AU: Hello my darlings! Now some of you may be wondering,"Woman, what the heck is your deal?! Why you no update your other story (Prodigal Time Traveler)?! To be honest, I got bored. Don't worry I'm not abandoning it! I will finish it! This idea has been running a muck in my imagination and I could not get anything done. So I started this so I can think clearly. I got this idea from a trip to Viscaya; Miami we took over the summer, and from watching scenes of Pride and Prejudice and Moll Flanders. Don't ask me how I got this all together. It just formed. Enjoy!

Disclaimer:I don't own Who

Chapter 1: Meeting the Gardner

Melody Williams sat on the ledge of her white stone balcony early Sunday morning. The air was as sticky and heavy as honey, making her curls thick, and starting to give her a halo of frizz. She didn't care though, she liked it naturally curly and thick. There was a slight breeze going through the palm trees this morning though, a blessing to locals. Melody sighed in contentment at the coolness, and let her tan calf fall over the side of the ledge she was perched on,making her white cotton nightie flutter in the air.

'Auntie will have a fit if she sees me', Melody thought absently. She didn't care really. Her aunt, known as Madame Kovarian, had taken her in as a babe, wanting to groom her into a woman of dignity and grace, hoping that she will marry well. Though it had been a battle over the course of these 16 years. Melody was naturally rebellious, and un-afraid. These two things made Melody, to her aunts despair, completely unafraid to show off, her skills and her legs. When she was a toddler, Melody's had developed a habit of running around their mansion stark naked, which didn't end until she was 5. However, Melody had learned, and she now was poise, elegant and high in social status. Though that didn't stop Melody from acting herself when she alone.

Madame Kovarian and her niece's relationship was not a loving one. Nor was it an abusive one. The only timed they touched were for correcting hands, chins, and shoulders. The only time there were words, was for greetings, scoldings or correcting. When they actually talk, an argument followed. So Melody kept conversation to a minimum. Naturally, Melody felt nothing for her caretaker. So it wasn't as surprise that when her aunt came in to say good morning, she did not look towards her to respond.

Kovarian came onto the balcony beside her and scolded,"Melody get down from there now. A proper lady does not expose her leg in such a sensuous manner for the world to see."

Melody turned her head to face her aunt. While looking at her dead in the eyes, she put the leg that was over the ledge, and placed it on her knee, sending the fabric down her Kovarian drew in a sharp breath and said slowly,"Get down. Get dressed."

Melody huffed and got off her favorite sitting area. She could see the whole of the property from that spot. The orange groves, the pools, the baths, the flower gardens. She could also see the ocean from her balcony, for their home was right next to the water.

Melody walked inside, not bothering to close the doors and began to undress, and put on what her maid Amy had put out. Amy wasn't as much as servant as much as she was Melody's best friend and confidant. The ginger girl was always there for Melody. Every forgotten birthday, every Christmas, every heart break. Amy had almost become a mother for Melody. Melody and Amy even slept in the same room, due to months of begging and a food strike on Melody's part. Eventually Madame Kovarian relented, reminding them that they were not friends, this was only for easy access to her servant when needed. Though they still walked and talked together all the time, making Amy higher in status and given privileges. Madame Kovarian dare not try and change it, she knew that Melody would go on another hunger strike, and no one wants a bony bride.

"Melody, must you get nude with the windows open? The neighbors and staff will talk.", Amy sighed.

Melody stepped into the lilac dress Amy gestured her to,"The only opinions I care about is yours and Rory's. And Rory works by the stables, so he couldn't possibly see. Speaking of Rory, how is your lover?"

Amy looked up quickly in shock and retorted,"He is not my lover in any which way or form."

Melody laughed devilishly,"Not yet any way."

Amy's lips curled in a smile,"Shut up. Now come here and let me do your hair, you wretched thing."

15 minutes later, Melody was downstairs at the dining table, sitting next to Aunt Kovarian, picking at her eggs. Madame Kovarian scrunched her mouth and said tightly,"Melody, stop playing with your food. It's made for eating."

Exasperated, Melody shoved a piece in her mouth. Kovarian nodded and continued with her breakfast. Before Melody could shove another forkful, a sweaty man came walking into the room,"Goodmorning ma'am."

Melody looked up from her white plate. All she could see was 6 ft of pale arms and legs. He had a loose fitting white, cotton shirt, brown trousers and boots. You could barely tell, but despite him being so gangly, but there was lean muscle in his arms and chest. Melody dragged her eyes upward, and she nearly choked on her eggs. It was probably the most outstanding jaw she had ever seen. 'Favors him though' she giggled to herself. His eyes were a warm, inviting brown. His dark hair, already beginning to dampen against his neck and forehead, was flopping in a way that Melody just wanted to reach out and tug at it.

Melody was biting her lip so hard, she might have started to bleed. Aunt Kovarian sighed and said,"Good morning John. This is my niece Melody. Melody this is John Smith, he will be our new gardener."

John looked at Melody and gave a boyish smile. He felt as though he were looking at a Goddess. Her gray eyes and the set of her lips just gave her an air that said'Come hither.' He couldn't seem to muster up anything smart, he could only manage out,"Hello."

Melody grinned flirtatiously,"Hello." Melody took his outstretched hand, to which John kissed chastely on the knuckles, making Melody's insides flip. Madame Kovarian cleared her throat and spoke to John,"Ahem, John. Today I would like you to trim the bushes around the terrace and pathways. Also there are some rose bushes around the garden paths that are overgrown, take the spare roses and give them to Eloise to arrange. I would also like you to plant some lilies around the baths."

John quickly nodded,"Yes ma'am. I will have that done today. Goodmorning ma'am." He faced Melody and smiled at her, nodding his head slightly in respect to her status; then left to the garden.

Melody's mouth was curved in a smile, which quickly vanished when Kovarian said coldly,"You will stop this flirtation presently. I need not a scandal arising because my niece can't keep her eyes off the gardener. I trust you to respect me and your status and keep distance, while still being able to walk outside. Yes?"

Melody inhaled slowly,"Yes ma'am."

Kovarian relaxed slightly in her chair,"Good. Now, you may go take your walk in the garden with Amy."