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"He has no virtue, Mother. He had the nerve to go around and say that Levesque could pay all his debts because he's his future brother-in-law. You know what the worst thing was that the creditor went to Levesque's house and asked for the money," said Anne, infuriated.

"When I see your brother, I'll talk to him," said Camille.

"But that doesn't change anything!" shouted Anne. "It's a disgrace and abuse!"

"Erik is a mature man. He'll understand," she said, calmly.

"What is he going to understand?" said Anne, impatiently. "That Ricard is publicly announcing that he's his brother-in-law so that he could pressure him and urge him to ask for my hand."

Camille sighed. "Just stop with your foolishness."

Anne shook her head. "No, it's not foolishness! It's shameful! With what face will I show him when I see him?"

"Act like the naïve one who knows nothing," Camille simply said as she headed towards the door.

"Naïve," whispered Anne. "What outlook do you have of me, Mother?"

Camille looked back to her. "The one that you deserve." Anne sighed. She felt like her mother hated her and the only thing that will make her happy is if she bathed her in gold. "Where are you going?" asked Camille as she entered her room, seeing her husband getting up.

"To get dressed," he said, quietly as he put his robe one.

"I don't think Levesque would mind seeing you in robes," she said.

"Well, I do," said Stephan. "I want to go downstairs anyways. At what time is he coming?"

"I asked him to come during the afternoon, but I think he'll show up soon," responded Camille.

Stephan looked around. "Where are my clothes?" he asked.

Camille sighed. "I'll give them to you immediately."

Anne walked carelessly around her front yard gardens, seeing which were dead or dying and picking them out to throw them away. She turned and saw the same man who visited her in the morning. "If you're looking for my brother, he's not here," she said, annoyed.

"Listen, mademoiselle, he owes me money and someone is going to have to pay for it. I don't care if it's your father, your mother, or your grandmother. The duels of poker are of honor and they have to be paid for," said Leblanc infuriated. Anne looked up and bowed her head shame seeing Erik, heading towards them. Leblanc looked back and he too saw Erik. "Oh, Monsieur Levesque is here."

"I'm glad that you seem to be looking better," said Erik, staring at Anne.

"Thank you," she said, softly.

"Can you excuse us for a bit," he said, taking the man to the side. Anne bowed her head courteously. "I'll pay the debts alright, but stop bothering her," he growled. "Come to my house tonight."

Leblanc smirked. "Alright, excusez-moi, Mademoiselle," he bowed at Anne.

Erik turned his head back to Anne. "You don't have to worry anymore."

Anne kept her head down. "This is very embarrassing," she whispered.

"Don't feel embarrassed. It's your brother's fault not yours," said Erik.

Anne sighed. "But it's the same. It's still about my family. You must have an awful opinion of us," she said, turning to walk away, but Erik held her back.

"Not of you," he said, amiably. "What else did that man tell you?"

"W-Well, he already came by this morning after going to your house," she stuttered. "I don't know how Ricard dared to say that lie."

Erik laughed. "Do you refer to when he said that I was his brother-in-law?"

Anne nodded. "Yes."

"Don't be concerned about that," he said, "and to be honest, that's the reason for my visits." Anne stared at him. "I like you a lot, Anne. Since the first time I saw you three months ago."

"Three months ago?" repeated Anne.

"Yes, you were walking down the street with your brother. From that moment, I felt something special towards you. I understand that I'm a stranger, but if you give me the opportunity to court you, maybe there will be a closer emotional bond between us," said Erik. He saw her discomfort. "You don't have to respond to me now, but think about it. I don't care if you accept me or not, but I want your response to be freely and honest without the influence of any person or other circumstances."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" asked Anne.

"Because if I were to marry, I want my wife to accept me for me and not the money that I have," he said, grabbing her hands. He lifted them to his lips. Anne gasped and pulled back as he leaned in to kiss her. "Did it bother you?"

Anne covered her mouth with her hand. "N-Non," she stammered.

"Well, I'm sure lunch will be ready soon," said Erik, taking her hand in his again.

Anne blushed furiously as he took her inside the house. They both noticed her father was already sitting down in the drawing room, waiting for them. "Ah, Monsieur Levesque, it's a pleasure to see you again," he said, shaking his hand.

"Merci, Monsieur, it's wonderful to see you again," replied Erik.

"Please, sit. Go ask about the chocolate and sweets that your mother and aunt promised us, Belle," said Stephan.

Anne nodded. "Yes, Father," she said and left to the kitchen.

"I told Belle to go to the kitchen because I know that you don't want her to find out about the noble spends that you have done for us," said Stephan. "I feel very embarrassed. Even with our situation, my wife shouldn't have accepted your offerings. I'm referring about the payment you did on the tariffs. When she told me, I felt bad because it's dreadful that you'll think that we're taking advantage of the care you have of our daughter."

Erik shook his head. "I did it with pleasure, Monsieur."

Stephan smiled. "It looks like you have a great heart, Erik," he said. Erik looked down, thinking about his past deeds. "If your desire to marry Belle is fulfilled, then you have my blessing. My daughter is a good girl. She's intelligent, affectionate, and of good heart. I always told her that I would never force her to marry and that she could choose. I truly hope that she corresponds to your feelings. I love her. She's the light of my life. She deserves to be happy."

Erik smiled back. "I swear to you, Monsieur, that if your daughter accepts me, I'll do anything to make her happy."

Stephan smiled and took his hand out. Erik gladly shook it. "I believe you."

Camille quickly walked towards the entrance when her son finally got home. "How dare you," she hissed.

Ricard chuckled. "What did I do this time?"

"You gambled again! Not only did you swear to me that you would stop, but you had the nerve to ask your creditor that Erik is going to pay the debt!"

"He's going to do it, is he not?" said Ricard with a smug on his face. "Just a moment ago I saw Leblanc and he told me that he was going to Erik's home to get the money."

"I don't want you to abuse him so shamefully," said Camille, annoyed.

Ricard laughed. "So, what you're saying that I can do it, but not in a shameful way?" Camille huffed at her son's rudeness. "I did a mistake, but I promise you that it will never happen again."

"I don't believe in your promises anymore."

"Mother, please! The thing he doesn't lack is money. He has all the money in the world and we're giving him a fair trade, huh?"

"Annie told me that the creditor asked Erik paid for it because Ricard told him that Erik will pay it," said Charlotte, coming down the stairs.

Ricard smirked. "That's right."

"And you say it just like that. Your face should be falling from the shame!" cried Charlotte.

"Oh, Aunt Charlotte, you're so dramatic. Excusez-moi," Ricard chuckled, bowing and walking away.

"Did you hear how he disrespected me!" hissed Charlotte.

Camille rolled her eyes. "Then don't get involved in what doesn't concern you."

Charlotte glared at her sister. "I get involved because I am involved, not because I'm your sister, but because I'm an accomplice to all that shameful things you and Ricard have done to obligate Annie to marry that man."

"And what did you want? Did you want her to marry a starved peasant like your dead husband?"

Charlotte smirked. "It's better to marry a starved peasant but in love, instead for money like what you did."

"Levesque proposed to you?" asked Nicole, shocked. "When?"

"Yesterday," replied Anne as they went to the back porch.

"I imagine that you'll say yes." Anne only sighed and looked away. "Don't tell me that you're still thinking about that man. He cheated to you, Annie. He sweet talked you when he was already married. He made fun of you!"

"He might have cheated on me, but never made fun of me," said Anne. "He really did love me, Nikki."

"That's still bad, Annie. You can't imagine yourself being married to him when he already is married. He's a coward, Annie, admit it. What did you want? Did you want to see each other in secrecy forever or wait until his wife dies."

Anne sighed. "He wanted me to escape with him."

"Escape!" gasped Nicole. "How horrible! Annie, you should damn him for asking you do that. You were about to ruin your life forever! You have to thank God that his wife came and opened your eyes. But forget it. You have to think about you and your future and Erik Levesque. He's a wonderful match! And how does he treat you?"

Anne smiled. "He's kind. He's not arrogant. My father likes him."

"Then, what more can you want?!"

Anne looked away from Nicole. "I wanted to marry in love."

"Bonjour, Erik, Annie is going to be here soon. I would like to say that I'm very sorry for Ricard's behavior," said Camille.

Erik nodded. "I'm glad you brought up the topic because the only reason I paid for his debt because I saw Anne's distress. I am confident that I won't do it ever again and I'm dead serious, Madame," he said, glaring at her.

Camille gulped and took a step back. "O-Of course, you have every right to be angry and I'm truly embarrassed. I just hope that this small incident doesn't change your feelings towards my daughter."

Erik shook his head. "No, your daughter and your husband, Madame, are something else," he said smirking.

"Annie told me that Erik Levesque is very interested in her. He's even talked to her about marriage," said Nicole to her husband. Raymond just nodded at her as he read the paper. "It looks like you don't like the idea."

Raymond chuckled. "For the Durand's it's a blessing because the man is rich, but I really don't care."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Nicole.

"I don't like that man. He doesn't share the same political views as we do. He's strange. What kind of man likes to compose music? What do we really know about this man? He's never made any public appearance until now. Don't you find that strange?"

Nicole shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't care about politics and what's wrong with just composing music."

They both looked up as someone came in singing in the room. "Well I thought nobody lived in this house anymore," laughed Lancet as he came in his brother-in-law's study.

Nicole laughed and got up to greet her brother. "Lancet, I'm so happy to see you!"

"Baby sister, you're more gorgeous than ever," said Lancet, smiling. "Come stai, Raymond?" he asked.

"Fine, fine," said Raymond. He never really liked his wife's brother, but he had to put with it.

"When did you come back from Italy?" asked Nicole, excitedly.

"Oh, about two weeks ago, I spent some time with our parents in Nice and they send their warmest regards," said Lancet. "I had an urge and decided to spend some time with you guys."

"Well what does Italy have to say about our country," asked Raymond.

"You know very well that I hate politics, but if you liked to know about fashion, horses, the best cigar qualities?" he chuckled as he looked through Raymond's cigar case. "Which aren't these. I can tell you everything you want."

"And your luggage?" asked Nicole.

"It's still in the carriage," responded Lancet.

Nicole smiled. "Well, I'll ask for them to prepare you a room."

"Merci, Nikki, good day, Raymond!" he called behind him as they left the study. "I brought you things from Milan that will have all your friends green in envy."

"In my manor, there is a garden, but after years of not tending it, it's been abandoned," said Erik as he walked beside Anne in the Durand's gardens.

"Why is abandoned?" asked Anne.

Erik shrugged. "Nobody cares about it."

Anne looked up at him. "And you don't care either?"

"Now when I go back, I'm going to ask for them to fix it up. What other interests do you have other than gardening?" asked Erik.

Anne sighed. "Well, I know what every other woman should know. I embroil cushions, I cook, and I can play the piano."

"You play the piano?" asked Erik.

"A little. We have one in the drawing room, but no one uses it. I sometimes play when there's no one around," she said.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why don't you play when there's no one around to hear you play?" he asked.

"Because I play poorly. You probably play beautifully since you are a composer and your voice…" Anne trailed off and blushed.

"You like my voice?"

Anne turned even redder. "I never heard such a power and… beautiful voice before," she whispered.

"Thank you," he said, also turning a bit red. "Do you sing?"

Anne laughed. Both were shocked by her response. It was the first time she had around him. "I can't sing to save my life."

Erik chuckled. "I hope you won't ever get in that situation. Your mother mentioned that you helped out in the hospital."

Anne nodded. "I sometimes go to help the doctors and I also take toys to the children who are ill. I love children," she said, smiling.

"I wanted to apologize about what happened the other day at my house," he said as Anne looked away. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. The body is a beautiful thing and because of it we can see, hear, taste a good meal, and even think," he whispered getting closer to her. "Any man would be pleased to admire a beautiful body like yours." Anne gasped at his boldness. She turned to walk away, but he caught her by the arm and forced her to look at him. "Please don't leave. Understand that I'm falling in love with you like a mad man. It's a sensitive subject because I haven't had luck with love because of… what's hidden behind the mask."

Anne frowned when he mentioned his mask. She barely even thought about what's hidden behind it. "I don't merely care about looks, Monsieur Levesque," she said, softly.

"Call me, Erik, and it's not that I don't doubt you, but I still don't trust a lot of people," he said sadly. "But I'm sure if you accept me, I'll learn to trust you like the palm of my hand. I'm leaving to Orleans soon and I'll like an answer before I go."

Anne looked up at him. She thought about her father, her mother, her whole family. She knew she was the only one who could help them and she hated it. "I accept," she whispered, nervously. "I accept to marry you."

Erik broke with a smile. He grabbed her hands and kissed them. "You have no idea how happy you've made me. I promise… I swear that you won't regret it."

Anne closed her eyes. And you Erik, will you regret marrying me, she thought.

"My goodness, look at the size of that rock!" exclaimed Camille.

"Congratulations, sweetheart," said Charlotte.

Anne smiled meekly. "Thank you, Aunt Charlotte."

Stephan smiled at his daughter proudly. "I give you the best wishes from my part," he said, kissing Anne's cheek. Stephan went to pat Erik on the back.

"Your gift has taken us by surprise and we don't have anything to correspond to," said Camille.

"Wait, there is something," said Charlotte, leaving the room.

"Sit down, please," said Stephan. Erik sat on the couch and Anne sat next to him. "What bothers me the most is that Belle doesn't have money to give back to you."

"That doesn't matter, Monsieur, by marrying, your daughter it's a gift, I reassure you," said Erik, taking Anne's hand. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

"When are you thinking of getting married?" asked Camille.

Erik smiled. "I hope it'll be as soon as possible. Is that alright with you?" he asked Anne. She stayed quiet for a while, but smiled quickly.

"Yes, its fine," she responded.

Charlotte came back out of breath. "It's not much, but I hope Monsieur Erik will appreciate it," she said, handing him a photograph.

Erik got up and smiled seeing the photograph. "Madame, thank you, it's beautiful," he said, looking at the picture of Anne.

"I want you to have these," said Stephan as he talked to Erik privately in his study. Erik looked at the papers curiously knowing exactly what they were. "They are the deeds to the house. I want you to accept them as guarantee of the money that you lent us."

"There's no need for that, Monsieur Durand," said Erik, shaking his head.

"I insist," argued Stephan.

Erik sighed and hesitantly took the papers. "As you wish."

Stephan smiled. "I don't think Belle could find a better man."

Erik smiled back. "Thank you."

"You leave today to Orleans?" asked Stephan.

Erik nodded. "Yes, I need to check on the manor and quickly do some business over there, but I'll come back as soon as I can so I can marry Anne."

"Where are you going to live?" asked Charlotte as she and Camille walked behind Anne to her room.

"I don't know," said Anne.

"I hope he doesn't keep her in that manor of his. Who knows what it'll be like there," said Camille. "But you should write him a letter saying that you prefer to live here with us… and also it'll be nice to see what he can give us." Anne shot a glare at her mother. "It'll be nice to invite the governor to the party."

Anne sighed. "I prefer that there were no parties," she said.

"So that everyone would think we're hiding something? Out of the question! Even if we don't have money, we still have our last name and honor," Camille said. "And that fortunately, no one is going to take away from us."

Anne glared at her mother's figure as she walked out of the room. "Is she ever going to stop accusing me for loving Maurice!" she cried.

Charlotte shook her head. "Don't pay any attention to her."

"But she bothers me and offends me. I can't wait to get married and leave here, mostly to never see her face or Ricard's," scowled Anne.

"Don't be resentful, sweetheart," said Charlotte. Anne let out a sob. "Annie, I know this isn't the best moment, but do you think your new husband would let me go live with the two of you?"

Anne smiled. "That'll be wonderful, Aunt Charlotte. At least I won't feel so alone. I'm really frightened."

"Of what, love? Erik looks like a good man…"

"No, Aunt Charlotte, I'm not afraid of him. I'm afraid of me. I have dreamt so much in the day that Maurice and I would marry that I don't that I could stand be the wife of another man," she said, looking at the engagement ring he gave her.

Erik sighed as he finally got home to his manor. It felt good to be away from the rowdy city of Paris. He missed Orleans, especially his music room. He wanted to get started in a new composition and Anne was the inspiration for it. Nadir said he had to leave back to Persia to go visit his son, but he reassured Erik that he would be there in time for the wedding. Erik put his coat on its hanger and was greeted by the servants of the manor. He nodded his head courtly, silently telling them to go about their business.

"Monsieur Levesque, Father Alexandre is here," said Julian, one of his servants.

Erik smiled and thanked him. He quickly went to the parlor and went to see Alexandre waiting for him. "Father Alexandre, how are you? I see you got my letter," he said, giving him a hug.

"I'm fine, but it looks like you're doing better than me," Alexandre said, chuckling.

"Why do you say that?" asked Erik.

"I can see all your teeth," he said.

Erik nodded. "I'm getting married."

Alexandre looked at him in a happy surprise. "You're getting married? To who?"

"Her name is Annabelle Durand. I met her in Paris. She comes from a good family. Her father was a general," he said as Marie came inside to give them drinks. "She's beautiful, humble, sweet, and I think I've fallen hard for her."

There was a sudden crash as Marie dropped their drinks onto the floor. Marie blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she sobbed.

Erik shook his head. "Its fine, Marie, go tell one of the girls to come help you pick it up," he said.

Marie nodded and quickly went out of the room. Alexandre laughed. "I think she likes you, too."

"I know, but I don't share the same feelings as she does," he said, sighing. "The first time that has ever happened."

"Well, I can't wait to meet this future wife of yours. When's the wedding?" asked Alexandre.

"Soon, I want to be married in less than a month."

"Lancet! What a surprise?" said Charlotte as he entered the house.

Lancet chuckled. "I'm glad to see you so well, Madame Charlotte. Tres jolie, Madame."

"How nice to see you again. When did you come back to Paris?" she asked.

"Today in the afternoon," he said, grinning.

"I can't believe it," said Ricard, coming down the stairs. "Lancet, you're back!" he said, laughing.

Lancet laughed back. "My old friend, how are you?"

Ricard smiled. "Fine, fine, come let me go buy you a drink."

About two hours later the two friends were "standing" around the piano with slurs coming out of their mouths due to their heavy drinking. Ricard laughed as Lancet tried to play the piano, but missed a couple of keys.

"This is life!" yelled Lancet. "God, I missed Paris. People here are happy without prestige. You can do whatever you want here without having to go confess every time you see a woman's pantalets."

Ricard laughed historically, drink in hand. "Stop playing the piano," he slurred, pressing his hands on the keys, making an awful sound. He collapsed on the seat next to Lancet. "Y-You play like if you were touching the chest of a mademoiselle."

They both laughed and made their way back to the bar to get another drink. "So, what's been going on with you life, my brother."

Ricard let out a groan. "My father doesn't love me and we're on the edge of loosing everything."

Lancet nodded, trying to understand what Ricard was saying. "But I heard that Annie is going to marry a rich man."

Ricard laughed. "My sister, yes, isn't she just precious? She's going to marry one of the richest men in all of Paris, but they're being… dogs to me," he stuttered. "They want me to start working," he said, cracking up.

Lancet laughed along with him. "I spent all my money in Italy, too. Father said I have to start working soon!"

They both stumbled to the ground and laughed together, while the other people in the pub laughed at them.

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