‘I’m very much hoping so, from what I’ve heard from Peter.’ He won’t let her go, but grips her, pinning her arms to her sides as he tries to kiss her. ‘How about you let me find out?’ He pulls her closer again, his lips at her ear, breath sweet with the champagne. ‘Do you know how much I want you?’

‘Don’t you have a wife at home? Or sweetheart you should be staying true to?’ She wants to know exactly how he will lie to her.

‘No. No wife. And no sweetheart at all. Just a man who looks after me, and a housekeeper, a cook and a maid, but they won’t bother us.’

‘How do you know? Are they used to you keeping company?’

He nuzzles into her neck. ‘They are always very discreet. That’s why they work for me. And they are probably turning in for the night already.’ He takes a watch from his pocket and consults it, still with his arm around her. ‘Quite definitely.’

It is the watch that decides it.

‘I think, perhaps, you should speak to Peter.’

‘Speak to me about what?’ Peter is behind her, a glass in his hand.

‘Ralph wants to take me home with him.’

‘Lucky Ralph.’ He salutes his friend. ‘And lucky Ruby, of course.’ His smile is warm enough, but she cannot quite read his face. ‘Go and find your coat, then.’

Ralph picks up her hand and presses it to his lips. ‘A jewel indeed.’

Peter meets her at the cloakroom, no longer smiling.

‘He’s speaking with Charles Haversham,’ he says, when she enquires where Ralph is. ‘He’s on his way.’

He straightens her coat, tugging the lapels and drawing her closer. ‘Look after my friend,’ he says. ‘As I told you, he’s useful to me.’

‘He’s getting married soon,’ Ruby says, frowning. ‘I’m not sure…’

‘You’re not growing prudish, surely?’ His brow lifts, mocking her. ‘Don’t trouble yourself about that. He’ll make the evening worth your while. And I shall have his continued support – which is what matters to me.’

She says nothing. Something does not feel right.

‘Ah, it’s Harriet you’re thinking of, isn’t it? Harriet Littlemore, your reporter friend?’

‘My what?’

‘Your loyalty to your friend is rather touching, sweetheart, but this is business.’

‘What do you mean, my reporter friend?’

‘Only that I suppose if you tell her all of your secrets, it’s no surprise that you would feel close to her.’

‘Tell her all of my secrets?’ Ruby is puzzled. ‘I’ve never told her anything – except that she should cut her hair and some nonsense about film stars.’