Looking into the distance she saw the horse and gig had come to a halt and that a man was holding the reins as another man, presumably the owner, came running over to them, saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. A couple of dogs nipped his heels and he took fright and the reins must have come untied. Is anyone hurt?’

It was Lady Russell who answered and she was very much the aristocrat as she said icily, ‘But for this young lady here, my friend would almost certainly be badly injured or worse. What were you thinking of, man?’

‘I can’t apologize enough.’

‘Just make sure that the animal is secure in the future.’

‘I will, I will.’ He looked contritely at Ruby. ‘We’d only just left him a minute before near the fountain with the other horse and traps while my wife and I had coffee with some friends at the park cafe. I couldn’t believe it when I saw him galloping off but it was those damn – sorry, those dogs that unnerved him.’

‘Yes, yes.’ Lady Russell waved the poor man away, turning to Ruby and Clarissa as she said, ‘Ineffectual individual. Now, Clarissa, you came by car, I understand?’

Clarissa nodded. ‘And I’ll see to it that Miss . . .?’

‘Morgan. Ruby Morgan,’ Ruby said quickly.

‘Miss Morgan gets home safely.’

‘Oh, there’s no need. I’m perfectly well now.’ All Ruby wanted was to get away from the little group who had gathered around her. She had never felt so embarrassed in her life.

‘Nonsense.’ Clarissa smiled at her, a warm open smile, and her voice was softer than the somewhat acerbic tone of Lady Russell. Ruby had heard it said that Lady Astor, the feminists’ champion, had an abrasive manner but that this characteristic was an advantage when dealing with male MPs who were waiting for her to fall flat on her face, so perhaps all these warrior ladies who were at the forefront of the fight for progress were the same? She could appreciate it might be necessary but it was a little intimidating, nonetheless, whereas Clarissa Palmerston seemed more understanding and gentle. She returned Clarissa’s smile as she said, ‘I really don’t want to put you to any inconvenience, Mrs Palmerston.’

Clarissa’s smile widened. ‘Believe me, Miss Morgan, it would have been far more inconvenient to find myself under the hooves of that poor animal.’ Clarissa had kept her arm round Ruby’s waist and she now turned to Lady Russell, saying, ‘I’ll see you at Lord Rochdale’s dinner tonight, Lavinia,’ as she bent forward and touched the other woman’s cheek with her lips, before guiding Ruby away from the others. As they walked, she said, ‘I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere before, Miss Morgan, but I cannot recollect . . .’

‘It was at a suffrage meeting in town some months ago.’