Hello everyone! Welcome to another story!

Ruby Colored Roses

Chapter One: Debut

“It is too bad your hair is red.” Lady Leila murmured for what had to be the millionth time. Lina had long since stopped replying to her mother’s jabs. It had been three long years since her father’s death and with him gone, and her sister married, there was no one left to protect her.

“She’s a personal friend of the princess, mother. It makes no difference how unfashionable her hair color is.” Luna said, crossing her legs and leaning back on the sofa. It was one of the few times her sister had returned from the English country side.

Leila sighed and nodded, pinning up one final curl on her daughter’s head.

“I’ve done all I can,” she sighed sadly. “I must go now and see to my own preparations.”

With that, she left the room.

“Why couldn’t she just let Mary dress me as usual?” Lina growled and she rubbed her aching temples.

“Because she’s convinced that she’s the only one who could make you passably attractive.” Luna answered. The red-head scowled and went to the door.

“I’ll be back.” She said shortly.

“And just where, baby sister, do you think you’re going?”

Lina sighed, knowing she had no choice but to answer.

“To the garden, for one last moment of freedom.”

Luna did not miss the pleading tone in her sister’s voice.

“Don’t be late to your own debut, Lina. You have half an hour.”

“But the ball doesn’t start for an hour!” the younger girl protested.

“Exactly. Be back here in 30 minuets.”

“Fine.” Lina grumbled.

“Dirty that dress and I’ll have your head.” Luna added as her sister slipped out the door. Making it to the gardens in the midst of final preparations without being seen was quite a feat, but the seventeen-and-a-half-year-old managed.

Slowly, she made her way to the small stone bench tucked away by the hedges. Lina looked longingly to the spot where her sword lay buried beneath the bushes. It was the only safe place for her beloved treasure.

If her family ever found out that she’d been taking sword lessons since her youth, they’d most likely exile her. If they found out that Zelgaddis Greywords, outcast of London society, was the one giving those lessons, they’d probably kill her.

Growing restless, she got to her feet and wandered the paths of garden. Her roaming halted as she passed the rose beds, their subtle fragrance pulling her out of her daydreams.

“Pretty, aren’t they?” came a male voice from behind her. Startled, she whirled around, hand aching for a blade.

“Who are you?” she demanded as the man stepped out of the shadows. His blonde hair was pulled back, making it impossible to tell its length and his bright blue eyes shimmered with good humor.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, little girl.” He said, making no move toward her. “My name is Gourry.”

“Little girl?” she questioned, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. When he made no reply, she decided to ignore the comment. “Just Gourry, hm? No surname? No title?”

His sapphire eyes became shadowed as he responded, “I’m sorry. I forgot that that was all the ton cared about.”

She gave an unlady-like snort.

“If I were interested in a husband, I’ll already be shrieking about how you’ve compromised me, now wouldn’t I?”

“If I had a title, you’d change your mind, wouldn’t you?” he snapped. Instead of replying, she rolled her eyes and continued to walk. “Aren’t you going to answer?” he questioned, following her.

“No.” she replied, refusing to look at him. Having no idea what to say to that, the blonde man began to laugh.

“What are you doing out here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he asked, good mood restored.

“I am not a child!” she yelled.

“I bet you haven’t even had your come-out yet.” He grinned.

“Why you-“ she began, raising a fist to his face. With her hand an inch from his face, she stopped, a look of dread spreading across her features. “I’m late!” she exclaimed and turned to run.

“Late for what?”

Hiking her skirts to her knees, she glared at him. He studied her perfectly shaped legs and grinned. Perhaps she wasn’t so very young.

“Title or not, go to the party. I’m not done with you yet.” She ordered.

“Oh, there is one of those tonight, isn’t there?”

She could have throttled him right then.

“Then why are you here?” she demanded.

“Even I know that this house has the best garden in the city. Say, what’s your name?”

“Lina.” She called over her shoulder as she ran back to the house. “Lina Inverse."

---

“I told you half an hour!” Luna hissed as her younger sister ran back into the room.

“I’m sorry! I lost track of time.” She answered hurriedly.

“Mother called for you. Go to the drawing room.” Luna said.

Brushing off her dress and checking her hair once more, Lina whispered, “I hope this is over soon.”

Ears still burning from her mother’s reprimands, Lina Inverse made her grand entrance. She held her breath as she came to the stairs and the ton studied their newest member. Still scarcely breathing as she descended those stairs, the red-head tried to fight the urge to run.

Lina didn’t recognize most of the faces that surrounded her but she knew them well enough on reputation alone. Her mother hurried her through introductions that she would never remember and the musicians began to play, waiting for the dancing to start.

No longer listening to her mother’s prattle, Lina looked around the room. Princess Amelia and Filia Ul Copt stood together, surrounded by a swarm of eligible young men. Both girls were ignoring the suitors and watching her, laughing to themselves about her disdain. Lina took no offence to this, as she had expected it. She’d just get them back later.

Before she could see who else of her acquaintance had attended, her hand was taken by Lord Zane Rothschild, Viscount of Crenly.

“It seems that I have the pleasure of your first dance.” He said as he led her to the dance floor. She forced a smile and said nothing.

---

“A bit underdeveloped,” Xellos sighed as he watched Lina glide around the dance floor. His younger companion nodded absently. “but pretty enough, I suppose. She might make interesting sport.”

“Leave this one alone.” The blonde man suggested, a tight smile on his lips. Xellos turned and studied his best friend/half brother. Gourry’s bright blue eyes were following the Inverse girl’s every move. If any other man had said such a thing, Xellos would have taken it as a personal challenge, but for his brother, he’d relent.

“I was only joking.” The darker-haired man said sullenly, raising a glass of wine to his lips.

“You were not!” Gourry laughed, clasping his brother’s shoulder in unspoken thanks.

“You’re right. I guess I can always find another skirt to chase.” Xellos chuckled.

“So who is that guy?” Gourry asked as he saw Lina’s dance partner pull a bit closer.

“The one with Lina Inverse?” Xellos asked. The blonde man nodded. “That’s Zane Rothschild. I’m surprised the family is allowing it.”

“Why?”

“There are a lot of rumors about him. Disturbing ones.”

“More disturbing then the ones about you?” Gourry wondered. Xellos shot him a dark look.

“I may get into my share of vicious duels, but I don’t abuse my woman.” Xellos snapped.

“Are the stories true?” Gourry demanded, ignoring his brother’s anger.

“As far as I can tell.”

Thankfully, the dance ended just then and Gourry refrained doing anything rash. His father really did hate scandal.

“I see.” The blonde man replied.

“We’ll have to finish this discussion later.” Xellos said with smile as he spotted Filia Ul Copt chatting with some random Lord. “I think I just found my newest conquest.”

Before Gourry could say anything, his brother was gone. Shaking his head a bit, the blonde man mad his way to Lady Leila.

“Is your daughter free for this dance?” Gourry asked

“She is now.” Leila replied sweetly, having recognized the young man. Quickly, she called Lina over to her.

“Lina, this is Lord Gourry Gabriev, son of Gorin Gabriev, Marquis of Trendale.”

Gourry braced himself found he had no need. She smiled politely and curtsied. He held out his hand and led her to the dance floor.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Gourry asked quietly. Her grip on him tightened to the point it hurt and her ruby eyes narrowed.

“I would not soil my name by being forced to marry. You would do well to remember that, sir.”

“I’m sorry, Lina.” He whispered. Her hands relaxed as she gauged the sincerity of his apology. She sighed and nodded.

A few moments passed before either spoke.

“Now do you believe I’m not a child?” she demanded suddenly.

“Well, I was right earlier.” He answered.

“How so?”

“You hadn’t had your come-out yet.”

If there hadn’t been a room full of witnesses, she’d have killed him right then and they both knew it. Instead, she refused to speak to him.

“Don’t be mad! I’m sure you’re right most of the time.” He said with a grin. Smiling despite herself, she still said nothing. “How old are you anyway, kid?”

“I am not a kid!” she snapped. “I am seventeen and a half.”

“That seems pretty young to me.”

“Well, if I’m a child, then you must be a grandfather.” She growled.

“A grandfather? I’m only twenty-four!”

His obvious shock was too much and Lina laughed out loud.

The music slowly came to an end and Gourry didn’t release her quite fast enough. Lina saw the calculating gleam in her mother’s eyes from the other side of the room.

Dread washed over her in fresh waves and she sighed softly, regretting already her next course of action. Once they were within Leila’s hearing, the red-head turned to her dance partner and smiled with aching politeness.

“Thank you for the dance, Lord.” She said icily. Confused and oddly enough, a little hurt from her tone, he gave a stiff bow and walked away.

“A marquis’s son, Lina!” her mother exclaimed.

“We didn’t suit, mother. Let it go.”

The thin smile Leila gave her daughter was so sharp it made Lina’s heart ache. The rest of the night was uneventful. It dragged by at an alarmingly slow rate. When the last guest was finally gone, Lina all but ran to her room. Thankfully, Luna wasn’t waiting for her.

After the maid had helped her out of her gown and left the room, Lina pulled on a pair of breeches and a white linen shirt. Trading her slippers for a sturdy pair of boots, the red-head left her room.

She went back to the garden and straight to the hedges.

“Planning on dueling your suitors?” Zelgaddis Greywords asked from the shadows. Startled, Lina glared at him.

“Why does everyone have to do that?” she demanded.

“Do what?” he asked, confused.

“Never mind.” She said quickly. “Why didn’t you come tonight?”

“You know why.” He replied darkly. She sighed. His grandfather, Rezo, had disowned him for a reason even she didn’t know. Since then, Zelgaddis had worked hard and gained a fortune of his own. But without a title, most of the ton outcast him completely.

“Amelia was there.” She said softly.

He looked away.

“I’d expect her to be.”

“She asked about you.” Lina said.

He said nothing to that.

“You know we have to stop the lessons, Lina.” He told her as knelt to unbury her sword. She ignored him until the black leather case was unearthed.

“Spar with me.” She demanded, whirling to face him, sword in hand.

“No.” he said flatly.

“Why? Afraid I’ll win again?” she grinned mischievously.

“Of course not.” He growled. “Someone will hear us.”

“Then lets go somewhere else.”

“Lina-“

“Please?” she begged. He was silent for a moment, unaccustomed to such a tone from Lina Inverse.

“It was worse then you thought it’d be, isn’t it?” he questioned softly.

“One night and she’s already pushing me into engagement. It doesn’t help that Zane Rothschild wouldn’t stop following me around.”

“Stay away from him.” Zel said sternly.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” She responded.

“Aren’t you worried about being caught with me?” Zel asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“No. I wouldn’t let them do anything to you.” She responded.

In one rare moment of affection, he smiled softly.

“Come on. Let’s get to the stables before you’re missed.”

Together they went to a small field on the outskirts of town. The rest of the night went fast and dawn was starting to show itself. She thanked Zelgaddis and raced home before the estate awoke. By the time she got to her room, she was exhausted. Barely taking time to undress and hide her boy’s clothes, she fell into bed.

End of Chapter One.

PLEASE REVIEW! I know the end was a lot rushed, but I’ll fix it later. There really is a plot to this story, even though this chapter was a little slow. Please tell me what you think before I continue it.

Thank you!

-Ahria