Ch 10

She had never danced so much in her life. Once her first dance with Elijah had ended she had been whisked away into another dance. Then another. And another!

During her second dance, with a gentleman who had locks of red hair and bright eyes, she caught glimpses of Klaus and Katerina. Katerina laughed at something he had said, a bright sound filled with her flirtations. Caroline's third partner was shorter than her previous two, he had beady eyes and a round face but his conversations were entertaining, Elijah had asked Katerina to dance during this set, she could feel Klaus' gaze on her back the entire time. By her fourth dancing partner, the two lords of the castle were most attentive to their special guest, and her feet were eager for a rest.

Why should she care if Katerina received more attention than herself? Caroline was well used to that. And it mattered little, she was a prisoner here, no matter how many times she was told otherwise. She had not been invited long ago to stay here. And the fact that she was invited gave the impression that she was of significance to one, maybe both, of the brothers. If the men were real lords, not monsters in wolves clothing- she refused to even think of them as sheep, then that would mean she was here to be a bride for one lord. But as they were not normal men, she could not wrap her mind around why she was here.

Before she could be whisked away into another partner's arms, she made a quick retreat to the sides of the great hall trying to catch her breath and give her feet a much-needed rest. To her surprise, she had found herself standing next to the man of the hour.

She grinned unabashedly at him, completely forgetting the stinging sensation of seeing him dancing with Katerina, keeping her friend close to him throughout the evening. "Hiding from your own party?" She teased him.

He glanced at her sideways, a look she could not make out settled over his face, "I suppose you're right, I only turn 514 once."

514? That shocked her. She knew he was old, but to have an answer to a question she wasn't sure she'd receive an answer to was surprising, in many ways. Quickly recovering, she smirked, "I am right. Glad to hear you've caught on." She laughed in a giddy way that surely told of her nerves. Barreling on, she said, "Birthdays are a wonder on their own, are they not? I think they're wonderful."

"Do you enjoy the attention...a birthday brings?" His eyes were dark, mocking in a way. His jaw ticked. A tell of his. He often did that when he lost at their games, or when she tried his patience during a discussion. She had said or done something offensive to him, or at least troublesome. She sobered up, waiting for the storm.

She swallowed, eyeing him warily, "I did not-I mean-" she stuttered trying to make some sense.

He chuckled at her response or lack thereof before he closed his mouth.

Instead, he surprised her.

A charming smile, one she didn't trust, graced his lips as he turned to her, "Dance with me, love." Her heart leapt into her throat for yet another time that night. His eyes bore into hers. An intense stare that turned her stomach. At her unsure gaze he continued, "Surely, you would not deprive me of this small request. After all, it is my birthday." His voice carried around him, no doubt by design. A challenge to refuse him? Bend to his will? If she refused him...the consequences would be great. Caroline would have to bend, something her pride hated.

Biting her lip on a barb that had almost clawed its way out of her mouth, she nodded her acceptance. "No, my lord," her voice, though sweet to most, held mocking bite to it she was sure he had caught.

He laughed under his breath as he held his hand out to her.

She grabbed it, a little too forcefully to show her ire, and was pleased to see she did not shake. His hand was warm. For the briefest of moments, she wondered how they would feel on her bare arms. And as quickly as it popped into her head she banished it to the place she sent her silly little heart.

She allowed him to lead her back into the middle of the room, a place she had been keen to avoid. Caroline supposed he did this on purpose too. Throwing her back into the waters she was attempting to escape. Then again, it was not fair of her to assume he meant ill all the time.

God, how her heart fluttered in her chest. Reminding her of the forest. The frantic escape she had attempted. How she found herself inexplicably back behind these walls. With barely a second to calm her frazzled nerves, the music started. To her surprise, she knew the song well.

"You know this?" His abrasive behavior towards her earlier long forgotten.

Yes. Quite well. Her mother had taught her this song. A favorite of theirs. Biting her lip, she nodded. "The singing portion."

"I should have asked for a song then."

"And I would have declined."

He laughed, "I have no doubt of that, love. Maybe, if it was not amongst so many people, you would reconsider?"

Her cheeks felt hot. This had been a bad idea. She regretted it as soon as the dance started. This particular dance had movements that brought the partners very close. Their hands clasped. Bodies almost flush as they turn. Faces always turned to watch the other's, each intense stare clashing with the next close encounter. It was a dance for lovers. Everyone at Court said so. Katerina loved this dance. Her latest playthings would pay handsomely to partner up with her on this dance. Little trinkets or gold, it did not matter.

"You look ravishing in that dress, sweetheart." His smile was warm this time setting her nerves on edge again.

"I hadn't the time to go to a tailor," she shrugged.

Klaus chuckled again, "I admire that fire in you, Caroline. It's refreshing."

The dance took them into another too-close turn. His face drew close to her's, "You've deceived me, love."

"You'll have to inform me of the time I was dishonest to you, I must have deceived us both."

They broke apart as the turn ended. Klaus was all toothy smiles for her. The vexing, confusing, insufferable man!

"As I recall, something about 'not a refined dancer'. And yet, you dance gracefully."

She huffed, smirking, "And I recall that being my sisters' opinion. I never said I was a poor dancer. I have many talents, thank you."

"I stand corrected." His smile warmed her cheeks and chest. She looked away.

They turned once more. Caroline relaxed.

"I was surprised to hear of your previous relationship with our new guest." Caroline's face, all smiles now, suddenly fell at this. Quickly, she smoothed it into a mask of indifference. She liked to use it at Court when she played chaperone to her friend or a nuisance to her sisters. When she felt the most unwanted by others, she would hide behind it. Klaus had not caught this, having asked spoken just as they turned away. He continued, "Katerina had told me that you two were quite close." He frowned upon seeing her face.

She offered a pale imitation of the smiles she had just graced him with. "Yes, Katerina has been my friend for several years now. I have not seen her for two years, 'till tonight."

With caution in his eyes, he pressed further, "That must have been a trial, then."

"Indeed, it was." Her eyes cast down now, the dance had ended.

Klaus offered his arm to her which she reluctantly took. He led them to their original spot.

"It is tough to live in another's shadow." He spoke low, his eyes boring into hers. Trying to convey a hidden meaning behind his words. "I think, we are not so different, Caroline."

Her breath caught in her throat at his observation. He took her hand then, kissing it with a gentle reverence she had not thought him capable of. Her chest felt light like a breeze had picked up her beating heart to take with it. And for a moment, they were alone. No musicians. No dancers, no guests. No Katerina. Just them. Two wandering souls seeing their equals in each other.

The spell was broken as Katerina, guided by Elijah, giddily walked up to the pair. Klaus had let Caroline's hand go. She grabbed her own to replace his lost warmth with hers. She smiled graciously at her friend. "This has to be the best party I have ever been to."

Klaus nodded in acknowledgment.

Elijah spoke up, no doubt to hide his brother's rudeness, "An honor, my lady. In truth, my brother and I would not have had quite the success if it was not for Caroline."

Caroline looked first at Elijah in mild surprise and then at Klaus in a reprimand for his poorly disguised chuckle at her reaction. "Thank you, Elijah."

Katerina beamed at her friend, "Caroline has always been eager to help. Once, I had a stocking tear and she-"

"Lady Katerina, would you care for some refreshment?" Elijah was quick to silence her friend before she embarrassed her further.

Katerina smiled and fluttered her long lashes at him, "I would like that very much."

Caroline rolled her eyes, smacking Klaus' arm for laughing at the two, while the others were preoccupied with each other.

Klaus soon joined his brother, something about grabbing wine for each of them, leaving the two women alone.

Katerina wasted no time in talking to her friend, "Isn't Lord Niklaus so eligible?"

"I suppose... if you like impetuous and quick to anger men-then yes. He is very eligible."

Her friend scoffed at her reply. "You're no fun. I suppose you'd say that Lord Elijah is stuffy and boring."

Caroline shrugged at her friend, a teasing smile on her lips, "I think a smile would likely kill him."

Katerina laughed, "Then he is a dead man walking for I've seen him smile thrice now."

Caroline laughed genuinely at her friend. How very right she was.

Safely tucked away into her room, the hour nearing sunrise, Caroline readied for bed. The party only having just ended an hour ago.

Her room now housed another bed just a few feet from hers. Katerina sat on one, her own bed. How it appeared in this room she would never know. She combed her dark locks, a dreamy expression on her face.

Caroline settled into her own bed. Eager to rest after a night filled with lots and lots of dancing.

"I don't know how I'll decide." Katerina's voice was soft, wistful.

Sitting up, Caroline leveled her friend with a warning gaze, "Don't."

Katerina looked at her friend, confused at her forwardness, "'Don't' what?"

"Do not play your games with them."

"Why ever not? I like to have a thorough knowledge of my suitors before deciding whom to marry." She smirked coquettishly.

Blushing at the suggestion her friend painted with her words, Caroline huffed in annoyance. She doubted that the two brothers had designs on her hand in marriage. If Klaus had told her the truth, then they were hundreds of years old. Why get married to a girl from Bulgaria with a small dowry and no title? Nothing made sense in this place. "Kat, I'm begging you."

"Are you in love with one of them?" Kat smiled devilishly at her. Reminding her of him.

"No!" Caroline replied a touch too fast. She tried to cover it up, "No, it's not like that, I'm simply warning you as a friend, these men are not like those at Court." She couldn't tell her what they really were. Doubted her friend would even believe her.

"I'll think about it." Kat tossed her brush on the side table before hurrying under the covers.

Caroline would have to accept that answer. Tomorrow, her friend would likely go back to what she did best. As she laid in bed, she remembered what it felt like to steal a kiss from his raspberry lips.