Chapter 4

Caroline gave up all hope that her grand rug would ever be saved, defeated she moved to relieve some of the pain from her sore, and most likely bruised knees.

"Bonnie!" Caroline called out to the woman, grabbing onto the small end table to help her off the before mentioned knees.

"Countess? Have you managed to fix the issue of the blood?" Bonnie always tried her hardest to present herself far more educated than she was, opting to adopt her mannerisms to that of the mistress of the house, however improper the mistress tended to be.

"Unfortunately I feel as if you were correct in your assumption all along, my dear Bonnie it is now time to replace this monstrosity. Please ask Mathew to remove it, do not throw it out! I am going to ship it to that infuriating man and make him compensate me handsomely."

Bonnie smiled at her mistress' cunning behavior.

"I will make sure he hears and understands your message my lady." Giving a low curtsey Bonnie left the drawing room to fetch Mathew.

Klaus opened his door when he heard the knock. A man stood holding a letter out, another two men were in the process of carrying a large rolled rug into the small room he was staying in at the time.

"I will need your signature sir."

With the signature given, and the men gone he settled on the desk chair and began to read.

"My dearest and oldest friend,

Niklaus, you have made it quite impossible for me and my dear servants to remove your mess off of my glorious rug. You have to understand, it was my favorite, and the fact that you have taken it upon yourself to degrade it in such a manner has made me have to ask (please understand I say ask loosely) for you to acquire me the exact rug, my drawing room just will not be the same without it. You have reduced me to becoming the laughingstock of the neighborhood. I expect your reply by the end of this next fortnight, along with your presence in bringing my new rug that you will so kindly obtain for me.

Yours always,

Countess of Avignon"

(her seal a rose under the moon.)

/KC/

Caroline was incredibly happy to be touring Italy, a goal of hers that no other exotic land had yet to fill. Klaus had taken her to China, Japan, Spain, and Prague but was also talking about parts of Africa and Greece next. To Caroline, Italy could have been their first and last destination, she adored the cultures and people that she had the chance to meet and experience in the other places surely, however, there was something about the air, and general splendor of Italy that found her captivated. She was sure this would be a wonderful place to live. Klaus and Caroline had been traveling together now for the past three years, she had found out about his affiliation to blood quite early on. Caroline felt she had taken it in stride, with only her minor meltdown she continued on to be with him anyways.

Caroline walked down the narrow backstreets trying to get out of the major crowds. As she was walking she spotted a few women in front of her, all very beautiful and up on the modern trends, it was one of them however, that really stood out to her; The woman was tall, not unnaturally so, just noticeably. She also did not seem to be wearing any perfume, unlike her friends, her scent was pleasing.

"Excuse me? Does anyone speak French or English?" Caroline addressed to them in English.

The woman Caroline was trailing nodded her head, enthusiastic to use her abilities that her friends obviously lacked judging by their confused stares in Caroline's direction.

"I can speak English. Can I help you with something?"

"Yes, in fact you can. If you would be willing to help me look for my companion, Niklaus, he and I seem to have separated in the crowds. It can be quite terrifying trying to walk around in an unknown country by oneself."

The woman smiled and nodded, she turned to her friends and spoke quickly in Italian waving them goodbye before moving back to Caroline.

"Where was the last place you saw this man, Niklaus?"

"Last I knew we were to meet near the fountain, the one with all the children running in and around it? I remember there seemed to be a pretty mural done around it, a mermaid I am sure. Do you know the one I am speaking of?"

"Yes I know that, it is not too far from here, I am a little surprised you got so far away from your chaperone."

"Indeed I must confess that I was looking up at the buildings before I started following the scent of fresh bread, I have this uncanny ability to find food wherever I go it seems."

The woman laughed and proceeded to move with her in the opposite direction they were walking. The fountain was soon found and Klaus was in a panic looking for Caroline, he had left for a few minutes and she had managed to run off, sometimes he felt he was taking care of a child. Anything shinny and new or "cute" drew her attention and left him alone to worry. Upon seeing her he marched over, ready to tell her just how he felt about her little stunt.

"Before you say anything" Caroline hastily spoke in French, holding her hands up in the universal sign of surrender.

"I just want to say that I found your dinner." Caroline moved so he could see the woman whose name she still had yet to receive.

"No perfumes, beautiful, and she smelt lovely from what I could tell. I imagine you will be a better judge on such things, I do, however, feel that I did a wonderful job in finding you a young woman, do you not agree?"

Caroline gave him a smug grin as she started to walk towards the stranger once more, transitioning flawlessly into English once again.

"This is my dear friend Niklaus, he finds you to be a most enchanting woman and would love to escort you back to your group if he may."

"That would be a wonderful" she spoke a bit lower into Caroline's ear
" He is quite handsome." The woman practically purred to her causing the latter to roll her eyes, if only she knew the truth.

With this Caroline decided it was time to take her leave, before walking too far away she threw Klaus a quick warning.

"Do try to not make too much noise…and mess if you would, there are some lovely side streets she took me on that would be much out of the way."

"You are after my heart dear Countess of mine!" Klaus shouted grinning mad.

It had been over the course of a few hours that Caroline was forced to divert her attentions in other ways, she was alone in the small inn, after having walked the entire perimeter of the establishment and she was then forced to make her way to the even smaller garden that was located in the back. It had a pleasant little idea of a seating area that she found highly relaxing as the sun began to set, allowing for the unusually warm temperature of the day to lessen in the slightest. It was at this time also that the wind decided to keep her company, as it moved through brush, caressing her like an old friend after a long distance appart. Caroline was worried that she was in great danger of falling asleep.

/KC/

The fortnight was almost up and Caroline had not heard anything from Klaus in the time since she had slammed the door on his face. By this time, she was getting worried that her excuse to see him again would not pan out in her favor.

Yes, she loved the rug she obtained from the east indies, yes it did make the drawing room complete, and yes, she was completely provoked to get back at him for the little stunt that he pulled in her home. How was she supposed to react when in the middle of a party that she was hosting he had to come in and caused such distress to her guests. Thankfully the man killed was nothing but a footman for the Lord whatever his name was, she would have to send an apology to him soon…and maybe a new boy, after all it was only right.

The door was knocked upon and shortly after Matthew was there to answer it, the post had come and unfortunately it came with a package. Matthew walked all around the large expanse of the home, asking to anyone in passing if they had seen the lady, with no one giving him an affirmative he knew exactly where to go. It was not widely known that the Lady had a sanctuary that was only disclosed the select few, Matthew was shown the place not twelve month before.

Taking a turn at the lakefront entrance he slowly made his way down the cobblestone path, a canopy of vines filled with flowers hung around it and created a hidden walkway and roof. Stone walls flanked the pathway on each side each so intricately carved showing a different fairytale story that would take hours to truly marvel at. Having been down this path so many times before, Matthew no longer had to stop at each carving and statue; instead he walked at a brisk pace finally getting to the towering wrought iron gate that held a multitude of beauty locked behind it.

Turning the key Matthew managed to move some of the ivy that had grown so tightly around the gates hinges, the sound of the protesting door creaked and mewled letting him know it was time to service.

Behind the door looked like something that escaped Eden or a writer's fiction tale. The grass was overgrown in the best possibly way. There were trees that littered the ground, nothing seemed to have any reason to it. I guess you could say that's where the charm of it all came in. The scent of roses and wildflowers permeated the air. In the distance you could see what looked to be a large windowed bird cage, it was surrounded by different statues of every mythology that the Lady Forbes could get her hands on. The bird cage itself was actually filled with a small table, cushioned bench, and a few chairs. A ladder was laying casually against the wall and allowed you to climb up to the balcony, where a large array of pillows and blankets met you.

This is where Matthew often found Caroline. She was either reading, day dreaming, or sleeping. In here the only sound was the chirping melody of the birds that decided to make a residence for themselves and the bell like trickling of the small stream she had built for her that started at one end and fell through a waterfall to urge the waters path to the other side.

"My lady, I do beg your pardon. The post man came today, there is a letter for you"

Caroline looked at the man and gave him a questioningly.

"There is more is there not Matthew? What is that you are keeping from me?"

Matthew turned away looking very uncomfortable with what it was he had yet to tell her. It would surely hurt her to know that her darling Niklaus was not going to make the appearance she had been waiting for so long.

"There was a large package that came as well. The post said that the letter and the package were to be together, he had been given direct orders that it should be so. My Lady, I am sorry to let you know that the parcel you had requested from the Lord Mikaelson has shown up, I have instructed the men to place it back into the drawing room for you to view."

Caroline sat up slowly looking at Matthew directly in the eyes, she had not expected this to happen, it is not how it was supposed to. Klaus was supposed to bring the new rug to her directly, why must he always do what was not to her liking? He should have known better than this, did he truly not want to see her again? Then why show up to her home in the first place? Caroline was only left with questions, there was nothing left for her to do but to rectify the situation immediately.

"Matthew, prepare the coach. I will be leaving shortly. Tell Bonnie to prepare me something more formal to wear. I am, after all going to see an old acquaintance."

Caroline gave him a sly smile to hide the truth that was in her eyes. He had always known better, everyone did. It was Klaus who told her that she was far too expressive.

"Yes m'Lady I will do so at once."

The ride to the inn Klaus was staying at was nothing short of a torture. Why did he choose a location so far out of the town? It was quite the astonishment for her. Caroline exited the coach and was received warmly by the portly man who must be running the establishment.

"I am here on business sir, you have a man staying here, Lord Mikaelson. He is quite tall with long light brown hair?"

"Yes, yes I know just the man you are talking of. Allow me to escort you to the room."

"That will not be necessary I assure you. If you could but give me the key to his door it would be greatly appreciated."

The older man stood there for many a moment before returning to her, an uneasy smile was placed upon his round face, the little wisps of greying hair that was still attached to his head fell a bit from the comb-over he was sporting in his haste to get her the item she had requested of him.

"Understand me sir, I have no intention of allowing a black cloud to come over your lovely Inn, I am truly here for the sake of business, it seems my package came from the wrong person. I am here to get the information straight from the source."

Walking up the stairs and leaving the man to his own device she decided it was time to see Klaus again on her own terms. Using the key, she opened the door not caring if he heard her or not. Klaus however, was not in the room.

"Of course, every time I wish to see him he always seems to be gone, yet I host a party and he shows up." Caroline huffed her annoyance and decided to stroll around his room, picking up and examining everything in it. The room was just so him everything about it screamed his very presence. The smell was a musk and ink mixed with a slight twang of the metallic that can only be related to blood.

Klaus walked into the room immediately smelling her in there, sure enough there she was in all her glory sitting on the foot of the bed.

"Good evening Niklaus, what poor manners it is to make me wait."

Thank you all for reading this chapter! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed and favorited this story, it really means the world to me!

Evander