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.Sara vowed that from this moment forward she would take charge of her own life.But her vow was short-lived."There she is.Sara, where on earth have you been?""I've been speaking with Clara, father.""Monty has been waiting patiently to dance with you."Sara looked in the leering face of Monty who was busy mopping his sweaty face with a linen napkin embroidered with the initials of the Grand Union Hotel.Her stomach lurched with the thought of him touching her.She nodded to him."I am not up to dancing, Mr.Fordice.I was just about to get something to eat.""So formal, Sara?" her father said with a puzzled expression on his face."I should think you could be less formal with your intended and at least call him by his first name.Aunt Trixie gave Sara an understanding nod."Bond, let's let Sara fix herself a plate.I wish to speak with Lillian and Jim, and they are right over by the big elm.Why don't you come with us, Montague? Sara can join us at the table with her plate."Montague hesitated, then without a glance in her direction, he walked away with her father and aunt.Sara breathed a sigh of relief.She had to deal with the Montague problem, and soon.It was just not the right time or place."Sara, may I have the honor of this dance?" Ironically, the deep, rich voice was like a soothing balm to her tumultuous feelings, even though the man who spoke was the cause of most of her anguish."Jack?" She took in the sensuality of his magnificent physique.She noticed freshly trimmed hair peeking out from below the brim of his top hat.His mustache and beard were also recently trimmed.His wide shoulders were encased in a crisp white shirt and a gray frock coat.Long legs sported wide trousers of the same gray with the addition of pinstripes.He looked every bit the rich aristocrat."You look beautiful as always, Sara.May I have this dance?”She could do little more than nod.He said that she was beautiful! The mere touch of his hand sent a shiver to her very soul as they walked out onto the dance floor.The band was playing a Viennese waltz, "The Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss.It was one of her favorites.Jack's large hand moved to her waist.He waited expectantly for her to assume the dance position.She couldn't seem to move, but could only look into his twinkling eyes.“I’ve never danced.that is.not since the accident.”He winked, and Sara immediately relaxed.She placed one hand in his and laid the other on the soft fabric of his frock coat at his shoulder.Slowly and carefully, he led her into a full turn, and she couldn't help but laugh.He held her at arm's length as they glided and turned around the dance floor to the three-quarter time until she was dizzy with excitement and happiness.He smelled of soap and of outdoors and of man, a more heady mix than the best hair tonic.He smiled at her, and she smiled back.She felt as light as air as he led her in the waltz.She wished the music could go on forever, but her leg was beginning to tire.When she performed a rather sloppy turn and felt Jack's grip on her tighten, she knew the magic had to end."Let's sit for a while," Jack suggested, guiding her slowly to the edge of the dance floor toward an empty chair."Yes.Thank you." She looked up and saw thegentleness in expression, his concern for her.Yet there was more.There was sadness in his eyes.Was it for her?Before she could tell him not to feel sorry for her, a hand clamped down on her forearm and spun her around.She almost fell, but Jack steadied her."How dare you, Sara Peterson! You didn't want to dance with me, and now I find you dancing with another man." Montague Fordice spat the words and Sara moved back to avoid the spray from his fetid mouth."Unhand her." Jack's voice was firm and low."Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Montague eyed Jack curiously as if trying to place him.He tightened his hold on Sara's arm, and she winced from the pain.She struggled to get out of his grasp."I believe you once called me an odious groom," Jack said evenly."Now, if you don't release Sara's arm immediately, this odious groom will wipe this dance floor with your carcass.""How dare you talk to me like that, Mr.Summers!"Jack spoke through clenched teeth."I'm telling you for the last time, let her go!"Instead, Monty tugged on her arm, yanking her roughly.She stumbled.Jack steadied her again, and a second later she heard the crack of bone against bone.Before Sara could gather her wits, she heard Monty wailing and saw him wiping at his bloody nose.Jack escorted her to the nearest empty chair, and she sat down.He gave a gentlemanly bow, and she couldn't help but smile at the man who rescued her from Montague’s roughness."I told you, mother.See? Sara has eyes for that stable hand." It was Suzette Dredmar's high-pitched southern drawl."How very interesting.I wonder if her father knows.I think I shall have to tell him," Maude Dredmar replied."You simply must tell him, mother," echoed Leanne."Sara is making such a spectacle of herself."Sara's face flamed as their voices faded into the distance.She watched Jack and Monty square off on the dance floor in front of her and all of Saratoga Springs.Jack was grinning at Monty's rage."You owe the lady an apology.Apologize to Miss Peterson." Jack ordered."Apologize for what? I'll do no such thing!" Monty bellowed.Several ladies gasped, and he must have realized that he was looking bad in the eyes of the crowd."It is you who owes dear Sara an apology.You obviously hurt her when you were hurling her around the dance floor.You must see that she's lame."Sara closed her eyes so she didn't have to look at Montague Fordice anymore.When she opened them, her father and Aunt Trixie were standing before her."Are you all right?" Bond Peterson asked."I'm fine, father." Sara rubbed her arm, and knew that soon she'd be sporting bruises."What the hell is going on here?" Bond Peterson yelled,glaring at the two combatants."Your groom was hurting your daughter by flinging her around the dance floor until she just about fell.I tried to step in like a gentleman, and this boor punched me and bloodied my nose."To Sara's horror, her father turned to Jack and shouted, "How dare you mistreat my daughter!""I didn't–""You most certainly did!""Father, please! Everyone's looking and–
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