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  ‘I’ll run back, it’s not far.’ She pushed back her chair and Sean leapt to his feet to help her. ‘Thank you for a wonderful lunch. It was a lovely surprise.’

  ‘Can we do it again? My office isn’t far away.’ It was in fact blocks away, he’d found out where Sally worked and had deliberately hung around hoping she’d take a lunch break.

  ‘I would really like that. Are you joining the Saturday Rangiora Hunt?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t make it. Perhaps we could go for a ride sometime. Make a day of it. Perhaps one Sunday?’

  ‘Sounds fabulous.’ She doubted her father would allow her to take Rani out with a stranger. And she hadn’t been back on a horse since her accident. She was being cautious, nervous at the thought of riding again. Her father wanted her back riding, but, well, she wasn’t rushing into it.

  ‘In the meantime, how about lunch on Friday. To round off the week? We could meet in Cathedral Square at twelve.’

  ‘Wonderful. I’ll be there. Don’t worry about walking me back to work. Thanks again. See you Friday.’ She hoped her boss didn’t mention her tardiness to her father.

  Sean and Sally started seeing each other three or four times a week for lunch. When Sean finally asked her out to dinner with a small group of his friends one Saturday night Sally hesitated. She and Yvonne went home to Ashford Lodge most weekends, and her parents would never allow her to go out with him on her own. So Sean suggested she bring her sister, and Sally had agreed.

  She’d told Yvonne it was a mixed group and they were going to a theatre restaurant, which sounded fun. Sally was relieved when she saw that quite a few in the group were close to her and Yvonne’s age. The audience was served dinner and drinks at their tables as the performers wandered among them and a short, slightly risqué melodrama was performed on stage as the finale.

  Yvonne had been a bit shocked at the show and had been watching Sally closely all night. She had guessed immediately that Sally and Sean were close friends.

  As they refreshed their lipstick and powder in the ladies room Yvonne interrogated her: ‘What’s going on with that Sean fellow? You seem very friendly. How come you know him?’

  ‘We met at the Hunt, he was with me when I took that tumble. He called at the hospital to see if I was all right.’ Sally felt she might be skiting a bit; she’d seen how all the girls looked at Sean.

  ‘He didn’t! Does Mum know? He’s far too old for you, Mum and Dad will skin you alive.’

  ‘They’re not going to find out,’ said Sally, giving her sister a beady eye. She hoped her mother hadn’t made the connection over the flowers at the hospital.

  Yvonne shrugged. ‘You be careful.’ She puffed and fluffed her hair, then a thought struck her. She lowered her voice, there was shock and concern in her tone. ‘You’re not, you wouldn’t, you know . . . go with him?’

  Sally’s eyes widened innocently. ‘Yvonne, we have to save ourselves for our wedding night. You know that.’

  Her sister looked relieved. ‘I don’t want you to get into trouble, Sal. You stick with our own friends. They’re nice boys.’

  Yvonne left the powder room as Sally fiddled with the bolero of her shantung cocktail dress. Of course she was still a virgin. Damn it. She smiled at her reflection. But not for long, why save a prize for those stuffy, snooty boys in her circle. Sean might be her only chance to be wild and wicked, so she was going to make the most of it.

  They went to the pictures in town at the Majestic the following Saturday night, just the two of them. She’d been at a tennis luncheon party with her friends that day and found she was starting to juggle a double life between her own social circle and the mysterious and unacceptable Irishman.

  They sat at the back, paying scant attention to Cleopatra, the big new film starring Elizabeth Taylor. Just as Sean kissed her, Sally was aware of the usherette’s torch flashing down the aisle as she seated two latecomers. In the silver glow from the screen Sally recognised the unmistakable silhouette of her parents.

  ‘Lordy, it’s Mum and Dad! I didn’t know they were coming to the pictures. They’ll be at the flat.’

  ‘They’re late. It must have been a last-minute idea. They didn’t know you’d be here, did they?’

  ‘Of course not. I told them I was staying the night with Pru, my best friend.’

  ‘We can sneak out before the interval?’

  ‘Let’s go now.’ Sally tugged at his hand.

  ‘What do you want to do?’

  She looked at his face in the flickering light, thinking he was even better looking than Richard Burton. ‘Let’s go to your place. Have you got some food?’

  He saw the look in her eye and knew what she was thinking. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Dead right I am. Come on, let’s get out of here.’

  Holding hands they worked their way along the row and, giggling, hurried through the foyer to his car.

  ‘This is it. Tonight’s the night,’ Sally told herself. She hoped it wouldn’t hurt too much. Her girlfriends, none of whom knew any better, had related awful stories about this big step in a girl’s life.

  It turned out to be a simple and very nice event. Sean was no novice and his lovemaking was gentle and attentive. Afterwards he brought her a cloth to wipe herself and ran her a bath where he playfully joined her.

  Lying back in the tub, with her legs between his knees, holding a glass of Cold Duck, Sally congratulated herself on making this decision. Boy, if only her girlfriends knew. This was no fumbling in a back seat of a car. This was classy.

  She stayed the night and they made love in the morning, and with her new-found knowledge she found it exhilarating.

  Sean laughed and tousled her hair. ‘You’re insatiable. Now all the mystery has gone, you can relax and enjoy it. But we have to be careful, Sally. I don’t want you to fall pregnant.’

  ‘So what do we do next time?’

  He smiled. ‘Leave it with me.’

  *

  With the worry of contraception taken care of by Sean, Sally flung herself into the love affair with the handsome older man while appearing to continue her normal social life with her family friends. The only confidante who knew about her wild romance was her friend Pru. She covered up for the nights Sally stayed at Sean’s tiny flat in town. Yvonne enjoyed having the luxurious Mitchell flat to herself on these weeknights, and trusted that Sally was with Pru without giving it a second thought.

  Pru suffered most through the affair, bearing the responsibility of secrecy, covering up for Sally, and trying not to say the wrong thing when they were out with their friends or visiting Ashford Lodge. Sally added to Pru’s burden by wanting to share all the intimate details of her love affair. She made it sound so wonderful, so easy, so liberating, that Pru quietly decided to give in and ‘go all the way’ with her own boyfriend. However she never spoke of it to Sally or anyone else.

  Sally and Sean rode bikes through beautiful Hagley Park, canoed along the Avon River, and found quiet spots to picnic and cuddle, screened by the weeping willows. To keep up appearances with her friends, she went along with them to the rugby then sneaked away with Sean on the occasional weekend to go skiing at Craigieburn where he belonged to a ski club and had use of its hut. It was an area the social skiers rarely went to.

  Sean was more smooth and poised on skis than Sally, but he was impressed with her determination and her ready laugh when she took a tumble. Sally always wore tight black ski pants, a black parka tied around her waist and her favourite jumper, knitted by her mother in fine baby wool in stripes of blue, lemon, pink and lime. A matching knitted head band kept her curly hair off her face and her ears warm. Most girls wore goggles but Sally was very proud of her big square sunglasses, which had been imported from a smart shop in Sydney.

  The beauty of the snowy peaks against the clear blue sky, the brightly dressed skiers whizzing down the slopes, the parties in the cosy bar, making love under the feather-filled eiderdown and sharing breakfast in their room, was, to
Sally, the ultimate in romance and fun. She had no pangs of guilt, she was out to enjoy herself and congratulated herself on cleverly covering her tracks.

  Yvonne, however, had become suspicious. While she had given up trying to remonstrate with Sally, she was beginning to fret that Sally was seeing Sean on the side and that she had taken the step that was the greatest taboo for any unmarried woman, and lost her virginity. She casually raised the matter of the Hunt Ball in two weeks’ time.

  ‘So, who are you going with?’

  ‘What to wear is the big problem,’ said Sally.

  ‘Your dress is nearly ready. Mum has almost finished it. So who has asked you?’

  ‘That black and white thing! Oh I hate it. She’s going blind sewing on all those daisies. I’ll look like a bunch of black-eyed susans on top of a lampshade.’ Sally had avoided thinking about the ballerina dress with its layers of black then white chiffon over a stiffened petticoat, which was hanging in her mother’s sewing room. The bodice had a ruched gathering of the two shades of chiffon around the neckline and black and white daisies sewn all over it. The narrow black velvet belt had a diamante buckle.

  ‘I suppose you’re wearing the yellow satin.’

  ‘Of course I am. We had my white shoes dyed to match. I’m going with Lachlan. So come on, I heard Lachlan wanted to ask you to go with him.’

  ‘You’ll find out!’ She danced away as Yvonne’s warning voice trailed behind her.

  ‘Sal! You’d better not do anything silly! Bring anyone . . . unsuitable . . .’ But her sister had left the room. Yvonne shrugged. Sally was twenty, she’d have to look out for herself.

  Her dress for the Hunt Ball was a worry to Sally. She and Sean had decided to go together and to heck with what her parents thought. But with her new status of ‘fallen woman’ she didn’t want to go in her mother’s demure daisy concoction. Emily was a fine seamstress and although the Mitchells could afford to buy a dress, there was competition between all the mothers as to who could create the best ballgown.

  Two days later as Sally was hurrying to meet Sean for lunch she stopped suddenly outside Balentine’s department store. In the window was a mannequin wearing the dress Sally knew she had to have for the Hunt Ball. It was made of black slinky, shimmery material that would run over her body like water. It had one shoulder, the other was bare. From below the knee it burst into a pleated fishtail with a hint of black lace at the hem. Peephole strappy sandals showed red toenails. The whole outfit was wicked. It was a stopper. It screamed, ‘It’s you, Sally!’

  She didn’t hesitate and took the lift to the third floor and asked to try it on. Looking at herself in the mirror Sally felt transformed. She and Sean would knock the eyes through the back of the heads of the stuffy Hunt crowd.

  By the time she reached Beath’s exclusive little restaurant Sean was waiting and he eyed the large bag she held. ‘Shopping at Balentine’s. Been saving up?’

  ‘Not really. I have it on appro on Mum’s account. Not that she knows.’

  ‘What if she doesn’t like it?’

  ‘I’m not showing her and I’m not taking it back. I’m wearing it to the ball.’

  He saw the firm set to her mouth. ‘Can I buy it for you? I’ve never given you a proper present.’

  Sally hesitated, tempted. But her upbringing won out. ‘That’s nice but no thank you. I’ll pay Mum back out of my pay. After I’ve worn it.’ She broke into a cheeky grin. ‘You’re going to love it.’

  For Sally’s and Pru’s families and their friends the Hunt Ball was the event of the year. Sally arranged to stay the night at Warners Hotel where Pru’s parents had taken two suites. Mr and Mrs Mitchell and Yvonne were staying at the flat. Sally had dutifully packed the black and white gown and left it in her car. Pru had brought the slinky black dress to the hotel.

  Sally collected it, her new high-heeled black sandals, a red and black silk stole and a beaded black handbag, and dressed at Sean’s flat. She sprayed lacquer over her hair to keep the smooth creation done by the hotel hairdresser and snapped the clasp on her grandmother’s diamond bracelet, which was on loan for the occasion.

  They left the flat and went to a cocktail lounge so they wouldn’t be the first to arrive and she could mill in with the crowd before her parents spotted them.

  Sean parked his racing green Austin Healey and they walked to the flight of stairs leading to the ballroom. Several couples were ahead of them, pausing to chat with the welcoming committee. Sally stopped and clutched Sean’s arm.

  ‘Oh, golly. Mum and Dad are the hosts greeting everyone! I didn’t think they’d be right outside.’

  The Master, dressed in tails, and Emily, in her long evening gown with an orchid corsage, were standing at the foot of the carpeted stairs talking to two couples who had just arrived. Sally grabbed Sean’s hand and they hurried past them, catching a lift up to the ballroom. They found their place across the room from the official table, and sat down.

  With the welcoming ceremony over, the band swung into a waltz and couples headed for the dance floor. Sally could see her mother looking round the room for her. And she knew her friends, both male and female, were watching her and Sean, completely agog.

  ‘Care to dance, my lovely?’ asked Sean, and he pulled out Sally’s chair.

  Sally dropped her stole, revealing her bare shoulder, as Pru whispered, ‘Your mother will spot you now. You’ll be in for it.’

  ‘Might as well make the most of it,’ said Sally. She took Sean’s arm and swept onto the dance floor. While she liked rock and roll, she was glad now of the dancing classes that had been compulsory for her at St Margaret’s boarding school.

  As she twirled past she caught sight of her parents’ shocked faces. Each time she came within their orbit, her mother made frantic signals and inclined her head towards the ladies powder room. Sally pretended she didn’t see her. But her mother walked over to the edge of the dance floor and there was no escaping her glare, which Sally knew meant, Meet me in the ladies room in one minute, young lady.

  Her mother headed for the powder room and Sally excused herself and, head high, followed in her wake.

  ‘Do you want me to come in and rescue you?’ whispered Sean.

  ‘It’s okay, she won’t make a scene in public.’

  By the time Sally opened the red padded leather door, her mother had checked out the cubicles and knew they were alone. Sally avoided her eye and opened her purse, looking for her lipstick, now feeling slightly nervous.

  ‘Just what are you thinking?’ Emily demanded. ‘How dare you cheapen yourself, embarrass your father, bring shame on the Hunt. On our family.’

  ‘I’m having fun. I’m not a school girl.’

  ‘You’re not even twenty-one, my girl, and your father and I can stop this fun very easily. You are not to see that detestable man again.’

  ‘He’s my boyfriend. I will keep seeing him.’ Defiantly she rubbed her lips together to blot the lipstick and turned to face her mother, but she was not prepared for the swift stinging slap that struck her cheek.

  ‘You are a brazen little hussy and I want you to go home this instant!’

  Sally rubbed her stinging cheek, tears filling her eyes as her mother turned on her heel and left the room while two girls came in giggling. Hastily Sally turned back to the mirror, pulling out her compact to powder the red mark on her face.

  She and Sean left immediately, but Sally made her exit as discreet as possible while the Pride of Erin had most people busy on the floor, and others were at the food tables helping themselves to the venison buffet.

  She cried and cried in Sean’s arms. He was also rattled at Mrs Mitchell’s outburst and worried he might not be invited to the Rangiora Hunt again. But neither was prepared for the Mitchells’ handling of the matter of ‘dealing with Sally’.

  Chapter Two

  SALLY KEPT HER HEAD down and stayed out of her parents’ way as much as she could after the big blow up. She’d been forbidden to see Sean Flanagan ag
ain and every time she left the house she was cross examined by her mother. Yvonne stuck to her like glue, another ploy by Emily, Sally assumed. Her parents had taken an immediate dislike to Sean as a potential suitor for their daughter. He was far too old, not wealthy and, worse, hadn’t been to a private school. He just didn’t fit in with their social circle.

  Mrs Mitchell had also been in contact with Pru’s mother, Mrs Rawson, and Pru had been warned about protecting Sally as she was not to have any contact with that man. Pru’s parents were not as well off as the Mitchells and they wanted to maintain the friendship. If Pru acted as a go-between for Sally, she would not be allowed to mix with the Mitchells again.

  ‘Oh you poor thing! Pulling the social-climbing card,’ exclaimed Sally when Pru told her everything that had passed between Mrs Mitchell, Pru and Mrs Rawson. Pru came from old money, so old most of it had already been spent. While they had the right name, they were cash poor.

  ‘You know I don’t care, we’ll be friends no matter what our parents say. It’s just that Mum thinks I’ll meet better people, find a better prospect through you than through our family friends.’

  ‘Well, you have! You’ve been going out with Gavin Summers for months now. His father is the top stockbroker in the city, no wonder she doesn’t want to blow that. How are you two getting along?’ Sally asked. She’d been so wrapped up in her affair with Sean that she hadn’t paid much attention to her best friend’s romance.

  Pru blushed slightly. ‘It’s good. I know he really likes me, and we do have a lot of fun.’

  Sally studied Pru, knowing she wasn’t getting all the details. ‘Have you two gone all the way?’

  ‘Sally!’

  ‘You would tell me, of course. So when you do, I want a full report. Now, I need you to help me. I’m meeting Sean for the weekend.’