Chapter 2: What plans may come…

There was little Caroline disliked as much as people trying to organize her life for her.

Maybe spiders. Or black pudding. Or those annoying, gossiping ladies at every ball she had ever attended. But people meddling with her personal matters were the worst.

Caroline felt perfectly capable of making her own decisions. Which was why she hated waiting for Rebekah just so the other girl could tell her a plan to snatch a husband.

So, as she was sitting in the Gold Room of the Mikaelsons' home – a small sitting room which was called so because of the golden sunlight that filtered through the large windows every morning- Caroline fidgeted anxiously, much to the annoyance of Bonnie and Katherine who had stopped by to chat over tea.

"Caroline, if you don't stop looking out of the window I swear I will throw a biscuit at you!" Bonnie declared, holding her weapon of choice threateningly up for the others to see.

Caroline only glanced at her for a second before peeking out again, huffing.

"You would never throw that at me," she stated drily, not even considering the option, "you like Cook's biscuits way too much to waste one of them as a missile."

Next to Bonnie, Katherine chuckled, but stopped shortly when Bonnie shot her an annoyed glance.

"I still don't understand why you won't tell Rebekah that you don't want her to make a plan," Katherine started, taking a biscuit herself. Caroline sighed.

"You don't know Rebekah like we do. Once she puts her mind to something there's nearly no stopping her," Caroline whined, while Bonnie only nodded.

"You should do as I do, and just admit defeat. If her plan is too obnoxious we'll just tell her, we won't participate. And who knows, maybe her plan is brilliant."

Caroline only stared at Bonnie for a moment.

"You do remember her brilliant plan to sneak into a ball before our debut?" Caroline reminded her friend.

"Or that time she tried to roll Kol into the lake while he was asleep? Or when she wanted to 'lighten your skin' with lemon juice?"

As Caroline went on, Bonnie winced and grimaced, remembering the incidents.

"Maybe her plans weren't always brilliant," the darker skinned girl answered, making Caroline roll her eyes.

"There hasn't been one brilliant plan and I've known Rebekah since we were one," Caroline told Katherine, who had watched the exchange and grinned.

"Well, I guess there's a first for everything," the Petrova twin shrugged, sipping her tea, "Maybe," she added tentatively.

Just then, the Butler entered, clearing his throat.

"The Viscountess of Fallsend for Miss Forbes," he declared, looking at Caroline expectantly, who sighed again.

"She's welcome to join us, Marcel," Caroline told the Butler, who promptly turned around to get Rebekah.

When Rebekah joined them she had an annoyed look on her face, glaring at Marcel as he left.

"That man has known me since I was a little girl, yet he pretends I'm a stranger every time I come to visit," she murmured.

"Maybe that's because he has been in love with you ever since you were ten and yet he had to watch you marry Matt because of social hierarchies," Bonnie mentioned, only to be waved aside by Rebekah.

"That was a childish infatuation, he should be over it by now," she stated, sitting down next to Caroline.

"Oh, you're here, too," she then added as she saw Katherine, who smiled sweetly at her.

"Just here for a visit," the dark haired girl told her, her tone a bit too nice, making Caroline frown.

"Just stop it, you two. Bekah, Katherine didn't even know Matt was married to you when she talked to him and you should see it as a compliment to your impeccable choice in men. And Katherine, Rebekah can be overprotective sometimes, she doesn't mean to be rude. So, both of you: Get over yourselves so we can talk about whatever nonsense Rebekah has come up with!"

Caroline's tone was so strict, Bonnie choked on her tea, leaving her to cough as the other to girls looked at each other with little sympathy. Katherine merely shrugged her shoulders.

"Fine by me," she murmured, just as Rebekah stated "I can be civil."

When Bonnie had collected herself, she took a deep breath and looked at Rebekah expectantly.

"So," she started, "what's this great plan you've come up with? And why did we suddenly have to meet here instead of your home?"

Rebekah smiled at her, her look a little apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I'm not quite finished with my plans for you, Bon, but I found the perfect solution for Care!" she told them excitedly, not even realising how Bonnie sighed a breath of relief while Caroline blanched a little.

"My plan is as simple as it is brilliant! We just need to find an eligible gentleman to court you, Caroline. Men are like sheep. If one gentleman seeks your attention, all of them will!"

She smiled at Caroline who crossed her arms in front of herself.

"Yes, that is a great plan, Rebekah," the other blond told her friend, sarcasm dripping from her words, "because eligible gentlemen are always just walking into this place, wanting to court me!"

In that moment, a commotion could be heard in the hall and Caroline glanced at the door, while Rebekah's smile widened into a grin.

"Marcel, I swear to God, if you don't step aside this instance, I'll have to punch you!" a dark voice growled – a voice Caroline knew just too well.

"Rebekah!" the voice boomed and Rebekah chuckled.

"Yes, Nik, we're in the Gold Room," she called calmly, while Katherine whispered "Who's Nik?" to Bonnie.

"What the hell is the 'Gold Room'?" the annoyed voice could be heard again and Caroline turned to Rebekah as the faint voice of Marcel explaining that 'Gold Room' was the new name of the Blue Parlour could be heard through the opened door.

"Rebekah, what is Klaus doing here?" Caroline hissed, while Katherine this time whispered "Who's Klaus?" to Bonnie.

Rebekah ignored Caroline and looked expectantly at the door.

"Niklaus is my older brother," she told Katherine who nodded in understanding, as they listened to determined steps getting closer, "and he's Caroline's salvation."


Niklaus Mikaelson had always felt different from his brothers. He had never understood the inner workings of his father Mikael's mind, and while he felt a deep devotion for his mother and siblings – even Kol, the moron- his relationship with his father had been tainted by abuse and anger ever since he was a little boy.

So, when his mother unwillingly admitted Mikael was indeed not Klaus' father, Klaus had been elated, even though it meant a huge scandal.

When Mikael had been ordered to the war front, half a year had passed before Esther received an apologetic letter, telling her her husband had died in battle, leaving her with two young sons on her own. The mourning time went by, but since Klaus' mother was still in her youth, many gentlemen started courting her again, and one dashing Duke caught her affections.

But, just before they would have gotten engaged, Mikael miraculously returned. He had nearly died, but some villagers had nursed him back to health.

Esther should have been ecstatic; the only problem being Klaus who was already growing under her heart.

Mikael knew about the pregnancy but took his wife back, anyway, and they had three more children, while his resentment of the illegitimate son was plainly visible in the way MIkael raised Klaus.

So, as Klaus turned fifteen and learned about his true heritage, he sought out his real father, Ansel – not to raise any claims or to find a new family, but rather to understand what kind of man he might grow up to be. He expected his father to be angry and to be unwanted in Ansel's family, but as Klaus approached the man he reacted quite differently. Soon, Klaus learned about an illness his true father had currently caught, leaving Ansel's lungs weakened and his death imminent.

Since Ansel had never remarried or sired any other children, Klaus suddenly was his one chance to pass on his title to his own bloodline. Against everything that was proper in society, Ansel acknowledged Klaus as his son, leaving him a mansion, money and the title 'Duke of Norleans'.

As much freedom this brought to Klaus' life, it also brought more trouble. Mikael banned Klaus from his former home and forbid his siblings and mother to call on him. To Klaus' relief Mikael's quick demise followed these actions only half a year later.

But no other scandal could obliterate Esther Mikaelson's liaisons with the Ansel out of wedlock from society's gossip, until Klaus started to attend balls the previous season because of Rebekah's begging, since his sister wanted him to take a look at possible suitors. Suddenly it did not count how Klaus had obtained his title – the important thing was he was at a ball, he was a (good looking) bachelor and he might be interested in marrying a nice young lady to make her a Duchess.

As soon as Rebekah decided on marrying her Viscount Klaus had fled the country, deciding that a stay in Italy would be enough to escape meddling mothers and eye- batting ladies.

The only problem was that Klaus soon realized he missed his family terribly, therefore returning to London just in time for a new season of annoyance.

Klaus had not attended any parties yet, but he had told his sister the afternoon before how much he dreaded to be out in society again.

Which left him where he was now: Summoned by Rebekah in a letter to attend 'Tea Time' at their mother's home, because of a brilliant plan his sister wanted to share with him.

Even though Klaus doubted Rebekah's plan could be anything more than an annoyance, too, his desperation and his devotion for his family had made him attend anyways.

So, as he strode into the 'Gold Room', as the stupid room was now called, he expected anything – except for the group of people sitting there.


When Klaus entered the room, Caroline could do nothing but stare. Luckily, her mother had spent much time moulding Caroline into a perfect lady, so her staring did not include an open mouth, but still – she had not seen Klaus in about seven years and he was quite changed.

His stride had purpose and he was surrounded by an air of pride and dignity Caroline had not seen on him before. He had grown into his role as Duke.

When he realized Rebekah wasn't alone he straightened, before bowing graciously.

"Sister," he nodded towards Rebekah, then turned towards Caroline, where his gaze lingered for a nearly unnoticeable moment, "Miss Forbes."

Then he acknowledged Bonnie and Katherine.

"Miss Bennett, how nice to see you. And I don't think we have been introduced," he stated looking at Katherine.

"This is Katherine Petrova, who just moved to London recently," Rebekah introduced them and while Klaus nodded and took in Katherine's foreign features, Caroline saw a certain amount of interest in the other girl's eyes. Even though Caroline would not admit it, she didn't like the way Katherine took Klaus in.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Petrova. Where did you grow up? Slovakia?" Klaus asked and Katherine batted her eyelashes, just the way Caroline's mother had always wanted Caroline to do it.

"My sister and I moved here from Bulgaria, your Grace," Katherine answered and Klaus nodded in agreement.

"I'm looking forward to hearing more about that," he told the girl smiling, before turning back to Rebekah, "but right now I'd like to know why you summoned me here, dear sister."

Rebekah smiled at him.

"Can't a sister miss her brother?" she asked innocently, which made Caroline roll her eyes – a gesture Klaus seemed to notice but didn't comment on.

"Any sister might, but you, my dearest Rebekah, always work on an agenda," Klaus told her sweetly, and Caroline silently congratulated him on knowing his sister better than his older brothers, who always bought into her innocent behaviour, giving Rebekah whatever she liked.

"I am offended, Nik. Here I am, thinking about a way to make your life in London less 'horrible', as you put it yesterday, and all you do is make me look bad in front of my friends!"

This time even Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Well, lucky for you, Miss Bennett and Miss Forbes should already be aware of your scheming nature and if Miss Petrova didn't know before I might dare to say it will benefit her to know about it rather sooner than later," Klaus mocked, sitting down on an armchair as Bonnie, who tried not to laugh, offered him a cup of tea.

"Miss Petrova might already be suspecting as much," Caroline mumbled and even though her comment was not very loud Klaus shot her a grin, before sighing.

"Alright then, Rebekah. How do you plan to 'make my London life less horrible'?"

Caroline could see that Rebekah was contemplating playing the hurt and sulking little sister, but soon decided against it. Klaus was not the kind of brother this would work on.

"It's simple. You need to make clear you only intend to court one lady," Rebekah started, but Klaus interrupted her.

"I have no intention to court anyone, Rebekah," he growled, "first of all it would be exhausting to have to put up with some silly chit – no offense to you ladies- and second of all it would be very unfair to the lady whose time I would steal while not really intending to marry her!"

Rebekah crossed her arms in front of herself.

"Of course not. But you'd be helping a friend. While men tend to be left alone by most other women once they make their intentions to marry someone clear, a lady that is courted by an eligible bachelor like yourself will suddenly find herself the centre of attention of many other gentlemen," Rebekah explained her plan, stopping Klaus as he wanted to interrupt again.

"And since Caroline," she motioned towards Caroline who wanted to bury herself into the ground, "is in dire need of gentlemanly attention you'd both profit from this arrangement."

Klaus stared at Caroline, who in turn glared at Rebekah, who just stood up.

"I think this might be a formidable time to show Katherine the gardens, don't you think so, Bonnie?"

Bonnie jumped from her seat, followed by a clearly startled Katherine.

"We'll see you later, Nik, I think you and Caroline might need to talk things through," Rebekah smiled, and suddenly Caroline and Klaus were left alone in the room.

Author's Notes:

I hate explanatory chapters. But sometimes they have to be done.

The next chapter will be more interesting, I promise!

Please tell me what you think!

Thanks for reading (and reviewing).

Ria