A very long chapter. I hope I don't bore you. Thanks for the kind reviews and enjoy!

Anne whimpered as she got out of Erik's carriage when she got home with the help of her mother and aunt. Erik watched as Anne struggled to walk towards the entrance of her home.

"Slowly, carefully," cooed Charlotte.

"Oh, Annie," said Camille.

Anne winced and stumbled, almost falling, but Erik immediately pulled her up. "I'll carry her to her room," he said, carrying her in his arms. Anne gave Erik a look, but didn't protest. Her body ached all over, especially when she walked. She looked away from his blue eyes and let him take her to her room.

"Well, we put her in bed," said Camille coming into the back porch where Erik was at. "Thank you, Erik," she said, feeling more comfortable using an informal tone. "It looks like you are the savior of this family, first Stephan, now Annie. Would you like to sit down?"

"Non, there's no need. I have to go. I leave back to Orleans tomorrow," he said.

"Why?"

Erik smiled. "There's no need for me to be here anymore."

Camille froze. "What about Annie?"

"To be frank, Madame, I don't think your daughter likes me very much," he said, glaring at her.

"N-No, don't say that. It's that her shyness prevents her from expressing her true emotions," stuttered Camille.

"Pardon me, Madame, but I don't believe you," he said, walking towards the front doors.

"I reassure you that it's true," said Camille, walking behind him.

Erik stopped and turned to look at her, almost making her stumble back. "She told you?" he asked, casually.

"Well not to me because she doesn't have a lot of confidence in me, but she did say it to my sister, Charlotte," lied Camille. "We haven't really talked to Annie about your interest in her because… she's rejected all the other suitors that my husband and I have proposed."

"She doesn't want to marry?" asked Erik.

"Certainly, it's what every girl wants, but she dreams of a romantic love, not an arranged marriage by her parents," said Camille.

Erik nodded. "That's a very honest attitude by you part, Madame."

"Yes, I know that she is fond of you because my sister told me, but you also must understand that she is a serious girl, well raised, and she'll feel embarrassed to open her heart to man she barely knows, especially if she doesn't know if he has similar feelings towards her. However, isn't that what you wanted?" she asked. "So that Annie will accept you for you and not your money?"

Erik gave a cold glare and knew that the cruel woman was right.

"Oh, Annie, please, calm down," said Charlotte sitting next to her on the bed.

"But you don't understand how I felt when they told me that Maurice hasn't returned to the station," she cried. "It felt like a hard blow to my chest."

Charlotte stroked her hair. "Yes, I understand, Annie."

Anne sniffed. "And when I was walking at the plaza with all the pushing and screaming…"

"Instead crying for that man, you should be cursing him for leaving you like this," said Camille, coming into the room.

"Stop bothering her. At least show a little bit of sympathy for her," said Charlotte.

"Sympathy?" hissed Camille. "You want me to show sympathy for the stupidity that this girl has done and going down to the station was the worst one!"

"Well it ended, did it not?" said Charlotte, annoyed.

"It better have ended," spat Camille. "We'll tell your father that you fell down the stairs because if we tell him the truth, it'll be like giving him a punch in the heart."

Anne sobbed as Camille walked out the room. "I loved him, Aunt Charlotte."

Charlotte sighed. "I know, Annie. I know."

"Mother told me what happened, Belle," said Ricard, coming into the room. "How do you feel?"

"Better," mumbled Anne.

"I also went to the station," he said, getting Anne's attention. "I spoke with one of Maurice Martin's friends. He told me that his wife went to see him early in the morning."

"Then it's true," she whispered. "He's married?"

Ricard nodded and looked at her bruises. "Look at you, Belle," he said, shaking his head. "This friend of his said that he and his wife were arguing and he stormed out of the station after that. They haven't seen him since."

"Could something bad have happened to him?" asked Anne, worriedly.

Ricard shrugged. "He didn't show for role call and two militia men went to search for him, but didn't find him. They think he deserted them."

Anne shook her head. "No!"

"Accept it, Belle," he said. "He probably disappeared after you found out that he was married. Thank God, that his wife came to tell you in time because if she hadn't, you would probably have run away with him with the most innocent intentions. I'm sorry, Annie."

Anne buried her face in the pillow and began to cry again.

"I thought that you were going to forget about her?" said Nadir as drank his brandy.

Erik sighed. "Yes, but every time I see her, when I have her close… I feel something special. What do you want me to say? I know her family is just interested in my money and I know that Madame Camille lies to me when she says that her daughter is fond with me. Nadir," he said, struggling with his words, "I'm attractive to her. I feel a need to protect and support her. She also… excites me," he said, miserably.

Nadir smiled at his old friend. "Then don't think about it any longer. Annabelle is a decent woman and comes from a fine family, who already likes you. Talk to her, Erik. If she says yes, then god bless you, but if she doesn't then forget about her."

"Are you sure we shouldn't take Belle's fall more seriously?" asked Stephan.

Camille shook her head. "No, it was just a simple slip."

Stephan nodded. "Alright." He looked up at his son. "I want you go to see Monsieur Moreau tomorrow."

Ricard nodded. "For the tariffs on the plantation?"

"Oui, take the deeds and let's pray that he'll lend us the money," said Stephan, sighing.

"What ever you say, Father," he responded. "Have a good night sleep, Father," he said kissing his hand before leaving with his mother. "I thought that you were going to ask Levesque for that money," hissed Ricard in the hallway.

"Well, yes, but with that fool of your sister that doesn't even look his way and he feels mistrusted," said Camille.

"Mother, we can't let this man go! He has a lot of money!"

"And you think don't know?" she scowled. "You expect us to hand her over with hand and legs tied and a bow over her head?" Ricard sighed frustrated thinking of a way so that his little sister would attempt to be with Erik.

Erik tossed and turned in his sleep. He saw Anne lying on his bed, his hand moving up her body as she moaned and sighed softly. He turned her over as saw her green eyes staring back at his blue ones. I love you, she whispered. He whispered it back as their lips touched.

Erik's eyes shot open and found himself alone in his bed. He sighed and turned to the side, but there was an empty space next to him. He groaned when he realized he wasn't alone in bed. Junior had awoken.

Anne whimpered in pain as her aunt changed her bandages. "My Lord, look how they left you. You almost look like Jesus Christ himself! Who was the doctor who tended to you? Monsieur Prideux?" asked Charlotte.

Anne sniffed. "Didn't Levesque tell you?" she asked softly.

"Tell us what?"

"Oh, Aunt Charlotte, you don't know about the humiliation I went through," she said, crying.

"Why?" she asked, looking at her curiously.

"It was him. He touched with his bare hands," she whispered.

"Monsieur Erik?" said Charlotte in shock. "He touched you everywhere?" Anne nodded shamefully. "Camille!" she cried, going out of her room and down the stairs. "Camille!"

Camille scowled. "I hate it when you shriek that way."

"You don't know what I just found out!"

"What is it?"

"It wasn't the doctor who tended Annie," said Charlotte out of breath. "It was Erik! He took her clothes off and touched her! And she only had a chemise on."

Camille looked at her in shock. "Only?!"

"Annie told me. She was so embarrassed. When she woke up, she only had that on, but to check the wounds he had to… look underneath," said Charlotte. Camille suddenly thought to herself. This might work out, she secretly thought. "What? You're not going to say anything?"

"Wait for me here," she ordered. Charlotte looked at her sister stunned. Anne looked up as her mother barged into the room. "Now, you really have to marry Erik Levesque."

Anne shook her head. "Why?"

"And you ask?" she hissed. "You were with him in bed without clothes!"

"I-I fainted, Mother, and the person who changed me was his maid," she said, trying to reason with her. "B-Besides, I wasn't completely nude, I-I have my chemise on."

"But to look at your wounds, he had to lift it, right?" asked Camille.

Anne shook in fear. "H-He's a doctor," she said, meekly.

"That's what he says and I don't want to think wrongly... What's done is done. If you hadn't gone to the station and look for that man, none of this would have happened! Conscience or not, your behavior is inexcusable and only marriage will repair the fault," said Camille. Anne's eyes widened as she said that. "You have God to thank that we don't have to force him to fulfill his duties because fortunately he already asked for your hand."

Anne gasped. "What are you saying, Mother? He wants to marry me?"

"Oui," she said, sternly. "And you better accept or all of Paris will start rumors about the two of you!"

"Mother, no, please," she begged.

"Not another word! You best hope that your father doesn't find out, and not only this, but also the romance that you had with that officier," she said, leaving the room, leaving Anne to cry once more. "Good you were listening. Now I don't have to explain anything," said Camille seeing her sister outside the door.

"Don't you think you were too hard on her?" asked Charlotte. "I mean he is a doctor."

"So what? This is the only way Annie can accept him and that's what we want, don't we?

Charlotte hesitated. "Well, yes, but not this way. If you would have given her a bit more time, she would have grown fond of him. Erik is handsome and educated."

"We don't have time! In a few days, the tariff is due, have you forgotten?"

Charlotte made a face at her sister and entered Anne's room. Her heart broke seeing her niece, crying her eyes out. "Aunt Charlotte, you have no idea what my mother just told me," she said as if she were begging for mercy.

"Y-Yes, I just found out," she said, stroking her head.

Anne moaned. "It's absurd! Monsieur Levesque is a doctor and he should treat all patients like this, what's wrong with that?! Please, help me! She's only doing this to make me accept him."

"It could be," said Charlotte, quietly.

"It's that, isn't it, Aunt Charlotte? When did he ask for my hand?"

Charlotte shrugged, not being able to look at her. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do, please tell me," cried Anne.

"Listen, Annie, I love you and I'll do anything for you, but sometimes there are times where you can't do anything," Charlotte said. "We know that your father as spoiled you and with all these ideas for you to marry freely… It's not like you're a young girl anymore. All the girls your age are married and with children. Men also look at a girl's age. You have to marry someone rich or soon you'll have to marry an old man, maybe even a cripple. Monsieur Levesque was sent by the heavens above. He's rich, young, handsome, and he's in love with you."

"In love with me?" she asked, curiously.

Charlotte shook her head. "If you paid more attention to him, you'll notice."

"How could he be in love with me if he's only seen me twice or three times? Besides, right now… I just found out that the man that I was in love with lied to me and left without saying a word… I was so naïve," she said to herself. "And then you expect me to marry another man? I don't dislike Erik. He seems like a good man, but I don't think it's fair that I won't accept him back with the same feelings," Anne turned over and cried silently. Charlotte just sighed not knowing what to say.

"How nice to see you, Nicole," said Camille as Anne's friend entered the house.

"Merci, I wanted to know how Monsieur Stephan's health is. Raymond told me that he collapsed on the street," said Nicole.

Camille nodded. "Yes, but he's all better now."

"And Annie?" asked Nicole.

"In bed," responded Camille annoyed.

"Is she sick?"

"No, she slipped on the stairs. Come, I'll take you to her," she said.

Nicole looked at Camille in alarm. "Go to the kitchen, Mikaela," ordered Nicole as Anne's mother took her up the stairs.

"Oui, Madame."

Nicole gasped when she entered the room and saw Anne covered in bruises. "My God, what happened to you?" Anne just smiled and told her everything that happened yesterday, from her going to the station to her being cured by Erik. Nicole shook her head when she mentioned about Maurice. "How does that man have the audacity to do that to you? And he looked like such a decent man," said Nicole, angrily.

"I still can't believe it, either. I don't know what but something inside tells me that it's not true, that Maurice couldn't cheat on me that way," said Anne dreamily.

"But you even met his wife," said Nicole, not believing that her friend was still in love with this man.

"Yes, but maybe she wasn't his wife and she only did it to do him damage," said Anne, stubbornly.

"Then why did he disappear?" asked Nicole.

Anne shrugged. "I-I don't know, maybe he had to leave the city for an emergency."

"Without telling his superiors?"

"T-Then I don't now, Nikki, maybe someone robbed him, or he's hurt or d…" Anne couldn't even get the words out.

"Yes, but there's also the possibility that the woman could be saying the truth and he disappeared because his game was discovered," said Nicole.

Anne looked at her friend frightened. Part of her wanted to believe that they were all lies and that Maurice never cheated on her and the other was heart broken. All the evidence pointed that he had a wife, but does she trust his word over all the others?

"More bad news?" asked Nadir as Erik read a letter from the Durand family the next day.

"Madame Durand wants me to go visit her today in the afternoon," he said, grimly.

Nadir sighed. "You have to decide, Erik. Either you build a relationship with the girl or just walk away from it all."

"Yes, I know, but it's not easy," he said.

"Why?"

"I hate her family," he growled, but then softened, "but I like her."

"You shouldn't be out of bed, Belle," said Stephan.

Anne smiled and sat next to him on his bed. "I'm fine, Father. It hardly hurts anymore."

"Either way, it'll be better if you go back to bed and rest," he said. "Come in," he said, when he heard knocking on the door.

"Father," said Ricard, coming in with his mother. "Good morning," he said, kissing his hand. "I couldn't speak with Monsieur Moreau. He's out of the city and won't come back in two weeks."

"Two weeks?!" said Stephan, disappointingly. Anne noticed his reaction.

"Don't be troubled by that, it'll make you sick. We'll look for someone else to lend us the money," said Camille.

"Who? Nobody wants to lend us," said Stephan. Anne shifted in her seat nervously as her brother gave her a look.

"Don't worry, I know some way or another, we'll fix this situation," said Camille, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"I hate to see your father like this," said Camille as she helped her daughter back to her room. "He's sick and almost at the edge of loosing everything. He tries to be strong, but deep inside he's desperate."

"Madame," said one of the maids. "Monsieur Levesque arrived." Anne froze when she heard his name.

Camille nodded. "Take him to the study. We'll be right there. Surely, he'll want to see how you are," she said to her daughter.

"Please, Mother, don't make me go down. At this moment, I'm not capable of speaking to him," pleaded Anne.

Camille sighed. "Alright, but you're going to have to see him eventually to say your thanks to him at least."

Anne nodded. "Don't tell him that it was him that… cured me. If he didn't tell you anything, it must have been for a reason."

"Fine," said Camille, walking out her room. She walked into the study and found Erik waiting for her. "Bonjour, Erik," she said as he kissed her hand. "Please have a seat. It's a good thing that we already spoke about your intentions with my daughter because if it weren't so, the situation would be very delicate. Even though you are a doctor, you are a young man and the times that Annie has been sick it was with a much older doctor was the one who tended to her. Of course, never alone. Her aunt and I were always in the room with her."

"I understand and I offer you my apologies, but it was important to check how serious her injuries were and see if she had any fractures," explained Erik. "Was it she who told you?"

"Non, she told her aunt. She's very embarrassed and wouldn't want anyone else knowing what had happened," she said. "Especially when you saw her with barely any clothes on."

"Believe me that I'm very sorry," he said, looking shameful.

"Yes, well, for me to relax her and let her know that her honor hasn't been dishonored, I had no other choice, but to tell her about your marital intentions."

Erik looked at her in shook. "A-And how did she react?" he asked, hopeful.

Camille chuckled. "She's so innocent that she cried… of relief, but also of the emotion."

Erik twitched the side of his mouth. Emotion? He thought happily.

The next day

"Bonjour," greeted Erik to Camille and Charlotte the morning after. He kissed both of the women's hands.

"Bonjour Monsieur Erik," replied Camille. "Please excuse us for coming this early, but the whole family is very worried.

"Did something happen to Anne," he asked, frightened.

"No, she's fine, but she's just as worried as we are," said Camille. Erik sighed, rolling his eyes, knowing where this was going. "It's about the tariffs on our plantation."

Erik nodded. "Take a seat please."

"The day that Stephan collapsed on the street was the same day that he went to ask for a loan, but he was denied. Ricard went yesterday to another source, but they declined him, too. In reality, we're desperate. The day after tomorrow is when we have to pay and if we don't we'll loose the land, which is what gives us to eat."

"I know that you already asked me for that, but not until your daughter and I arrange the engagement," said Erik.

"B-But that could be arranged tomorrow o-or which ever day you want. Annie is in agreement," stuttered Camille.

Erik gave her a cold stare. "In what, Madame? In agreement for us to marry to save the family?"

"No, no," said Camille, standing up. "I reassure you that she knows nothing of that. Right, Charlotte?"

"Evidently not," whispered Charlotte frightened.

"Please, Erik. This is a manner of life or death. Stephan can't shake the anxiety that he has," said Camille, starting to cry.

Erik glared at her and groaned inwardly about what he was about to do. "Alright, I'll give you what you need, but with a warning. If I discover that Annabelle knows about this, there will be no wedding and you will have to return to me every cent."

Both sisters gasped, but regained their composure. "Certainly," said Camille, desperately.

Erik sighed. "How much do you need?"

"We have to talk," said Camille as she walked into Anne's room. "I guess that your father and I don't deserve love and affection."

"Mother, I love and respect you both," she said, sighing.

"Don't say that because it's not true. If you really loved us, you'll worry about us and listen to our opinions that we always give you. Do you understand how bad you've been acting? You were about to sink us in dishonor! Do you have any idea what would happen to your father if he ever found out about your romance with that militia man?" Anne just rolled her eyes, trying to find something to do without listening to her mother. "You know what he'll do? He'll look for him land and sea and challenge him in a duel. If he kills him, fine, but if he dies, you'll have that in your conscience!"

Anne glared at her mother, tears in her eyes. "I understand, Mother, what do you want for me?!"

"To accept Levesque's marriage proposal," said Camille.

"Alright, I'll accept, but I beg you, Mother, not to torment me any more," sobbed Anne. Camille picked up her skirts and left the room. Anne cried, going to her windows. "I pray to God, Maurice," she growled, "that you have a miserable life just like mine!" Anne collapsed to the floor and sobbed, uncontrollably.

Ricard chuckled as he collected all his winning money. His luck was on his hands tonight. He sighed, thinking how much money he can spend now that Anne was going to marry Erik. He gave fifteen thousand francs to them to pay the tariffs.

"Well, I'm going to leave, Ricard," said Leblanc.

"No!" growled Ricard. "One more card."

"I'm very tiered," complained Leblanc.

"Just one more card," said Ricard. "One more."

Leblanc looked at him and sighed. "Alright, one more."

Ricard panted and he distributed the two cards. He peaked and sighed in relief, knowing that he picked well. "I-I bet five hundred francs," he said.

Leblanc arched a brow up. "That's a lot of money," he said, also looking at his card. "Agreed, but put your money in."

Ricard laughed. "I don't carry that amount of money with me, but you have my word."

Leblanc shook his head. "I need something more than your word. Everyone knows that your family is going through a difficult economic period."

"Listen to me," hissed Ricard. "Erik Levesque is my future brother-in-law and he'll pay. Are you in or out?"

Leblanc nodded. "Agreed."

"Joseph Leblanc?" asked Erik the next morning. "No, I don't know him. Tell him to in, Jean."

Erik frowned as the elder man came in. "I'm delighted to meet you Monsieur Levesque," he said, shaking his hand.

"The pleasure is mine. What can I help you with?"

"I have an owe of five hundred francs from your brother-in-law in reassurance that you'll pay me," he said, handing him a paper.

Erik looked at him curiously. "My brother-in-law?"

"Yes, Monsieur Ricard Durand."

Erik sighed. "From what I know, I have no relations with them and even if it so. I don't know why I should pay for his debts."

"But, he said it in front of witness and it a game of duels," repeated Leblanc.

Erik shook his head. "I'm sorry, but it's not my problem."

"Bonjour," greeted Anne, seeing Leblanc waiting for her downstairs. "They told me that you wanted to see my father?"

"Oui, Mademoiselle Durand," he said.

"I'm sorry, but my father doesn't receive visits. He's very ill," she explained.

"Forgive me, but this situation is getting ridiculous. Your brother reassured me that Monsieur Levesque was going to pay for his debts, but it turns out that Monsieur Levesque doesn't want to pay me!"

Anne looked at the man in astonishment and shame. Her brother was taking advantage of Erik and she was sure that he's not going to take this very well.

"Erik!" said Ricard as he saw him walking in the streets. "Thank God I found you. I was just going to your house."

"Why?" asked Erik, annoyed.

"To thank you for the money you lend us to pay the tariffs. My mother and I went to pay for them today. There's another problem, though. We're short in paying for sediment for the crops, but I'm sure that with five hundred francs we'll be good."

"Don't lie to me," hissed Erik, turning to him. "Your creditor came by my house, telling me that I was going to pay for your debts. Who do you think I am? That I'm an imbecile that you guys can mess around with?"

"Erik, please."

"I say it because it's true. I agreed to help you, but not for these types of costs," Erik said, angrily.

"I'm sorry, Erik. I swear it won't happen again," said Ricard.

Erik nodded. "Alright, I accept your apology, but this better not happen again."

"Please, lend me that money, Erik. If I don't pay, I'll be in a difficult position."

"You already are in one," said Erik, slapping him on the back hard, almost making him fall, and walked away.

Yeah, I know. Anne is over reacting by Erik being the doctor, but women were like that those days. Silly, huh? Thanks for reading and please review!