A/N: There will be bodice ripping! (Just not in this chapter). Feedback is welcome and appreciated.

Chapter 2: Free

"They're here!" Corinne said, as she ran past Sophie in a flash of curls and petticoats.

"Corinne!" Sophie's mother admonished as the girl flew down the stairs. "You mustn't be too eager," she said while she fixed the young girl's hem. Genevieve was already poised and waiting in the foyer to greet their guests and Sophie reluctantly joined them. Their mother opened the door to greet the three young men. "Entrez, messieurs," she said with a wave of her hand.

As they entered Sophie took stock of each of them. The youngest, Colin, always looked as if he was laughing at a joke no one else had figured out. He was smug and self-assured. Corinne gazed up at him longingly and it was all Sophie could do to not kick her in the shin and bring her back to reality. The oldest one, Elijah, was charming her mother and Genevieve with his manners. He certainly looked honourable with his aristocratic face and gentleness mannerisms. And then there was Nicolas. He was staring at her curiously and she hoped he hadn't been watching her size up his siblings. They headed towards the dining room and she found herself seated between him and Corinne. She tried to keep her mind on using her best table manners, knowing her mother would never forgive her if she were anything less than perfect in front of their guests. Sophie left the entertaining to her sisters who were more than happy to carry the conversation.

"And you?" Klaus said turning to her.

"I'm sorry, what?" Sophie asked. She'd been so focused on trying to not fawn over him, she'd tuned out the conversation completely. Her mother looked at her reproachfully.

"Monsieur DeMichelier asked if you would like to accompany him riding tomorrow," her mother said.

"Please call me Nicolas," Klaus offered politely. He turned back to Sophie and she felt herself blush involuntarily from the heat of his gaze.

"I'm so sorry, Nicolas," Sophie said sincerely, ignoring her mother's disapproving face. "I'm going to see my grand-mére tomorrow."

"Well perhaps I can accompany you," Klaus suggested, undeterred.

"That would be wonderful," her mother said, before Sophie could rebuff his advances. "Sophie is absolutely devoted to her grandmother. If you don't mind the ride out to the plantations." Sophie saw a sliver of a chance and tried to capitalize on it.

"I'm sure the monsieur would not want to make the journey just to see grand-mére's shack," she said. "Surely you have better things to see here in town.

Klaus gave her a knowing smile. "I would love to see the plantations. I'm sure it will be very … educational."

Sophie sighed knowing there was no way out of it now. By tomorrow, she'd be alone with him and she still didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

"Well that was a waste of time," Kol said donning his hat. "How about a real hunt, brother?"

"It wasn't a complete waste," Elijah said. "At least not for Niklaus. Though I'm sure you'll still want to hunt tonight."

Klaus, who'd been distracted by his own thoughts, turned at the sound of his name. He wasn't in the mood to go watch Kol play games with some unsuspecting whore down by the docks but he didn't relish the thought of being alone with Elijah and his probing questions either.

"You two go ahead. I'll find you later," he said, with no intention of keeping his word.

"Fine," Kol replied. "But save the little one for me." After the two of them headed off, Klaus found himself standing outside the girls' bedroom window. They were all doing their nightly rituals. Genevieve was sitting in front of her mirror while Sophie brushed her curls. Sophie's own hair fell in dark waves down her back, and made her look much younger than she had at dinner. Klaus couldn't help but notice how attentive Sophie was. It was endearing how she listened to her sister prattle on and on. Eventually, the youngest sister, Corinne fluttered into the room like the innocent bird she resembled. Out of her finery the girl looked all of twelve and Sophie doted on her like she was a baby. After flitting around the room, the girl settled into bed and Sophie tucked her in before extinguishing the candles. Even without the light Klaus could see her face as she lay in bed.

"What do you really think about him?" Genevieve whispered from across the room.

"Who?" Sophie said, turning so she was facing her sister.

"You know who," her sister whispered fiercely. "Nicolas"

Sophie turned away so her sister could not see her face. "I still don't know what to think," she said. But Klaus could see the hint of a smile on her face.

"He's very handsome," Genevieve prodded.

Sophie sighed. "If being handsome were the only requirement, I'm sure you'd already have a man."

"You're so mean," Genevieve said flopping around.

"And you're jealous," Sophie murmured. Klaus almost laughed at her insolence. She turned towards her sister. "You're right, he's very fine and I hope he falls in love with me and we have dozens of babies. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Fine, keep it to yourself. But I know you like him. If not you wouldn't be trying so hard to convince me otherwise." Sophie didn't answer but Klaus could see her face in the moonlight. And she didn't disagree.

The next day when he arrived at her house, Sophie was waiting at the door with a basket of goods for her grandmother. She greeted him politely and he helped her into his carriage, which was comfortable and cool after standing in the humid air. Once they were on their way, he turned and asked about where they were going.

"Belle Rouge," she said, in her accented French. "It's where I was born."

"You were born on a plantation?" he asked with a hint of surprise.

"My mother was born a slave. It's hard to keep your mistress and children close by and he didn't want to sell us to someone else so my father gave us our freedom when I was still a baby and we moved to the city."

"And you come here to visit your grandmother?" Klaus asked. "How does your father feel about that?"

"Papa doesn't mind, he just prefers if I avoid the big house."

"Do you see him often?"

"When he wants to see my mother." Klaus made a disapproving sound. "I know it seems … cold, but he loves my mother. My sisters and I are just … he takes care of all of us."

Klaus reached over and took her hand. "My father was … well let's just say he wasn't the most approving. But my mother loved him. Does your mother love your father?"

Sophie looked him in the eyes. "How can you love someone who owns you? I don't know if I believe in love, but I know that love is only true when it is given freely." Unbidden, she found herself moving closer to him, her fingers tightened around his.

"Nothing worth having is free," Klaus said. "It always costs something." They were so close Sophie could feel the heat of his breath on her lips. Her face tipped up and when they connected Sophie felt as if she'd been moving towards this all her life. His fingers threaded in her hair as he pulled her closer. She felt her body responding involuntarily. Her lips opening against his soft insistence. His intensity frightened and exhilarated her and she grabbed on to him like a lifeboat when she didn't know she'd been drowning. Finally Sophie pulled away to catch her breath. Klaus reached for her again but she pulled away. "I'm sorry monsieur, that was improper. I apologize."

Klaus shot her one of his self-assured grins. "Don't worry, love. I'm not sorry at all."

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Klaus could tell that she needed space and even though he didn't usually care about things like how someone felt, he still wasn't sure if he could compel her to forget all the things he planned on doing to her.

When they arrived at the plantation, Klaus helped her out of the carriage and picked up the basket she'd brought for her grandmother. As they walked towards the slave quarters, he asked her questions about her family. He liked watching the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her mother and sisters. She loved them dearly, he could tell, even though they exasperated her. They had almost reached the last shack near the fields when Sophie saw her grandmother and started towards her, her brown curls flying. Her grandmother looked up and saw Sophie running towards her and dropped her broom, embracing the young girl. Though she was much older, Klaus could see the resemblance between the older woman and Sophie.

"Ah chér," her grandmother said. "Let me look at you." Even from far away Klaus could hear the woman's accent which was a mix of French, Spanish and Cajun. Sophie turned to introduce him but before she could say anything, her grandmother turned to Klaus and gasped. "Diablo!"