The characters are created by LM Montgomery, and are her property... the original characters & storyline are unique to this story are copyright 2021, by Nell Lime.
Author's Note:
On the last chapter for those of you not aware, a Light Skirt was a term used for a woman who was a slut or prostitute whose skirts were so light they were easy to lift for easy access for the gentleman. During this era in order to make using the outhouse easy a woman's outfit even though she wore drawers, they'd be split and only during one's monthly cycle would one wear anything that would cover that area… Well sometimes. There were some areas during the Victoria era where the smell of one's monthly flow was a turn on and allowed to flow freely down one's legs and skirts for a man to smell and advertise that she was able to breed. LOL. But that was Germany and not Canada so I'm sure that Anne would never ever do that!
Also for those curious - I did some word searching through the books. Anne-Girl was invented by Aunt Josephine, and not used by Gilbert until Anne's House of Dreams. Queen Anne also is used once in that book (I didn't check later books but I did earlier books), and was started by Phil and Gilbert only used it once to make it very very clear to Anne that she is queen of his heart, life and home. End of Ch 12 (quite romantic actually). Gilbert only uses Queen Anne that time, but several times calls her Anne-Girl… which is why I think that would be more likely for him to use more often.
YodaChick - Yes it throws a spanner in the works… :) I hope you enjoy the chapter below with more of the gossip.
DrinkThemIn - Well, I'm afraid as it'll be expanded here… They can't afford to take the ferry off the Island.
Oz Diva - Yes. I'm afraid neither Gilbert or Anne would have thought explaining basically what a slut was would be appropriate to explain to Davy & Dora at their ages.
Faith-hope-and-glory - Yes… you might want to read Gilbert's point of view but I don't want to write it. Sorry enjoy it in your imagination. And yes they're throwing themselves into a hole with their lying. Thanks for your encouragement hope you enjoy this chapter, especially the last part with Prissy.
— Anne —
Tuesday, July 12th, 7:00am
Apple Bough, Avonlea, PEI
We spoke little the previous afternoon once we returned. Gilbert was exhausted and I sent him home to rest, while I suggested a ramble to the twins who clung to me and we wandered through the haunted woods. Then with a cheery supper with Green Gables, and a final stroll over to Apple Bough to check on Gilbert and wish him goodnight. I'd gone to sleep dreaming of our wedding trip and future.
I awoke refreshed, smiled out the window, missing the Snow Queen, yet the air was fresh with dew and promise so dressing quickly with especial attention to my attire for Gilbert's sake, I didn't even check as I had each morning for the past two weeks for signs of my monthly flow. Instead I dressed quickly in a white dress embroidered with green flowers by Phil. Dressed daintily, I skipped down the stairs daydreaming about our future child, praying that he or she would have Gilbert's hair and not my own. Only to pause in the looking glass in the vestibule as I adjusted my hat, remembering Gilbert's words about my hair. Perhaps he might make a similar comment. "As the sunrise on the island shore…" I whispered.
Gilbert was waiting for me on the front porch on the swing and I sat and joined him, tucking myself in with him under the blanket that Abby Blythe had insisted we use, leaned against his shoulder. I told him more of our time at the hotel, the discovery of the typhoid, the first time I had to change his diaper to which he was quite red. How I'd discovered my ring and that it had gotten stuck on my finger. In truth I told him almost all of that weekend, except to speak more on the consummation of our marriage. When all was settled and we were truly married in every sense, in private I'd tell him.
Our conversations though were broken up to little moments of privacy. At other times as we rocked on the swing we spoke of everything else. The Cooper Prize, the Clinic, his course load in the fall, the boarding house. Everything of our future but the most important. Our possible child and our wedding trip where we'd take care of the last legality for our marriage.
I joined them for dinner then with Gilbert escorting me, while his mother stayed home looking with longing as we left to keep Aunt Mary Maria company who was yet still refusing to leave Apple Bough and return to her life. Gilbert and I left for the Pye's home, where the Sewing Circle would be meeting that afternoon.
We'd reached the shore road on our walk when I pulled Gilbert suddenly off the road into a grove of trees separating two farms. He grinned at me as I pulled him back out of sight from the main road. "I'd kiss you if we weren't waiting for me to be cleared of the last of the typhoid still." He grinned tapping my nose, before making a move to pull me against him leaning against a tree.
"Gil…" I sighed burrowing into his chest. "I know we've quelled a lot of the gossip with our elopement but still… Perhaps I should skip the sewing circle and we go to the shore, or one of our rambles. One of the lovely spots of the Island to store up in our souls for when we're stick in Kingsport unable to return. Oh promise me that when you're Dr. Blythe that we will come back to the Island. That our children will grow up here."
I heard a choke in his voice. "Anne-girl." He whispered. "I can't wait to bring back our child to show off to Avonlea. And I wish we'd done it right. But we've got to face the gossip. We should plan our wedding trip soon. Perhaps we can go visit my Great Uncle Dave. He's a Doctor over in Glen St. Mary's on the other side of the island. We can search for ministers on the way out to see him. I'd suggest we head to the main land to find that minister but truth is we haven't the funds. I wish I could provide more for you Anne-girl."
His breath was near my ear and I felt my knees falter, such that I had to cling to him. "I… I'll try to learn all I can at the sewing circle today Gil. But get us there soon, when the month is ending, but I have promised… I keep forgetting to tell you to spend time next week at Ecco Lodge. You should join us for it'll be jolly. They know we're not really, and perhaps we can confess…"
"Anne…" He was holding me tighter. "We'll swear them to secrecy then. We'll get everything straightened out as quickly as possible. I promise." He pulled back then bending over to catch his breath no doubt as affected as myself.
"Gil…"
"I… I need a moment and you'll be late. Talk to me about what sort of gift Aunt Mary Maria is likely to bless us with now that her prized platter she gave my parents for their wedding is in shatters. At least one good thing came of that bonfire."
I laughed and made several guesses. Each more hideous then the last. Finally we were back on the road, nearly running to make it to the sewing circle.
He pulled me towards him, kissed my hair in front of all the ladies as all the talk stopped, and promised to stop by Green Gables after supper. And I was left, there to the wolves. Thankfully though Rachel was present. The ladies were all gathered around a large quilting frame, where Rachel Lynde was instructing the ladies in the setting up on a quilt she'd been piecing together. "Anne, you're not to sew today. We're setting aside the normal charity sewing this week, for I'll need help with the quilting for this quilt. I've already pieced it, while I was praying for Gilbert to live. You'll need plenty more things as you were so busy with studying that you hadn't a hope chest. We'll need to set to baby things too soon. Mark my word you'll be coming home next summer with a three month old babe in your arms. Now settle down by that window, and I must make sure we move that table, it's in the way of the quilting frame. Lydia Pye you best have your girls move it. Now that's right. We can't have an Avonlea girl marrying without a proper quilt for her marriage bed now can we?"
"Really Rachel." Mrs. Pye said as she spread her hands over the quilt as they tightened the rolls on either side of the frame to make it taught as it took up the center of the Pye's parlor. "One has to wonder why they had to elope on their way home. Oh Jane Andrews, how ever did you manage to come with your wedding only days away…"
"It's over a week away. Mother does apologize with all the extended Andrews families that must come and insisting on it being a small gathering…"
"Never mind, but Prissy you're here. You were a year or two above my Gertie were you not?"
"Two. Isn't she marrying soon herself?" Prissy smiled. "Oh it was romantic when Anne and Gilbert came for their honeymoon at my Teddy's hotel. We've never had someone from Avonlea stay with us before, though we've been there for five years."
"Never? Did your parents not visit."
"Not at the hotel. I remember Gilbert showing up to check them in. Anne had gotten ill on the train, that always does it for me in the early days when I'm expecting and she'd gone to fetch something to calm her stomach. He had the biggest grin, smiling and flushed though I expect part of it was the fever he came down with later?"
I nodded, glancing about as all stopped to hear her story.
"Well, go on and tell us and then Anne tell us all about the wedding girl as we sew your quilt. I've templates to go about for the stitch pattern. We'll make it lovely for their bed." Rachel said, passing out paper stencils.
Prissy sat down next to me on the window seat as the ladies got busy. "Well, as I was saying, Gilbert checked them in and went on and on how the wedding was that day. Quite glad to see me and said he couldn't wait to tell everyone back home, and how blessed it was that he found our hotel. There'd been a train accident on the way for he said they meant to go home before their wedding trip. Then he went on and on of his plans for naming the little one they were expecting, for he had to explain to me why Anne was feeling poorly, though he clearly was working himself to hard. That's the advantage of a wife. To ensure a man doesn't drive himself too hard. To remove his shoes and put on his slippers. I do that every night for my Teddy you know when he comes home from the hotel, right after I hand him the news paper. But it's true he told me little of the wedding, only that It had been that day. Did you marry when you met in Kingsport, for I heard you'd not seen each other until that day, and that though he'd spoken of a babe…"
"Oh it was just a day dream about our future." I rushed. "He was confused, he'd already had the fever you know. No, we ran into each other in Kingsport, well, he knocked me over when he ran into me, and got sick then and there. It was an impulsive decision I know eloping. But I'm afraid when I realized he still loved me after I broke his heart…" I sighed. I truly was painting myself into a hole. So I repeated the same story I'd told the girls. Speaking of the jolly minster in brown who married us. And spent a long speech to describe the flowers I'd found for my hair as a wreath as I had no veil.
Thankfully the ladies were soon distracted by other gossip and left me alone. Especially when I would offer no new details. But as the older ladies bent over the quilt I found myself surrounded by Jane, Prissy and the Pye girls. I wished to leave, yet held my head high as they smiled, sipping tea that Mrs. Pye had just served.
"So Mrs. Gilbert Blythe." Josie sneered. She'd always set her cap on Gilbert. "Did you two really marry or just covering your tracks when you found out that your adulterous affair was caught?"
"Josie!" Jane gasped. "Really. Besides the fact that neither Gilbert or Anne were married and so could not have committed adultery, they've been quite clear that they were not fornicating which is the word I think you mean, but eloping. With all of Mama's plans for my own wedding I don't blame you Anne. To Be safely married within an hour of the proposal seems quite efficient to me. Each day I wait my fears for the wedding night get worse! Prissy has been no help at all, and Mother pulled me aside for the lecture three times already and each time it's far worse."
"Yes…" Josie had that Cheshire grin on her face that quite disturbed me. "Clearly you quite enjoyed the wedding night."
"Of course she did. Teddy said they never noticed him when he walked in on them. At least it was him and not his cousin Clara who had night duty that night to avoid my mother in law. I would have taken night duty scrubbing the chamber pots to avoid her! Teddy said they were quite engaged in their love making, and far too much on display! Thankfully Anne by your position he said he saw little of your person."
"That's no conversation for maidens." I gasped glancing to Jane and Josie.
"Nonsense." Prissy laughed. "Our mothers only tell us to lie still and think of something quite boring no doubt. My own mother told me to think of Queen Victoria. No man wants his wife thinking of a dotty old queen across the sea in his marriage bed. Anyways the first few times are painful and awkward, it takes practice really. But then Teddy did stay you two were about it with no fumbling first attempts. I'm afraid he's had the misfortune to witness brides and bridegrooms who could not wait and were fumbling at the door too often over the years. And yours was no fumbling first time. You really should have thought of what you might be doing when you told Teddy's cousin to just slip in with the things in the morning to tend to your husband, if you planned to tend to a sick man that way. Not that he complained from what Teddy said. I had to hear about it for days, about how clearly you could please, and I best take lessons. Though thankfully by your positions he was covering you."
The others eyes went wide, and I swear I was red from head to toe. "I wish for some privacy Prissy…"
"Of course." She smiled sweetly but it felt off. "But I do wish to be better acquainted, for with my husband's contacts we'll be moving in the next year to Kingsport, far away from my mother in law thankfully. Though Avonlea would be nicer. Yet there's no call for a hotel manager at the White Sands and I doubt this area could support another hotel. You will give me advice will you not? I'll never hear the end of it if you don't. Enjoy the days you can sleep naked in bed with your husband. It's quite convenient but once a little one arrives you won't dare for how often the little one will disturb you both. My husband didn't even own a night shirt until our first one was a month old and my mother visiting to help with the baby got quite the eyeful. I've warned Jane to burn her husband's night shirts and you should also Anne. I mean to do so soon as my children have all started school and we've a lock on our door. Though perhaps we must keep one or two for emergencies…"
Thankfully their mother called her and Jane away and I never once was so glad to be left alone with Josie Pye who stood like a fish gapping, and I doubted I'd loose any of the redness in my skin for hours at Prissy's words. She blinked several times then glanced out the window, her eyes widened and she went even more red and bolted away. I glanced out noticing a whistling Gilbert strolling up the drive. And with enough of the sewing circle and quite enough of listening to Gossip, I slipped out, to meet him on the drive still blushing profusely.
"Anne-girl?" He asked, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as he lead me back down the drive. "I thought you might want to leave…"
"Yes! Quite enough of the gossip. I'll send word tomorrow that I'll come to Ecco Lodge." I rushed. "Oh if I ever struggled with gossip I never shall now. Prissy Philips cornered me and I heard all about her words of you checking us in. Then her recounting of when Mr. Philips walked in on us, and far too much about their marriage bed."
He glanced at me. "Anne?"
"We are not burning your night shirts, no matter what Prissy Philips suggests to me and Jane, as proper wife decorum."
"Burn my night shirts?"
"Yes. And she claimed he thought we were quite experienced. That is private! She hinted at not believing that was our first time and wishes to be closer when they move to Kingsport. She claimed we weren't fumbling. Of course not I'd been asleep and you in a fever. What was done in the privacy of our own bed should not be gossiped about in the sewing circle!"
His eyes were stormy at my words, then grabbing my hand he ran, leading me back to that grove we'd found on the way. "Anne, just what did happen?"
"I was dreaming, you had a fever. Mr. Philips arriving woke me up and I realized it wasn't a dream, and that what I'd dreamed we were actually doing. I tried to wake you from your own dream. He left as you called me Anne Blythe then completed the act. I tried to get you to stop, to wake up. But you didn't, instead you finished and fell asleep as a dead weight on me. I rolled you off then in shock had bile rise up and had to rush to the sink, putting my undergarments back after covering you again with your night shirt."
"Anne…" He leaned into my ear whispering. "We'll get that license quickly. Find some place. Then pack those same undergarments you wore. You'll show me every detail of that night will you not?"
I could only nod.
"They're stained though. I haven't dared yet to let another see them in the wash. I'll wash them, your own night shirt was washed several times though…"
"Don't wash it." He growled.
Really, perhaps Mrs. Harmon Andrews had it right, think of Queen Victoria for thinking of one's husband can be quite distracting.
—*—*—*—*—
Author's Note: Prissy's description of her husband well that just burst out of no where and was too funny especially whom she was talking to… his former students who most definitely would not want to know that. I'm going to stop laughing post this and say goodnight :D