Hey guys! So, I introduce my brand new fanfic to you lovely people and I do hope that you will enjoy this one because I sure am!
A Masked Beauty: Cinderella with a Twist
She wore a mask to shield her face from the scrutiny that would surely befall her- after all, those around her thought her to be strange... The man that fell for her, however, always thought that she was perfection personified.
Enjoy :)
London,1809
"There is to be a masquerade ball at the Duke of Haversham's residence." Caroline's step sister said, not knowing that the blonde was listening in.
"We are most definitely going to go then." Her other step sister said as the two girls began to giggle.
"Silence, my beauties." The Marchioness of York ordered as she looked between her daughters with her dark, cold eyes narrowed.
As Caroline strained to listen in, she made sure to keep her mask firmly intact. After all, ever since Caroline was but of two years of age, her stepmother ordered her to wear a mask because she was seen as being deformed in the marchioness' eyes.
Unfortunately, Caroline's own mother died whilst birthing her and ever since then it seemed like her father didn't see her at all. For good reason, she told herself.
After all, it seemed like her father tolerated her, but never protected her from his second wife's harsh hand and even harsher words.
Feeling the tears forming in her eyes, she swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in her throat and solely listened to the conversation that her step family was having with one another.
"The ball will take place by week's end at his grace's residence, so we must call upon the modiste."
"So, we will be going then?" The older of the two questioned as she looked over at her mother with a curious expression in her equally cold eyes.
"Why of course, my dear... After all, I do intend to see one of you married off to his grace before the end of the season."
"I want to marry him!" The younger of the two cried out as she moved on the balls of her feet.
"We shall see," the marchioness responded. "Oh, how I am blessed to call the two of you my daughters!" She cried out. "Unlike my husband's daughter."
"Ew," the girls said in unison as they scrunched up their noses in disgust at the thought of Caroline Forbes.
Shaking her head, the blonde looked away and quickly shuffled to her feet before she darted up the stairs and into the attic that she called home.
Once in the safety of her tiny bedchamber, she collapsed on the straw mattress and turned on her back. Soon thereafter, the tears began to fall no matter how hard she tried to push them away.
A day before the masquerade ball, Caroline was in the kitchen with Cook. As she was helping the elderly woman with the dough, Cook spoke up.
"Will you be attending the Duke's ball?" Mrs Higgins asked as she came around the counter and put a gentle hand on Caroline's shoulder.
"Attending the ball?" Caroline asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.
"Yes, child." Cook said as she turned the blonde in her direction and gave her a reassuring smile. "You must go, sweetheart." She told her as her eyes lit up happily.
"I cannot," she shook her head. "I do not even have a costume and the marchioness does not allow it."
"The marchioness can go to the devil if she would like, but I am not going to allow you to wallow in your misery whilst your terrible step family is out enjoying themselves."
"I have never been to a ball, Mrs Higgins." Caroline replied as she looked down at the dough that she was rolling and thought about just how lovely it would be if she truly did attend a ball.
"Exactly," the elderly woman said as a matter of factly.
"Exactly?" She asked as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and looked back at her. "Whatever do you mean?"
"You are a couple of years past the coming out age, but it's better late than never, so I will not be taking no for an answer. You will attend this ball and you will enjoy yourself and for once, you will not feel ostracized because everybody will be wearing a mask. Are we understood?" She asked her as she placed her hands on her hips and looked directly into the girl's blue eyes that looked so empty.
"Even if I wanted to attend the ball, I would not be able to. As I said before, I do not even have a costume and I really do not want to attend such an extravagant ball wearing the plain black mask that I do everyday."
Sighing, the woman took ahold of Caroline's hands and squeezed gently.
"Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror without your mask on?" She asked, her voice soothing.
"No," she responded immediately. "I only ever take it off when I am having a bath."
"And has anybody seen you without your mask on?" Mrs Higgins questioned as she pursed her lips in a curious manner.
"No," Caroline replied. "I only ever remove my mask when I must, but even I do not know how I look without it. The marchioness and her daughters say that I look strange and deformed and frankly, I believe them."
"But why, sweetheart? What if those monsters are simply jealous of your beauty?"
"I am not a beauty, Mrs Higgins. Rose and Alexandra are, though."
"Rose and Alexandra may be lovely in their own right, but a person's soul is truly what matters and those two girls neither have a soul nor a heart." She told her. "Much like their mother," Cook added in as a second thought.
Sighing, Caroline shook her head and looked away from Mrs Higgins.
"As much as I want to attend this ball, I cannot. I do not even know how to dance properly." Caroline argued looking for a number of different reasons to use as her excuse in order to not attend.
"You may not be the greatest dancer, but your speech is impeccable as is your etiquette skills. Whoever comes across you will immediately be smitten by your intelligence and beauty."
"My intelligence, perhaps, but definitely not my beauty. Also, I do not wish to confuse anybody that approaches me. I do not want them to believe that I am some diamond of the first water when in reality I am some deformed girl that lives in the attic."
"Child, if not for yourself than do it for your mama. Lady Forbes was a genteel woman and if she was here today, she would want you to make your come out and most of all, she would want you to be happy."
"But my mama is not here." Caroline said. "I killed her." She added as she placed her hand on her mouth and let out a sob because it was true. After all, twenty one years ago on a cold winter night, she was brought into the world while her mother was taken out of it.
"Oh, my darling..." Mrs Higgins said as she embraced the younger girl and ran her fingers gently through her blonde curls. "You did not kill your mama and deep inside I do believe you know that. It was not your fault nor was it your mama's, but God seemed to believe that it was the right thing to do."
"God was wrong." Caroline simply said as she hugged Mrs Higgins back.
"You mustn't say such things, Caroline. God is good and very soon I believe that you will understand that."
"I do not think so." She told her. "I honestly do not even believe that God exists, but that is just me."
Shrugging, Cook waved her hands away before she took ahold of Caroline's hand and pulled her.
"Where are we going?" She asked, the confusion evident in her voice as she looked around the halls that were thankfully empty.
"You'll see in a moment." Mrs Higgins answered as she moved quicker than usual and with a spring in her step.
As they darted up the stairs, the elderly woman led her to a closed door and opened it with s soft click. When they entered, Caroline stepped over the threshold and was momentarily stunned speechless as she took in the beautiful beige colored walls and feminine white four poster bed. As her eyes wandered around the room, she spotted the elegant drapery and a floral painting. Looking down, she realized that she stood on the softest rug ever.
Moving further into the room, her eyes widened as she touched a fluffy white cloud design on the wall.
"Who's bed chamber was this?" She asked even though she had a good idea.
"Your mother's," Mrs Higgins told her as she squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"That smell..." The blonde said as the lovely fragrance invaded her nostrils.
"It smells of warm vanilla, doesn't it?" Cook asked as she smiled.
"Yes," Caroline nodded. "Did... Um, is this my mama's scent?"
"It is," she smiled. "Sit on the bed, sweetheart." She urged as she gave her a little push.
"Uh... I do not know if that is wise." Caroline told her as she swallowed thickly.
"Nonsense, Caroline. Sit down on your mother's bed and look around you."
Nodding slightly, Caroline did just that as she moved towards the edge of the bed. Taking a seat on the bed, she relaxed as she felt the soft mattress under her.
"This is where you belong, Caroline." Mrs Higgins told her. "Not up in that dirty attic."
"I do not have a say in where I am to stay, Mrs Higgins and you know that... My father does not even know that I exist anymore."
With a sad nod, the elderly woman made her way to the chiffonier and opened the door. As Caroline looked into the chiffonier, her breath hitched in her throat and she sprung up.
"Wow," she said as she moved towards the beautiful red dress.
"This dress was you mama's, Caroline and though you may not believe me when I tell you this, Lady Forbes would want you to have it."
"But where will I wear it?" The blonde asked as she reached out and ran her fingers down the silky material.
"You may wear it tomorrow." Mrs Higgins told her... "And do not worry about wearing the mask you wear now because I will make you a new one that will match this dress."
"Oh, Mrs Higgins!" She cried out. "Will you really do that for me?"
"Of course," she nodded. "Now, I do think we must get back to the kitchen or else the marchioness will truly have a fit."
"Doesn't she always?" Caroline asked as a laugh broke free for the first time in a long while.
"She does, indeed." Mrs Higgins agreed, smiling from ear to ear.
On the night of the masquerade ball, the Duke of Haversham descended the staircase followed by his mother and siblings. Not waiting for them to follow, he moved towards the servants and reached for a glass of champagne.
Adjusting the mask that he wore, Niklaus Mikaelson groaned because he didn't really want to be here. Of course he didn't have much of a choice considering that he was the host of the ball...
"Mingle, son." Esther Mikaelson, the dowager duchess commanded as she eyed her son with disdain in her blue eyes.
"I am," he said, rolling his eyes in her direction.
"Darling boy, you have an obligation to the family- one that involves you getting married to a proper woman and producing an heir within a short amount of time."
"Mama, I have told you over and over again that I am not yet ready to get leg-shackled to some empty-headed chit. When I am ready, I will marry, but as of right now it is out of the question.
"Oh, Niklaus... Look around you! There are so many eligible young ladies here that would give limb and bone to marry you and yet you remain in a darkened corner.
Huffing, Klaus looked away from his mother just in time to see a woman slipping out onto the terrace.
"If you would like me to mingle, then I shan't disappoint you." He said sarcastically before he walked away from the dowager duchess.
As he moved past the ball goers, he heard the debutantes giggling behind their fans and he wishes this night to be over.
Once on the terrace, however, he was met with a comfortable silence. Walking further into the terrace, he spotted the woman that captured his attention. Moving towards her, he took in the sight of her wearing a magnificent red dress that seemed to be a couple of decades out of fashion- on her, though, it looked stunning.
"My lady?" He said as he stepped up besides her.
The girl looked up at him with a nervous expression in her eyes and he gave her a warm smile.
"Are you enjoying the ball?" He asked, trying to get her to speak up.
"Yes, my lord." She said, giving him an awkward curtsy.
"Good," he smiled. "My mother will be most pleased to hear that our guests are enjoying their night."
"You- your mother?" The girl stuttered as her eyes widened.
"Indeed," he nodded. "And may I introduce myself to you?"
"Of course," the girl replied.
"Very well." He smiled. "Niklaus Mikaelson, the Duke of Haversham at your service."
"Niklaus Mikaelson, the Duke of Haversham at your service." The man told her and immediately Caroline took a step back.
"Oh my," she cried out. "Hello, my lord- uh, I mean your grace." The blonde quickly responded.
The man actually chuckled in her direction and she felt her own lips forming into a smile.
"Please call me Klaus. I abhor being called your grace." He told her as his eyes roamed over her body enthusiastically.
"Are you certain, your grace? I do not know if that is the wisest idea."
"It may not be wise in polite society, but we are alone, aren't we?"
Looking around her, she gave him a slight nod and he gave her a wink.
"My darling lady, may I know who you are?" He asked her as he reached for her hand and gave her a kiss on her knuckles.
"Um... Well, you see..." Caroline began saying because she didn't know how to respond. She couldn't exactly tell him that her name was Caroline Forbes and that she was the Marquess's of York's daughter because the beau monde didn't even know she existed.
"I am afraid not." She finally told him. "After all, we are at a masquerade ball, are we not?" She questioned, giving him one of her signature smiles and hoping that she didn't look awkward.
"That is true, indeed." He agreed. "Very well, then... Perhaps another time." He told her as the strings of a waltz began playing indoors.
"Yes, perhaps." She said. "Now, I must be going."
"Nonsense!" He said out loud. "At least do me the honor of giving me this dance."
Bloody hell, Caroline thought as she looked into the laughing eyes of the Duke of Haversham and found herself wanting to say yes to his offer.
There you have it! So, I do hope that this first chapter captured your attention, lovelies! Hopefully, this one will be a success! (fingers crossed)
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~Hana :p
