It was nearing eight o'clock in the evening when Gilbert entered the bustling hall where the Debating club supper was being held, searching for Phil and Priscilla. He found them standing near the refreshments, and Gilbert gave Phil a huge grin as he took a seat beside her.

"They still aren't out?"

Priscilla's eyes twinkled. "The affirmative team are still licking their wounds- and your wife is responsible for a good deal of them."

Gilbert shook his head, amused. "Asking 'Is the education of women contributing to the moral decline of society?' They should be lucky they survived."

Phil shrugged, looking around the room. " You'll notice no women argued for the other side. The topic was chosen by the faculty- I suspect it may have been Hallett."

Gilbert hadn't been able to keep the proud smile from his face as he watched her in action. Her cheeks were flushed, and she held herself with a certain queenishness well known at Redmond- and he couldn't help but chuckle at the effortless way she cut down the previous speaker's arguments. He was unaware that the grin was still firmly in place, until Phil elbowed him when a young woman moved away them.

"Would you stop daydreaming? You just snubbed the daughter of a politician. I ended up telling her you were simple," she said wickedly, as he scowled. "Your pride in her notwithstanding, do pay attention."

Gilbert chuckled. "I can't help it. Seeing her tonight- it's Anne again."

Phil gave him an odd look. "And?"

He shrugged, his look tender. "Phil, that was the girl I went to school with. Passionate, and full of fire- and not afraid of anyone."

"Stella said something similar, you know."

Gilbert looked at her oddly. "Oh?"

"Oh, just that Anne is getting some of her spirit back."

Gilbert shifted uncomfortably. "I hope you don't think I took that away."

Phil rolled her eyes at him. "Of course not. I just assumed she would come back to normal when things between you stabilized- and they are."

"Here and there," Gilbert said noncommittally. He saw Phil's look of alarm and sighed. "Phil, it's fine. I'm just finding that progress isn't exactly a straight line with us."

Phil stared at him hard. "You know, you aren't easing my mind yet."

Gilbert gave her a wry grin. "Sometimes- it's like one step forward, one step back- sometimes more. It's a rather frustrating dance." He settled back on his chair with a sigh. "You know, I thought I knew her before- but I've seen such a different side of her these last few months. I didn't think I could love her more than I did back then, but I was wrong."

Phil gave him an indulgent look. "You are a sap," she said affectionately. "Anne claims that she was absolutely awful to you at school. Were you simply masochistic? I've seen her angry, and it's not pretty."

He grinned. "Maybe I just wanted a challenge. And no, she was no saint." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, his hazel eyes warm. "Even at eleven, Anne was so passionate. She was bright, and capable and imaginative, and- she understood how to live. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved. She didn't bow down to the girls who looked down on her- and she certainly didn't to me," he said dryly, and gave a short laugh. "I was behind in school when I got back from Alberta- not that I was worried that I couldn't catch up. And then there was this red-headed girl who had barely attended school sticking her freckled nose in the air and doing everything she could to beat me. Somewhere along the line, I decided that it would be worth it to get her to forgive me- so I tried to be the kind of fellow that she could respect."

Phil turned to him, her brown eyes gentle. "Have you considered telling her all this? Not that I mind you professing your love for her- but why isn't it to Anne, yet?"

He shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable. "What makes you think I haven't already?"

"Because I have a feeling I would have heard about it if you had," Phil said dryly.

Gilbert paused, his face impassive. "I- I guess I'm not sure if she's ready to hear it yet. I've gone to tell her a hundred times, and then I find myself wondering how it would feel if she didn't say it back." He turned his hat around in his long fingers, a frown on his lean face. "You were right all those months ago, she is keeping something back from everyone- from me. And that has to be alright," he said, slowly. "I knew in the beginning that it would take time. I suppose I just wanted to wait until she was in the same place I was- and I want it to be special."

The doors opened then, and there was a round of applause as the winning team were ushered in to accept the small trophy from the president of the club. Gilbert clapped loudly, grinning as the students were ushered to stand in front of the podium to pose for pictures.

Phil saw that Anne would be some time yet, and turned back to Gilbert. "I told Jo first, you know," she said suddenly, surprising him. "He didn't believe he had anything to offer Aidan Gordon's daughter- and so he wouldn't say anything until I did. He didn't feel he had the right to any expectations- and so one day I burst into tears and told him everything."

Gilbert folded his arms, watching the small peridot on Phil's finger twinkle in the light. "I appreciate your viewpoint," he said carefully. "But I think it's something we're going to have to figure out for ourselves. She's well- she's happy, maybe that's all I can ask, for now."

Phil looked at him shrewdly. "Are you happy?"

He looked surprised by the question. "Very. Of course, I'd be ecstatic if she suddenly stood up and declared her love for me to everyone present-"

Anne did stand up at that exact moment, and Phil began to laugh at the jump Gilbert gave. From her place on the floor, Anne gave her husband and friend a bemused look and turned back to her teammates. Phil finally caught her breath and wiped her streaming eyes, ignoring the frowns coming from their neighbours. "I'll have to congratulate Anne on the timing of that later, Gil. You should be so fortunate."

Gilbert could laugh at himself and did, his cheeks flushing. "Well, one day, God willing, I will be."

Anne was relieved when they were at last dismissed officially. Knowing that Gilbert was waiting, she moved into the anteroom to gather her belongings, feeling somewhat guilty that she hadn't been able to speak to him yet. When she got there, however, Claire Hallett was putting her books away, her posture stiff.

"I thought we did very well, tonight," Anne volunteered, her eyes watchful.

There was no answer, and Anne sighed, turning away. She gathered up the papers from the desk to sort into piles, and only looked up when the door behind them opened. To Anne's surprise, Professor Hallett himself stepped inside, his manner stiff as he addressed himself to Anne.

"Well done, tonight, Mrs Blythe. Your arguments were clear, although you overstated some points, I felt. Nevertheless, it was an impressive score."

Anne nodded. "Thank you. The team was a strong one, sir- and Mr Austen led well."

He looked at her critically. "Your grades are high across all subjects, Mrs Blythe. You must be working hard."

Anne gave an odd look to the silent girl in the room, wishing that he had chosen a better time to discuss this. "Thank you, sir."

"See that it doesn't change next year," he said crisply. "The hardest term is yet to come. Give my regards to Mr Blythe." He turned to Claire then, his manner awkward. "Claire, your mother is waiting for us. Please don't dawdle."

Anne made the mistake of looking at Claire as he left the room, and the sudden look of hurt on her face jolted Anne. "Claire? What's wrong?"

Claire put her papers in her bag, her eyes smarting. "Not that it's any of your business, but nothing is wrong. Why should it be? And congratulations on your single-handed victory."

Anne flinched at the bitterness in her tone. "The whole team won the debate, you know that. We worked together. Flawlessly, to my surprise," she said bluntly.

Claire smiled mockingly. "Perhaps you weren't listening to my father. He congratulated the winners, didn't he? No doubt Gregory and Andrew were congratulated handsomely too," she said bitterly. "There's always someone better, according to my father."

Anne was bewildered. "Claire, he complimented the team- everyone who was involved."

"But not me personally," she said, her blue eyes glittering. "He's so very proud of his students, Anne- all except me. Do you have any idea how infuriating it is to be invisible to your own father?"

A curious look crossed Anne's face. "I do understand being invisible," she said with caution. "Claire, why would he not be proud of you? You did well tonight. You hold your own in every class you are in. Why would you undervalue that?"

"Because it will never equal what my brothers can do," Claire said viciously, slamming her notebook down. "I outperformed every last one of them- and my father still wishes I attended St Mary's Ladies Academy, instead of his own hallowed halls. He doesn't believe women should be educated with men- or didn't you see his hand in the debate topic? The only reason he allowed me to come here was that my mother begged him to let me- and because I asked him if it was hypocritical to not allow his own daughter to come when his college passed the vote to accept female students."

Anne set her satchel on the table, her voice even. "Well, you are here now, Claire. Your father is not your only teacher- and your results speak for themselves. Can that not be enough, even if he does disapprove?"

The younger woman gave a bitter laugh. "Please. You're hardly an expert on parents."

Anne flinched as if she had been struck. "That was uncalled for."

Claire turned to Anne, her look cold. "Well, if you were hoping I would become one of your simpering friends after working together, you'll be disappointed." She turned away again, twitching on her jacket.

Anne watched her curiously, and took a step closer to the frustrated woman.

"Claire- why do you waste so much of your energy on me?"

A blank stare met her. "I beg your pardon?"

"The article you wrote- the gossip that you have gone out of your way to stir up for Gilbert and I- your attempt to make me look bad before other people. Why waste so much vitriol on me? What is the value?"

An unkind laugh followed. "I'm afraid I don't follow you. Do you think you are the centre of my concerns?"

Anne's look was shrewd. "Claire, I am aware that you don't particularly care for me. You do not need to. So why waste your time trying to bait me?"

She was never sure what prompted Claire to answer her this time- but suddenly, the floodgates opened. "Because wherever I have gone since first year, you are always there before me," Claire hissed. "In class, socially- everything comes so easily to you. Have you ever struggled to attain anything you wanted?"

Anne's lips tightened. "You make an awful lot of assumptions, Miss Hallett."

"Really? The top of our classes, the friend of Philippa Gordan- not to mention the teachers and men fawning all over you. What did you do to deserve that?"

Anne's head lifted, and her grey eyes were clear. "Claire, I won't apologise for working hard. Neither will I apologise for my grades, my friends or my life. If you would only put your jealousy behind you, you would find that you had everything you needed as well. Everything worth having is worth the struggle. What are you willing to contend with to succeed? Your father's disapproval?"

Claire spun on her heel to face Anne. "And what were you willing to do? Compromise Gilbert in the hope that he would be foolish enough to have you?"

A rage that Anne had not felt in some time crossed her pale face. "You may say what you like about me, Miss Hallett- but you will not bring my husband into this."

Claire snarled. "Fine. It's you that should have been expelled, last November."

"And yet that has nothing to do with you- or anyone else here at Redmond," Anne said heatedly. "When will you realise that I am not your competition? Your own success should be enough for you. And you aren't wrong- there is always someone better, Claire. If it's not me, it will be someone else. Students will come along after us who will eclipse all of our records- and in the end, it only matters how we steward our talents while we were here."

A subtle change crossed Claire's face, and she stilled in the suddenly quiet room. "That was my father's commencement speech last year."

Anne's chin lifted, her eyes watchful. "He's a good teacher," she said, her voice becoming softer. "Who- might perhaps struggle to express his pride in his daughter." Anne shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "Perhaps he fears playing favourites with you."

Claire scoffed. "You can't claim to understand him, Miss Shirley. Not even my mother would."

An odd smile crossed Anne's face at the old name. "You know, Claire, if you can't manage my married name, perhaps you should just stick with Anne."

"I told you, I won't end up as your friend."

Her blunt words made Anne chuckle. "Perhaps not. At this point, I would settle for armed neutrality."

Against her will, Claire's lips curled upwards. "Do you see a need to remain armed, then?"

"I imagined I was consulting your wishes, not mine," Anne said easily. "You are a formidable colleague, Claire."

Claire hesitated, and her tone was gruff as she gathered her belongings. "You as well- Anne Blythe."

The pair jumped as the door to the amphitheatre opened again, and Anne's face broke into a relieved smile to see Gilbert crossing to her with his long-legged stride, and before she could alert him to Claire's presence he caught her up in his arms.

"Darling, you were marvellous!" he said proudly, swinging her around and giving her a sound kiss on the lips. "I would swear that you won the whole thing by yourself."

Anne turned to see Claire stiffen behind him and she spoke to her husband softly. "Thank you, Gil. You know Miss Hallett, of course."

Instantly alert, Gilbert turned to see the other girl, keeping his arm around Anne's waist. "Miss Hallett, forgive my rudeness- I didn't see you there."

"Clearly."

Gilbert straightened up, his look suddenly cool. "The team was exceptional, tonight. I thought that your arguments were impeccable. Your speech was excellent too, Miss Hallett- although you let the audience rattle you at the end."

Claire gave him an artificial smile. "The audience is my father, Mr Blythe."

Gilbert chanced a glance at Anne, and in her grey eyes, he could see her pleading with him to tread lightly.

"Well, you did fine until you looked at him," he said carefully. "You should have more confidence in your ability- and you shouldn't let the opposing team see your insecurities."

Claire picked up her bag, giving Anne a measured glance. "Apparently so. Mr Blythe, Mrs Blythe, I'll leave you to your celebrations," she said crisply, and she swept from the room.

As the door closed behind her, Gilbert turned to Anne, his eyebrows almost at his hairline. "Anne, what just happened there?"

She handed her satchel to him and linked her arm through his free one, a slight smile on her face. "A crack, I believe," she said tiredly. "We shall see. And now, sir, I believe that you promised me tea."

Gilbert grinned. "Tea it is. I even have a teacake waiting for us at home- bakery, of course. I didn't want to chance baking on such an auspicious occasion."

Outside, the spring evening was fragrant, and Anne lifted her nose in pleasure at the scent of the cherry blossoms. She found herself talking freely, now that the pressure of the debate was behind her. "You know, it's been three years since you and I saw the White Way of Delight in bloom, Gil. And it will be a few more before we can see it again, I suppose." She stooped to pick up a fallen blossom, smiling at the fragile flower. "That was my first experience of Avonlea, really. Matthew drove me home from the station to Green Gables through the cherry blossoms- most likely wondering who this strange girl was who kept talking at him- and having the nerve to rename places he had lived in for sixty years."

Gilbert turned to see the shadow on her face and slipped his arm around her comfortingly. "He knew you as his girl from the start, Anne."

She gave him a wistful smile. "It's almost been five years since we lost him," she said softly. "It's awful- but I don't picture him at Green Gables any longer- only Marilla, Mrs Lynde and the twins. Somehow, I can't imagine him living with them all, there- and it feels disloyal to have moved on so completely."

Gilbert pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "It's not, love." He gave her a sideways glance then. "I'm trying to imagine him there when we told my parents and Marilla about our wedding," he said slyly.

Anne pulled away from him with a surprised laugh. "You do know that he thought I could do no wrong," she teased him, making him smile.

"So I would have been in trouble for compromising his little girl, then."

Anne smiled, her eyes wistful. "Matthew would have heard us out- and I wouldn't have let you take the blame alone, Gil."

Gilbert bent down to kiss her cheek. "Don't forget that he would have seen the past five years of our friendship along with Marilla, Anne. Maybe he wouldn't have been so surprised."

Anne blinked, wanting to push away the rising emotion in her chest. She chuckled, then, touched a gloved finger to a tear in the corner of her eye. "Then perhaps Mrs Lynde wouldn't have been there to tell us that I'd allowed you to get carried away by your lust."

Her eyes twinkled as Gilbert almost tripped over his feet at her statement. "For Pete's sake, Anne, give me some warning before you do that! I'd forgotten that little aside."

Anne took his hand, and the two of them continued their walk. "I didn't," she said dryly. "And she told me that this summer that we are going to have a very serious talk."

Even under the street lamps, she could see that Gilbert had paled. "About-"

"Apparently so."

Gilbert was silent for a few minutes, as they strolled, and Anne left him to his thoughts, seeing the slight frown on his face. They walked down the pathway beside the boarding house, or the Ivy Passage, as Anne had taken to calling it, the green leaves now almost completely covering the brick fence. As they reached their little home, some instinct prompted Gilbert to hesitate on the steps.

"Anne, can you promise me something?"

"I'm unlikely to commit to a blind promise."

"That's my girl," Gilbert said, amused. He sighed and removed his hat from his head. "We haven't talked about this- for really good reasons. And I don't want to talk about it till we're ready. But it's not going to stop others from talking to us."

Anne turned to him, her eyes bright in the light of the half-moon. "I don't understand," she began, when he cut her off, his hazel eyes showing his worry.

"Promise me that you'll talk to me when others try to tell you what sex is like." Anne's face flushed, and Gilbert caught her hand, half-afraid that she would flee. "I'm not saying now," he said firmly. "But I've got a fair idea about what the older women of our town will say- and it's not good. Just- please don't settle it in your heart without talking to me. I don't want the kind of marriage where it's something you are afraid of- or something you hate. We promised that we'd work through everything together." He saw her pale, and almost cringed.

One step back….

Anne drew in a shaking breath, wishing she'd never brought up Mrs Lynde's talk. She saw, however, the strain on the face that was becoming dearer to her all the time- rather frighteningly so- and she made herself nod. "We did promise that." She swallowed, summoning her courage. "Alright. I'll talk to you about it when they do."

Gilbert let out a deep sigh. "Thank you. I just hated the idea of them scaring you, and you not feeling that you could tell me-"

Anne had recovered her equilibrium by now and placed her hand over his mouth. Her eyes twinkled. "You made your point, Gil. Now stop talking about it, or you will make our celebration tea awkward." She pulled her hand away, only to see his eyes darken teasingly.

"Do that to me again and I'll bite it," Gilbert advised, pulling his keys from his pocket, clearly glad to put the subject behind them. He helped Anne off with her jacket inside, and she moved to light the table lamp with a yawn. Gilbert was placing the kettle on the stove when he felt her behind him again and turned to see her grey eyes watching him, her cheeks faintly pink.

"May I ask you something?" Gilbert tightened his hands on the dishcloth and nodded. "You seemed to indicate that there was another point of view than the one I will no doubt receive from Mrs Lynde."

Gilbert's hands stilled. "Yes," he breathed.

"Where- where does the other point of view come from?" she asked quietly.

Gilbert's cheeks heated, and he studied the folds of her deep blue skirt with apparent interest. "That would be my parents." He saw her confused look, and he shrugged wryly. "You aren't the only one who got lectured over Christmas."

Anne paled, her eyes enormous. "You mean they- they told you?"

He straightened up, his mouth twisting in amusement. "You mean hitting their only son with all the facts he never wanted to know about how to have a satisfying physical relationship well into your sixties? Yes. I wanted to cut my ears off."

Anne clasped her hands together, trying to hold back her laughter as she watched his lean hand ruffle his curls sheepishly. A sudden change crossed her face then, and she sobered as their eyes met. "Gilbert, I don't mean to be indelicate- or impolite- but was that just your father's viewpoint?"

He moved to take her hands in his own, needing her to understand. "No. It was both of them. I-I would guess that they are a rather remarkable couple, actually. And my mother assured me that we needed to take our time, and show respect- it's meant to be an equal partnership between us- especially that side of marriage."

Anne's cheeks were hot, but she nodded. "Perhaps I should talk to your mother, someday."

Two steps forward.

"I'm sure she'd be honoured if you did." Gilbert released her then, making an effort to come back to normal. "Well, not to play the complaining housewife, but this tea won't improve by stewing- can you get the cake from the pantry?"

Gilbert felt his heart settle as she moved to assist him, and he was soon carrying a loaded tray to their kitchen table, to see Anne slipping her shoes off under the chair beside him. His eyes followed the movement of her slender hands as she poured the tea for them, her pearl ring glimmering in the lamplight. She seemed more tranquil than he was, and he looked up when she spoke his name.

"You do realise what will happen if I try and escape Mrs Lynde's lecture, don't you?"

"What's that?"

Anne's smile was devilish. "She'll come for you next, Gil."

Less than a week before April examinations were due to begin, Anne came out of the bedroom in a costume that made her husband fall comically silent. His eyes raked over her appearance, and Anne turned on the spot so that he could see her clothing for the Masquerade that the Lambs were hosting that evening.

"You're a gypsy!"

Anne smiled. "At Phil's suggestion. She is wildly jealous about not attending this party, you know."

Gilbert shook his head, a grin on his face. "It was a good suggestion," he said reverently. Anne had left her red curls to cascade over her shoulder, and her bright blue skirt was full. The loose white blouse she wore drew his eyes at once to her pretty neckline, and she had wrapped a colourful scarf around her hips- as she turned he felt his knees weaken, seeing the contours of her form in an entirely new way. "Anne-girl, you look wonderful."

She chuckled, her cheeks pink. "I don't know what Mrs Lynde would make of this costume- I rather fancy Marilla would have something to say about it too."

Gilbert rolled his eyes, returning his gaze to the filmy, ruffled sleeves gathered at her slender wrists. "But it's so pretty."

She stepped closer to him to resume buttoning his cuffs, unaware that his heart rate had increased at the proximity of her chest to his- come on Blythe, eyes up, he thought desperately. It was growing harder to ignore the intimacy of their life together, now that Anne was becoming more comfortable with him. She would sit beside him on the sofa when she had readied for bed, allowing herself the luxury of a cup of tea while he finished his work. More than once he had looked across to see her tucked into the corner of the chair, her book on her lap as she watched the fire dreamily. He'd never dared to give much thought to the proportions of her figure before- it was all beautiful, all perfect, in his mind- and yet the reality of her small curves dumbfounded him. In vain he tried to not stare, however, her evident lack of corset late in the late evenings made him feel oddly dizzy as he strove to remain respectful, and not let on how deeply she affected him.

Mornings were every bit as difficult as he had first supposed they would be. He had tried to alleviate the problem by rising earlier than she did, however, it was rarely effective when the first thing he saw when she walked out was her curly hair tied back with a ribbon, and a delightfully sleepy look in warm, grey eyes. Most mornings he made time for a brisk run outside, rain or shine. Anne teased him about being too concerned with his physical appearance- was he so afraid to gain a few extra pounds? Gilbert sighed, rubbing his face in chagrin. All it took these days was to see her breasts lift as she stretched her slender arms, and he was a gone man.

"Are you almost ready now?" Anne asked him softly, sensing that he was rather distracted.

Gilbert turned to her with a return of his grin. "I am- are you sure that you are?"

Anne chuckled, her look dry. "For the last time, yes. Stay away from any unattended punch bowl- and do not dance with anyone who has been hanging over it. Don't go outside for a stroll alone, and under no circumstances engage Phillip Brown in a conversation. Gil, these are your fraternity brothers, aren't they?"

He laughed, pulling on the long blue coat Anne had found in the theatre's costume room, a wooden sword strapped to his side. "Yes- and that means I know them better than you do. They're good fellows, things just tend to get out of hand later in the evening, that's all."

Anne looked up at him curiously. "And you never got involved in any of that, in your misspent youth?"

"You mean two years ago?" Gilbert asked dryly. "No. I worked too hard to get here- and there were people I didn't want to let down."

Anne tipped her head on one side, studying him. "Your parents?"

"Oh, lots of people. Mother and Dad, Miss Stacey;" he paused for a moment, his eyes on the pink enamel heart in the hollow of her throat. "-and you."

Anne looked up at him in shock. "Me?"

Gilbert hedged slightly and shrugged. "I didn't want to do anything that made you think less of me."

Her look softened. "Did you think I would, then?"

"It wouldn't have been worth the risk," was all he would say in response, and Anne shook her head in some amazement.

"I shouldn't really be surprised," she said softly. "You were always the gentleman your mother raised. Although it didn't keep you out of an apron all those years ago- I suppose now I will get to meet those who are responsible for your initiation."

Gilbert grinned, standing up to take her hand in his. "Better than that, Anne- they get to meet you."

The Dennison Hotel in Kingsport was ablaze with colour and sound when Anne and Gilbert entered the ballroom, and for a moment he stopped to let her take the spectacle in. Costumes of every type swam around the room, men and women of all ages mingling happily. He looked down at her surprised face and grinned.

"And you were worried about your costume not fitting in!"

Anne shook her head. "You can see why," she commented wryly. "I look decidedly simple next to the costumes some of these women are wearing." Her eyes roamed around the room, and she began to laugh. "Good heavens, is that someone wearing a lace mantilla under the palms?"

Gilbert squeezed her hand, his eyes only for her. "You're perfect as you are, sweetheart."

"Ha! I told you your outfit would be wonderful, Anne," a merry voice said behind her.

Anne turned to see Stella on Timothy Peterson's arm, and she kissed her friend's cheek with a smile. "You look wonderful, yourself, Stella."

Stella preened, looking down at the long, crimson kimono embroidered with tiny blossoms. "Thank you- Father brought it for me on one of his business trips last year- I had a feeling it would come in handy someday."

Anne turned to stare at Timothy's black robes, new spectacles making him seem oddly familiar. "And who are you, exactly?"

Gilbert narrowed his eyes at his friend. "My guess is Professor Thorne. Someone always dresses up as one of the teachers."

"Spot on," Timothy said cheerfully. He took Stella's arm in his and grinned. "Come on, I want to check out the competition."

Anne lost count of the number of people she met that evening- distinguished alumni, current Lambs and various faculty members. She was startled to realise that people were keen to meet her, as young Blythe's wife. When the third such gentleman commented on this before moving off, Anne turned to her husband, her eyebrows high as he led her onto the dance floor again, after assuring her that no one here cared how often they danced together.

"Am I your trophy wife, Gilbert? You never mentioned that."

He began to laugh. "Anne, you couldn't pull that off successfully if you tried. You'd end up killing me."

She gave him a smug look. "I really would."

He shrugged the shoulder her hand rested on, moving the two of them in small circles on the dance floor. "Well, I'm apparently the first Lamb to be married at college," he commented. "They were all surprised, of course, but our president was fascinated- he thought it all very romantic."

Anne's eyes twinkled under the electric lights. "Of course it was. Your shoulder was a very sweet touch."

"As was the colour of your face when Hallett walked into that tent."

Anne smiled, looking around her at the elegantly costumed people. A fat friar swung by with a young lady dressed in the brightest yellow, and in the distance, she saw a group of elegant cloaked and masked individuals talking together closely. She turned back to see Gilbert watching her, his face content.

"You know, when you smile like that, you really look as if you could be a pirate, Gil."

"I'm too well-groomed to be a real pirate, don't you think?"

Anne chuckled. "Perhaps you could be the wicked pirate king. Or one who could be wicked, but wouldn't- that's probably the Blythe in you. Surely pirate kings could afford to take exactly seventeen minutes a day to shave."

"I like to be thorough."

Gilbert pulled her closer to the sound of the music, relishing the time to simply hold her. He looked down at her, a slight smile on his face.

"Do you think we are making some headway into the romantic?" he asked softly. Anne didn't answer immediately, and Gilbert sobered, moving slower. "Anne?"

She stopped him a gentle look. "I should say we're doing very well."

He almost stopped moving then, his brow creased. "You deserve to be courted properly, Anne."

Anne pulled back so that he could see her clearly, her red curls cascading over one shoulder. "You make us take the time to enjoy ourselves," she said softly. "You pick flowers just for me. We are out dancing together on a beautiful spring evening in a beautiful ballroom. It's- lovely. If this is courtship, then I should think myself a very happy girl," she teased. She frowned then, her grey eyes on him as they swayed together. "Truthfully, I didn't realise what a romantic you were, Mr Blythe."

Gilbert grinned at her, pulling her close again. "You know me, Anne. I love to prove you wrong."

It was late at night as Anne and Gilbert walked home through the empty streets, entirely absorbed into their own world.

"I still can't believe that you didn't know who you were talking to!" he exclaimed.

Anne pulled her hand from his as she turned to face him, her pretty nose turned up teasingly. "It was a masquerade ball, Gil. And I had no idea that so many of the Redmond Board were Lambs."

Gilbert quirked his eyebrow. "Why do you think I joined them? It wasn't the bonnets. Some of the most prominent people who came through Redmond were a part of the fraternity. You were talking with some of the board members who will be deciding our future in a year's time."

Anne looked vaguely ill at that. "I'm glad I didn't know, then. We were discussing eighteenth-century literature, of all things."

Gilbert clasped her hand in his again, a big smile on his face. "I was so proud of you tonight- everyone was asking who you were. Professor Millard and his wife pronounced you charming- and I swear that they like me better because of you."

Anne chuckled, breathing in the fresh breeze from the harbour. "They liked you well enough before, Gil. I did overhear myself being referred to as 'Blythe's young red-headed wife', tonight," Anne said, her voice droll. "I chose to not hold it against them, for your sake."

He grinned, pulling her toward their street. "I love your red hair. I want our children to have it."

Anne's cheeks flushed, and she pushed the heavy curls behind her shoulders. "They may not thank you for that."

He gave her a playfully warning look. "And we're going to teach them to love themselves the way they are, aren't we?"

"Of course," Anne said flippantly. "They might well inherit their father's boldness-"

"Their mother's tendency to daydream-"

"Your ability to disturb everyone around you-"

Gilbert swung her around into the pathway that led to their house and playfully drew her closer, until she rested against the wall of the boardinghouse. "Oh, so I'm disturbing, am I?"

Anne chuckled, her cheeks pink. "Very."

There was a moment's hesitation, and then he bent down, his lips brushing hers softly. Anne's lashes fluttered down at his touch, and she felt her skin heating. How in the world did he do this to her? Unconsciously she raised her face to his, and she saw a little smile on his face that quickly disappeared as he pulled himself even closer, his breath warm on her mouth as he kissed her more firmly, the warm, familiar smell of him enveloping her senses. She was lightheaded as she kissed him back, her hands shyly finding anchor against his chest- and as his kiss deepened, his hand slipped into her soft curls, brushing the skin exposed by the pretty, white blouse. Anne caught her breath at the unexpected touch, and Gilbert froze. "Sweetheart-"

She shook her head, trying to smile. "No, no, it's fine- you just startled me."

Gilbert drew in a shaking breath and straightened up, looking into eyes that were anxious, but still met his bravely. "Is it time to go home?" he asked softly.

Anne paused, and after a brief hesitation rose up to kiss him chastely. "Yes. Let's go home."

Two steps forward, one step back.

Gilbert took her hand, feeling her fingers curl over his own. For a moment they stood still in indecision, Anne's face heating.

"You know," Anne said quietly, "You do do that rather well."

He blinked, feeling the smile stretch across his tired face. "Really?"

Anne nodded and stepped away, her scarf trailing behind her as she cast a shy look at him over her shoulder in the moonlight.

"You too, sweetheart," he said, almost too softly for her to hear before following his wife to their home.