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"Monsieur DuPont didn't lend me the money," said Stephan the next morning in bed.
Camille sighed. "Don't think about those things now," she said.
Stephan looked at her. "How can I not think about it when in just a couple of days the tariffs are due?"
"God will help us," she said. Camille left the room and went into her daughter's room. "How are you feeling day, Annie?" she asked.
"Good, Mother, much better," she responded. "And father? How is he?"
"What do you think? He's a bit nervous about his visit with Monsieur Erik Levesque," said Camille.
Anne stopped, combing her hair and looked at her. "Why is he coming over?"
"Your father wants to thank him for yesterday and since he's coming in the middle of the day, I invited him for lunch," said Camille smoothly. "So I beg you to be attentive with him."
"Mother, be honest with me," she said. "Have you and Monsieur Levesque spoken something to do with me?"
Camille shook her head. "Non."
"It's just that it seems strange that he has accepted a lot of invitation from you, Mother," said Anne.
"Well, I'll tell you the truth," said Camille. "Since Monsieur DuPont doesn't want to lend us the money to pay the tariffs and your brother has made a friendship with Erik, well… I've thought we should ask him to help us."
"B-But why him? We have lots of friends that can lend us money."
"Because Erik isn't from Paris and barely makes any social life. The less people know about our problems, the better it is," explained Camille. "So, get ready so when he comes you can receive him as it should be."
"Come in, Monsieur Levesque," said Stephan quietly as he sat in his bedroom. Erik smiled politely at him and entered the room. He looked like a quiet, simple man by the tone of his voice. He didn't know why he made him nervous. Stephan was probably the only person that has accomplished that. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure is mine, Monsieur Durand," said Erik.
"Please, sit down," said Stephan. Erik sat down on the couch next to Camille. "I want to thank you for your help. If it weren't you, instead of having lunch, we'll be having a funeral."
Erik chuckled. "Non, I don't it was the severe."
Stephan smiled. "It might be so, but either way, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope I can correspond to you in anyway."
"The important thing is that you are feeling better."
"Merci," said Stephan. "I hear that you are a composer. The best in all of Paris."
"I'm flattered, but I wouldn't say that best," lied Erik. I am the best, he secretly thought.
"And you come here from time to time from Orleans, right?"
Erik nodded. "That's where I live. I don't really enjoy the city life."
"Mm, and you don't get bored just composing music all day?" asked Stephan.
Erik frowned and shook his head. "Why would I be bored? I like to compose and sit in my music room all day, it distracts me, but other than that, there's a lot to do in my manor and I have a plantation to worry about a bit further away from my manor. To be honest, I enjoy doing that rather than… socializing," he said glancing at Camille.
Stephan grinned. "Wow, there aren't many youngsters that prefer the work over the enjoyment of the parties, and that says good things about you, sir." Erik smiled proudly, hearing that coming from such a man.
Meanwhile, Anne paced endlessly on the back porch of the house waiting for her parents to come out with Erik. "Don't tell me that, Aunt Charlotte," said Anne, sneezing. "You're always informed about my mother's plans."
Charlotte looked shocked, being accused that way, but blushed knowing it was true. "Alright, let's say that your mother gave Levesque permission to visit you, what's the problem?"
"The problem is that I'm betrothed with Maurice," said Anne.
Charlotte looked at Anne as if she grew another. "Betrothed? How can you do that? We don't even know him."
"I know him," said Anne. "And I'm satisfied with that."
"More water, Monsieur Levesque?" asked Camille.
"Oui, s'il vous plaît," he said.
"I'm glad that there still are young men that honor the value of work," said Stephan. "My son, Ricard, is a lazy man who has never worked a day in his life."
Camille sighed, giving Stephan a look. "I don't think Monsieur Levesque cares about our own personal family issues, either way it's time for lunch."
"I would like to join you, but my doctor said that I have to stay in bed," said Stephan, apologizing.
"Which you haven't done, but there will be another opportunity to speak to Monsieur Levesque again," said Camille. "He wants to continue visiting. He's told me about his interest in Annabelle.
Stephan looked up at Erik curiously, while Erik glared at Camille. "Really?"
Erik sighed. "If you permit me, of course."
"I thought that Monsieur Durand already knew that I wanted to court his daughter," said Erik as they headed down to the dinning room.
"I didn't have time to speak to him about it, but he gladly accepted," said Camille.
"And your daughter doesn't know either?" said Erik, getting frustrated.
Camille shrugged and shook her head. "Well, non, we agreed that we weren't going to tell her, so that she won't think that we're in agreement."
"We agreed that we wouldn't speak about me helping you financial, but I thought you would speak to her about my interest in courting Annabelle," he said, facing her.
Camille gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry. It was my bad from my part, but no worries I won't interfere anymore," she said, walking pass him. Erik rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe this woman. "Come this way, please, Monsieur Levesque."
Erik let out a breath as Camille took her where Charlotte and Anne where at. He couldn't help, but notice how beautiful she was today. Anne looked him nervously as he stared at her. She was starting to get annoyed by her mother's perseverance to get Erik closer to her.
"You remember my sister, Charlotte, right?" said Camille, breaking Erik's thoughts.
"Oui, of course. How are you, Madame Roux?"
Charlotte smiled at him. "I'm fine and there's no need to ask you how you are. You look in perfect health," she said with a flirty grin.
Erik barely could catch her words, seeing Anne. "They told me you were sick," he said, nervously.
Anne gave him a small nod. "A small cold, but I feel better. Thank you," she said, ready to leave, but her mother stopped her.
"Sit down, Monsieur Erik. I have to go to the kitchen to make sure everything is alright," Camille said, leaving the room. Erik immediately went and sat across from Anne, not taking his eyes off her. She had to contain herself from not rolling his eyes him. Camille smiled happily as she saw Erik's reaction through the doorway. She took one last look and headed towards the kitchen. She stopped cold when she saw a man in military uniform stood at the door.
"Bonjour," he said to the maid. "I would like to speak to Monsieur Stephan Durand. My name is Maurice Martin."
"I'll tend to him, Ada," said Camille, walking towards the door. "How dare you come to this house?" she hissed.
"I suppose you're Annabelle's mother," he said.
"Yes, and I order you to leave this house immediately," she responded. "My husband is sick. He doesn't receive visits and even less from someone who comes to shame him with foolish requests."
"I'm a military man just like your husband," Maurice, proudly.
"Really?! Between us and you is a fine line that no one crosses. I want you to get it through your thick skull. Neither my husband nor I will ever accept someone of your class to ask for Annabelle's hand in marriage."
Maurice sighed. "Fine, please excuse the intrusion," he said, giving her a military bow before he left.
"Annie, why don't you talk about your gardening," suggested Camille as they ate. Anne looked up from her plate and at Erik. He had hardily said a word through the meal, but when he did his voice almost echoed against the walls of the dinning room.
"W-Well, it's nothing special," she said. "I just do it to make time fly by."
"I have a small garden in my manor in Orleans. Maybe I can send you some plants," he suggested.
Anne gave him a small smile. "Non, thank you, there's no need to bother."
"It's no bother," he, smiling at her. Anne almost gasped as his eyes turned into a deeper blue color. "It'll give me great pleasure."
Ricard laughed. "Cheers," he said, rising his cup in the air. After lunch, Ricard offered a glass of brandy to Erik in his father's study. "It's just that Belle isn't used to speaking with men," he said, pouring him a glass. "She's shy."
"Maybe this man isn't into her liking," said Erik, taking the glass.
"Oh, Erik," he said, informally. "Give her time."
"I want you to be honest with me," Erik said. "Does your sister have another suitor? Someone that she particularly likes?"
Ricard smiled. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"
Erik took a drink from his glass. "I don't know. She's a very pretty woman."
Ricard kept on smiling. "Would you like a cigar?" Erik shook his head, looking at him curiously. "There's no one, Erik. I can be sure of that. If there was someone else, we would have known by now. Now, let's toast for you and Belle," he said, holding up his glass, but Erik just looked on.
"Your attitude is unforgivable," said Camille, fanning herself.
"Well what do you want me to do?" asked Anne as she knitted.
Camille huffed. "Be friendlier and thankful to the man that saved your father's life," she said.
"I already thanked him mother," said Anne, desperately.
"Don't act foolish, Annie, because you know every well to what I'm referring to. You don't care about the decency and the honor, and even less the good name of your family."
"Stop it, Camille. You don't have to yell her so much," said Charlotte. "Do you want her to worship him to make him happy?"
"Nobody asked for your opinion, so keep your mouth shut," said Camille, annoyed.
Charlotte laughed. "I'll just leave because when you get angry one has to have the patience of a corpse to stand you and I'm still not dead," she said, leaving the room.
"Let's speak clearly, Mother," said Anne. "I know that Levesque saved my father's life and that's possible that he'll lend us money for the tariffs, but if there's something else, just tell me already."
Camille looked at her. "Do you want to know if he wants to court you?"
Anne nodded. "Oui."
Camille smiled. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Annie, but Erik hasn't shown one interest towards you," she said.
Anne gave out a sigh of relief. "That's good."
"Isn't it embarrassing that you're exchanging your sister for money?" said Erik in the other room to Ricard.
"Why? In our society, arranged marriages are common, especially financially and relatives help each other out. And you're going to be my brother-in-law, non?" said Ricard smirking.
"That hasn't been decided yet," said Erik, glaring at him. "It's been a pleasure, Madame Durand," he said, going into the drawing room, "but I must leave."
"Why so soon?" asked Camille.
"I have some things to do," said Erik. "Thank you for the meal and company. Au revoir, Mademoiselle Anne," he said, kissing her hand. She was startled by what he called her. She's been called Annie or Belle, but never just plain Anne. Erik saw the reaction that Anne received when he called her that. Ricard and Camille exchanged smiles. "Is it alright if I call you that?"
Anne nodded. "It's fine, Monsieur Erik," she said.
Erik smiled and went to kiss Camille's hand. "Please, give my regards to Monsieur Stephan and I wish him a fast recovery." Erik gave one last glare at Ricard and walked out the room.
"I'll accompany you to the door," he said, going after him.
"It was a pleasure," called Camille back. "Was he upset or was it just me?"
"Maybe Ricard asked him about the money and he probably took it as disrespect," said Anne. She sighed. "I'm going up to my room."
Camille heaved a loud sigh. "Why was Erik offended?" she asked her son.
"I think it was because of the deal that we made and because your daughter didn't pay any attention to him," said Ricard.
Camille gasped. "Did he tell you?"
"Oui, when we were in the study," scowled Ricard. "He even asked me if Belle was interested in another man."
"Do you think he's heard about that officer?" she asked, worriedly.
Ricard shook his head. "No, he would have told me."
Camille groaned. "You know that Martin dared to come here," she said, angrily.
Ricard's brow furrowed. "When?"
"At noon when Erik was talking with your sister out in the back porch," she said. "He wanted to speak with your father that fool."
"I'm going to have to speed up my plan and you have to speak with General Bertrand tomorrow, Mother," said Ricard.
"And you think he'll do us the favor?"
Ricard smirked. "Only if you find the appropriate words to do so," he said in a low tone.
Camille gave him a helpless look and fanned herself feverishly.
"I'm rethinking this, Nadir," said Erik in his office.
"Why? She wasn't what you hoped for?" he asked.
Erik shook his head. "Non, she's pretty and sweet, but she's not interested in me. You know what I feel? I think that she's a victim of three vultures. Her mother, her brother, and me," he said, chuckling along with Nadir.
"And her father isn't involved?"
"No, I don't think so. What bothers me most is that I was the reason all of this happened," Erik said, sighing.
"And now what? Are you going to give up?" asked Nadir.
"I'm thinking about it."
Ricard waited patiently as he waited for the ballerina from last night. He finally caught her name, Lynn. He felt small hands circle around his waist. He turned and saw the blonde beauty behind him. Before she could utter a word, he pulled her into a deep kiss. "I need that favor from you now," he whispered in her ear.
Lynn grinned as Ricard gave her a heavy sac filled with money. "It's a lot of money, but maybe I shouldn't if it's going to be dangerous."
Ricard laughed. "Non, on the contrary. I want you to use your talent as an actress and pass as another person," he said, kissing her neck.
Lynn moaned and laughed with him. "What person?"
"The wife of Maurice Martin," he said, silencing her with a kiss.
Anne stirred in her sleep, feeling a heavy weight on her bed. She blinked open her eyes and gasped seeing a figure, sitting on her bed. The person covered her mouth and he took off his hat. Anne frowned seeing that it was Maurice. "How did you get in here?" she hissed, trying to cover herself.
"I came today to speak to your father," he said.
"N-Nobody told me anything," she whispered.
Maurice shook his head. "That doesn't shock me. Your mother was the one who received me," he said in disappointed tone. "There's nothing that we can do, Belle. Your family will never accept our marriage."
"It's with my father that you need to speak to," said Anne. "He thinks differently."
"I doubt it," said Maurice. "Belle, I can't give up on you or our love. I love you more than my life."
Anne smiled. "So do I," she said, hugging him.
"Come with me now," he whispered.
Anne looked at him in surprise. "Non, don't ask that from me. My family will die of the shame. They'll say I'm a bad woman, a… harlot."
"That's not going to happen. We're going to get married."
"B-But I'm scared," she stuttered.
"I know, but have faith in me. We love each other and that'll give us strength from all the gossips and hardships. Please, Belle," he begged. "Don't tell me no. I beg you." Anne closed her eyes and leaned her head against his. He cupped her face and brushed his lips against her. She leaned closer and deepened the kiss. "I'll give you more time to think about it," he whispered between their lips. "Just make the right decision."
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