In order to support Sara's school, Mr. Carrisford wrote to a few of his friends. He'd already intended to send his twin girls, Flora and Fauna, the Carmichaels already intended to send June and Rose, and Ram Dass and Nalimi were to send their little girl, Sameera. Still, a school with only five students wouldn't do quite well.

Peter suggested putting out an advertisement in several papers, which she heeded. Not only to advertise her school, but also to hire several teachers. Of course, Becky would teach piano, and Ermengarde was to teach botany, but Sara needed regular teachers.

Miss Izzy was over for tea one Saturday afternoon, when Sara asked, "Miss Izzy, if I may be so bold, I would appreciate it if you were to take a position at my school."

"Well, I wouldn't say no. The house I'm in now, the children refuse to learn a thing, and they get mad at me for not teaching them..." Izzy sighed in exasperation.

Sara noted her former governess' state and offered, "I can pay you double your salary. Of course, classes don't begin until September, and it's only June."

"I'll write my notice when I get back. But to be honest, I would work for you for nothing, Sara," and she smiled.

She had one teacher hired full-time. As Miss Izzy left, Sara remembered the fact she would need a cook and handyman. But they had to be good-tempered to deal with the antics of school girls. She spoke with Dolly on the subject, asking how one went about hiring cooks.

"Why not take on Lucy? If you don't mind her gossip, of course, Miss."

Sara couldn't help giggling, "I don't mind, Dolly. As long as she can cook."

"Oh, she's alright. You ought to taste her cream chicken stew."

While Sara was preparing her school the summer before its opening, she still enjoyed events of the social season, sometimes with Ermengarde and Becky, with Peter acting as her escort.

Many questioned why someone so rich and lovely would have someone so common as an escort, but none would dare say it to her face. Sara was so wealthy, everyone believed if you insulted Sara, your reputation in society would be sunk. Besides, surely, she must have her reasons. He is her guardian's apprentice. Maybe that's why she has him as her escort. Little did they know how little their gossip mattered to the Diamond Princess. Even if they said it right to her face, it wouldn't change Sara's mind.

It's not exactly ladylike to call it stubbornness, but Sara remained quite firm in her beliefs.

Tonight was another ball, and Mariette helped Sara dress in a simple pink silk and tulle ball gown. Despite the fact she was now the mistress of the house, she still helped Sara dress for special occasions. Especially since Mariette was to be her and Peter's chaperone.

Flora and Fauna, along with their friend Sameera, kept an eye on their mother and surrogate cousin as they got ready, thinking they both looked quite lovely.

"Mamma, you looks pretty," Flora spoke first, as Fauna nodded in agreement.

"Oh, thank you, ma petite chou," she kissed the girl's cheek, "but, I believe Sara will be the true blossom of the ball." Mariette finished dressing Sara's hair. When she stood up, Sara smiled demurely. The three little girls surrounded Sara, making the young woman blush.

"You look so beautiful!"

"Everyone will be jealous of you!"

"Like a rose, Sara! You're just like a rose."

Sara gave each of them a kiss as Mariette gently ordered, "girls, listen to Nalimi, and don't stay up too much longer. We will be gone until very late." Mariette gave her two daughters a kiss and led Sara downstairs into the parlor.

In the parlor, Peter sat with Ram Dass and Mr. Carrisford, all their chatting stopped when Sara came into the room, looking quite like a rose as Peter stood up, taking her hand, "you look stunning, Sara."

Sara herself smiled, "Mariette will be our chaperone, Peter. I hope you don't mind."

He shook his head, "I don't mind, Sara. The carriage awaits!" Peter led both Sara and Mariette into the carriage. Normally, Peter would be quite happy to drive it himself, but as he was Sara's escort tonight, he asked his friend Mark to drive. As Sara was usually a generous tipper, Mark agreed.

Peter helped both Sara and Mariette into the carriage.

The dance was held in the ballroom of the Savoy Hotel. Sara became quite nostalgic and she smiled, "My papa and I spent the week here when I first came to London. My, it hasn't changed a bit."

Before the three of them exited the carriage, Peter pinned a pink and white corsage to Sara's shoulder. It was much too warm for Sara to wear her cloak anyway, though she carried it just in case.

When they stepped out of the carriage, plenty of people stared at the Diamond Princess, as Sara was nicknamed by the Times. For her part, Sara did her best to ignore their stares, though it was hard to ignore dozens of pairs of eyes upon you.

Mariette procured a program and dance card for Sara, and she filled Peter in as her partner for the first and last dance.

After their first dance, just as the two sat down, a tall raven-haired young man asked Sara for the next dance. Being as polite as she was, Sara didn't refuse him.

Peter would not confess this out loud, but he could get quite a bit jealous of other men who danced with Sara.

Of course, Sara was civil to these men, but she made it clear she had no romantic interest in them.

Still, who could blame Peter for being jealous of these rich, handsome young men, many of whom never wanted for anything their whole lives. Of course, with Sara sitting back next to him, placing her hand in his, somehow, the world felt alright again.

By the sixth dance, Sara asked Peter if they could go on the balcony for some air. He obliged her, and Mariette stayed close by the window where they sat.

Sara confessed she didn't want to be found, as the last dancer was very bold and forward, to the point of making her blush. "I've never known a gentleman to talk as if he were worse than a..." Sara was so scandalized, she couldn't find the right words.

Making his beloved Sara blush was worth a thrashing in Peter's eyes, asking, "where is he? I ought to teach him how to talk to a lady-"

"Oh no, Peter. I'd rather not cause a scene. Besides, we're alone now, out here." Sara held out her hand, looking away shyly. Peter himself blushed as he took her hand in his, smiling.

Still, there was something else on her mind that clearly bothered her. Having known Sara for years, Peter could sense these things. After a minute or so of silence between the two of them, Sara asked, "Peter, if we are to be married, would you mind if I kept working at my school? I know many men are against their wives working..."

"I wouldn't mind, Sara. I think it's awfully grand of you to want to be a teacher. Becky told me how much you loved teaching the little girls their French lessons."

Sara blushed as she remembered those hard times. While she did recognize she could not change the past, and she was not ashamed of what had happened, she still felt a sort of stigma that would have rejected her for the blemish of being forced to work as a skivvy.

"Yes, I did. It's a shame Uncle Tom wouldn't let me go back. I'm sure Miss Minchin would have let me teach the little ones if I did. But of course, it's quite improper to disobey your guardian." Peter nodded, "I'm glad, too. If she weren't a lady..." Sara giggled as Peter was still acting the part of a loyal knight.

"But yes, Peter... I was worried that you wouldn't want me to work if we were to be married."

Peter shook his head, "I think it's grand you want to do something. There are lots of girls that just wanna sit and look pretty. But you... You're different."

"Oh, Peter..." Sara blushed at the compliment.

"Still, I'd worry if you'd work yourself too hard." Peter leaned against the back of the bench as Sara nodded, "I don't think teaching is backbreaking. Though, I'm not going to say it's easy. Perhaps it will be quite difficult." Sara took a deep breath as she continued, "Even if it isn't easy, I think it will be worth it."

The two kept talking until the last dance of the night, a waltz. With the two of them dancing, Peter could pretend it was just the two of them, or the night or Ram Dass and Nalimi's wedding. Before things such as wealth and status mattered. Sara even wore a similar dress to that day...

Yes, it was times like this that made the world just right.