Hey guys, thank you so much for your kind reviews and follows! You guys are awesome! Sorry for the late update, to make it up to you this one is a bit longer than the first chapter. :D I hope you like it! (I apologise if some characters seem OOC or the historic parts are inaccurate…) Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWO

The curtains of the room flew open letting the sunlight escape and hit Caroline's eyes awakening her from her tranquil slumber.

"Good morning m'lady."

"Morning Bonnie," she grumbled. She was definitely not a morning person and the ball last night took its toll on her. "Can't I have a few more minutes to sleep?"

"I'm afraid the Lord and Lady are already waiting for you downstairs in the dining room. Shall I tell them you are feeling unwell?" Bonnie suggested. Caroline shook her head. Her parents were probably dying to find out how the ball went last night. She eventually dragged herself out of bed and made her way over to the dressing table.

"I heard Lord Matthew was returning soon," Bonnie said as she began to brush Caroline's hair untangling her blonde, curly locks and tied it into a French plaited bun.

"He is?" Caroline asked. She hadn't seen her older brother for at least two years. Bonnie nodded.

"Apparently he's coming to stay for a few months this time." The staff knew more than Caroline did about what went on in the household. Bonnie filled her in with the latest gossip as she helped Caroline get out of her nightgown and into an olive-green dress in preparation for the new day. Caroline thanked Bonnie before walking down the staircase and into the dining room.

"Good morning Papa, good morning Mama," Caroline said and gave each of her parents a kiss on the cheek. Lord Forbes folded his newspaper and placed it on the table on the arrival of his daughter. Caroline watched his face grow serious as he folded his hands and rested his chin on top of his fingers.

"How was the ball last night?" he inquired.

"Fine," Caroline teased and started eating her breakfast.

"I'm sure you had many men trailing after you dear," her mother said in an attempt to fish out information.

"Mother," She replied self-consciously.

"Well did anyone pique your interest?" Lord Forbes asked getting straight to the point. Her mind unconsciously reverted back to Lord Niklaus. But she couldn't have taken a liking to the lord, she thought. They had only met once and shared a dance together. So she shook her head.

"I did have a good time with the Mikaelsons though," Caroline said. "In fact, I'm going to their estate for tea today with my new friend, Lady Annabelle."

"Oh, Countess Pearl's daughter?" Lady Forbes asked as she sipped her tea. "They own many bookshops around here."

"Do they?" she asked.

"I recall the Mikaelson's having a few sons," Lord Bill Forbes interrupted in a suggestive tone. "I hear many great things of Lord Elijah."

"I only met him yesterday. He's a very nice man papa," Caroline replied. She knew where he was going with this so she decided to nip it in the bud. "I hope we become good friends."

"'Tis a shame," her father spoke with candour. "He is the most respectable son out of the Mikaelsons." He sipped on his tea before continuing to voice his opinion. "Heaven forbid if you had anything to do with the notorious brothers of his…"

"They're not as awful as you assume papa," Caroline said defensively. She knew Kol well when they were younger. Even though he did get up to mischief every now and then and sought after all the girls at their school, she knew that deep down, he was a good person. Lord Niklaus on the other hand, well, he did redeem himself after their first encounter, she thought. He was also dangerously charming. She broke away from her thoughts of Lord Niklaus when her father responded.

"Lord Niklaus is infamously known for his temper and attitude," he replied. "Don't even get me started on the youngest Mikaelson." Caroline knew nothing good would come out of arguing with her father so she held her tongue and finished her breakfast.

"Well I must be off now," Caroline said and placed her napkin she used to dab her mouth on the table. "Jeremy is probably waiting for me outside."

"Oh yes, how is the new chauffeur?" Lady Forbes asked her daughter. Caroline wasn't used to having a chauffeur because there was really no need for one back at her boarding school. But Jeremy had been polite and kind. He had even made a few jokes on her first day back to New York to lighten the mood.

"He's lovely," Caroline said with a smile. "He's a good driver too." Caroline got up from her seat and was about to walk out of the room when her father called out her name. "Yes father?" she asked.

"I forgot to mention that tomorrow evening, we are expected at the Petrova's. There is a dinner party to celebrate the birthday of the twins."

"That should be exciting," she noted. "But I don't think I have anything appropriate to wear."

"Don't worry about a thing," her mother waved her hand. "'I have everything prepared." Caroline thanked her mother but slightly frowned her eyebrows in suspicion. Why did she go to so much trouble for this dinner?

"Oh and our friends, the Lockwoods, will also be attending the party. They have a son your age. I'm sure you two will get along," her father added. Ah, so that's the reason, Caroline thought.

"I thought we agreed that I would get to choose whom I marry," Caroline said narrowing her eyes. She had always wanted to fall madly in love with someone naturally, not have an arranged marriage.

"You do dear," her mother chimed. "We are just providing you with more options." There was no way she would win this argument. She sighed and gave into her parents then made her way outside.

"Morning m'lady," Jeremy said with a cheerful smile. She gave him a small smile in return as she hopped into the vehicle.

"Morning Jeremy," she replied. He turned on the ignition and drove out of the Forbes' estate.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Parents," Caroline said. "You know how they can be."

"I wouldn't really know m'lady," he said quietly. "Mine past away a long time ago." Caroline immediately apologised. She couldn't believe how insensitive she had been. "That's okay m'lady. You weren't to know," Jeremy said with a weak smile. He continued on driving to Lady Annabelle's property. They had agreed to make their way to the Mikaelson estate together so that no one would be waiting for the other if one of them arrived earlier than the other. Caroline peeked outside the window as they arrived in front of the big house. She spotted Anna coming out from the front door attended by a valet and footman.

"Lady Anna," she called out to her new friend who greeted her back with a cheery smile. The footman opened the door for Anna allowing her to get inside the vehicle and sit next to Caroline.

"Thank you John," she heard Anna say to the footman. Jeremy started the car once more and drove past the gateway.

"This is Jeremy," Caroline conversed.

"Nice to meet you Jeremy, I'm Anna."

"Pleasure to meet you m'lady," Jeremy grinned at her through the back mirror and gave her a good-humoured salute making the two ladies laugh. Soon they arrived at the Mikaelson's and they were greeted by a group of staff standing outside the estate. A footman opened the car door and helped them get out. Right on time, Rebekah walked out of her family's estate to greet her and Anna.

"Ladies, I hope you had a good night's sleep after the ball last night," Rebekah said and kissed each of them on the cheek. She welcomed the two ladies into the estate and led the way to the drawing room. Each room they passed was majestic embellished with the finest statues and art. But there was one painting in particular that grabbed Caroline's attention. It was so beautiful yet so distressing at the same time. The exquisite woman in the painting articulated such pain and sorrow. She was completely engulfed by the painting, she didn't hear the footsteps of someone coming down the stairs in a scurry.

"I must be the luckiest man on earth getting to see your beautiful face for the second time in two days," a voice broke out behind her. Caroline turned around to see Kol flashing a smile at Anna. For a split second, she had honestly thought that it was Lord Niklaus who had come to greet her.

"Leave her alone Kol," Rebekah warned her brother. "We're going to have a girls-only afternoon." Perhaps Lord Niklaus wasn't even home today, Caroline thought.

"Come now sister," Kol sulked. "Why must you get all the fun?" The siblings broke into an argument that Caroline had gotten too used to in the past. She let them have their quarrel and returned her attention to the painting.

"Does the painting interest you?" a deep voice said softly. Caroline almost jumped out of her skin and she turned around to see Lord Niklaus standing in front of her.

"You scared me Lord Niklaus," she said resting her hand on her chest and took a step back feeling a bit uncomfortable with the proximity. She saw him chuckle softly.

"My apologies Lady Caroline," he said. "And you must call me Klaus. I think we're past the formalities." Caroline raised her eyebrow.

"This is coming from the man who just called me Lady Caroline?" she teased. She watched Klaus smile at the ground and noticed that he had two well-defined dimples. She had never seen him genuinely smile before. She liked it. "And yes, I'm very fond of the painting. It's very beautiful."

"I'm sure the artist would be pleased to hear it."

"Oh?" she asked. "You know the painter?"

"I know him quite well actually," he said with a grin.

"Well you must tell him for me, how much I admire his work."

"I will definitely pass it on." Caroline was going to ask why he kept on smiling when Rebekah interrupted them.

"Nik," Rebekah whined. "Not you too!"

"Alright, alright Bekah," he mischievously raised his hands in defeat making Caroline laugh. "I'll be on my way." She wished she was that close with her brother. Unfortunately, because they lived so far away, they hardly got to see each other. "I hope to be seeing you again, Caroline," he said placing his lips onto her hand and exited the parlour just in the nick of time before he could see her blush.

"You'll have to excuse my brothers ladies," Rebekah said as she ushered her and Anna to the couch. "Subtlety is not their forte."

"Perhaps they were just being friendly," Anna suggested. Rebekah laughed as if the idea was just too preposterous. She pulled down a bell and moments later, someone arrived with tea and nourishment.

"I don't think friends are what Kol has in mind," Rebekah said sipping on her tea. Anna tried to conceal her blush by looking down at her cup.

"Stop teasing the poor girl Bekah," Caroline scolded playfully. Rebekah shrugged.

"Well she should know what she's getting herself into."

"I think she can make her own mind up, don't you?" Caroline countered.

"Do I get any say in this?" Anna asked.

"No," they both replied in synchronisation and the three ladies burst into laughter.

"What about you Caroline? It seems Lord Niklaus cannot simply take his eyes off of you," Anna grinned.

"Yes, I have never seen Nik so willing to talk to someone on his own accord aside from family," Rebekah chimed.

"So Rebekah," she cleared her throat and digressed. "What about you, what have you been up to all these years? Anyone you have taken a liking to?" Rebekah narrowed her eyes being well aware that Caroline deliberately changed the topic, but she decided to let it go.

"Mother thought it best if I went to an all girls' school," she replied looking displeased. "I only recently got out of there."

"Who knows, maybe you will find someone here," Caroline commented. Rebekah shrugged.

"Perhaps at the dinner party at the Petrova's," Anna added.

"Oh yes, I do believe I was invited. Are you all attending?" Caroline and Anna nodded. "Thank the Lord," Rebekah continued. "I can't stand that woman."

"Who?" Caroline inquired.

"Lady Katherine, that's who! No doubt you heard of the scandal between her and the Salvatores. That two-faced vixen. You know last night she had the nerve of coming on to my brothers after you all left?"

"Mother's good friends with her but I don't like it," Anna replied. "She irks me." Rebekah guffawed holding onto her stomach.

"Oh I like you Anna," she said. "We shall become good friends." It had been a long time since Caroline had a girly chat like this. They spend another hour chatting until it was time to leave. Caroline excused herself beforehand in need of the restroom. On her way back to the drawing room she saw Lord Niklaus coming out of a room and gave him a small smile. She saw him looking at her with the same cold, distant eyes she came across on their first encounter. Caroline blinked her eyes in confusion. Only a few hours ago, he had been charming and eager to converse with her.

"Lady Caroline," he said indifferently.

"I thought we were past the formalities." She quoted him from their previous conversation with a smile trying to ease the tension. She bit her lip when he didn't look at all amused. He didn't even make any eye contact with her and looked uncomfortable.

"Niklaus," a voice called out. They both turned around and saw Elijah on the other side of the hall.

"If you'll excuse me," he said with a small bow. "Good day Lady Caroline." Lord Niklaus walked off and the two Mikaelsons exited the hall leaving Caroline baffled and even more confused than ever. What just happened? He called her Lady Caroline twice but earlier that afternoon, he was so keen to be on a first name basis with her. Had this been a game? Was it just a game to him? Caroline felt so stupid and couldn't believe she had actually fallen for it. She thought just maybe, he may have genuinely interested in her. Now there was nothing more she wanted to do than return home and lock herself in her own room.

.

..

.

One hour earlier

"Niklaus," a voice boomed from the other side of the room.

"Yes father," Klaus answered quietly and stepped towards his father's desk. Mikael momentarily looked up from all the papers laid out on the table to acknowledge his presence before returning his eyes onto his work. "You wanted to see me?"

"I want you to attend the Petrovas' dinner party tomorrow night," Mikael said as he wrote onto a parchment, not making any more eye contact than necessary.

"But why?" he asked.

"Stop asking such foolish questions boy," Mikael snarled. "It's the same reason for why I told you to dance with the older Petrova twin at the ball last night."

"I just don't understand what we can gain from all this-"

"Are you that daft?" Mikael said impatiently. "If you two were to be married, our families will make an alliance. It will be great for the company."

"I see," Klaus said bitterly. Of course to his father his future meant nothing more than a business deal. But he wanted to believe that his existence meant more than that. "Father, the company is doing extremely well already. Why do we need outside help?"

"This is why you'll never make it in this business," Mikael replied. "You don't think. You have a short fuse about to go off at any moment. Why don't you just go paint a picture or something?" Klaus clenched his fists and tried to remain calm. No matter how hard he would work for the family business, it would never be enough. All the meetings and presentations he set up, the contractors he reeled in, doing all the paperwork; it didn't mean anything where Mikael was concerned. Even though Kol rarely did anything, Mikael never scolded him. He never got violent with Kol like he did to him. But he preferred it that way. He could take it and it was better him than any of his siblings. "Just stand by the girl at the party," Mikael continued. "She's well aware of the arrangement too." What kind of woman was she to agree to such a deal like this? And what about Caroline? He was sure he made his affections clear to her and thought there was a chance she might actually return his feelings. He didn't want to give up on her.

"What about Finn or Elijah? Why can't they do it?" He should have known this would only make Mikael more mad but he had to try.

"Finn's busy working in the army and Elijah will be learning the ropes of the business," Mikael spat out. The only other option was Kol, but that would probably do more harm than good. And of course, Henrik was far too young to be married. There was no way out. But what would Caroline think of him once the news was out? He would have to fold every chance he had with her. It wasn't right to string her along. She deserved more than that. He would have to ignore any kind of feelings towards Caroline. God knows he wouldn't be able to resist if he just saw her again. He just hoped no one significant would be present at the dinner party, especially not Caroline.

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