Summary

Young, beautiful, and wealthy Caroline Forbes should've been the talk of high society in Bath. But with blackmail hanging over her family's neck like an executioner's axe, she enters the city as a woman on a mission—find the most appropriate, most eligible bachelor and wed him quickly before disaster strikes. It's too bad the most inappropriate, unaccommodating, ineligible and plain exasperating man won't leave her be. Regency era AU: Caroline/Klaus, Katherine/Elijah, and general Mikaelson family shenanigans.

Early in the evening, Caroline Forbes entered the drawing rooms of her family's rather lavish country home. Per usual, her mother, Elizabeth Forbes, occupied her favorite chair, the French import—gilded, with pink satin cushion covers, and turned just so that she had the prime view of the gardens. Also typical, a green-shelled book rested on her lap. Unlike Caroline who strived to be the most accomplished in the lyre, in her French, and in her embroidery, Mrs. Forbes didn't take kindly to the few acceptable feminine pastimes. She got by through reading great tales of adventure and musing about how she'd like to have joined the British arms. Or taken on the high sea.

Caroline's ideas of fun were vastly different. For one, she could hardly wait for the ball that the Baron was holding in a fortnight—it would be her third since coming out. There were a million and one things still left to do to and not nearly enough time for them.

"Mama!" Caroline's steps quickened, her loose blond fringes bouncing. "Mama! I've found the prettiest ribbons for the ball. Oh they'll be so utterly perfect with my gown. Mama, you should've seen—mama?"

Caroline's hands froze while rustling through her basket of purchased goods. Her mother's back had hunched and a sound that was suspiciously like a sob left her, quickly followed by another that was most definitely a sob.

But that couldn't be.

Elizabeth Forbes wasn't exactly one of the faint, sensitive types—supposedly very fashionable these days with the ladies of London, or so the Threadway girls told Caroline.

"Is something the matter, mama? Did you and papa exchange harsh words again over…" The cushions creaked under Elizabeth as she turned. The sight of her red, puffy face shocked Caroline into silence. Temporarily.

"Mama? Please say something. What's the matter, mama? Is it auntie May? Or Papa? It was him wasn't it? I told you not to let him get to you. I don't think he means harm—he's just not very good at framing his words in the most charming, gentlemanly manner. You know he loves you, mama. He loves you so dearly. Remember last Christmas, mama? And your birthday?"

And yet, the more Caroline rambled, the more broken her mother looked.

She allowed Caroline's embrace, though briefly. Pushing her back with a gentle nudge, Mrs. Forbes drew in a long, calming breath and used her hands to smoothen invisible wrinkles in her dark skirts. When spoke, she sounded nearly normal, her deep tones holding their usual sternness. "It's too late, Caroline. I can't shield you any longer from this—though, I so dearly wish I could. I can only buy you some time."

Caroline blinked, not sure what it was that she was hearing. "Mama is—"

"Caroline, darling, I think you need to sit down for this."

Nodding, she quickly plopped down onto the nearest sofa and brought it still closer to her mother's seat.

"Caroline, do you remember our talks about sending you to summer in Bath?"

"Yes, of course, mama, but…" That hardly seemed like a topic that warranted tears from a woman unrivalled in her composure. "Did the Gilberts say no? But why? You did remember to tell mention that I'm the rose of every ball, didn't you, mama? Tell me you didn't forget!"

"Please, Caroline, that's not—what I mean to say is that I think it's best that I send you to them immediately. Would you like that?"

"Oh." That was definitely not the route Caroline had expected the conversation to take. "Yes, of course I would. Must you even ask, mama? You know how dearly I want to go."

She should know, considering the daily persistence with which Caroline reminded every single member of their household that her greatest, most ardent wish was to spend her first summer out in society at the Gilberts' Bath home. The Gilberts had no daughters themselves, but they had promised Caroline an appropriate playmate in their young female cousin who was also set to summer there. Though, Caroline was more eager about meeting young people of the other sex.

With her considerable charms, fair features, and good birth—a more than respectable inheritance of fifteen thousand pounds—Caroline was bound to be the talk of town. Welcome at every ball and dinner party. And sure to grab the attention of every eligible bachelor.

Caroline laughed startling herself as well as her mother. But she couldn't help it, and when she finished she was smiling from relief. How odd that her mother's first tears should be over something so trivial. Perhaps the change was upon her—the thought made Caroline cringe as no one liked to think of their mother aging, but it was better than the alternative.

Her mother's hands were hot when they found her, squeezing so tight the grip was a hair away from painful. And Caroline's mirth ended as suddenly as it had been sparked. "Caroline, I need you to promise me something."

"Anything, mama. What is it?"

"I think it's very, very important that you find yourself a husband quickly. I know you harbor fantasies of great love and romance—as does any girl your age—but you need to trust me, darling, your future might well depend on you finding yourself a husband promptly."

How odd.

Caroline was a wealthy heiress and not yet eighteen. She had nearly a decade of youth ahead. Why would she need to rush courtship? But when she asked her mother, the only answer she received was an insistence that Caroline should trust her. And to do as told.

"I've made arrangements for you to leave in a fortnight."

To Caroline's utter dismay, she would be leaving the morning of the baron's ball.