The next few days Anne felt strangulated by Ailne's presence. Roy's other sister Dorothy was sweet and kind and would be lovely to everyone, why would Roy send Ailne ahead and not Dorothy?
Ailne was everywhere! Anne started to wash the dishes, Ailne was there telling her no lady needed to. Anne washed her clothes, Ailne was there insisting a maid should be hired to do such things, Anne suggested walks but Ailne preferred to sit with her nose upturned in the parlour on the edge of the sofa criticizing everyone and everything.
By day three Anne was at her wits end. Her mother distracted Ailne and shooed Anne out the back door seeing her daughter's discomfort. "And don't come back till sundown!" she told her daughter.
It was mid-afternoon when she reached the pond Gilbert had taken her fishing on all those years ago. Ghosts of her former self and Gilbert played around her mind.
"You said you were bored." He laughed. "You should be careful what you wish for."
They lay on the pond side laughing for a moment before Gilbert stood up and helped Anne to her feet. They slipped up the bank sliding a few times before making it to the path.
Come on." He said happily. "I left the picnic basket on the harbour, there's a blanket in there we can use."
Anne watched the ghost of her past and wanted to touch her, to tell her all she knew, to tell her…
"Anne!" Gilbert said in surprise as he came the other way, A fishing rod in hand and kitted out.
"Gil," She said with a small curtsey which confused them both for a moment.
"What was that?" He asked her.
"A curtsey." She said. "Sorry it was automatic, Ailne…" She paused and stopped herself in her tracks.
Gilbert gave a small fake smirk "Well there's no need to be so formal with me." He told her straight. "I'm um, just a playmate after all." He said,
Anne's eyes shut in horror "I never said that to her, I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over her."
There was silence for a moment. "You never described me as 'a playmate'?" he asked her.
"No, never, Gilbert I promise…."
"Then I don't need your apology." He told her.
"What does that mean?" She asked in temper.
"Only that you shouldn't be the one apologising Anne!" he snapped back.
They were silent for a moment before Anne let out a small "Oh." They finally looked at each other and burst out laughing. "I'm sorry Gil, just with Ailne around I feel so trapped." She said honestly.
He grinned "How did you get away?" he asked her.
"My mother." She said with a smile. "She smuggled me out."
Gilbert laughed "God bless your mother!" he told her. She laughed with him before she reached out and took the container holding the fish in it from Gilberts right hand and slid her arm into his. "I was going to take them up to 'enchanted circle', start a fire and watch the sun set…"
"Oh and watch the fireflies!" Anne exclaimed grinning widely as he nodded. "Oh Gil do you remember when we didn't know what the fireflies were…"
Gilbert laughed "Yes, I do. Hence the name we gave the field." He said.
"Yes, we thought a witch had cast her spell and we'd recite the rhyme right before the fireflies came out." She said.
"I made that up for you." He said with a grin "so you'd carry on walking." There was silence for a moment before he continued "I have enough fish for two, if you care to join me?" he asked.
She smiled instantly "I would love that."
They got to the circle where Anne put down the bucket and started collecting the firewood.
"Na-ar-ah!" Gilbert said mockingly. "Can't have a lady collecting firewood." He said.
"Don't you dare!" She threatened him with a measly looking stick. Smiling widely his arms went up in mock surrender. The wood was soon collected the fire hot enough to cook the fish on the fire by eight, they finally watched as the light began to fade
"On the land give me stars…" She started the rhyme.
He smiled fondly and continued "That by night I see far…"
"no harm can come near…" She said
Before he finished "By them, I have no need fear."
Anne gave a small sigh and picked up Gilbert's arm and put it around her hugging into him. He swept his hand up and down her arm as he wondered if she remembered the first time the rhyme had be said.
Gilbert!" she called as they crossed the path. "I'm scared!" she exclaimed. It was winter and darkness had come across them faster than they expected it had only been half four by the time they reached the small circle in the woods.
Don't be scared Nan." He told her. "I'm here." He said taking her hand. "I'll take care of you." She stayed rooted still, he smiled before he sat her on a fallen tree trunk "Hey Nan, want to see something magical?" He asked her, knowing the creatures came out this time of night but wasn't sure what they were still, she smiled and nodded. "well you see an enchantress cast a spell on this very field, that stars came from heaven to light the way."
Anne looked at him with raised eyebrow.
You don't believe me?" he asked her.
I'm five and scared not stupid Gilbert!" she exclaimed.
Stupid huh?" he asked. "Alright then, I guess we won't need the incantation for them." He said teasingly knowing Anne would wonder.
Incantation?" she asked. "Really?" She asked.
He grinned. "Watch this." He said. Now he would struggle but honestly, he wanted Anne not to be scared.
On the land give me stars,"
That by night I see far…
No harm can come near…
By them, I have no need fear."
Then as if he had timed it perfectly the fireflies started to appear. Anne gasped in delight and threw her arms around Gilbert "Its true!" she exclaimed "its true!"
They sat and watched the fireflies before at six o'clock Anne had fallen asleep on his lap, Gilbert grinned as Walter entered the circle.
Walter laughed "I should have known I'd find you two out here."
Anne got scared." Gilbert told him. "we stopped here and watched the little lights..."
Gilbert looked down into Anne's thick red hair and inhaled her scent deeply. He wished they could stay this way forever. He almost flinched as she said to him quietly "We should head back." She told him.
"Yeah." He struggled to say. They both stood up and made sure the fire was out.
Without the fish the walk was freer they joined their hands subconsciously and laughed and played their way back to Anne's house where Anne stopped suddenly at the figure in the door her face going pale as he came out.
"Anne." He said softly bowing before her as she did a quick curtesy forgetting her hand was still in Gilbert's.
"Hello Royal." She said, Gilbert looked to her surprised, her tone seemed so cold, not at all how he would have imagined her greeting her fiancé. He looked at the man in front of him he was as tall as he was maybe a little taller, his dark hair unlike his own was straight and orderly, Gilbert always thought he had dark eyes but Roy's was practically black.
Roy's eyes flashed to their hands where Anne promptly let go, looking down at her feet blushing. "Should I be concerned?" he asked her.
"No!" Anne protested. "No no!" She continued. "This is Gilbert." She told Roy.
His eyes lit up, a smile came across his face as he bowed again "In that case, let me put my best self forward, I must impress the famous Gilbert!" he said genuinely. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance at long last."
Gilbert barely smiled but managed it. "Pleased to meet you too." He said gently.
Roy looked at Anne again. "You look…" he started. "Wild?" he said with a tone of amazement "and your dress is all dirty." He observed "and you smell odd." He said.
"Oh that'll be the fish water." Anne said trying to smooth out her hair with her hands.
"Fish water?" Roy asked amazed.
"And the muck is from the firewood." She added trying to wipe it off with her hand but failing completely.
"Anne, sweetheart," he started reprimanding her "You ought not to do these things, it isn't very ladylike, fishing and firewood and staying out until dusk with a man who you aren't engaged to. I'm just glad its Gilbert, anyone else would be cause for concern." He told her.
Gilbert was waiting for Anne to react, to shout to scream to tell him! As if Anne would be out with any other man but Gilbert this time of night! But all she did was "Yes, Roy, I'm sorry." Gilbert looked to her incredulously, he suddenly felt so very far away from her. She turned to Gilbert "Goodnight Gilbert." She said quietly before she turned towards the door and started to walk in.
Roy looked to Gilbert "Thank you for bringing her home safely." He said to Gilbert. "I was wondering if we could all meet, tomorrow maybe for luncheon, I would like to know you better, I'll bring Anne of course." Gilbert nodded mutely not able to comprehend the change in Anne demeanour. "Good man!" Roy said simply his smile wide. "I really would like to know you Gilbert.." he said expectantly.
Gilbert nodded again and watched as Roy walked up the garden path after Anne. He saw Bertha standing at the door, the look on her face was a sorry one. He shrugged, turned and walked away silently.
Blythe Shirley was most definely Anne's cat, the moment her mistress would be home she'd abandon the nest she'd create in Gilbert's bedroom and go home to Anne. when Gilbert entered his bedroom that night he should have been surprised to see said cat lying on the bottom of his bed again atop the blanket Anne had made Gilbert all those years ago. but as he slumped lying on the bed he knew for himself the reason the cat had returned back to him. The cat purred against his side before lying from his stomach to his chest. his hand found it's way to pet the animal as he said to it "it's alright girl, I'm not sure I know who she is either."