Sorry for the long wait, but here's another chapter to enjoy. Thanks for the reviews!

"N-No, Father, Erik is an enjoyable, attentive, and nice man. He even makes me laugh," explained Anne.

Stephan smiled. "I hope you're telling me the truth," he said, touching the side of her face. "Firstly, because I wouldn't want you marrying for money and secondly, because Erik is a decent man who doesn't deserve a wife that the only virtue she sees in him is for what he has in his pocket."

Anne looked down. "No, Father, it's not like that."

"Well, I'm happy for that," he said. Anne watched him leave feeling the guilt in the pit of her stomach.

Ricard sighed as he sat in his room with his mother. His father and sent him to the governor to help him give him a job, but Ricard dreaded thinking of working and giving up his old habits. It was the only choice Stephan was giving him or he'll kick his son out of the house.

"Mother, please, try to convince Father. I don't want to be working like a mule," protested Ricard.

Camille sighed as she fanned herself when the door knocked. "Who is it?" she asked.

"Madame, Monsieur Lefebvre is here to see Monsieur Durand," said Ada.

Ricard immediately jumped to his feet and opened the door for his friend. Lancet had told him that Nicole had received a letter from Maurice to Anne and he'll do what he can to get the letter from her. Maybe he convinced her.

Lancet came in smirking with the letter in his hands. Camille let out a breath of relief when she saw it.

"Oh, Lancet, you're a life saver!" she said. She took the letter and held it up to a candle, watching it burn.

"Yes, destroy it, Mother. I was just talking to her about my father wants me to start working," said Ricard.

Lancet laughed. "Don't worry about that because I know these silk traders that we can do business with."

Camille stared, contemplating, whether to trust her son and his friend, but it was either that or never see her son living under a bridge.

Anne glared at her mother as she walked into her room. The banker came by earlier while Camille and Charlotte were walking around town and told her to come to him with confidence to spend as much money as she wanted since Erik gave no money limit on how much they could spend. It was embarrassing in her part that her mother could accept something like that when she had told her that she had sold her jewelry.

"What's wrong?" asked Camille, seeing the look on her daughter's face.

"What's wrong?" repeated Anne. "I just found out that you didn't sell your jewelry like you told me and that everything we have spent, Erik has paid for it."

Camille sighed. "Who told you?"

"Monsieur Morel," replied Anne.

"But you told me…" Started Charlotte, but was cut off by Camille.

"And what's the problem?"

"The problem is that it's embarrassing and humiliating," said Anne, looking at her with eyes wide open.

"What's so embarrassing about it?" asked Camille, still cool and collected. "He offered the money."

"Then you should have denied it!" shouted Anne.

"Why? It was part of the deal," Camille simply said.

"What deal, Mother?!" yelled Anne.

"Lower your voice!" hissed Camille. "Do you want your father to find out and for him to have a heart attack?"

"But, Mother, I have to know. Did you arrange my marriage in those conditions? Did you put me up for sale and he bought me?!"

"No, course not…" Charlotte said, trying to calm her niece down, but again Camille intervened.

"I'm tiered of cooperating with you, your father, and Erik. Yes, I made a deal with Erik, your hand in exchange for money so we wouldn't loose everything. If I agreed to this, is because I care about our family name, the position we're in, and have the same respect we've always had, even to give you the life of a queen, which you do not deserve."

Anne closed her eyes, letting two tears fall down. "Then why does he fake his affection towards me when this was just business to him."

"He's not faking anything. He's in love with you and that you, too, don't deserve," she scowled, leaving her room.

Anne sighed and sat down in a chair. "How disgusting. How embarrassing," she said, almost to herself.

"You're not to blame, sweetheart," said Charlotte. "And neither is your boyfriend."

"Did you know Aunt Charlotte?" she whispered, looking at her.

"About him paying for the wedding, no, but about everything else, yes, but he loves you, Annie. He just didn't want you to know," defended Charlotte.

"And my father?" she asked, fearfully.

"No," said Charlotte, shaking her head. "Your father is a saint that knows nothing."

"All of you could deny all you want, but the only thing that is clear is that my mother put me up for sale and he agreed to buy me!" she said, before letting out her sobs again.

Ricard tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for Karina. This was Lancet's job that he had in mind. Somehow he convinced him and Katrina to start some type of courtship in order to get money off her. She seemed very infatuated with him and most likely will give any sum of money in order to please Ricard. He didn't know how he got into this mess and would rather have worked behind a desk until his eyes went blind.

Ricard stopped cold when he saw Karina, smiling and blushing shyly at him. He greeted her by kissing her hand and gave her the box of chocolates he had in his hands.

"How gentile," she said. "W-Would you like something to drink?"

"Non, non, thank you," he said. "I'd really like to speak with you for a moment."

Karina grinned. "Well, sit down please. H-How are your parents?"

"Well, very well, and yours?" he asked, taking a seat next to her.

Karina looked down. "They past away."

"I-I'm very sorry. It wasn't my intention. I apologize."

"Well, yes, I'm alone in the world," she said, sadly. "I only have a brother, but he lives in London and I barely see him."

They were in a comfortable silence for a moment. "You are a very distinguished and gentile woman," he said with a lot of effort. "It'll be an honor if you would have me as your friend."

Karina blushed. "I-I'll be delighted."

"You wouldn't mind if I come visit you again," he said with a hint of flirt.

Karina gasped in delight. "That'll be wonderful. You may come how many times you want!"

Ricard nodded. "Well, it was a nice visit," he said almost dashing towards the door.

"Y-You're leaving already?" asked Karina, walking behind him.

"It's getting a bit late and I have lots to do. I shouldn't be abusing your hospitality, either."

"It was a pleasure for me," said Karina. Ricard's eyes almost widened at her persistence. She really does like me, he thought. "You could always come tomorrow."

"T-Tomorrow around five would be fine with me," he stuttered.

Karina nodded furiously. "I'll be waiting."

Ricard gave her another look and left before he got himself deeper into trouble.

Anne smiled slightly as she read Erik's new letter:

I never knew my parents. I grew up alone in this world. That is why it is important for me to have a family and I desire that you'd be my family. I want you with me Anne, so I could care and comply with you to give you all the affection that I can that's why I also need affection. I'm tiered of living alone.

She frowned reading that. She never knew how honest he could be and was probably was having difficulty being sincere in writing the letter. She looked at the flower he had sent with the letter.

I know that I was going to send some flowers for your garden, but in this time of the year it's very difficult to find a flower that has bloomed. That's why I sent you this small orchid that I miraculously found in a forest near my manor. Enjoy this flower, but don't be jealous of it because you're still more beautiful.

Love,

Erik

Anne sighed as she touched the flower gently. It hurt that she was lying to Erik. He didn't deserve it, but she couldn't change her feelings for anything in the world.

A few days later

Anne gasped when Erik twirled her around. She was walking around in the gardens when she had heard her name. He came running towards her and picked her up to her surprise. He put her down, smiling at her and kissing her hands.

"These past few days were torture," he said, before kissing her. Again she was in shock, but kissed back, remembering that she had to look convincing. He pulled away and kissed her hands again. Anne blinked a couple of times trying to register back to Earth again. He frowned when he saw the ring missing from her finger. "Where's the ring?"

"I-I forgot to put it on today," she quickly said. Erik eyed her, but said nothing about it. "Would you like to go into the house?" she suggested. Erik nodded and followed her back to her house.

Anne followed casually back to his carriage as he was leaving her home. He noticed that she had gone upstairs and put on the engagement ring he had given her. "I noticed that you were very quiet today," said Erik.

"I-I didn't know what to say," she whispered.

"You were also unenthusiastic when we talked about the wedding decorations. Have you changed your mind?" asked Erik.

Anne looked away. "N-No, it's just that I'm a bit uncomfortable with you and to be honest. I'm a bit… scared."

Erik smiled and turned her to him. "I have my temper," he said bashfully, "but I'd never hurt you, Anne. Just answer a couple of questions. Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Does it repulse you that I touch or kiss you?

"N-No, but you're very forward and I don't think it's very correct."

Erik laughed. "When two people care about each other…" His smile faded. "I'm sorry I'm speaking assuming that you already have feelings for me. I understand that some woman have to manifest themselves to certain types of affection."

"Yes, that's true," she said, blushing as he kissed her hand.

"Don't worry, Anne, I know how to wait." With that, Erik left, making Anne feel more relieved.

Not my best chapter, but I tried. Thanks for reading and please review!