Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me.

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Wildflower

Chapter One

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Kagome had always been the wild child. Compared to her siblings, she was the most untamable. Mother called her an uncontrollable whirlwind. Father called her his favorite. And she aptly called herself free spirited. Somewhere in between, Kikyo had thrown in her disapproving looks and Sango her stern, if not amused, expressions.

Really, the only two people who appreciated her disposition were her younger twin brothers Souta and Kohaku. When they were children, they were quite inseparable. Three mischief makers, hand in hand roaming the lands of their expansive estate in the countryside. Climbing trees and swimming in the small lake nearby, riding their father's prized horses and racing with the wind. She had adored those days. Now they were away for their studies and suffice it to say, she missed them terribly.

Her sisters were both married. Kikyo, the eldest at eight and twenty who was expecting her second child, was wife to Viscount Devereux. It had been a quiet, tender affair. Letters and airy sighs, gentle touches and welcoming smiles. A most proper courting, suitable for two people who Kagome considered quite opposite in temperament. They complimented each other well however, the love between them silent and strong.

Sango, six and twenty, had married a year ago. The Earl of Kent, renown bachelor at the time had fallen so deeply in love with her that he'd been wrecked for all other women. He would have no other and so had gallantly pursued Sango during the season and in the end, had stolen her heart despite her many weak protests and denials of the heart. Or so the story went, told by her dearest romantic of a mother. Kagome had been away in France that year, visiting her favorite Aunt and Uncle.

Of course, Kagome had managed to wheedle the true story from her sister's lips. Pervert that Lord Miroku was, he had attempted to grope her but Sango would have none of it and had promptly slapped the violet eyed offender across the face for his improper behavior. Kagome obviously had then questioned why her sister just hadn't cut his hand off with a pair of shears (they had been perusing Lady Finley's garden that night), to which Sango had replied rather matter-of-factly that there hadn't been one available.

But who would dare slap an Earl? Especially one of his status and fortune? Miroku had laughed, truly amazed that a lady would have the gall to do such a thing and then give him a tongue lashing on the proper ways of a gentleman because he certainly was no gentleman. He'd fallen in love with her that moment and in the days and weeks after, showed her, despite that one fatal flaw, he was quite gentlemanly indeed. It went without saying that the only woman her brother-in-law ever groped again was his lovely wife.

And then there was her. Kagome LaQuinn, the ever elusive third daughter of the Earl of Devon, Lord Rowan LaQuinn. He was a well respected man. Thick dark brown hair streaked with gray and a towering build, though certainly growing fuller around the middle as the years went by. He was no less a man of purpose than when he was thirty. He still surveyed his lands every morning with his stable hand, took great care with the horses they bred and made repairs around the estate when necessary. He was not afraid to get his hands soiled and believed strongly in hard work and perseverance. Though having five children, one had to be persevering and patient. Her father was a very patient man who hardly ever lost his temper. Though when he did, one would be wise to seek cover.

Kagome loved her father dearly. Her mother too, of course. But like every mother, all she wanted for her children was to see them happily married and settled. So it came as no surprise that the only thing she heard from her mother's lips was marriage, marriage, and more marriage.

'One must settle down and create a family.

Kagome dear, you are not getting any younger. Do you wish to become a spinster? I hear it's a rather dreadful existence. You'll be absolutely pitied.

Kagome dearest, what about that handsome young fellow we met the other day? He seems perfectly suitable.

Kagome darling, don't you want what your sisters have? Come to London with me. Visit them and I'm sure they'd be more than willing to find you a charming husband.'

To which she would always reply in a severely exasperated tone, 'For heaven's sake, Mother! I'm only twenty four! I would hardly call that spinster-ish!' or 'I haven't ever bothered to spend a season in London so what makes you think I'd start now? I'd rather sever my right foot than spend a moment dancing with stuffy, snobby, smelly old men who haven't a lick of sense except only to ogle my bosom!'

Her mother was never deterred, however. Notica LaQuinn, a viscount's daughter who had some oriental lineage in her ancestry, was a very beautiful woman. She was graceful, proud and petite with ebony hair and deep brown eyes set upon flawless milk white skin. Kikyo and Sango had managed to take after their mother.

Kagome…well, not so much. She had inherited Rowan's bright blue eyes. She was taller, tanner, and curvier than her sisters. She also didn't have their shiny, straight black hair. Hers was long and wavy, most unruly at times, and so black it was almost blue. She also seemed to have inherited her father's willfulness, much to her mother's chagrin.

Despite Notica's words and constant urging, Kagome wasn't ready for marriage. She'd never spent seasons in London as her sisters and mother always did. They had tried to drag her along one time but she'd absolutely refused, stating that she'd rather hack off a limb than be forced to parade around grand ballrooms like a piece of meat and sold to the highest bidder. It would seem she wasn't very fond of her limbs (she was of course), but some exaggeration never hurt. After hours of pulling and tugging and much shouting and hair-pulling, they had given up and let her be.

Instead, she spent most of her time either at home with her father or traveling with her Aunt Kaede and Uncle Myouga. It hardly mattered to her if she experienced a season or not. She hadn't been one of those simpering, giggly chits who cared for nothing but frilly dresses and pointless gossip. Not that her sisters were. Her sisters, thank god, had more sense than that! But it was just that she had other interests, like reading and writing, traveling and seizing the opportunity to meet and learn about all kinds of interesting characters and subjects. She may be an affluent Earl's daughter with a fortune at her feet, but she'd no sooner act like one than she would an empty-headed, spoiled debutante whose highlight of the day was choosing which ribbons would go best with her evening gown.

Kagome was perfectly content to keep everything as it was. Unfortunately, fate had other plans and it did not quite agree with hers.

…

"Absolutely not."

"Come again?"

Kagome pierced her mother with a stubborn glare. "I said absolutely not. I refuse."

The Lady of Beaumont rubbed her temple. Her youngest daughter could be so exasperating at times. "In this matter, you do not have a choice."

"But I'll be fine here!" she protested. "I'm a grown woman and quite capable of handling myself."

"Kagome," her father fixed her with a stern look. "While you may think yourself capable, we'd feel more at ease if we knew you were with your sister. After visiting with your uncle and cousin, we'll meet you in London and then travel home."

"But—"

"I will hear no more of it," he said with finality.

She clenched her hands into fists, not liking this one bit. But the understanding part of her, and blast that understanding part, knew that her parents would only worry if she remained at home with no one but their servants to keep her company.

"I expect you packed for an early departure tomorrow. I've already sent word to Sango to expect you in the late afternoon hours. Are we understood, Kagome?"

"Yes, Father. Perfectly. May I be excused, then?"

With a sigh, he placed both hands upon her shoulders and gave her an encouraging smile. "I know your aversion to London society. I can barely stand it myself, but it will be good for you."

"The season will be beginning soon…" her mother added with a touch of hope.

"I'm not going there to find a husband."

"She is not going there to find a husband," he echoed Kagome's sentiments exactly. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to part with his youngest girl. Like he always told his wife, he was more than willing to let her become a spinster.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous Rowan!"

Kagome rolled her pretty blue eyes, biting her lip in an attempt to smother a smile. "She is relentless."

"Quite. But she means well."

"I know."

"Don't you two dare conspire against me," she chided. "You, girl, need a proper husband."

"I'll need more than a proper husband before the day is through," muttered Kagome. Perhaps Cook had some of her delicious tarts in the kitchen. She could certainly use some right about now, if only to drown in her misfortune of being sent to London to suffer for an indeterminable amount of time.

After leaving her parents in the drawing room, she did indeed head over to the kitchen, where she lamented her fate in front of old and plump Mrs. Barret, Beaumont's most excellent cook of two decades and counting.

…

She arrived in London the following evening, sans a handmaid despite her mother's insistence (she could dress and ready herself just fine) and with two small trunks of her essentials. Her parents were traveling to York to pay a visit to one of their distant cousins who was apparently on his death bed. While they were not certain when they would arrive in London, her father had assured her that it wouldn't be that long of a wait. Before she knew it, they would be back on the winding paths to Beaumont. So what if she had to suffer through some particularly boring, inane exchanges and be on her very best behavior? While London society wasn't palatable, it was certainly tolerable. One needed only to smile, nod, and pretend to be interested. It wasn't all that horrible, her father had said.

And Kagome knew it to be true. She was just being stubborn and childish. Most knew that despite her strong will and sharp tongue, she was as gracious, kind-hearted, and beautiful as they came. It wasn't a terrible arrangement, to be stuck in London with her sisters. It just wasn't…desired, she supposed. It left a slightly bitter taste in her mouth whenever she thought about it. She knew what was ahead and bloody hell…Kagome almost groaned and cursed out loud.

She had however, put on a smile for the sake of her parents and reassured them that all was well and would be well, because really, she was a big girl and knew how to look after herself. 'I'll be sure to cause a scandal' she had quipped. Her mother had not been amused.

"There you are, my Lady," Jinenji, oldest son to the LaQuinn's stable master and who was proving himself to be just as good as his father, placed her two small trunks by the door, and tested the knocker. He was a towering man with a thick build and a gentle disposition. Imposing upon first glance, but he really was the nicest man.

"Thank you, Jin. Do be safe on the way home. And tell everyone I'll miss them and –"

He gave her an encouraging smile. "You'll be fine, my Lady. Do not fret yourself."

She returned his smile with a grateful one of her own. The door to the Harte family's expansive London home swept open then and Mushin, butler for the Harte family for some twenty odd years now stepped out with a wide grin upon his face.

"My Lady Kagome!" the old, balding butler gushed.

She took a deep breath and shot Jinenji a helpless look.

"Will you be needing anything else?" Jinenji murmured before he took his leave.

"All the luck in world, perhaps? For I will surely need it if I am to make it back home alive."

Jinenji wisely stifled his laughter. "Good luck then, my Lady."

…

...to be continued...

...

Because I have an unhealthy obsession with period romance novels and I just couldn't resist.

-demimonde