Ruby smiled but rose to her feet. ‘I’ll leave you to get ready,’ she began, just as a knock came at the drawing-room door and a maid opened it to say, ‘Mr Forsythe is here, ma’am.’ A moment later a tall, handsome and distinguished-looking man strode into the room, smiling widely.

Clarissa jumped up, saying to Ruby, ‘Oh, it’s my brother Edward, he’s escorting me to the dinner,’ and then to her brother, ‘I want to introduce you to the lady who saved my life this afternoon,’ with a dramatic flourish worthy of an actress. ‘Edward, this is Miss Ruby Morgan and but for her I would be lying mangled under the wheels of a horse and trap.’

Ruby had blushed hotly – she could feel the colour burning her cheeks – but Edward smiled, holding out his hand as he said in a deep, slightly husky voice, ‘Now as introductions go, this is certainly one to remember. I am most delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Morgan. Edward Forsythe, at your service.’

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.