John and Sarah slipped into the flow of foot traffic passing in front of the restaurant and let it carry them away. When they were a few blocks down the street, out of sight of the restaurant, he pulled her aside, stopping next to a street lamp in front of a stationary shop.

He was laughing but she was still hot with embarrassment. “You must think I stole this dress,” she blurted, “but I only borrowed it from the laundry for one night. I didn’t know it belonged to that woman.” She reached up to touch her hair. The curls Martha had so painstakingly arranged were now in disarray and the collar of the dress was torn. She must look worse than a mauled dog, and John must think she went about starting brawls all the time.

She took a few deep breaths of the cool night air, trying to calm down. She stole a glance at him, but he was gazing far off down the street, probably wishing he were anywhere but here with her.

Her voice faltered. “I’m sorry about the dress and that awful argument with Jeannine.” She didn’t know what else to say.

John looked at her, his mouth curving up into a reassuring smile. “I don’t care about the dress. In fact, I’m flattered you went to all the trouble of borrowing it. You look more beautiful than ever tonight, even after Jeannine rearranged those beautiful curls.” He reached up and lightly brushed a lock of fallen hair from her face.

His compliments might be pure flattery, but they sounded sweet to Sarah’s ears. She smiled tremulously back at him. “We must have made quite a sight, at that.”

He looked up and down the street again. “I told the driver to wait for us, but I don’t see our carriage. It looks like we’ll have to find another way home.”

“For a minute I thought you were looking for a way of escaping from me,” she said lightly as the wind whipped up around them. The warm glow she’d felt from the champagne had disappeared, and she shivered, pulling her cloak more closely about her shoulders.

“Leaving you is not something I would do,” John said, focusing intently on Sarah once again. She was struck with another bout of shivers and he slipped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. “It’s getting cold, isn’t it?” His voice was so low and soft that it was almost a caress. She relaxed and leaned closer, calmed by the warmth of his body, strengthened by his very presence. She wondered if he felt as breathless as she did.

“That was quite a disagreement you had with Jeannine.” He still held her close. “I didn’t know you could fight as well as you sing and dance.”

“Go ahead and make fun of me,” she murmured. “I suppose I deserve it. Believe me, I’m sorry I ever thought to borrow this dress.”

“You should have seen the look on your face.” He laughed outright this time. “I’ve never seen anyone so surprised. Just promise me there’ll be no more fights tonight. You’ve had enough for one evening.”

“That’s an easy promise to keep. I do solemnly vow not to get involved in any more brawls tonight.”

“Good.” He rested his cheek against her hair. “I knew you’d see reason.”

She shivered, but not from the cold this time. “Are you still watching for our carriage?” she whispered, unsure of her voice.

“Not at the moment.” His voice was deep and unnerving. She held her breath, afraid to move, as John reached up to gently tip her face up towards his, pausing to run his fingertips lightly across the curve of her cheek. He slowly drew closer until their lips gently touched.

It was her first kiss, and it was magical. She might have been standing on a cloud instead of a windy street corner, and she wildly wished this feeling would last forever.

A sneering voice rang out, shattering the moment. “Well, well, looky here. Such a tender scene brings a tear to my eye. Don’t it you, Tom?”

At the first sound of the intruder’s voice John had protectively pushed Sarah behind him. She anxiously peered around his shoulder and saw two malicious-looking men standing in front of them. One was short and stocky, a vulgar leer on his square face. His companion was inhumanly large with arms that were thicker than Sarah’s waist. The smaller man was doing the talking.

“Big Jim,” John said contemptuously. “You and your friend keep on walking—and you’ll leave the lady alone.” His voice had an icy calm that shot a bolt of alarm straight through her heart.

“A lady, you say?” Big Jim said in mocking disbelief, shaking his head as he swaggered a few steps closer. “I don’t think a real lady would be seen out with such a lowly person such as yourself. And I know a lady wouldn’t be seen in such a situation out in the middle of the street for everyone to see.” He gave a mocking bow to Sarah. “Begging your pardon, ma’am.”

“You’ll stop insulting the lady and get out of here.” John’s voice was as hard as ice. “Right now.”

Big Jim cackled. “Is that what you think, now? Well, I think I’d like to have a better look at this lady of yours. Come on out now and let’s have a look-see.” He reached out with a grubby hand as if to grab her arm.

“That’s enough.” John knocked Big Jim’s arm away. “You two rats run back into your alley.”

“Rats, are we? I’d like to see you try to stop these two rats.” Big Jim abruptly stepped back and urged on his companion. “Go on, Tom. Show him some manners.”

“Stay back,” John warned Sarah, his gaze still locked on the two men.

Tom lunged forward, but John was able to block the first swing that came his way. More blows rapidly followed as Sarah numbly stood transfixed, sure that he was about to receive a terrible beating. But to her surprise, John limberly dodged most of the punches that Tom threw and proceeded to connect with several of his own. Then he let loose with a succession of lightning strikes, infuriating Tom, who lashed out even harder. However, most of the big man’s lumbering blows missed their mark.

Big Jim hopped and darted about like a gadfly, yelling out profane encouragement to his man the whole while. A crowd had quickly formed and now people were making wagers, urging their choices on and adding to the rising clamor. Sarah winced to hear the smack of fists connecting with flesh.

In the next instant Tom pulled a knife from his boot with Big Jim eagerly doing the same. She screamed as excited shouts sounded around her, but no one made any effort to stop the attackers, and her fear flashed into white-hot anger. She wasn’t going to helplessly stand by and watch John be hurt.

Her gaze darted over the ground until it lit on a pile of trash strewn across the entrance to a narrow alley. In it she spied a broken plank with a nail protruding from one end. She dashed over and snatched it up, hefted it to test its weight, then ran back swinging and yelling at the top of her lungs…and took everyone, including herself, by surprise.

People scattered as Sarah charged Tom and Big Jim alike, pushing them back with her wild attack. She chortled with glee when she hit her targets, gratified by their outraged yelps. But at the height of her triumph John was beside her, prying the board out of her determined grip.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he panted, grabbing her arm. “Those two are going to be hell-bent on coming after you now,” he added, trying to pull her into the crowd. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Big Jim and Tom sprawled on the ground in a tangle with a few unlucky bystanders. The pair looked thunderously angry, and she didn’t want to be around when they got back on their feet. She turned and ran, flying across the rough wooden planks ahead of her as John urged her on.