A/N: Hey guys, so sorry for the late update! Uni has started and RL has been getting in the way (by that I mean watching TV shows...) Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, it really does motivate me to write faster. And also thank you to those who followed and fav'd my story. You guys are the best! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter and see you at the bottom~
CHAPTER FOUR
Caroline watched as Klaus lowered his gaze onto her lips, his eyes filled with desire. His face drew closer and closer to hers and it all seemed to play in slow motion. She was torn. There was nothing more she wanted than to crush her mouth against his full lips but she knew she couldn't. Desperate to stop what she knew was coming, Caroline abruptly swung her palm across his cheek with a loud smack. His head jerked left and her eyes widened as she watched him raise his hand to his now tightly-clenched jaw. She breathed in and out heavily, her chest rising and falling. She just realized she had been holding her breath the whole time and her lungs were in desperate need of air.
"You may not be a gentleman," Caroline finally said. "But I am still a lady." She tried not to let his strong gaze affect her as she continued to speak. "You can't just touch people like that and you certainly cannot try to kiss them!"
"Why not?" he smirked clearly enjoying her all riled up.
"Lord Niklaus!"
"Come now sweetheart, by the sound of things, it wasn't just me who enjoyed it," he teased making Caroline's jaw drop.
"I, I di-," she stuttered, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "I did not make any noises…" Klaus only laughed at her denial. "Anyway," she said clearing her throat. "We must join the rest of the guests before anyone starts to get suspicious."
"Listen, about that… there's something I have to tell you-"
"Consider yourself very lucky Lord Niklaus," she interjected. "I shall make things easier for you and pretend that this never happened." She moved out of his grasp and headed for the hallway when he caught her by her arm.
"Love, I really need to-"
"If you wish to court me," she interrupted once more. "You must do it properly. I shan't be wooed by some quick rendezvous and a few stolen kisses. Well, almost kissed. I would have done a lot worse than just a slap if you had met me on the lips. Lord knows if that happened, I-"
"You're rambling Caroline." She shot him a glare before taking a deep breath. With her hand on her hip, she raised the other to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear whilst pretending she did not hear his remark.
"So I will be in the drawing room," she said, her pitch a little higher than usual. "Goodbye Lord Niklaus." And with that, she walked away.
.
.
Caroline eventually found her way to the drawing room and sighed with relief when she saw Anna, who was standing next to the fireplace with her back facing her. Anna was sipping a glass of champagne in front of Kol who seemed to be failing to get her attention.
"Anna," she overheard Kol say in a hushed tone as she walked towards them. "Please believe me when I say that Lady Katherine and I were merely exchanging a few words. She is not the lady who has me bewitched."
"Lord Mikaelson," Anna said in a sarcastic tone. "You have nothing to explain for it is none of my business." Caroline saw Kol raise an eyebrow.
"I must say, though it doesn't particularly suit most women, you do look rather lovely in green," he grinned. She saw Anna scoff at his insinuation and cross her arms.
Caroline cleared her throat and made herself known to her friends.
"Oh Caroline," Anna said after turning around. "Where have you been? I could not find you anywhere."
"Uh, I was…" she replied slowly trying to come up with an explanation.
"I guess I'll leave you two lovely ladies to chat," Kol said with a small bow and walked away.
"Well?" Anna asked her once more.
"I, um…"
"Lady Annabelle?" a footman called out. Caroline exhaled, thankful for the interruption..
"Yes?" Anna answered.
"Pardon my intrusion but I'm afraid I have some bad news…" the grey-haired man said with his hands clasped in front of him anxiously.
"What kind of bad news?" she heard Anna say worryingly.
"We have just been informed that your mother has collapsed," the man explained. Anna gasped and Caroline instinctively placed her arm around her for comfort. "The doctor is with her now; she is being looked after as we speak."
"I must go to her," Anna uttered. Caroline nodded.
"Of course," she said to her. "Jeremy will take you there."
"But how will you get home?"
"With my brother and parents, don't you worry about me."
"Thank you Caroline," Anna said appreciatively holding her hand for a moment before exiting the room.
"What's going on?" Rebekah appeared next to her.
"Anna's mother has fallen ill. Anna's on her way home now," Caroline explained.
"Poor thing," Rebekah sympathized. "I hope it's nothing serious."
.
Before long, the sound of a spoon clinking a champagne glass drew everyone's attention to the host of the party. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank all of you for coming to celebrate our daughters' twentieth birthday," Lord Petrova announced. "I would like to make a toast. To my beautiful children, Tatia and Katherine; I wish you excellent health and all the happiness in the world. Happy birthday my darlings." The guests all raised their glasses in agreement and broke into applause.
"But before we return to the festivities," Lord Petrova continued. "I have a little announcement to make. Tatia? Lord Niklaus? Could you please come up here for a moment?" Gasps and whispers spread among the guests.
"Oh no…" Rebekah murmured. Caroline's heart raced as she watched Tatia and Klaus walk up to Lord Petrova and stand next to him. "No, no, no," Rebekah continued.
"I am thrilled to announce that Lord Niklaus and my daughter are engaged!" The guests cheered on with excitement. Caroline felt a sudden pain in her chest. When she finally had the strength to lookup, she found none other than Lord Niklaus watching her. Before she could register anything more, he turned away as Lord Petrova gave him a congratulatory pat on his shoulder. She then saw Lady Tatia lace her fingers around his hand. Her heart tugged once more and waves of embarrassment crashed in as she remembered the speech she gave to Lord Niklaus just a few moments before. She had told him to court her when his fiancée had been in the next room. The applause seemed never-ceasing, she felt herself drowning in the sound when someone took her hand and squeezed it tight. She looked up to see Rebekah and her sympathetic look. She gave Caroline a nod and held on to her hand tighter.
"Let's raise our glasses to the handsome couple!" Lord Petrova shouted. Caroline fought the urge to cry, never letting Rebekah's hand go, and watched the guests celebrate the night away.
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Finally, the celebration drew near to a close and the guests began to leave. Caroline stood at the foyer waiting for her family. She couldn't wait to get out of there, she wanted nothing more than to go home and for the over-eventful day to end.
Lord Elijah came to speak with her earlier, shortly after the announcement, probably wanting to know how she was coping with the news of Lord Niklaus being betrothed.
"Lady Caroline," he had bowed.
"Lord Elijah," Caroline replied softly not able to look him in the eye as he kissed her hand.
"I hope you are well?" he asked.
"I am thank you. And you?"
"Caroline," he sighed. Without saying another word, Elijah offered her his arm which she hesitantly took unsure of what was happening, and led her to a more private area. "We are friends, are we not?" Elijah asked. Caroline slowly nodded. "Then I will ask you again. Are you well?"
"I…" she began to say. Before she could stop it her tears finally caught up with her and poured down her face. Her shoulders shook as she wept. Elijah reached for his jacket pocket and took out a handkerchief, offering it to her which she gratefully took. He must know, Caroline thought.
"Rebekah told you?" she sniffled. Elijah lightly smiled.
"Lady Caroline, it was not very difficult to make the connection. After all, I did see you two at the ball and the very next day when you came back with Lady Annabelle for tea." Caroline smiled weakly and dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief.
"Thank you for this," she said quietly. "I should get back now. My family will be looking for me. But really, thank you."
"Any time, Lady Caroline."
.
.
"Where is Caroline?" Klaus demanded.
"Calm down Niklaus," Rebekah hushed her older brother. "I sent Elijah over, hoping for some damage control," she said with glaring eyes. "I hope you're happy Nik."
"Rebekah-"
"I can't believe you didn't even tell me," she interrupted angrily. "Not even Elijah. Or Kol."
"I was set up!"Klaus yelled in hushed tones. "Mikael arranged this. I had nothing to do with it!" He watched Rebekah blink a few times processing the latest trouble Mikael had caused.
"Father did this?"
"Are you even surprised?" he spat out. "What am I supposed to do?"
"You must tell her." Klaus sighed. "Niklaus! She deserves at least that much!"
"Alright, I'll talk to her," he reluctantly agreed. He walked a few steps away from her when he turned back. "Thank you, sister." Rebekah smiled at her big brother before snapping back to reality.
"Now go fix it!"
Klaus had at last found the blonde beauty. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he regained composure and straightened his tie and collar of his dinner jacket. He was about to make his way to her and explain everything when a hand grabbed his wrist.
"There you are," an irritated voice called out.
"Tatia."
"I've been looking all over for you," she huffed.
"And now you've found me," he replied dryly.
"We need to talk Klaus."
"Can't it wait? There's something of great importance I need to take care of first."
"For Pete's sake Niklaus! If you are going to go after Lady Caroline then I swear to God I will call this engagement off, right here, right now," Tatia hissed. Klaus opened his mouth surprised by how much she already knew.
"Of course I know about her, do you consider me a fool? So is this what you want- to destroy your family's reputation and everything you have ever worked for, for some silly girl?" she demanded. "Make your choice. Now. Or I will make it for you."
Dun dun dun... so a little rough patch for our fav couple but don't despair- plenty of Klaroline goodness coming up! Thanks for reading and please don't forget to review! :)
P.S: I was also wondering how long you wanted this story to go on for, I've got a few ideas for short and long so please let me know what you would prefer. Or if you just want to talk TVD, that's fine too ;) like that spoiler about Klaus sleeping with someone in the next ep who might not be Caroline?! asdfghjklasdfghjkl