Never In my wildest dreams

Summary : Since she was a little girl, Kagome has had one burning desire: to marry Inuyasha Macgregor. But what chance does a gardeners daughter have of capturing the heart of one of England's wealthiest gentlemen? However, the education she receives at the Distinguished Academy of Governess enables Kagome to return to Taisho Hall with a refinement that complements her ravishing beauty-and makes her bold romantic dream more attainable. But alas, temptation gets in the way….

For wherever Kagome turns, it's not Inuyasha she encounters, but his serious, yet undeniably intriguing older brother Sesshoumaru. The elder Macgregor will have no interfere with the younger's impending nuptials, and his meddling infuriates Kagome to no end. Still she cannot disregard the fluttering of her heart whenever Sesshoumaru deigns to smile at her. And the passion she senses smoldering beneath his formidable control is tempting her in a manner a lady must never allow…

Prologue

Kaede, Lady Worth, admired a man who thought honestly and spoke without artifice, but Sesshoumaru Kamatari Marubeni Macgregor the Second gave new meaning to the term tactless.

"Mrs. Higurashi", he said, "it has come to my attention that your daughter is moping."

Mrs. Higurashi, the head cook at Taisho Hall and dignified Anglian of Forty six years, turned her apron in her work-roughened hands as she watched her employer. Apparently, she was used to such direct speaking, for she neither flinched nor cowered. "Kagome is young, Mr. Macgregor, only seventeen years. Given time and the right man, she'll settle."

Kaede pressed her fan to her lips to conceal her amusement. The sun shone into the old walled garden, displaying young Macgregor's lack of expression.

Kaede wasn't so sure. Sometimes when she glanced at Sesshoumaru Kamatari Marubeni Macgregor, she suspected she saw…more.

"Yes." Macgregor was seated on one of the wicker seats he had brought back from the tropics six years ago. "Perhaps."

Of course, Macgregor wasn't handsome like his brother, Inuyasha. He could never have been, for where Inuyasha's blonde, blue-eyed allure oozed from every poor, Sesshoumaru's was Dark, somber and plain. Tall, but all Macgregor's were tall. Big boned and strongly muscled, betraying the common origins of the Macgregor family. So conservative in dress and manner Kaede wished occasionally to shake him until he betrayed some real emotion. But if the birth of his younger and fatally captivating sibling had disturbed Sesshoumaru, that time had been long ago. Now the guarded golden eyes assessed events and weighed characters without revealing anything, and to Kaede such caution seemed out place in a twenty-six-year-old man- unless he concealed depth within his soul.

But if depths were there, he hid them well, for she had no idea what treasures they hid.

He gestured to Kaede, her arm draped across the back of the love seat in a graceful curve for her age. "This is Lady Worth, the proprietress of the well-respected Distinguished Academy of Governesses in London and a dear friend of my mother's. She is visiting with her husband, and has observed your daughter. Lady Worth has expressed an interest in having Kagome return with her to the Distinguished Academy of Governesses in London and there be trained as an instructor."

Kaede smiled at Mrs. Higurashi. She didn't seem affected as most people did, at the application of her charm, but watched her steadily, weighing her with her gaze. The Head cook at Taisho Hall was an important personage, after all. She had to be a woman of good sense.

"With all due respect, my lady- why Kagome?" she asked.

"Kagome would be an admirable governess. Children follow her, and she is endlessly patient, She's well spoken and well educated, thanks to the Macgregor family, I believe-"

Higurashi nodded. "Grateful, I am."

"She seems responsible, but aimless, with no goal in sight." That was a lie. Kagome had a goal, and that goal was the love of Inuyasha Macgregor. She followed Inuyasha about, speaking to him when she had the chance, spying on him from ill-conceived hideouts.

Indeed-Kaede's glance flicked to the wall behind Macgregor-young Kagome seemed to have a penchant for spying.

Inuyasha never noticed Kagome was alive. Oh, he knew her name, but not that she'd grown from a knobby girl into a handsome young woman. Kaede planned to remove Kagome before Inuyasha did notice and thoughtlessly take what was offered.

Opening her fan, Kaede moved it slowly before her face. The branches on the willow that grew beside the wall were swaying, yet no breeze ruffled any of the other trees. Pitching her voice a little louder than her normal, husky tone, she said, "Kagome speaks French well I believe."

Higurashi almost smiled. "Her father was French."

"Our Gardener," Macgregor supplied. "A master of growing beautiful things and a way with making the ordinary seem extravagant. Even after 7 years we still miss him."

Higurashi's dignity grew to combat the dangerous weakness the mention of her husband invoked. "Aye, sir."

With a tact Kaede haven't given him credit for, Macgregor turned his head to inspect the hedge of roses nearby, giving Higurashi a chance to regain her composure. The bushes were in full bloom, a mighty explosion of pink and scent, which Kaede had appreciated but which, she knew, Macgregor had scarcely noticed. "First class work" he complimented, towards the roses.

"Thank you, sir. The rose is called Félicité Parmentier, and she's a magnificent bloomer."

Macgregor and Higurashi stared at the blossoms until Kaede rescued them. "At any rate, Higurashi, a woman with Kagome's gifts will make an admirable addition to the Distinguished Academy of Governesses."

"She's a scatter-brain," her mother said flatly.

The willow rustled violently.

Eyes narrowed, Macgregor glanced behind him. Rising, he strolled around to lean against a low-hanging branch.

"Most girls are at seventeen." Kaede watched him while she missed that Kagome would, with a little coaching, add luster to the reputation of the Distinguished Academy of Governesses. Most of the Ton were waiting for Kaede to fail so they might chuckle at her folly for buying such a business. Indeed, Kaede's own dear, pompous husband had been less than understanding about her desire to fill her days with something more than gossip and needlework. Her eyes narrowed as she considered the strong language Lord Worth had used to describe her purchase.

She would prove all of them wrong, most especially her dear husband, and young Kagome would help her do so. "When I am done with Kagome," Kaede said, "she will be polished, independent, and a force to be reckoned with."

Higurashi looked to Macgregor.

Macgregor gave her a small nod, reassuring the anxious mother.

Higurashi sighed heavily and displayed the wisdom that allowed her to take charge of dozens of undercooks and all the foods and confections with such success. "Very well. I'll miss her sore, but if she stays, she's going to get in trouble. So, my lady, take her."

The willow swayed.

With his eyebrows lowered in a fierce and violent fury, Macgregor shook the tree.

The girl, Kagome tumbled downward in a silent confusion of faded skirts and lop-sided ebony braids.

Macgregor caught at her, breaking her fall, but she landed hard on the flowerbed, mashing columbine and yellow alyssum. Her petticoats flew up to reveal black woolen stockings tied with a string around the knee. She gasped painfully as her breath left her.

Macgregor looked thunderstruck. "Kagome!"

So he hadn't known who was up there, Kaede realized, only that someone was spying on them, and he had reacted violently. Fascinating.

Higurashi didn't appear surprised to see her daughter. She only shook her head mournfully. "Scatter-brain."

As soon as she caught her breath, Kagome looked up at Macgregor and with all the passion of her youthful fury, she said, "I won't go. I won't be polished, and independent, and a force to be reckoned with. You can't make me."

Author Tidbits:

Hey all! This is a new fic I'm doing, thought it be a new change from all the other kinds of fanfiction. The story is a Historical Romance I've been meaning to write down and get it up and running, and now I have my chance! The story takes place in the late 1800's and is going to turn out to be multiple chapters. This is going to be a Sesshoumaru/Kagome pairing.

I hope you guys enjoyed my prologue. Give me some feedback so I can put up chapter one!