So a snippet from my eventual Pride and Prejudice Klaroline story that will happen one day. (This scene may change some when it's actually published)
She usually enjoyed dancing. The movements were rehearsed, practiced since she'd been a child until the point where they had become part of her, sinking into her bones through the years. She flowed through the steps, the others around them doing the same as they moved through the lines, between partners before always coming back to the one they had started with. There was a sense of control to the steps that Caroline craved, her life having spiraled out of her grasp so wildly in the past year that she had no idea when she would ever be able to put it back together again.
Every day brought about new changes, new means of pulling everything apart at the seams, but at least she'd had her dancing. Even now though the comfort of that was taken from her as she was forced to endure Klaus' company one more time. She didn't understand why he'd sought her out to dance. Hadn't he made it clearly known how little he valued her at the last ball? Was this a way to further embarrass her? Or a trick to try and pull Bonnie further into the twisted circle that was his court?
Whichever it was she didn't like it but carried through with the steps, not shrugging off his hand when it touched her back as he led her forward before they turned together, synchronised with the rest of the dancers. Getting herself killed because of Klaus' temper wouldn't end up helping Bonnie at all.
"I'm surprised that they're playing this one," Caroline commented as Klaus took hold of her hands, trying not to shiver as he let his linger longer than necessary as they drew apart again. "I thought it had fallen out of fashion." It was one of her favorites though, reminded her of when her father had helped teach her the steps, memories of stepping on the tops of his shoes as he helped her move fresh in her mind.
"It has, but I heard that this one was rather popular around here, still loved by many," Klaus informed her, gaze on her face just a touch longer than necessary.
She didn't like how he was watching her, that curling of his lips as if he was glimpsing something he found interesting not at all what she wanted to see. This was definitely not helping her stay under his radar. "I would have thought you knew better than to listen to idle gossip."
When she figured out which of the locals had mentioned it offhand to him she was going to need to have some stern words, most likely accompanied by compulsion to insure there were no further slips of tongue.
"I find it to be quite telling." Klaus smiled, hands lingering longer than necessary against her arm, along her back as they continued to move. "You find out more from neighbors than you might from the person you're seeking to learn more about."
"Only if you can't be bothered to actually speak to whoever it is you wish to know more about." Her gaze locked with his for a moment, unyielding as the words slid easily out of her mouth. Caroline had never done well with holding her tongue. Not even it seemed against Hybrids who could snap her like a twig. "And if that's the case there's really little point in the knowledge you've gained. Unless it's simply gathered in order to exploit whatever it might be that you want from someone."