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Erik sat annoyed as he watched Ricard's friend Lancet sing and dance at the engagement party. He was making people laugh and danced along with them, but Erik just felt he was worse than Carlotta herself. Most of the people were friends of the Durand family or just families of high class that they invited to make them jealous.
His eyes shot up when he heard clapping and his annoyance turned into happiness. Anne came accompanied by her father looking very pretty in a beige lacy dress. Camille led him to Anne as they became the center of attention.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I appreciate if you honor us with your presence so that you can be witnesses in a time that is very important for our family," introduced Stephan. "My wife and I give us great pleasure to present you the engagement of our daughter Annabelle with Monsieur Erik Levesque, whose wedding will be on Saturday, being held in the Notre Dame of Paris. We desire nothing more than prosperity and devotion to this young couple who deserves it."
The crowd began to clap and the music began to play. Anne looked up at Erik as he took her in his arms. She felt uncomfortable from the closeness, but didn't resist. "I'm so happy," he whispered as they began to waltz. "I fell so proud that you'll be my wife. I love you, Anne." Anne said nothing, but couldn't take her eyes off his. "Are you having fun?"
Anne nodded as Erik took her aside. "I haven't gone to a party in a while."
"Why not?"
"Our social problems and also they can be quiet a bore sometimes," she said, smiling.
"Then you wouldn't mind leaving the city and moving to Orleans then," he said. Anne sighed. "It's alright. We're going to live here for a while. I'm sure that being separated from your family is going to be difficult for you. That's why I think we should stay here for a while, but we'll also have to go back to the manor to make sure everything is running smoothly." He lifted her chin up and kissed her gently. "I wanted to thank you for accepting me to be your husband. I'm very fortunate." He frowned when he saw tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. It's just that you're a very amiable person," she said.
"I love you, Anne. There's nothing that I wouldn't do to make you happy."
Charlotte sighed as she saw the depressed look Anne had on her face. She barely smiled anymore. She couldn't understand why she was so upset when she'll be married with a wonderful man like Erik in a couple of days.
"For the love of God, Annie, put on a more cheerful attitude or your face will get stuck like that," said Charlotte. "Put some consideration in your fiancée."
"Consideration?" said Anne, glaring at her aunt. "Erik made a business deal. He bought himself a wife, but he can't make his wife smile, laugh, and make jokes or what, is that also part of the deal he made with my mother?"
"You're souring you life for no reason," said Charlotte, continuing to sow.
"My life is already sour," snapped Anne back. "His love for me is phony."
"No, he really does love you!" said Charlotte, frustrated.
Anne scoffed. "Well, too bad for him because he will only have my body, but my soul and emotions will never be his."
Charlotte eyed her. "Don't you think you're being too vengeful?"
Anne shrugged. "Maybe so, but I do not care."
Elise suddenly walked into the parlor. "Mademoiselle Anne, Monsieur Levesque's messenger sent a note for you," she said, handing it to her.
"Thank you, Elise, you may leave," she said. She read it quickly and sighed in relief. "Erik says that he's sorry that he had to leave, but he was needed urgently back in his manor."
"What do you think could have happened?" asked Charlotte worriedly.
Anne sighed. "He didn't specify, but I thank God that I won't at least see him until the day of our wedding."
"Annie, tell me the truth, do you still think of the other man?"
Anne looked at her sadly. "There is not one moment that I don't. Each day I yearn to have him in my arms even if it's only for an instant. Enough time to tell my why he deceived me."
"I'm sure that, even if he hasn't told you, Erik is probably going to take you to Italy, London, or maybe Spain. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he took you to Nice or Marseille? I hear the weather is wonderful there this time of the year," said Camille as she and Charlotte began packing Anne's trunk for her clothes.
"Mother," spoke Anne up. "I don't want to marry Erik."
Camille looked at her as if she had grown another head. "Why are you telling me now? We only have a few days left before the wedding."
"Please, do something. I beg you. Just thinking that we'll be alone… I don't think I'll be able to stand it," Anne said desperately.
"The one who can't stand this is me for dealing with such foolish ideas that pop in your head," scowled Camille. "We already made the engagement public. What do you want, huh? Do you want to shame this family?"
"Non, but I beg you to understand me."
"Oui, I understand you, but I don't justify it. You aren't the first woman who gets married in an arranged marriage. We all do it and don't complain about it. You shouldn't act so different," she said before marching out of her daughter's room.
Anne sighed a sat on by her desk. She heard her aunt walking towards her. "When your mother was younger, she was also in love with another beau." Anne looked up at her in awe. "He was very handsome, but the same thing happen to her. He wasn't of our class."
"And what happened?" asked Anne in a small voice.
"Our parents opposed of them of course and she… listened."
"She… she wasn't in love with my father?"
Charlotte shook her head. "At first she wasn't, but as time went by she grew very fond of him."
"And you Aunt Charlotte?"
Charlotte smiled. "I rebelled. I didn't listen to your grandparents. I married your uncle. Let God rest his soul. He wasn't a rich man, but I loved him very much."
"I, too, want to love my husband very much," sobbed Anne.
"Unfortunately, he left me without kids or money," said Charlotte sadly. "And here you have me, living with my sister and her husband as a charity case. So, think about it very carefully before you make such a brash decision, Annie."
Miles away from Paris, a beaten and injured Maurice swam for his life along with his newly made friend Travis Belmont, a guard from the prison, as they escaped Chateau d'If. If caught, both would be executed. Though, air was hard for their reach as they panted, especially for Maurice and his injuries, both they succeeded to catch a small boat that belonged to the guards, dodging the bullets and hearing the shouts and yells coming from the watch tower.
Anne, in her safe bed, was tossing and turning, dreaming of her beloved Maurice. She couldn't see him, but she knew, she felt that he was in danger. Her eyes shot open as she sat up in her bed, panting and sweating. "Maurice," she whispered. She got up and quickly took hold of the locket he had given her. The melody it played made her trembling stop, but her heart still pumped furiously against her ribcage. It was the only piece of material she had of him. His memories were still there, but it wasn't enough for her.
She lay back onto the bed as she tried to go back to sleep. Her locket was still playing.
"Ricard!" shouted Stephan as he came into the house. He was furious. He just went to speak with the governor and found out that Ricard never went with his letter and ask for a job. He felt shame coming from his son and how irresponsible he was.
"Yes, Father," he said, running up to him. "Are you alright?"
"You rotten, disobedient, unscrupulous child of mine!" he growled grabbing him by his shirt.
Camille gasped and ran up to them. "Stephan, please calm down! What did he do?"
"Your son brings shame to this family!" he shouted, slapping Ricard in the face.
Camille pulled her son away trying to calm down her husband. "At least tell me what he has done?"
"He never went to see the governor. He never gave my letter in to his office. Leave my house," hissed Stephan. "Leave!" he yelled, shaking his cane at him, but Camille and Anne stopped him.
"Father, please, calm down," said Anne, taking him to his study. "Are you feeling alright?"
Stephan breathed heavily as he sat on his chair. Anne quickly poured him a glass of water to calm down his nerves. "I looked like a fool when I went to the governor's office. I wanted to go personally to apologize, you know, after your mother told me he was starting business with that Lancet boy. He told me that he never received the letter I told Ricard to give to him. What sin have I done to deserve such a son like that?"
"N-No, Father, don't say that," said Anne. "It's not your fault."
Stephan looked at her daughter. "At least, I have you to be proud of," he said, kissing her hand. "You'll never disappoint me."
Anne looked away from her father. If you only knew that I don't love Erik, Father. If you only knew that I'm in love with a man with no money, she thought with guilt.
Camille panted as she walked up to her daughter once she left her father's study. "Y-You have to speak with you father about bringing your brother back," she said. "What if he doesn't let him come to your wedding? Tell him that since you're about to get married, to do you the favor to have your brother brought back."
Anne glared at her mother. "I'm glad that my father kicked Ricard out into the streets. He deserved it! Father should have done it sooner. So if you would excuse me," she said, going up to her room.
"What has gotten into her?" she asked herself.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Do you really have to ask? Can't you see how desperate she is?"
"Do you think she'll rebel?" asked Camille.
Charlotte cocked her head to the side. "With only a few days before the wedding? Perhaps," she said, going back to her sowing.
"Oh no! No, I doubt that she'll upset her father. T-Tell her that if she backs down, her father will drop dead if she doesn't marry Erik."
"You tell her," responded Charlotte quickly.
Camille glared at her. "I see that you don't want to collaborate in anything."
"That's right and if you want to kick me out to the streets, do it. You'll only have to make an explanation to your husband and I, of course, will tell my part of the story."
"Is this a threat?"
"Yes, it is," said Charlotte, sternly.
"I never knew that I had such a witch in my own house," scowled Camille.
Charlotte smiled. "Unlike me, I always knew you were greedy and a liar with no shame." Camille glared at her sister. "Would you like a cookie?" asked Charlotte handing her the plate. Camille huffed and walked out of the porch.
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