Neither did she, but that wasn’t the point. ‘If a young woman wants to have some fun before she settles down and raises a family, then that is her right, surely? It doesn’t necessarily mean she is promiscuous or heartless. And if she chooses never to marry or have children, or makes a career for herself, then that is her right too.’

‘Couldn’t agree more.’ His voice was laconic in the extreme now, which Ruby found immensely irritating. ‘But your average scantily clad flapper with a haircut like a man’s drinking umpteen Manhattans and getting pie-eyed constitutes a danger to herself and others, especially if they then decide to drive home in a car or on a motorcycle. I lost a dear friend this year when two silly girls in a little sports car one of their fathers had bought for her twenty-first birthday the week before lost control of the vehicle and mounted the pavement. They were so intoxicated they couldn’t stand up when the police arrived on the scene.’

‘That’s awful, I know, but women like that are the exception to the rule. Surely you see that?’

He shrugged. ‘Perhaps I’m getting a little cynical in my old age, Miss Morgan.’

It was the mocking note in his voice that made her say, and more sharply than she had intended, ‘Well, forgive me, Mr Forsythe, but that’s nothing to be proud of.’

There was silence for a long moment. The breeze had teased tendrils of hair from the chignon at the nape of her neck and her cheeks were flushed, more from their exchange of words than the rush of air in the open-top car. He had been kind enough to offer to bring her home and she had just insulted him, Ruby thought in dismay, but really, he was the most impossible man.

After an uncomfortable pause when Ruby remained absolutely still and staring ahead, gripping her hat so hard her knuckles showed white, Edward said quietly, ‘You are quite right and I apologize. Of course such individuals are the exception. It’s just that Anthony left a wife and young child and I grieve for what might have been.’

‘No, I apologize.’ Ruby felt awful. He was mourning his friend and she’d shown as much empathy as a fly on the wall. Why, oh, why, had she ever agreed to accompany Clarissa home in the first place? ‘That was totally uncalled for.’

‘At the risk of disagreeing with you once again and incurring your wrath, I think you were right to reproach me, Miss Morgan. I was being boorish. Clarissa has taken me to task on a number of occasions recently on the same subject. Now –’ he grinned at her for a second and as she met the dark grey eyes a little shiver snaked down her spine – ‘with your permission, we’ll begin again? Edward Forsythe, at your service.’

Ruby smiled. ‘Ruby Morgan, Mr Forsythe.’