Chapter 1

Dredging Up The Past

London,1863

Niklaus Mikaelson stood on his interior balcony overlooking his patrons playing in his gentlemen's club this evening. The one place societies elite gentlemen came to partake in sin. The gentlemen's club offered his clients a place for the upper-class society to enjoy gambling, drinks and of course women. A place for them to get away from their troubles where no one can talk about what goes on inside. Klaus, a bastard child from his mother's infidelity never had it easy. Once the only father Niklaus knew found out that he was not his the abuse he endured was even worse than earlier. It was retribution for the lies his mother let on for years. His half-siblings angered by their father's treatment never cast him out.

Niklaus was reared in the aristocracy, knew how to be a gentleman and what was required of him. Although, since finding out that in fact, he holds no real title and no income. Comfortably, he decided it was time to alter that. Klaus was no gentleman and it was a relief. He never knew his real father but received a missive from a notary informing him that he received a generous amount of money from an unknown benefactor. Then, he got the money and poured it into this.

Every bit a youngster wanting to go away from his troubles he knew these streets quite well. Friends with mostly society's outcasts, kids from an orphanage who got away and lived with a kinsman, who gave them a place to stay if they filled their quota for the day. He learned from them sleight of hand and other interesting tricks to find what he desired. When he first opened the club, they were the first people he thought to run it with. Allowing them to get away from the life they lived, but also earn money and keep it for themselves.

They were fiercely loyal to him and respected him for the most part because he wanted to offer them a better life. He took boys off the streets cleaned them up and offered sanctuary there having them earn a wage and a place to stay. They would take charge of the things that needed to be performed around the clubhouse as well as attend to the client's beverages.

The women were well-treated everything was done under their own conditions. In fact, it was the safest place to be instead of being on the street. They wore black face masks to keep their identity hidden but also to give a certain theme to the club. They were proficient at their jobs plowing his clients with drinks where they would get rip-roaring drunk and lose their money. Every decision was up to them and if something were to happen, any deal made they kept all the winnings.

"Seems you have been getting along rather well brother." His half-brother Elijah Mikealson, Duke of Kent stood behind him looking over the crowd.

"Yes, well, I much enjoy the sound of money. Better in my pocket than theirs, I say." Klaus turned to his brother, "What brings you here, Elijah you are not one to partake in such pleasures."

Elijah walked over to the side table in Klaus's office and overturned two glasses picking up the scotch and poured them two fingers in height. While handing the first glass to Klaus. "Well dear brother, I have news, I am currently engaged. I would wish you to be my best man at the wedding."

Klaus was not surprised by the tidings it was leading to finally find. "Now Elijah you know society would frown on that; regardless of how wealthy I am."

Elijah took a stride towards his comrade. "I understand that and do not care. It's tradition to have your brother even if half to be my second therefore I am asking you. I doubt very much that the nobles be shocked by you being there."

Klaus gave him a quizzical brow by the statement. "And if I refuse?" It was an honest question. Klaus was in no mood to go to anything that had to suffice with the aristocrats unless it requires money and them giving it to him.

"Niklaus please humor me, I never asked once for anything, consider it a wedding present to me." Elijah rebuffed looking at Klaus pleadingly.

Klaus lifted up his glass with a nod and downed the liquid. "Who is the lucky girl?"

Elijah smiled at him, "So, you agree?"

Klaus smiled back at him. "If I, didn't I would have said so."

Elijah nodded and drank the leftover drink from his glass. "Now don't be upset."

Klaus looked at his brother in astonishment. Why would he be upset about this? Then his eyes widened as a realization hit him. "Are you out of your bloody mind! You are not talking about the one vulture whom I loathe the most. "

Elijah looked back at his glass, then moved back to the scotch and filled it and Klaus's.

"Elijah, I hate that woman! Do you remember what she did to me? She was the one who told your father about our mother's betrayal. Then made me go on a hunt for her about how she came to such information, to then find out it was from my real father. Refused to tell me who he was. How could you possibly take me to advert when it's, that, you are espousing? Have you no shame?" Klaus was outraged with his brother.

"Will you still be enraged even if I tell you that she told me who your father was?" Elijah said to Klaus and continued, "You may not like the answer Niklaus, I know that you are happy that you don't have to be involved in the aristocracy. Seemed that you possessed an air of relief when that happened since then you didn't bear to care about what was required of you anymore."

Klaus's interest was piqued, "Yes, that is true, but it does not negate from the fact that she told Mikael. The manner he treated me Elijah even with him thinking I was his and then after Katherine's little slip of the tongue it became far worse. The audacity she had, then not have the courage to tell me. Why today? Was it because it would be the only way you would get hitched with the wench?" Klaus rebuffed back.

Elijah lowered his gaze and with a sigh said, "No, that is not the reason I am marrying her. Although it was brought up and I told her she had to make things right with you. Katherine told me after I proposed how she found out and who. I am happy with her Niklaus and to be honest, there were reasons as well."

Klaus couldn't believe he's hearing these words from his brother's lips, only he wanted answers and answers he will produce. "Fine, you want to marry her. I won't be the one; thank god. I will not forgive her Elijah I do not require to know the how, what, when, where and why. I want to know who. Who's my father then? You said I was glad to be out of the aristocracy, then I am to accept he was a noble, which blackguard was he then?"

Elijah looked at his brother with sympathy. "Ansel Hastings, the deceased Duke of Hastings to be in fact. The Queen gave the title to another noble family after he passed away since he had no heirs except you. Now Niklaus I know this is a lot, perhaps it's for the best. You are self-confident and happy with your life. Do you really want to be a Duke? I will say it is not an easy task and I can be sure you do not want to produce an heir just to pass on the title because that is what is expected."

Klaus was in absolute shock. Now considering the information in his mind. Klaus thought perhaps a Viscount but not a Duke and not a Hasting's Duke. He's heard a lot about him. The closest noble to the Queen herself and filthy rich. He never married, therefore, able to focus on his endeavors. If this is genuine, he would have got wind of this. Unless the benefactor who sent him the money a few years ago was him. He would have been in the will. Wouldn't he know? Wouldn't the real son be named the Duke and not someone the Queen conferred the title too. So, confused by all the information he needed more time to think it over and inquire with the notary who contacted him. He had to make sure this information was in fact true.

"Niklaus, I know you may think that it is a prevarication. I took the issue myself and contacted a friend to investigate. When the Duke of Hastings's will was drawn it had a clause to the lineage of succession. If a son came forward to take the title with proof, he recognizes him as the future heir. I thought how can you be named and able to convey the title if mother was not conjoined to him. I investigated further the matter and found out that in fact, mother had a secret ceremony to him. I asked the investigator how it could be possible she was married to two men. He replied that at that time marriage certificates were not cross-referenced, therefore the possibility highly likely. Niklaus she married him exactly one year before you were birthed. You are legally the rightful successor. It does not null and void the Mikaelson line of succession since she is lawfully tied to both. In such instances, it has occurred in one case, and the crown deemed that it is not the mistake of the child who was acquitted, but the crown's and allowed the marriage to stand."

Klaus in one swift movement drank the contents of his glass and dropped it to the table.

In a hesitant voice, Elijah said "To shift the theme, the first ball of the season will be tomorrow night and Rebecca is having her coming out into society. She will be accompanied by Kol, but I fear he probably wouldn't even chaperon our dear sister. Too busy flirting and drinking is his motive. Perhaps it will do you some good to go. Besides, I recognize that you know all the bad eggs that will be there and would help her stay clean of them. I cannot attend since I have business matters to see to. Will you please go to chaperone?"

Klaus looked at Elijah with daggers in his optics. "Why don't you ask your new fiancé I am certain you can trust her with that. She will indeed be the new duchess, best she starts behaving like one." Klaus said with venom.

"Rebecca hates her, and you know it for the same reasons you hate her. Thus, it seems fair." Elijah said not backing down.

Then Klaus thought of all the human beings that will probably attend and there is no way he would permit her to be involved with any of them. He knew what they did here at the club and she deserved better. It did not help that Rebecca gave her spirit to anyone who expressed interest. He understood why he was being asked to begin with. If he attended no one will in no means, try anything with his sister. He nodded to his brother. "Not for you Elijah, but for her even if she would be upset about it. Mail me the details by missive. "

Elijah in a low tone asked "So, I will see you at the wedding, then? Perchance you will recognize what you want to do by then. In the meanwhile, I bid you well." He nodded his head to Klaus and left him to drench everything in.