She delved into the first-aid kit proffered by her uniformed helper just as Sean strode into the tent. His face was grim.
‘How is she?’
Ally shrugged. ‘The physical damage is fairly superficial but as for the rest…’
Sean gave a brief nod. ‘In that case, I want a quick word outside.’
Ally looked surprised but finished dressing the cut and rose to her feet, giving Mary a quick pat on the hand. ‘Mary, do you have somewhere to stay tonight? I think you’d better leave Geoff to sober up and then we can work out what we’re going to do about him.’
‘I have a friend who will let me stay with her,’ said Mary quietly, ‘but the only one who can do anything about Geoff is himself. I’ve tried my best…’
‘Then hopefully, this night spent without you will make him see what he is in danger of losing,’ Ally squeezed her hand. ‘Stay here for a while, and someone will contact your friend for you. There will be a solution, Mary, believe me.’
Mary gave a small shake of her head and accepted the tea that the St John’s Ambulance woman was offering her.
Outside the tent Ally turned to look at the bonfire, anxious about Charlie, but Sean planted a hand on her shoulder and dragged her round to face him.
‘What the hell were you playing at?’
She stared into the naked fury in his dark eyes and frowned as his strong fingers bit into her shoulders. ‘What do you mean?’
‘What do I mean?’ He stared at her incredulously and gave her a little shake. ‘For goodness’ sake, woman, do I have to spell it out? A drunken man has a go at his wife and you intervene.’
‘And?’
His mouth tightened. ‘And it could have been you next.’
She frowned. ‘Well, I was glad to see you, that’s for sure—thanks for that, Sean.’
He released her with a sigh of frustration and dragged both hands through his hair. ‘You just don’t get it, do you? You could have been seriously hurt, but if there’s something you want to do then you just do it, don’t you, no matter how many people might be worrying about you?’
‘Hold on.’ She stared at him, her irritation mounting. ‘You’re saying I should have stood back and let him wallop her?’
‘If necessary.’ Sean gritted his teeth. ‘You could have called for me or Jack or the police—anything rather than just wading in yourself. It was just luck that I saw what was going on.’
‘Well, I didn’t have time for that—he was hitting her, for goodness’ sake!’ Her eyes blazed angrily and he gave a short, humourless laugh.
‘I noticed—and you were going to be next! You’re going to get yourself in serious trouble one day. You just don’t seem to think about your personal safety—you wade in and intervene with a drunk man three times your size, you walk in the fells on your own—’
Ally made an impatient sound. ‘Oh, not that again!’
‘You have a five-year-old daughter relying on you—it’s totally irresponsible!’
She gasped and curled her fingers into her palms. ‘How dare you, you—you—hypocrite? How dare you lecture me about responsibility when you won’t take any yourself. You flit through life just having a good time, giving no thought to anyone else and moving on when it suits you, and you dare talk to me about responsibility.’
How could she ever have found this man so attractive? Did she have no common sense at all? She ought to tell him to take a running jump. ‘I’m very aware of my responsibilities to Charlie. It’s one of the reasons I’m not jumping into bed with you— remember?!’
With that she spun on her heel and stormed off across the grass, tears burning behind her eyes. She wasn’t going to cry. No way. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he was capable of hurting her. How dared he criticise her when she’d only been trying to help? He was totally insufferable and high-handed, thinking that only a man can handle certain situations, implying that she hadn’t spared a thought for Charlie.
In the distance she saw Jack and walked towards him with relief—someone to take her mind off Sean. Fortunately most of the crowd were near the bonfire so they wouldn’t have heard the angry exchange of words.
Will and his wife, Molly, were chatting to Jack when she arrived, and Charlie was leaping up and down like a grasshopper.
‘Mum, Mum!’ She was dancing on the spot, pink-cheeked from cold and excitement. ‘Uncle Will’s given me this huge chocolate lolly. Can I eat it now?’
Ally noticed Will looking at her through narrowed eyes and managed a wan smile. ‘Yes, sweetheart. Of course you can.’