Title: Romance
Author: Nova
Category: AU, Crossover
Pairings: Too many to count
Rating: G, rating will go up as the story progresses
Warning: None

Notes: AU - Set in the English countryside just before the war against Napoleon.  Bitchy heiresses, arrogant suitors, sexy servants, betrayal, love, death, and humor.  Pairings of all kinds appear and characters from many animes will be making appearances.  There will of course be some OOCness, but that is expected with an AU fic. R/R appreciated.

Disclaimer:  I do not own Gundam Wing
 
 

Romance
by Nova

Chapter 1








“Young lady, you come back here this instant!”

Long blonde hair fluttered in the warm breeze as the figure continued defiantly across the cobblestones.  Her calm scornful voice floated back to him.  “I am going for a ride.  You can tell that pathetic mute of a suitor to go home to his sister.  I want nothing to do with him.”

She disappeared inside the stables only to reappear moments later on a huge black demon of a horse and gallop across the field.  A chestnut with a black haired rider quickly followed her and soon the surrounding forest enveloped both riders.

“Damn,” the man muttered under his breath.  That girl could be so stubborn and pigheaded sometimes.  Secretly he delighted in her nature.  She reminded him of himself at her age, arrogant, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind.  Unfortunately, she had been born female.  Women had no rights that their fathers and husbands did not give them.  Didn’t she realize if she wanted to continue living her reckless lifestyle, she had to marry a man she could control and manipulate?  Frustrated, he marched back toward the house.  Now he had the unenviable job of explaining to his guests why the focus of their lunch would not be returning.

If only her twin had inherited some of that spirit.  But no, he was the gentle artistic type with none of the pride and ambition of his parents.  The “Steel Roses” they were called, two young poor nobles who had combined their moderate inheritances and worked hard to improve their lots in life.  Now they were among the wealthiest families in the Ton.  If only his son would show more interest in his studies and the estate.

He stopped and gazed at the prize-winning roses that surrounded the large columned house.  Others would have called it a mansion.  It was four stories of whitewashed brick, done in the French style he so preferred.  Inside contained a massive dining room, ballroom and easily 30 guest rooms aside from the normal living space used by the family.

He shut the door on his train of thought.  He would not allow himself to wallow in “if onlys”.  Much of his pride came from knowing he was always honest with himself.  Quatre would never be able to continue the family line and wealth.  It was up to Dorothy, and he would see her wed to a man smart enough or weak enough to allow her to run the estate.

Quatre, if left to his own means, would never marry.  The boy could probably be coerced into marriage, but the chances for an heir would be slim.  He needed no one to tell him of his son’s preferences.  He had been very careful in his selection of guests for this two-week holiday.  His son’s eyes drifted not toward the beautiful young ladies who gave him so much attention, but to the brooding young men.

Dorothy could be very particular, so a variety had been in order.  Of the young male guests, a few had easily separated themselves and made definite impressions.  The “mute” as Dorothy called him, Trowa Barton, who seemed to have most of Quatre’s attention. Heero Yuy, the boy intended for their neighbor Relena Darlian.  He did wonder how the intense silent young man would get along with his betrothed.  Relena could be quite intense in her own way and the two had yet to meet.  The engagement had been arranged before the children’s parents had died.  The charming blonde Seiji Date, who had all of the girls flushing with pleasure.  His wife said the dashing rake could have gotten a response from the stone statues in the garden.  Also, there was elegant beautiful Hotohori Saihite, commanding his family’s fortunes since his father’s death three years ago.  None seemed to have caught Dorothy’s attention.

“My Lord.”

He was jerked from his thoughts by his wife’s soft firm voice from the doorway.

“Perhaps later you and I can enjoy your roses together, but now our guests are waiting.”

“Of course my Lady.”
 
 

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