A/N: Hey guys, I'm back! This story was inspired by a mix of The Luxe series and Downton Abbey and I really really hope you all like it! This is my first Klaroline fic (wrote a Jodice one before :P) so I hope I did okay! See you at the bottom of the page :)
Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries...
CHAPTER ONE
New York, 1899
"Oh papa, must I really? It's almost the twentieth century, surely that counts for something." Caroline placed her napkin on the breakfast table in frustration. She had just returned to New York after completing her education abroad and had been looking forward to having some downtime at home. But her father was adamant on her finding a good husband, preferably someone wealthy enough to support her for the rest of her life. She loathed the fact that she couldn't have her share of the family's inheritance because she was a woman. Her older brother had it so easy. Even though Caroline knew that her father was only looking out for her, she certainly wasn't looking forward to getting married at the age of only eighteen years.
"I'm afraid the law still states that almost all my money will be going to your brother Matthew," Lord Bill Forbes said with a heavy heart. "Which is why it is important for you to start finding a suitable husband." She looked to her mother who remained silent and could only give her a little sympathy. Caroline sometimes wished she was born a boy. She envied her older brother. He was off working with charities somwhere in Africa after he had graduated from Princeton. She sighed giving into her inevitable fate and carried on with her breakfast.
Not too long after their discussion, the butler entered the dining room with a platter of letters. He gave out a few letters to Lord Bill Forbes and Lady Elizabeth then made his way over to Caroline. To her surprise, she had also received one. She began to cut the envelope open with a small knife and took out the letter.
"I've been invited to a ball," she announced to her parents.
"You have? Already?" her mother beamed at her. "I told you Bill, you have nothing to worry about. Our daughter will be married in no time."
"Who's ball is it?" Lord Forbes inquired. Caroline's eyes darted back to the letter to finish reading her invitation.
"The Mikaelson's. My goodness, I haven't thought of them in years!" Back at her boarding school, Caroline had befriended Rebekah and Kol Mikaelson before they had to return to England. They were only children back then. She wondered how much they must have grown up by now. "They are having a ball in honour of their arrival from London. I wonder how they knew I was back in New York…"
"The Mikaelson's know everything," her father replied. He explained to her how much of an influence the family had even in New York. They had come to expand their business and had become one of the most powerful families over in England.
"Well," Lady Elizabeth said cheerfully. "Looks like you and I will need to go shopping this afternoon. The place will be filled with potential suitors."
On the night of the ball, Caroline arrived at the Mikaelson's estate in a lavish, royal blue dress embroidered with silver beads around her upper body. She thanked her chauffeur and made her way to the entrance with many other guests. She entered the grand ballroom and was immediately taken by the beauty and splendour of it all. From the chandelier to the architecture, each was created with the finest details.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Caroline broke away from her thoughts and looked to her right. A girl with long black curls gave her a sweet smile. She was wearing a slender black dress and looked more or less around her age.
"Yes it really is," Caroline replied and returned the smile.
"Are you here by yourself too?" she asked. Caroline nodded. "I'm Annabelle. But please call me Anna."
"I'm Caroline," she said. "It's very nice to meet you." To be honest, Caroline was a bit nervous worrying that she may not make any friends in New York. But Anna was affable and seemed like the type of person she wanted to be friends with.
"Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before."
"I've just recently returned from completing my studies abroad," Caroline explained. "So I don't know many people here." A footman approached the two women and handed them glasses of champagne.
"Well I shall try to help in any way I can," Anna said cheerfully and clinked their glasses together. She took a sip of her drink before she began to inform Caroline of the guests present at the ball. "The twins over there," she nodded to the other end of the ballroom. "Their family owns one of the most prestigious businesses in New York." Caroline looked over to Anna's direction and saw two beautiful women surrounded by a flock of men. They looked identical to one another except one had long curls and the other had straight and short hair. The brunette with curly hair flew her head back in laughter and shamelessly batted her eyelashes at the man who had presumably made a joke. "That's Lady Katherine Petrova," Anna commented. "She's known for getting her way with any man she pleases. I heard last summer she was involved with both Salvatore brothers before their father, Lord Salvatore, ended it." She certainly was beautiful, Caroline thought. She then looked over to the other sister with the short hair who had been quietly standing next to Lady Katherine sipping on her glass of champagne.
"What about her?" Caroline asked her new friend.
"That's Lady Tatia. The other Petrova. She's rather quiet and likes to keep to herself. She rarely comes to parties unless it's necessary. I wonder what brought her here." Before Caroline could respond, she noticed that everyone had suddenly gotten quiet and was looking to the top of the staircase. She also looked up and saw the Mikaelson family. She immediately recognised Rebekah, being the only girl of the family who was wearing a shoulderless, sea-green dress. She had certainly become a true lady. Kol, on the other hand, still had the boyish good looks and his signature smirk.
"Welcome, thank you all for joining us," the woman at the centre of the staircase said aloud. Caroline guessed that she was Lady Esther Mikaelson. "Shortly we will commence this evening with a waltz. So if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, and I hope you have a magical night." There was a ripple of murmurs as everyone began to look for a dance partner. Caroline looked around the room in search of her own when she heard her name being called out. She spun around to see the Mikaelson's coming their way.
"Rebekah," Caroline said and kissed her cheek. "It's been too long. How have you been?"
"Quite well and you?" Rebekah replied.
"Very well thank you."
"Ah, and I hope you haven't forgotten me," Kol interrupted. "But with a face like mine, who could?"
"I see you haven't changed at all," Caroline responded making both of them laugh. She turned to Anna who had been standing there awkwardly. "Oh and this is Lady Annabelle." Rebekah smiled meanwhile Kol had a better idea and kissed Anna's gloved hand.
"It is an absolute pleasure to have met your acquaintance," Kol whispered making Anna turn a shade pink. Rebekah ignored her brother's efforts to charm Lady Annabelle and quickly digressed.
"And these are my other brothers, Lord Elijah and Lord Niklaus," she waved her arm to the two men behind her. Lord Elijah embodied the perfect gentleman and gave them a nod and a polite smile whereas Lord Niklaus stood absolutely still and remained just looking intently at Caroline. She wondered if she had something on her face. "Well I must be off, I need to find a dance partner. We shall talk soon Caroline," Rebekah said.
"We'll join you," Caroline quickly added. "We too haven't found anyone to dance with."
"Nonsense. I'm sure my brothers will happily join you two for the waltz," Rebekah said plainly.
"It would be an honour to have this dance Lady Annabelle." Kol bowed and offered Anna his arm. Rebekah rolled her eyes.
"Nik? Why don't you ask Lady Caroline for a dance?" she asked. Caroline cautiously looked back to the lord who still had not averted his eyes from her. She gave him a small smile hoping it would cut the tension.
"I'm sure Elijah wouldn't mind Bekah," he said with his eyes still boring into hers. "I believe that I am otherwise engaged." And with that, he simply walked away. The nerve of that man! Caroline blinked twice in disbelief before regaining her composure.
"I apologize for my brother's poor behavior," Elijah said as he walked up to her. "It would give me great pleasure if you could join me for the waltz."
Lord Elijah was the perfect gentleman. He knew how to make appropriate conversation, danced effortlessly and was everything that his brother was not. She saw him through the corner of her eye as she danced with Lord Elijah. He was dancing with Lady Tatia. Perhaps they were an item of some sort. But they weren't at all conversing or even making any eye contact.
"I did not know Niklaus associated himself with Lady Tatia," Elijah commented noticing Caroline's gaze on the two.
"No?" she asked. "They seem to make a rather fine pairing." Caroline lied. Their bodies were extremely stiff and it didn't look like they were particularly enjoying themselves.
"Niklaus does not usually court women. He's disinterested in parties, very different from Rebekah," Elijah said humorously making Caroline laugh.
"I hear Lady Tatia does not enjoy parties herself either so perhaps they're not too different."
"Is that so?" he replied. "What else do you know about her?"
"Not much at all," she said. His sudden interest made her wonder if he had any feelings for Lady Tatia. "Why do you ask?"
"Merely curiosity," he quickly replied. Caroline swore she saw him blush but decided not to push it. "Forgive me Lady Caroline, here I was talking about another woman when a beautiful lady as yourself is dancing with me."
"Don't be silly," Caroline said and gave him a smile. "I'm very happy I've made a new friend."
"As am I," Elijah replied and returned the smile. The dance had come to a close and it was time for the foxtrot. Elijah kissed her gloved hand and they parted to find partners for the next dance. Caroline looked around the large room and just her luck, her eyes met the blue eyes of Lord Niklaus. Sweet baby Jesus, she thought. She immediately broke off the eye contact and pretended to be oblivious. But it was too late. He was making his way towards her.
"Good evening." Caroline didn't even bother to reply. What did he want? Didn't he make it clear that he did not like her in front of Anna and his family? "May I have this dance?" he asked. Well that was the last thing I expected to hear come out of his mouth, she thought.
"Aren't you otherwise engaged?" Caroline retorted. Klaus smirked at her wit and asked for her hand. She couldn't figure this man out. One minute he was cold and aloof then the next he was the complete opposite. People were beginning to stare at the two of them so Caroline did what she had to do to avoid a scene. Her mother would kill her if she messed up tonight. She hesitantly placed her hand in his and let him guide on back on to the dance floor.
"You're quite the dancer," he filled in the silence as they danced to Fred Astaire's 'Just the way you look tonight'. "Perfect song for a lady like yourself." Caroline forced herself not to snort.
"This is coming from the same man who couldn't wait to get away only a moment ago?" Lord Niklaus shrugged.
"It was nothing personal," he replied nonchalantly. "Now I'd rather converse in more interesting subjects if you please." It seemed that she had treaded on a sensitive subject. As curious as she was, Caroline thought it'd be best to let it go.
"Well what would you like to discuss?" she asked.
"I want to talk about you."
"Lord Niklaus," she scolded. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Well that depends," he grinned. "Is it working?"
"Not even close. Flattery will get you nowhere, Lord Niklaus."
"And why not?" he asked.
"Because I'm too smart to be seduced by you."
In just a short matter of time, they had covered a whole range of topics from their siblings to the rise of the feminist movement. Surprisingly Lord Niklaus was in agreement with Caroline and advocated rights for women. Perhaps she had been wrong about him and had been too quick to judge him. The dance seemed to have ended too quickly for their liking and soon enough, they had to part ways. His eyes never left hers as he brought her gloved hand to his mouth. Caroline gasped when he turned her hand over and pressed his lips gently onto the inside of the hand instead. Her own body betrayed her as her heartbeat quicken its pace and she felt her cheeks grow warm. She hated giving him the satisfaction.
"I hope to see you very soon Lady Caroline," he smirked and left before she got the chance to say anything. After she collected herself, Caroline spotted Anna on the other side of the room and made her way over.
"I saw you dancing with Lord Niklaus," Anna teased.
"And I saw you dancing with Kol," Caroline teased back making Anna blush.
"It was very kind of him, but I-"
"Caroline!" a voice interrupted their conversation. They turned their heads and saw Rebekah making her way over to them. "Lady Annabelle," Rebekah added. "I was hoping to catch you ladies again tonight. How would you like to come back tomorrow for some tea and a nice girl chat? We haven't properly spoken for too long and I'd also love to get to know you better Lady Annabelle."
"That sounds lovely Rebekah," Caroline replied. They all decided to meet back at the Mikaelson's estate at noon the next day. This also meant that Caroline would be seeing a particular Mikaelson too. Not that she cared. Of course she didn't...
... So what did you think? Shall I carry on? I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review behind :D Thank you so much for reading and hope you have a great day. xxx
