Thank you so much for putting up with my previous update! Even if it just helped in the tiniest way, it will mean the world to me. Anyway, here is the update that you were probably waiting for (sorry for how short it is)! Allons-y!
Gilbert cheerfully whistled as he walked to the Green Gables household. He felt as light as air, perhaps even lighter. Anne had mentioned to him previously that she was going to visit Diana and if he would like to come along. Politely declining, he had said that he would be helping his father all day. That had been his intention until he had told his parents about his plan to propose to Anne, and his parents insisted that they could survive without his aid for a while. Gilbert was determined to do it properly this time and ask Anne's guardian for her blessing. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door of Green Gables and waited nervously.
Upon opening the door to reveal Gilbert's anxious face, Marilla invited him in, informing him that Anne was currently visiting Diana and baby Fred.
"I know," Gilbert replied, "It was you I was hoping to see Miss Cuthbert."
Marilla turned to face him, sensing his nerves, she had a feeling that he was going to ask a long due request. Trying not to get her hopes up, she acted as if everything were as per usual
"Would you like some tea?" she asked calmly.
"No, thank you," Gilbert shook his head. Marilla sat down in front of him,
"How may I help you?"
"Er, is Mrs Lynde here?"
"She's upstairs presently," Marilla replied, "Would you like to see her?"
"No!" Gilbert said, "I mean, no, thank you." He corrected himself.
"Well, um, the thing is, um." Gilbert stammered, he felt his heart pound, he hadn't thought about how nerve-racking this part was.
"Yes?' Marilla said with a twinkle in her eye. Gilbert realised that she already knew what he was going to ask, so he gathered his wits about himself and got straight to the point.
"May I please have your blessing to ask Anne to marry me?" he asked, his voice less shaky.
Marilla only just managed to not jump out of her chair, however, the same could not be said of a Mrs Rachel Lynde, who having eavesdropped the entire conversation, burst through the door beaming.
"Of course you have my blessing!" Marilla's face broke into a smile. She stood up and pulled Gilbert into a rare and unexpected hug.
"Oh, I knew this day would come!" Mrs Lynde cheered, "I have said since day one that Providence had matched you and Anne! Haven't I Marilla? Haven't I?" Marilla looked at Gilbert and rolled her eyes,
"Indeed you have Rachel," she replied dryly
"Oh, this is just marvellous!" Mrs Lynde clasped her hands to together joyously, "Have you already asked Anne?"
"No, I haven't proposed, we aren't engaged quite yet." Gilbert laughed. Marilla could hear the worry in his laugh.
"You needn't stress about Anne's reply." Marilla said, "I am 100% certain that she will consent to marry you."
"Could we keep this between us, please? Just for now." Gilbert asked his question targeting Mrs Lynde in particular.
"I've finished feeding the chickens, can I go and play now?" Davy's voice suddenly came from the kitchen. He came into the room and stopped as he saw Gilbert, "Oh, hello."
Gilbert walked over to Davy, "Before you go, could I please ask you an important question."
Gilbert followed Davy to the back of the house. They sat down cross-legged on the grass and Davy looked at Gilbert, "What is it?" he said, trying to sound grown-up
Gilbert schooled his face into a very serious look, "Since you are Anne's brother and the only other man in the house, I wanted to ask your permission for something."
Davy felt a burst of pride, Gilbert had called him a man, not boy like Marilla and Mrs Lynde did.
"Could I please have your permission to marry your sister, Anne?" Gilbert asked. Davy was surprised, it was the first time somebody had spoken to him like a grown up. He had always liked Gilbert, he was fun.
"You already asked her?"
"Not yet."
"Well, I guess so." Davy said slowly, "But you have to promise that you'll take care of her, and be nice to her." He thought for a moment before adding, "And you won't move too far away." He held out his hand for Gilbert to shake on.
Gilbert nodded gravely, "I promise that I will be very nice and look after her."
"And you won't move away too far," Davy repeated
"And that we won't move too far away." Gilbert agreed, "Now, we have to keep this a secret, okay?"
"I swear I won't tell no one." Davy promised, "Not even Anne."
I should hope not, Gilbert thought to himself.
Diana and Anne were outside in the sunshine as Anne played with baby Fred who lay next to them on the blanket.
"Look at you, little one," Anne cooed as she lay on her stomach, "kicking your wee legs." The baby gurgled and his tiny fingers clasping Anne's index. "It's not fair, I want one." Anne sighed, "Can I steal him?"
"No! He's my little Freddie." Diana laughed, "You'll have one of your own eventually." Anne didn't reply and carried on entertaining baby Fred.
"How is the Gilbert situation?" Diana asked carefully.
Anne glanced at Diana, "Have a guess."
Diana winced, "It's still the same?"
"Yes," Anne replied, "It is still the same."
"Isn't it time you told him how you feel?" Diana suggested, "After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Anne just shrugged. Diana hated seeing Anne like this, putting her guard up at the mention of Gilbert. Suddenly, baby Fred started wailing, his little red face growing redder and flailing his arms about. Diana picked him up, "Sorry Anne, I think that it's naptime now for Freddie. I will be right back." Diana swiftly disappeared into the house, leaving Anne alone with her thoughts. Nothing ventured, nothing gained
"Are you sure wouldn't like to stay a while longer?" Mrs Lynde asked for the fourth time, "I'm sure Anne will be back soon."
Gilbert rose from his seat, "I'm afraid that I can't stay any longer Mrs Lynde, I am already late with helping my father on the farm."
"Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't mind!" Mrs Lynde insisted.
"We won't keep you any longer." Marilla said, ignoring her friend, she led him back to the front door, "Thank you very much for your visit." Marilla said as she held the door open.
"Thank you for giving me your blessing to marry Anne." Gilbert smiled.
"You had my blessing long ago." As Marilla watched Gilbert leave, giving him a final wave as he closed the gate, she felt her joy tinged with a sadness. If only Matthew were here, she thought mournfully as she gently closed the door.
Anne was suspicious. Mrs Lynde kept giving her looking at Anne and smiling to herself, she caught Marilla humming cheerfully as she prepared dinner, and Davy was bizarrely quiet, he barely spoke to her, acting very secretive. After dinner, she tried to corner Davy and get him to tell her what was going on.
"Davy," she began, "Do you know why everybody is acting so odd tonight." Davy who looked as if he was trying desperately to not speak, shook his head. She tried again, "It makes me sad that you won't talk to me." She said looking at him with a mournful look in her eyes. Davy was about to break when he saw Marilla give him a stern look over Anne's shoulder. He quickly slipped away and ran upstairs. Anne turned to look at Mrs Lynde, surely, if anybody would let slip what was going on, it would be Rachel Lynde. She approached her and sat down next to her.
"Mrs Lynde," Anne said quietly, "Do you know why on earth is everybody except Dora acting so strangely tonight?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Mrs Lynde fibbed. Lord, forgive me for this falsehood, she prayed, but it is for a good cause.
Anne raised an eyebrow, this would be harder than she thought.
By the end of the night, Anne was no closer to figuring out what was going on than she was before. Davy had disappeared for the rest of the evening; Dora - or so she had said - had no idea, Mrs Lynde managed to keep whatever the secret was to herself and asking Marilla about it was like talking to a brick wall. Having made no progress whatsoever, as much as it disappointed her, she decided to give up. As she headed to Davy and Dora's room, she heard them whispering.
"I just have to tell someone," he said urgently to Dora, "I promised I wouldn't but I'm sure that he wouldn't mind if I said it to you."
He? Anne wondered. She listened closely as Dora replied; "If you promised that you wouldn't tell anyone, you have to keep your promise."
"I feel like I'm going to burst!" he whispered, "And I can't tell Anne! If I don't tell you, then I'll end up saying it to Anne and then everything will be ruined!"
"I suppose you can tell me the secret then," Dora said doubtfully. Just as Anne was about to hear the secret she heard Davy say,
"Wait! The door is open."
Not wanting to be caught listening, Anne quickly stepped in front of the door as she had just walked past and innocently said, "Good night Davy, good night Dora."
"G'night Anne." Davy said quickly as he sprung up from his bed and shut the door.