Thanks for the reviews and enjoy!
Anne glared at the ring that Erik gave her. It almost burned on her finger. It was everything that she didn't feel for him. She silently cursed her mother and brother for making her marry Erik just because he paid off the tariffs and because he'll soon be the reason why they're back in financial balance again. She, however, planned not to let Erik pay for any luxuries that they might want.
She pulled the ring off her finger and put it back in the box. She sighed, getting up and went down stairs. She almost rolled her eyes hearing her mother speaking about her engagement with Erik to Lancet and Ricard.
"He even had the ring ready. They're going to marry very soon," said Camille.
"Ah! Annie!" said Lancet. "I heard about your engagement and you look splendid!"
Anne smiled softly. "Thank you."
Camille nodded. "Come, Annie, I would like to speak to you," she said, taking her to the study. "You're in your house, Lancet."
"Merci, Madame Camille," he said, bowing.
"Sister," said Ricard, blocking her path. "Congratulations." Anne glared at him and walked after her mother.
Lancet laughed. "Your sister doesn't seem very enthusiastic with her engagement."
Ricard shrugged. "She was with some peasant officier before Erik. She said she was in love with him," he scowled.
"Really, and what happened to him?" asked Lancet as he played the piano.
"I don't know, but who cares," said Ricard.
"Never would I have imagined it, but now thinking about it. In your sister's life, there's a… je ne sais quoi. Something that gives her a passionate soul," he said, looking at the key notes.
Ricard glared at him. "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing to be offended by, but when she has forgotten about the officier, the one who's going to enjoy her feisty spirit will be her husband."
"I don't like the way you are speaking about my sister. Belle is a decent woman!" growled Ricard.
Lancet laughed. "The decent women don't take pleasure in bed."
"Lancet!" he barked as he slammed is fist down the keys.
"When someone speaks to you about Erik, you should show a different face," said Camille in the study.
Anne glared at her mother. "I do what I can, Mother."
"Don't speak to me that way because married or not, you're going to have to respect me," she said.
"What do you mean by that? That I'm going to have to obey you until the day that I die?" said Anne harshly.
Camille huffed. "At least give me credit for what I'm doing to you and when I tell you something, it's not to bother you, but because I worry about you and the family. Oh! And it'll be nice if you wrote a letter to your fiancé, to at least give him the illusion that you like him just a bit."
"The problem is that I haven't been able to be alone with him," said Camille, speaking to her sister. "That's why I haven't spoken to him about the bride's wardrobe."
"Then write him a letter," said Charlotte.
"That's the problem! If I ask him for the money, he's going to tell me no because he already hates me," said Camille.
Charlotte sighed. "I doubt that Annie would want to do it."
"That's why you should do it!"
"Me?" hissed Charlotte.
"Why not? Erik doesn't hate you and he really liked the gift you gave him," said Camille, smiling.
"Not a chance. I'm not going to ask him for money," said Charlotte.
Camille glared at her. "Then how are we going to pay for the wardrobe? Do you want her to go on her honeymoon with old clothes and used shoes?!"
Charlotte shook her head. "Of course not, but why don't you just sell your jewelry?"
Camille gasped. "You are so selfish. I take you out of the streets, giving you a roof and food," she said, going up the stairs.
"And the worn dresses, I know," said Charlotte going after her. "But I will not ask Erik for money, besides he already likes Annie independently, even if we dress her in old or new clothes alike."
"I was thinking about the costs that we're going to have for Belle's wedding," said Stephan to his wife.
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing," she said. "They're many, but I haven't had the change to speak to Erik about it…"
"Don't you dare ask him for money," said Stephan.
Camille huffed at his stubbornness. "Well what do you want us to do then?"
Stephan sighed. "We have some money left, but we need that to pay from for the plantation's crops. We have no other choice, but to sell the jewels."
Camille's mouth gaped. "No, Stephan, please don't."
"I don't mean your personal ones, but the ones that I gave you when I had more money," he said, softly.
"But those are the more expensive ones and the ones that I wear at the parties," whined Camille.
Stephan shook his head. "I'm sorry, Camille, but we have no other choice."
Camille sat angrily in her chair, sitting next to her son on the balcony. "I can't believe he's going to sell those jewels," she said, fanning herself "and all because of some foolish idiots."
Ricard sighed. "You know that my father is like that."
Camille frowned and looked at her son. "You look depressed, son," she said, worriedly.
"Of course, Mother," he said, slouching back in his chair. "It's sad not having money."
One of the maids came in and handed Camille a letter. "There's a letter for you, Madame," she said.
Camille sighed and opened it. "It's from Tavin Morel," she said, surprised.
Ricard's head shot up. "Tavin Morel from the bank?" he asked.
Camille quickly read. "He says that Erik gave full instructions to pay for all costs related to the wedding!" she gasped.
"Did he say if there was any limit?" asked Ricard, getting up.
"No!" said Camille, smiling.
"I-I need new suits… a-and couple of boots," said Ricard, anxiously.
Camille nodded. "Fine, fine, but don't tell anyone of this. If your father finds out, he's going to obligate us to refuse."
Erik sat on the dinner table of his manor, eating along with Julian and Marie. "I want to fix the garden," he told them. "Renew the soil and pull out all the weeds. Oh! And plant many flowers."
Marie smiled. "I can take care of that, Monsieur."
"Merci, Marie," he said, smiling at her. "I want this place to be ready to receive its new mistress." Marie froze. "I'm getting married in less than a month. Marie already new that, right?"
Marie slowly nodded, trying to hold back her tears. Julian nodded and saw the distress look on his daughter's face. He shook his head at her illusions with the manor's owner.
"Marie, please," said Julian, trying to console his daughter. Marie sobbed into the pillow. "I know that since Monsieur Levesque hired us, he has been nice and thoughtful to us, but between the two of you are many differences."
"O-Oui, he's rich and I'm nothing, but a poor maid," she said, through her tears. "Of course, he's going to want someone in his class who's pretty and elegant."
Julian sighed. "You know that you are a beautiful woman, Marie, and you have elegance, as well. The only thing we lack is money."
Marie glared at him. "Leave me, Father. I just want to be alone right now," she said. Julian shook his head and left her room. Marie silently cried until she slept for the man that she would never be with.
"Your mother told me to write a letter to your fiancé for money," Charlotte told Anne the next day as they ate their breakfast.
Anne looked up from her plate. "No, Aunt Charlotte, don't do it."
"Certainly not and that's what I told her," explained Charlotte. Anne sighed and went back to eating her food. "You know what I was thinking, love. I still have my wedding dress. I mean I've always been a bit fuller than you, but we can always adjust it."
Anne looked at her in displeasure. She hated when they mentioned the wedding between her and Erik.
"Tomorrow, we're going to go shopping for the wedding arrangements," said Camille, going into the dining room.
"With what money, Mother?" asked Anne.
Camille smiled. "I'm going to listen to the advice that your aunt gave me. I'm going to sell my jewels."
Anne shook her head, standing up. "No, Mother, don't do that for me."
Camille rose her hand up. "Your father agrees with me."
"But…" Anne sighed as her mother walked away.
"It's alright, Annie," said Charlotte. "That's the only good thing about jewelry. You sell them when you need the money. Besides, you have to enter your husband's house as a queen! And that's exactly what you are. You're a queen, Annie," she said, smiling.
Anne sighed. "I don't feel like one," she whispered to herself.
"Annie isn't as young as she used to be and she was very lucky to find a man for a husband, especially when her family is practically in ruins," said Nicole as she sowed next to her brother.
Lancet laughed. "Do you always speak so well about your friends, Nikki?"
Nicole huffed. "I'm not speaking badly about her. I'm simply saying the truth, what everyone sees and hears."
"Madame Dubois," said Mikaela, going into the parlor. "There's a letter for you."
Nicole smiled. "Thank you," she said, taking it.
Lancet grinned. "Who is it, little sister? I hope that you have a secret lover."
Nicole sighed. "Excuse me," she said, opening the letter. Her blood ran cold, seeing from who it was from.
Dear Madame Nicole Dubois,
I come to you, knowing how much you care about Annabelle very dearly. I beg you to give her the letter that is attached with this one.
Maurice Martin
Nicole walked quickly towards Anne's house. The letter that Maurice had sent was bone chilling. No one had heard from him until now. She wondered where he was and what he could want with Anne, but being her friend and all, she knew she had to give her the letter.
"Bonjour, Elise," greeted Nicole as she walked in. "Is Annie home?"
"Didn't she tell you, Madame? She went shopping with her mother and aunt. I'm not sure when she's going to come back," explained Elise.
"Nikki, dear," said Ricard, coming down the stairs.
"Hello, Ricard," she said out of breath. "Your sister is inattentive. She could have at least taken me to go shopping with her."
Ricard laughed and kissed her hand. "My mother decided it from one day to another. You know that preparations for weddings take a lot of time and patience. Come. Drink some of the juice that our maids prepared."
"Non, I have to leave, but when Annie comes back, tell her that I have something urgent to give her… I mean to tell her," she said, smiling.
Ricard frowned. "It was a pleasure then." Nicole smiled and left the house, leaving him deep in thought.
"Is that what she told you? That she needed something to give to her?" asked Lancet.
"Oui, I think she was going to say give, but she changed her mind," replied Ricard.
Lancet sighed. "Ah! Mademoiselle Karina, the afternoon lighting gives such a great fragrance," he said, smirking.
"It's so good to see you, Monsieur Lancet. On Sunday, I saw your sister at church, but she didn't tell me you were back," said Karina shyly. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world. She was almost thirty and she has not even courted once. She usually wore black and always had her nanny by her side.
Ricard almost huffed in annoyance as Lancet talked to Karina. Damn, she's ugly, he thought. "Well if she didn't mention me, it must mean that she thinks ill of me."
Karina laughed. "Oh, don't say that. And how are your parents?"
"Tres bien, tres bien, merci, but you of course, look splendid with each day," he said, flirting with her.
Karina blushed. "Oh, Lord, why do you say such things?" she said.
"Oh, excuse me, have you met my good friend, Ricard," said Lancet, pointing to him.
Ricard smiled and took his hand out. "Mademoiselle, it's a pleasure. Please excuse the awful manners of Monsieur Lefebvre for delaying our meeting," he said, kissing her hand. Karina's breath almost left as his lips touched her gloved hand.
"Mademoiselle Karina Girard meet Monsieur Ricard Durand," said Lancet, quickly.
"It was a pleasure, Mademoiselle," said Ricard, flashing her a smirk. Her face turned redder and excused herself as she left. Both watched as Karina walked away with her nanny.
"Did you know that she has as a lot of money like your brother-in-law?" said Lancet.
"Well that's good for her," said Ricard, laughing. "Have you seen her. She's hideous."
"She's also an orphan and single," said Lancet seriously.
Ricard chuckled and looked at him. "Single? It doesn't surprise me." He laughed thinking about Karina's face, but it soon died out seeing the look on Lancet's face. "What? Why are you looking at me that way? Do you want me to ask her to marry me?"
"Women like that would die to have a lover without the need to marry said man," said Lancet, walking away. Ricard frowned seeing him walk away, but wondered why he would say something so ridiculous like that.
Nicole gasped when Lancet snatched the letter from Maurice to Anne from her hands. "Lancet, give it to me!" she said, chasing after him.
Lancet laughed seeing to who it was for. "Don't tell me this is the famous Maurice Martin that has smitten little Anne, huh?"
Nicole glared at him reaching for the letter, but Lancet pulled it back again. "How do you know that?"
Lancet shrugged. "Let's open it," he said.
"What?" she hissed. "Are you mad?"
Don't tell me that you aren't a bit curious with what's written in here, little sister?" asked Lancet.
Nicole shook her head. "It's wrong?"
"Don't worry! We'll seal it up with another envelope." Nicole bit her lip, but did nothing stop her brother.
My Belle,
I'm in Château d'If Prison, where they brought me chained and hurt without knowing the reason for my arrest. All I know that I'm behind bars because of the orders executed by General Bertrand. Since that moment, I haven't been able to speak to any authority. Now I'm here surrounded by four walls and the only one who knows about the crime is General Bertrand and God.
Yours forever and always,
Maurice
"How horrible!" gasped Nicole. "I thought he left Annie. So, that's why…"
"He disappeared," finished Lancet. Nicole snapped her head back to her brother. "I, too, know that."
Anne smiled as she returned back to her house. Her mother and aunt both went insane shopping for clothes and they even fitted her for a wedding gown. She reminded herself constantly that this wasn't a preparation for her wedding with Maurice, but with a man she didn't love. She didn't understand why God was punishing her this way. She wondered what wrong doing she had done. Was it the secret meetings I had with Maurice? But I never did anything wrong with him. We just exchanged a couple… a lot of kisses, she thought.
"Mademoiselle Annie," said Elisa, running up to her. "You received a letter while you were gone," she whispered. "I put it on your desk."
Anne smiled and her eyes even sparkled. She quickly made her way to her room and searched for the letter on her desk. Her grin grew when she found it. After opening it, her smile faded seeing that it was from Erik. She had hoped it was from Maurice. Her aunt entered the room after her.
"Annie, did you get a letter from Erik?" Anne only nodded and handed her the letter. "Oh, how romantic! He says:
My Dearest
I'm sorry for leaving so soon without getting to know you better. However, I hope that through our letters it might ease our distance and nothing more will bring me joy that you will express yourself from your heart and mine. I have also given instructions to fix the garden so that when you come here, they'll be the first to give you a beautiful welcome.
Yours truly,
Erik
"The sweetest things that he says, doesn't he? Oh, Annie, you're so lucky," said Charlotte.
Anne just stayed silent until she heard her bedroom door opened. She smiled seeing her father some in. Her aunt left to leave them alone.
"Belle." She got up and greeted him. "How was the trip?"
"Fine," she simply said.
"I see your mother brought you many things," he said. Anne again nodded. "Belle, tell me, are you in love with your fiancée?"
"W-Well, I don't know him that well. He's a good man and attentive."
Stephan eyed her. "But you don't love him?"
Anne looked away. "Of course, I do."
"You don't look very convincing."
"Well, I don't love him yet, but I want to marry him, Father, and who better than with Erik."
"Is it because he's rich?" Anne's smile faded. Could she have the nerve to lie to her father?
Thanks for reading and please review!