'Why, Karl, how lovely! I'd love to dance with a handsome man like you!' she slurred.

She was rather clumsy in his arms.

'Thank goodness it's a slow number,' he thought. Several times Mary lost her footing and stumbled. Each time she giggled and snuggled closer to Karl.

'Mary, what's got into you lately?' he asked.

'Me! Lil ole me... Nothing's got into me, Karl.' She ran a finger down his cheek, pressing her body against him and giving him a lopsided smile.

Ellie began to feel nauseas. The start of a headache was kicking in. 'I think I'll slip outside for a bit of fresh air,' she said, pushing her chair back and standing.

'You do look a bit pale dear,' Emmie said, concerned. 'Win, why don't you pop up on stage and sing a few songs for us? Ellie could do with a few minutes break.'

Ellie excused herself and made her way outside.

Harvey watched her go. After a few seconds, he decided to follow her. 'I think I'll go and see if she's alright,' he said to Emmie. 'She did look pale and Mary's behaviour hasn't helped things!' He stood up, saying he would be back in a few minutes.

Emmie watched him leave. She had a worried look in her eyes. This situation had to be resolved before things escalated completely out of control.

'Well, Emmie, how about a dance?' Digger asked, holding out his hand to her.

'Why I'd love to, Digger.' She smiled. 'Not too fast 'round the floor though; I'm not as nimble as I used to be!'

'Tammi...' Kathy tapped her on the shoulder. Tammi was busy gazing into Ian's eyes.

'What? Oh Kath, sorry.' She giggled. 'What's up?'

'I'm leaving with Eddie. Would you tell Mum and Dad that I've gone? Otherwise they'll worry.'

'Of course. Go on, have fun. See ya!' Tammi turned her attention back to Ian.

Harvey found Ellie at the side of the hall. She was leaning against the wall obviously deep in thought.

He reached his hand out, placing it on her shoulder. 'Ellie, I'm so sorry for tonight. You must have felt very uncomfortable in there.'

He pulled her away from the wall and put his arms around her.

She sighed, clinging to him.

'Oh Harv, what are we going to do? Where is all this leading to?'

'I know... I know... Ellie, I just don't know what the h.e.l.l I'm goin' to do with Mary. She's a b.l.o.o.d.y handful and the drinkin' is worse. She vows I'll never be free... not ever!'

'You have to make her see a doctor. She's badly in need of help. I know Mum tried to get her alone but couldn't get the right opportunity. She was going to try and convince her to get help.'

'Well after tonight's behaviour, I'm going to have to think long and hard about how I'm goin' to deal with her. What she's done here in front of all your friends and family is just unacceptable.'

'She's sick, Harv. Get her some help as soon as possible. Look, we better go back inside. Heaven only knows the ramifications if Mary discovers we're out here together!'

Even in her alcohol-fuddled mind, Mary knew Karl was responding to her seductive advances, and it felt good to have a man react physically to her.

'Mary, I think we should sit down,' Karl said gently. Her advances were making him rather embarra.s.sed.

His own physical response was embarra.s.sing him as well.

Mary wasn't listening. She had just noticed Harvey and Ellie come in from outside. She observed Ellie heading in the direction of the ladies' room.

'Excuse me, Karl, honey. I'll be back shortly,' she slurred.

Straightening her shoulders, she staggered after Ellie.

Ellie sat on the stool in front of the mirror, applying fresh lipstick and tidying her hair.

She was spraying perfume on her wrists when Mary burst through the door. Ellie stared at her in surprise. Mary was angry and even more intoxicated.

'Well, well, well, Ellie dear! And what were you doing outside with my husband?'

Ellie stood up to face her. It was obvious to Ellie that Mary was looking for an argument.

'Look, Mary, you're mistaken. I had a headache and went out for fresh air. Harvey came to see if I was okay. That's all! There's no need to be upset.'

Upset... upset!' She was raising her voice hysterically. 'You and my husband are f.u.c.king around and I shouldn't be upset?' she shrilled. 'You b.l.o.o.d.y wh.o.r.e! Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't be!'

'Calm down, Mary!' Ellie was angry now and she couldn't contain it any longer. Her headache had worsened and she had enough of Mary's niggly insinuations tonight so she shot back at her.

'You're drunk! You should pull yourself together and sober up! You're an embarra.s.sment, Mary!'

Mary's face twisted in fury. 'Don't you dare speak to me like that, you husband-stealing tramp!' She took a step closer to Ellie, backing her up against the vanity basin.

'You b.i.t.c.h, Ellie. You can't fool me. You were out there playing around with my husband!'

Ellie gave a start and opened her mouth to speak, but Mary continued before she could say anything.

'Don't act shocked! You didn't think I'd find out about you two? I'm right, aren't I?'

'Mary, you said yourself that you don't have a marriage... Why stay in a loveless marriage? It's ridiculous and unfair to both of you!' Ellie realised as soon as the words were out of her mouth that it was a mistake trying to reason with someone in a drunken stupor.

'Love or no love, that doesn't give you the right to f.u.c.k my husband!'

Mary's clenched fist slammed into Ellie's face. The force of the blow sent her reeling and she fell against the wall, hitting her head hard. She couldn't see for a few seconds and there was a ringing in her ears.

Mary's voice seemed to be coming from far away.

'Be told, Ellie, stay away from Harvey!'

If Ellie had seen the look of hatred on Mary's face, it would have shocked her as much as the blow she just received.

Ellie pulled herself up and sank down on the stool, shaking violently. Her head was throbbing. A purplish red mark was beginning to spread across the side of her face. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She tried to stand but the room spun around her, forcing her to remain seated.

Mary stood, swaying in front of her. She leaned close to Ellie's face and said through clenched teeth, 'Just remember: I won't let Harvey go... ever! He doesn't deserve freedom. You'll know what I mean one day. You have no idea, Ellie... No idea!'

Mary turned and staggered back out of the room, the door swinging shut behind her.

"When one woman strikes at the heart of another, she seldom misses, and the wound is invariably fatal."

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.

Eddie pulled the car off the side of the road onto a dirt track. Turning the lights off, he looked at Kathy sitting beside him.

She met his gaze in the darkened car. The only light came from the half moon, shaded now and then by rain clouds blown by a southerly wind.

Eddie touched her lips with his, then, with an urgency pent up for weeks, he crushed her against him.

Kathy felt a surge of recklessness race through her. His warm breath mingled with hers. She wanted him to continue, but at the same time she was nervous.

Eddie kissed her closed eyes, her ears, her neck and returned to her parted lips. 'You smell so nice, your skin's so soft,' he murmured.

She allowed him to lower her onto the seat of the car, gently sliding her jacket off as they went. He untied the back of her halter top and it fell lightly to the floor of the car.

Heady with desire, Kathy made no move to stop him.

Eddie's eyes went to her rounded b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He tugged at his shirt, pulling it free from his trousers and it joined her halter top on the floor. He lay on top of her, her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his hairy chest.

Kathy succ.u.mbed to the erotic sensation of the hair on his chest rubbing against her nipples.

He kissed her mouth, running his tongue around her lips, then he began a trail, down... down until he latched onto her nipple, sucking first one then the other.

She cried out with desire. Her arms wound around him, her hands rubbing his back.

Eddie moved again to her lips, kissing her hungrily. His hand started fumbling with her culottes. She wanted him to go on. She wanted him, all of him. The rational part of her mind forced itself to be heard. As Eddie's fingers undid her b.u.t.tons, she gathered all her willpower and dragged her lips from his.

'Eddie, no... Eddie... please...' Her whispered words were silenced by his kisses. Desire coursed its way through her body, but she could not let him continue. As she struggled to break free, Eddie realised she was serious. He raised himself to look at her.

'What's the matter?' His voice was husky with desire.

'I can't, I'm sorry. I want to... You wouldn't believe how much... but I'm not ready. I just can't,' she whispered.

Eddie was thoroughly aroused and it was hard for him to grasp what she was saying.

'Eddie! What if I were to get pregnant?'

Eddie flung himself into a sitting position behind the steering wheel.

Kathy fumbled with her clothes, her fingers trembling. Eddie was very quiet.

'Please understand,' she begged tearfully.

'Your right, we'd better go,' was all he said.

Win came down from the stage and joined the others at the table. 'Where's Ellie?' she asked, looking at Harvey.

'She went to the ladies', but she's been some time,' he answered.

Mary came up behind them and sat down. She picked up Harvey's half full gla.s.s and gulped down the scotch in one mouthful, her hand trembling, a frown creasing her forehead.

'I'd better go and see if she's alright.' Win looked at Mary.

'I want to go home, right now!' Mary spat out.

'Alright Mary... We'll go, but we'll just wait a minute,' Harvey replied firmly. He sensed there had been trouble and wanted to see what had gone on; Mary looked guilty of something.

'I don't want you to take me home. I'd like Karl to give me a lift, if he doesn't mind.' She looked directly at Karl.

He choked on his drink and it dribbled down his chin. 'Wha... what... Mary... I can't. Harvey'll take you,' Karl stammered.

'Mary, don't be ridiculous!' Harvey was furious with her.

'No!' Mary's raised voice was drawing attention to the table.

'I won't go home with anyone else but Karl!' she said adamantly.

Emmie intervened. 'Be quiet, Mary, at once! Karl, perhaps it would be best if you did drive her home. Harvey, why don't you come back to Kia-Ora for supper? You can go on home later.'

Emmie was upset. This whole situation had to be resolved once and for all.

'That's right, Harvey. You do what Emmie says. I'm ready to go, Karl. Come on.' Mary s.n.a.t.c.hed her bag from the table and stood up, tipping her chair over backwards as she did so.

Karl looked uncertainly at Harvey, but he just shrugged in defeat.

'Okay Mary, I'll take you. Come on.' Karl said goodnight to them all and helped Mary outside to the car.

Heads turned as they left. Karl felt himself colouring with embarra.s.sment.

'Ellie... Ellie, it's me, Win. Are you in here?'