Chapter One: With Child
Anne Shirley's hands twisted nervously in her lap, as Marilla set the tea to steep and sat down opposite Anne at the kitchen table. It was high summer at Green Gables and Anne was home after her second year as Principle at Summerside. In a year's time, Marilla mused Anne would be gone, married to Gilbert Blythe and starting her new life wherever Gilbert finally determined to set up his practice. How Marilla would miss her.
"Anne, are you quite all right?" Even with Marilla's ever weakening eyesight she could see Anne's complexion had paled significantly and there were light beads of sweat across her brow.
"Oh yes," Anne confirmed softly, pulling distractedly at the collar of her blouse that suddenly seemed all too tight. Truthfully, the air in the Green Gables kitchen felt thick and heavy to her and the scent of the steeping tea was positively noxious. "I think I must just be coming down with a slight summer cold, that's all."
Mrs Rachel Lynde herded herself to the kitchen table where she suddenly caught a whiff of a scent that would only ever remind her of one thing after raising ten children and burying two. Mrs Rachel Lynde suddenly eyed Anne sharply. Anne looked positively green.
"Peppermint oil?" Rachel gazed at her curiously and Anne just nodded vaguely. Rachel opened her mouth, as if to say something, and then quickly shut it again, for once considering the need to censor her observations.
Gilbert Blythe knocked at the Green Gables door and Marilla rose to let him in. Anne went to get her shawl despite the heat of the mid-summer morning. Rachel noted he looked pale and anxious too, although he did his best to hide it under his handsome features. Anne reached for his hand, their eyes meeting and speaking to each other in a silent language that only they understood.
"Let's go for a ramble, darling," Anne said lightly, almost forcefully, pulling Gilbert towards the door and he followed quietly. Rachel thought he looked as though he was handling fine china and it made her nervous. She was used to the heated exchanges between the two, that bordered on the edge of propriety.
"Please keep an eye on her Gilbert," Marilla called out to him. "Anne doesn't seem well."
At Marilla's comment, Rachel noted that Gilbert flushed slightly, before nodding his assent and all but fleeing through the door with Anne.
Gilbert placed his arm around Anne's shoulder, as they walked from Green Gables to the seclusion of the Haunted Wood. Gilbert had steeled himself for this moment, this conversation and he didn't want Anne to falter.
"You need to see a doctor, Anne."
Anne shook her head lightly, not yet willing to address the shame and consequences of what was inevitably to come.
"Anne, it's been six weeks." Gilbert turned to Anne, took both of her hands in his and kissed her lightly on the nose. He felt her hands shaking. "Carrots," he whispered. "No matter what happens, I will be by your side. This involves both us."
"You only have three weeks until you are due back at Redmond," Anne said resolutely. "Do not even consider not going back." Anne shot him a pointed gaze. "I could go away for the year…"
"No!" Gilbert looked horrified at the suggestion. "Absolutely not, Anne. You need to be with people who will love and care for you."
"What are we to do, Gil?" Stress radiated off her fine boned frame, as she gripped at Gilbert's firm hand.
"I have thought about this a great deal, Anne and I believe this is what we are to do, if you are in agreement with me." Gilbert ran a hand through his unruly curls and anchored on to the certainty of making a decision. "We need to come clean to my parents and to Marilla…"
"Ohh…" Anne's cheeks flamed at the thought of speaking to Mr and Mrs Blythe on the matter. Not to mention the shame she was about to bring upon poor Marilla.
"We marry immediately and you live with my parents whilst I finish Medical School."
"Oh Gil, they'll be so dreadfully disappointed in me. I am so sorry, Gil. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault!"
"Anne, it is certainly not your fault," Gilbert assured her and he swallowed deeply. "It's a choice we both made. A boundary we both crossed. I should have had the self-discipline to stop and I didn't."
"I shouldn't have tempted you," Anne cried. "I encouraged. I all, but begged you." Anne's face flamed with the memory and suddenly it felt too much. Her collar, felt tight around her neck again and her stomach felt positively wretched.
"Gil, I need to sit down for a bit," Anne murmured. Sweat had once again appeared on her brow, as Anne sat on the ground, clearly unwell.
"Anne, we need to get you back to Green Gables," Gilbert said gently, pulling her upwards, and putting his arm around her waist. His face was etched with concern. "You need to rest and get some water into you. It essential that you stay hydrated at the moment."
Anne leaned her head on Gilbert, as he led her back to the Green Gables kitchen. Marilla, who had spied them coming up the path, ran out to assist.
"Anne's unwell. She needs to rest," Gilbert explained as he helped Anne upstairs, upon Marilla's instruction, and into the east gable room. He placed her gently down against her pillows. From a pitcher he poured her a glass of water and encouraged her to take a sip of it. "I'll ask Marilla to make you some ginger tea for the nausea and I am going to Carmody for the doctor."
Gilbert took the small bottle of peppermint oil that sat on her dresser and placed some on her wrists, as well as dabbing some on to his handkerchief and handing it to Anne. Anne fine features were whitewashed with the nausea and he knew she was unwell when she didn't argue.
"I love you, Carrots," Gilbert whispered as he placed a kiss on her pallid forehead and headed downstairs to ask Marilla about the ginger tea.
Mrs Rachel Lynde's eyebrows shot up at the mention of ginger tea.
"Gilbert," Rachel called out. "I need some assistance moving a chair in my room. Would you mind helping me?"
Gilbert nodded absently, his heart and soul preoccupied with thoughts of Anne, as he followed Rachel Lynde to her living quarters. Rachel shut the door behind her.
"Gilbert Blythe," Rachel started firmly, but not unkindly. "I am about to ask you something and you are to answer me plainly and honestly, you understand?"
Shaken out of his reverie, Gilbert met Rachel's gaze and nodded. He knew from the tone in Rachel's voice that she had been quick enough to put all of the signs together. Years of keeping a calm façade, held Gilbert in good stead. His heart raced and guilt and shame kept threatening to bubble to the surface. Not only were there the social implications of the situation, there were also financial issues. It would be another year until he would be able to provide for a family. A great deal of worry and concern sat on Gilbert's shoulders as Mrs Lynde rounded towards him, concerned deeply lining her face.
"Is Anne with child?"
"Yes," Gilbert confirmed and Rachel drew a sharp breath.
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