The crowds were dispersing now but still Ruby stood where she was, feeling as though her world had been turned upside down yet again. What Olive had done was horrible and Adam’s betrayal had been devastating, but putting that aside, did the woman she was now feel the same about marriage to Adam as the girl of eighteen had felt?

The answer was stark and unequivocal and it rocked her to her core. She shut her eyes for a moment, trying to come to terms with the truth, and when she opened them again it was to see a riderless horse and gig fast bearing down on a woman who had just left the steps of the bandstand and who had her head turned away from the danger as she conversed with someone behind her.

Ruby called out as she ran, and she just reached the woman whom she recognized was Clarissa Palmerston when the galloping horse was feet away. Without thinking she threw herself on the woman and sent the pair of them hurtling through the air, the lethal hooves of the frightened animal missing them by inches. It was all over in a moment and the whole incident had only taken a minute or two.

She must have banged her head because for a while she was in a kind of whirling vacuum where she could hear voices around her but was unable to respond. And then the darkness receded and she opened her eyes to find herself being cradled in the arms of Clarissa Palmerston who was kneeling at her side, saying, ‘She saved my life, she saved my life,’ over and over again.

‘Oh, my dear.’ As Clarissa became aware that Ruby was conscious, she looked on the verge of crying, but instead murmured, ‘That was the bravest thing, the very bravest thing. Are you all right, have you broken anything?’

‘I don’t think so.’ The words were shaky as they passed her lips. In truth she felt most odd.

‘Here.’ Someone pressed a glass of water to her lips and she took a sip, and then a few more. Her head was clearing and the feeling of dizzy nausea passing.

‘I landed on top of you, I’m afraid.’ Clarissa supported her into a sitting position, keeping her arms around her. ‘I just had no idea what was happening.’

To her great embarrassment, Ruby realized that Lady Russell and other dignitaries were in the circle of people peering down at her. She took another moment before she said quietly, ‘I’m feeling better, thank you. Could you help me up?’ to Clarissa, who immediately obliged but kept her arm round her waist once she was standing.