Ruby placed her hand into his hard warm grip and managed to say fairly steadily, ‘How do you do, Mr Forsythe.’

‘Very well, very well.’

Ruby had assumed Clarissa to be no more than a few years older than herself but the man in front of her looked to be in his thirties, and this was confirmed when Clarissa said, ‘Edward’s my big brother, Ruby, but there are two more older than him. I’m the only girl and the baby of the family.’

‘And more trouble when she was younger than the rest of us put together,’ Edward grinned, then rumpled Clarissa’s carefully arranged hair causing his sister to squeal in protest. ‘But tell me, what’s all this about Miss Morgan saving you from certain death?’

He had spoken with a twinkle in his grey eyes, and Clarissa’s voice was reproving when she said, ‘She did, she really did, I’m not exaggerating. You can ask Lavinia later if you don’t believe me. We were at the meeting at Castle Leazes and a frightened horse bolted straight for me. Ruby flung herself into its path to save me.’

‘Well, on behalf of myself and the rest of the family, may I thank you, Miss Morgan. We all decided a long time ago that Clarissa has been put on this earth to keep us on our toes but nevertheless, she is exceedingly precious.’ He smiled at his sister, a warm, loving smile, and Clarissa smiled back. Ruby could sense the closeness between the two siblings even after only moments in their company and she found herself envying Clarissa. She had been ten years old when her two brothers had marched off to war and her memories of them had dulled a little with the passing years, but she didn’t think she would ever have had the relationship with them that Clarissa seemed to have with Edward.

Knowing that Clarissa had to prepare for the evening ahead, she said politely, ‘It’s been very nice to meet you, Mr Forsythe, but I really have to be going,’ at the same time as she became aware that next to his height and breadth – he must be at least six foot two inches or so and his shoulders were broad under his evening clothes – she felt unusually small and feminine and it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. There was a fresh clean smell emanating from him and although he was clean-shaven the faint bluish hue about his chin went hand in hand with his wavy jet-black hair. He was somehow disturbing, a small section of her mind told her, and not just because he was handsome although he certainly was. No, it was more the presence he carried with him. Telling herself she was being ridiculous and hoping she didn’t appear as flustered as she felt, she said to Clarissa, ‘Thank you for a lovely tea.’

‘Oh, I enjoyed it immensely and don’t forget you promised to come for lunch on Thursday,’ Clarissa said, leaning forward and kissing her on both cheeks. ‘I’ll get Pearson to take you home.’