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He strokes the nape of her neck, under her hair, then moves his hand over her right shoulder and feels how the narrow strap of her dress has sunk into her skin.

She puts her glass down, kisses him again, and thinks that she’s mad as she lets him caress one of her breasts.

Reidar suppresses the urge to burst into tears, making his throat hurt, as he strokes her thigh under her dress, feeling her nicotine patch, and moves his hand round to her backside.

Marie pats his hand away when he tries to pull her underwear down, then stands up and wipes her mouth.

‘Maybe we should go back down and join the party again,’ she says, trying to sound neutral.

‘Yes,’ he says.

Veronica is sitting motionless on the sofa and doesn’t meet her enquiring gaze.

‘Are you both coming?’

Reidar shakes his head.

‘OK,’ Marie whispers and walks towards the door.

Her dress shimmers as she leaves the room. Reidar stares through the open doorway. The darkness looks like dirty velvet.

Veronica gets up and takes her glass from the table, and drinks. She has sweat patches under the arms of her dress.