Sorry for such the late update. Anything in italics is a flashback. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Chapter 5: Tea Cups and Broken Noses (Sarah's POV)

I sighed, and brushed a piece of hair out of my face. I looked at the floor as I began my story.

"It was three years ago. My parents had been trying to find me a suitor for multiple years, but they had not found one. They were beginning to believe that I would never marry. Most women in high British society get married before they reached their twentieth birthday. I was twenty-one! So my parents decided to throw a ball…"

I slowly rose from what felt like the hundredth curtsy I had done tonight. I glanced towards the door of the house, and sighed when I saw that there were still three more guests to greet. I stared at the floor as they greeted Father and Mother, but once they reached me, I lifted my eyes. A young man stood in front of me, in the middle of his bow. I curtsied quickly before standing up as he did.

Our eyes met and my breath caught in my throat. His eyes were unlike any others I had ever seen. The outside were a turquoise blue that glowed like shallow ocean water, but inside were a golden color, which shined like the sun. I could not take my eyes from him. His curly brown hair framed his kind face.

Then the man reached out his hand for mine, and I gave him my gloved hand. He kissed it gently and kept looking into my eyes. After he kissed his hand he smiled and introduced himself, "Good evening miss. I am Mr. Thomas Roberts III."

As he stood in front of me, I realized that not just his eyes were handsome. His hair was a rich brown and it curled around his kind face. He was rather tall, with broad shoulders and a warm smile.

"Miss?" asked Mr. Roberts.

"Oh," I said, remembering my proper manners. "My sincerest apologies sir, my name is Miss Sarah Philips."

"Then thank you, Miss Phillips, for inviting me to your ball. Your house is beautiful."

"Thank you Mr. Roberts, I hope you enjoy yourself this evening."

With a final smile and a polite bow, Mr. Roberts walked off into the ballroom. I stood there for a moment, regaining my head. How could a man have that affect on me? I had never been breathless or speechless in front of a man before. Why did this happen now?

"Good evening Sarah," whispered Mother as she walked to me. She stopped beside me and glanced towards the ball room. "I see you have now met Mr. Roberts. What do you think of him?"

I sighed and spoke my true opinion. "He looks rather handsome and he has a nice smile. He was very polite, but his eyes—they were stunning."

Mother smiled and nodded her head. "That is wonderful Sarah. I am glad you like Mr. Roberts, considering we will be seeing more of him."

"What do you mean Mother?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Roberts II, along with your Father and I, have arranged for you two to begin courting."

"I had never felt so betrayed. My parents had always told me that they would let me find the man who would become my husband," I continued with sadness dripping in my voice. I took a deep breath and put my arms around myself to gain some composure. "I did not see Mr. Roberts for the rest of the ball; in truth I was trying to avoid him. But I did see him again, not even a week later…"

Mr. Roberts and I stared back and forth at each other from across the room. We were in the middle of Mr. Robert's first call. An hour had already passed, yet nothing had really occurred. When I would try to start up an opinionated conversation Mr. Roberts would state the opinions of others, when I would be looking for his own thoughts. I could not marry a man who could not think for himself!

We continued to look at each other, while Mother's head servant, Martha, worked on a ripped shirt in the corner. We were in the sitting room, with a table between us. He was in a chair on one side, while I was on the sofa. Tea sat on the table, but it had grown cold since neither of us wished to get closer to the other.

I was content for Mr. Roberts to leave, but he continued to stay seated in his chair, just staring at me. My patience was wearing thinner by the moment, so I decided to end this call. I stood up and Mr. Roberts rushed to do so as well.

"Thank you Mr. Roberts for coming to call on me today, but I am quite tired and ready to retire. Martha will see you to your horse," I said quietly before I headed to the door.

As my hand touched to door knob, I felt another hand grasp my arm. The hand jerked me around and suddenly I was face to face with Mr. Roberts. His eyes no longer looked gentle and kind, but wild with anger. His hand continued to grasp my arm harder and harder. I cried out in pain, but no one came to help me.

Mr. Roberts threw me back onto the sofa. I landed against the sofa with a thud. My back felt on fire. I looked up and he stood before me shouting, "This call is not over until I say it is over Miss Phillips! You will not tell me what to do either Miss Phillips! Is that understood?"

I stared up at Mr. Roberts as he towered over me, glaring at me. I slowly stood up and with all my courage stared at him, and screamed, "No I do not understand Mr. Roberts! I am not a woman you can order around! And this bloody call is over because all we have done for the last hour is stare at each other!"

Then I put my hands on Mr. Roberts' chest and pushed him. He lost his balance and fell backwards, tripping over the table. The tea china crashed to the floor, along with Mr. Roberts. The cold tea seeped into the white rug, as Mr. Roberts stood up slowly. Now he looked even more furious than before.

"You little slut," he whispered as he picked up two tea cups. He threw them at me, but they missed and broke against the wall behind me.

"At least I'm not a bastard," was all I was able to say before he charged towards me. I glanced around me for something to protect myself with. I saw a china plate, picked it up, and threw it towards him.

The plate hit Mr. Roberts in the nose with a snapping sound. Then plate fell the ground and smashed into pieces. While the plate shattered, his nose began to bleed. The blood ran down his face and dripped slowly onto the white carpet.

Suddenly the doors to the sitting room burst open. Father ran in with Mother on his heels. He surveyed the room quickly, taking in the scene before staring directly at Mr. Roberts. He yelled out the door and two servants entered and began to tend to Mr. Roberts. Once he was being taken care of Father took a deep breath before yelling, "SARAH PHILLIPS!"

"I had never seen Father any angrier than he was that day. Mother as well. I had actually broken Mr. Robert's nose! My parents made me apologize to him the next day and made me sit through another one of Mr. Robert's calls that afternoon. But that call went much better than our first…we only cursed at each other a few times!"