Hey guys! So, I am finally back with an update and I really hope you guys will like where this story is going. I had a completely different idea in mind, but at the end I decided this would probably be best. Please enjoy!

Hoping for the best, Caroline removed the mask from her face and made her way out from behind the screen. Stepping into the sunlight, she looked over at Rebekah and gave her a hesitant smile.

"Bloody beautiful," she heard a masculine voice say and felt her breath catch in her throat.

"You- your grace," she said as she felt the blush coming to her cheeks.

Surely, he would send her away? Surely, he didn't mean those two words- bloody beautiful?

"You're magnificent," the Duke announced as he approached her slowly.

His eyes raked over her face and slowly moved down her body. She really was a beautiful woman with her bright blue eyes and flawless porcelain skin. Her nose was shaped perfectly for her face and though her upper lip was thin, her lower lip was thick enough to even it out.

"Your grace, I did not know you were here." Caroline said as she looked down at the floor.

"Well, he isn't supposed to be here, but for some reason he is." Rebekah announced as she looked over at her older brother and rolled her eyes. "I usually never agree with his grace, but on this we agree. You're beautiful." Rebekah said as she approached the blonde and smiled at her.

"I am?" Caroline asked, only looking at Rebekah.

"You are," she reassured. "Come over here and take a look at yourself." Rebekah urged as she took ahold of her arm and led her to the hanging mirror on the opposite side of the room.

Caroline looked down as Rebekah led her to the looking mirror and was having an inner battle with herself. Though she wanted to believe Rebekah and the Duke, she had difficulty doing so. After all, that was what happened after being raised by a woman who only ever lowered her self-esteem and treated her like she was nothing better than the dirt that covered the more seedy areas of London.

"Come on, look up." Rebekah urged as she gave her a reassuring squeeze.

Caroline slowly lifted her face and the sight that greeted her wrung her speechless.

"Oh my," she was able to say, her voice shaky.

Caroline lifted her hands to her face and felt the smooth skin delicately and with uncertainty. The eyes that she thought were a dull blue were actually a bright blue. There was no sparkle in her eyes, but she understood that the reason for that had much to do with the life she was forced to live and was living. Her skin was flawless and fair.

"I- I can't believe it." Caroline said as she looked over at Rebekah and then over at the Duke who stood silently on the opposite side of the room.

"All that you have known has been a lie." Rebekah announced with a shake of her head. "You were raised to think that you were deformed and ugly, but the reality is that the people who should have helped you in all the ways they could lied for their own selfish reasons."

Caroline sighed and looked away from the mirror. Walking over to the wing chair, she looked from the Duke to his sister and silently asked them if she was allowed to sit.

Immediately, the both of them nodded and Caroline sat down with a not so ladylike thump.

"I don't know what to think." Caroline confessed as she looked down at her folded hands that rested on her lap. "All these years, I despised my family, but believed them nevertheless."

"My lady, would you please tell me why you were forced to wear a mask?" The Duke asked as he approached her and looked at her face in awe.

"Oh, Nik." Rebekah started. "It really is a sordid affair. This young lady's family consists of her father, stepmother, and stepsisters. At the age of two, her stepmother declared that she had to wear a mask at all times and not look into mirrors. Simultaneously, they treated our dear lady with the utmost disrespect and disgust." Rebekah started and looked to Caroline in order for she continue.

"You see, your grace… I didn't know any better. My stepmother has a way with words and even when she means to hurt one's feelings, she acts as though she is an innocent. My father hasn't been the same ever since my mother passed away from giving birth to me. I think he blames me for taking her away from him, and trust me. If it was up to me, I would have gladly forfeited my life in order to save my mother's." Caroline confessed as she sighed and at that moment, she didn't understand why she was suddenly willing to speak about something she had no wish to speak about just a couple of hours ago.

"Oh no, don't say that." Klaus immediately said. "I for one and happy that you are here with us today. You may have had terrible parental figures, but my sister and I are here for you now. Aren't we, Bekah?" He asked as he looked over at his younger sister.

"Of course," Rebekah assured. "If it was possible, I'd have you move in here. However, I'm not sure if your stepmother would allow it."

"She wouldn't," Caroline sighed. "I'm stuck there for the remainder of my life." The blonde shrugged as if she simply accepted it.

"Don't say that." Rebekah said. "Surely your father will allow you to have a season. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll find a husband in two seconds flat."

Blushing, Caroline tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"My father listens to what my stepmother says. Hence the reason why, having a season for me is out of the question. It's okay, though. Maybe one day I'll gather enough courage to simply run away and start anew."

"Or you can just marry me." Klaus offered, shocked to have had those words come out of his mouth.

"Oh, brilliant! Mama's been nagging you to take a wife for years after all." Rebekah said as she clapped her hands together. "Oh we must start planning the wedding." She cried out as she made her way over to Caroline.

"Marriage?" Caroline asked as her eyes widened in disbelief. "But you don't even know me that well or my name for that matter."

"That can all be rectified, love. I assure you that this will be beneficial for the both of us. The sooner I get married, the sooner I can stop courting empty-minded debutantes that care only for fripperies and the next big ball."

"I don't know what to say. My stepmother will never allow it. I am certain that she has set her sights on you for her eldest daughter."

With a laugh, Klaus shook his head.

"There are many mothers that have set their sights upon me for their daughters. It doesn't mean I'll marry any of the. And truth be told, I find you fascinating. I want to show you what life has to offer outside of the house you've been living in. I want you to see just how beautiful and magnificent you are. I want you to live, sweetheart."

"But why?" She asked as she looked at him with confusion and curiosity. Surely, the Duke did not mean what he was saying… Surely he understood how rash his proposal sounded.

"Because I fancy you." He confessed. "I have ever since I met you on the terrace. You were such a mystery and continue to be a mystery. I want to fed to know you."

"Well then perhaps you should take back your proposal for the time being, your grace… Perhaps you'd like to get to know me better and see if we'd suit."

"I think we'll suit perfectly." He reassured. "And though you deserve to be courted properly, I cannot fathom having you living in the house that contains people that care nothing for you. I want more for you. And I know I sound like a madman, but it's true. I fancy you and I truly think if we marry it would be in both of our best interests."

"I- I don't know, your grace. What if a couple of weeks or months down the line you'll realize that you made a mistake? I don't want you to grow to despise me, your grace." Caroline told him as his proposal swirled through her head. Marrying the Duke would be a dream come true and a way for her to escape her home life, but she knew that the Duke deserved a proper lady. One that knew all of the rules of etiquette and how to be a hostess.

Though she listened in when her stepsisters were being taught those rules, she never thought that she'd have any use for them. Certainly she always dreamt of finding her Prince Charming, but that's exactly what it was- a dream.

"I will not regret it, love. Now please tell us your name… I'd like to know what to call my future wife."

Looking down at her feet, she kicked at the rug and put her fingers together.

"Caroline," she whispered as she gave him a quick look and then looked away.

"Caroline," he smiled. "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman." Klaus announced as he approached her and slowly reached for her hand.

Caroline followed his movements with her eyes cast downwards and as he took ahold of her hand, she looked directly into his stormy blue-gray eyes.

He gave her a reassuring smile and placed his lips on her knuckles. Then, he looked at her.

"Marry me, Caroline. Make me the happiest man in the whole of England."

Caroline wanted to refuse… She really did, but she couldn't help but listen to her heart on this one point. Both her mind and heart were having a battle with one another, but for the first time ever her heart won out.

"Okay," she said as she gathered enough courage to look into his eyes for more than a couple of seconds.

The betrothed couple smiled at one another and were lost in their own world. However, Rebekah's clapping and squealing brought them out of their reveries.

"Oh, this is absolutely wonderful!" Rebekah announced as she grabbed Caroline excitedly and gave her a hug.

"Welcome to the family, Caroline." She said. "But my god, we have so much too plan. What do you say about a wedding at St. James? I think it'll be the perfect place. And then we'll have the wedding breakfast here. But really, I should ask mother to help us. She'll certainly be surprised, but she'll be happy to finally have her son married."

Caroline looked at her with nervousness and bit down on her bottom lip.

"Great idea, Bekah darling. How about you go and find mother and I'll get to know Caroline more." Klaus offered.

Looking between the two, Caroline shrugged and then left them alone in the bedchamber.

"Your grace, please… Is there anyway that our wedding can be a small affair? I may have taken off my mask in front of you and your sister, but I'm not ready too in front of the other people. I don't want to sound like a ninny, but I'm ju-just not ready."

"I understand," he reassured as he led her to the wing chair and urged her to sit down.

Once she was seated, he sat down across from her.

"I don't wish to have a large wedding either, Caroline. Which is why I am about to offer an alternative idea."

"An idea?" She asked as she perked up and waited for him to speak.

"Yes," he nodded. "Let's elope." He offered.

Caroline was scandalized by the idea of eloping, but it did have a certain adventurous angle to it. After being under the control of her stepfamily, she wanted to feel that freedom she read in the different novels she owned. After all, she escaped from real life by diving head first into the novels. She lived vicariously through the heroine and dreamt of a hero of her own. Perhaps the Duke was the hero to her heroine… Perhaps this was a gift sent from those that lived above.

"Let's do it," she agreed as a large smile appeared on her lips.

There you have it! So, some of you are probably thinking 'what the hell just happened?' well, good question. So, Caroline has taken off her mask and told them about her family as well as her name. Klaus proposed a marriage and Caroline agreed. Now, in the next chapter I am going to have them running off to get eloped. I hope you guys enjoyed this and if you didn't, I am sorry.

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~Hana :p