t they. Darling, it’s all little skull caps over there of silver and gold tissue designed to cover the ears as well as the hair, and skirts are set to get longer apparently but women must be pencil-thin. Godfrey wasn’t at all impressed. He said this slimming craze is set to turn women into boys and he finds it repugnant, so at least I can eat my cream cakes and chocolates and other goodies with impunity.’

Ruby had delved into the bag while Clarissa had been speaking and now, as she brought out an exquisitely made dress and jacket in dove-grey raw silk, she said, ‘Oh, it’s beautiful, Clarissa, thank you so much.’

‘My pleasure.’ Clarissa leaned forward and took her hand. ‘Will you come to Foreburn for Christmas Day? We would love to have you.’

Ruby had accepted this invitation for the last two years and she knew the house would be crowded with friends and family. Quietly, she said, ‘Thank you but no, not this year, but it’s very kind of you.’

Clarissa stared at her. ‘Edward won’t be coming – he’s spending Christmas in America.’

With her. ‘Nevertheless, I won’t come.’

‘About Edward.’ Clarissa paused. Since her brother had gone off across the ocean she had done some hard thinking and one thing she was sure of. He and Ruby should have been together. He had been in such a state that night of the party when he had arrived back at the house after taking Ruby home, and when he told her what had transpired, she had urged him to go straight back and bang on Ruby’s door. He had almost glared at her as he said, ‘You’ve changed your tune. The last time we talked about this you were of the opinion that there was no meeting point between her class and ours, if I remember rightly. “The class system is still alive and well.” Isn’t that what you said? Along with the fact that Ruby would be a fish out of water in our world the same as I would be in hers.’

‘Yes, I did say all that, and I was wrong.’

‘She doesn’t think so. If it’s any comfort, she thinks exactly like you do.’

‘Did.’ She had stared at Edward’s tormented face as she had repeated, ‘Did.’