Hello there! I've been excited for this chapter for some time, mostly because I've been so impatient to get these two away from the prying eyes of Sloanes and Pyes. Of course it's going to be anything but easy–but I promise you it will be fun. I hope you are all enjoying the ride!

~ kwak


Chapter Twenty Five

At last, it was the first week in September, and Anne was once again standing on the platform at Bright River station. But this time, she was the one who would be departing on the train. Diana and Marilla had driven to the station with her. Diana was tearful at Anne's imminent departure, but trying not to show it.

"I will miss you so much," Diana said, hugging Anne to her breast with her lower lip trembling. "How I've loved us sewing and doing all the things married ladies do together this summer."

"I have too, darling," Anne told her friend. In truth, it had been a comfort to have her friend so close these past few weeks. Even if Anne couldn't confide everything to Diana, it had felt almost like old times.

"I know how much you've missed Gilbert this month," Diana said. "I could see the sadness in your eyes, although I know you were trying to put on a brave face. So, I'm glad you're going to see him soon, even if I will miss you dreadfully."

Anne blanched and muttered something that she thought might be an acceptable answer.

Marilla said nothing and her stoic face betrayed not one whit of that venerable lady's internal worries about her girl. Anne was going to live with her new husband in Kingsport, and Marilla knew that her girl was reluctant to be alone with him for the first time. Although Anne was trying her hardest to be brave about it, Marilla was aware of Anne's agitation. She gripped the girl's slender hand tightly in her own, and silently prayed things would go well in Kingsport.

As for Anne, she was nervous for reasons neither of the other two ladies would have guessed. After two weeks of drifting into a sweet slumber every night by touching her body and imagining it was Gilbert's hands on her, Anne was more apprehensive than ever about seeing her husband. She stood chewing her lower lip anxiously and was staring off into the distance, clasping Marilla's hand for courage.

Anne didn't notice as Mrs Myra Sloane approached them with Mrs Joshua Pye close at her side. Mrs Sloane's beady eyes were trained on Anne's face, which seemed paler than usual this morning, and Myra wondered if it was guilt she detected in those other-worldly grey eyes. Mrs Pye suspected Anne's pale face might be for another reason entirely.

"I must say, I'm surprised to see you here, Anne," Mrs Pye's gaze was fastened on Anne's middle. "I never thought you would actually return to college now that you're married."

Anne was immediately jolted out of her reverie and blinked at the two ladies before her.

"I thought I'd already explained, Mrs Pye," Anne tried to keep her voice respectful. "Both Gilbert and I want to complete our studies at Redmond this year."

"Anne and Gilbert have always studied together," Diana said stoutly. She didn't like the older woman's disapproving tone.

"Charlie will be completing his degree, too," Mrs Sloane said proudly, turning to her son, who, after sending a piercing glare at Anne through his goggling eyes was now pointedly ignoring them and standing at the opposite end of the platform. "He's doing very well at college, you know."

"Uh - yes," Anne nodded uncertainly. She knew Charlie's marks at college were fair at best, but she wasn't going to argue. She wanted Mrs Sloane to leave them alone.

"Here comes the train," Marilla announced, nodding towards the puffs of smoke visible in the distance. "I expect you'll want to say good-bye to Charlie now, Myra."

"Hmm," Mrs Pye couldn't resist one last assessing glance at Anne's slender waist. "I think this warrants my continued attention."

"Yes," Mrs Sloane agreed. "We'll all be watching you, Anne Shirley."

"It's Anne Blythe now," Anne said sweetly.

"Good day to you, Myra," Marilla said pointedly, nodding to each of the ladies in turn. "Harriett."

Anne turned to hug Marilla and then Di before she boarded the train, smiling when she saw Charlie entering the First Class carriage. As she found her own seat, Anne heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that meant Charlie would be sitting far away from her. Her frayed nerves weren't up to a tussle with Sloanishness right now.

It wasn't until almost nine that evening when Anne alighted from another train at Kingsport. She was bone-weary, and her grey eyes were nervously searching the crowd for her husband. His height meant that she could usually spot Gilbert quite easily in a crowd, but the only tall man she could see was talking to a porter at the other end of the platform, and had his head turned slightly away from her, so she couldn't quite see his face. The man appeared to be a similar height to Gilbert, and the brown curls on his head were the right colour, although longer and more unruly than Gilbert's usually neatly trimmed hair. She could see the man had a growth of beard on his jawline, and Gilbert was always clean shaven. The tall man's muscular arms were folded in front of him and his burly shoulders were straining against the fabric of a charcoal coloured suit.

Suddenly, the man threw back his head and laughed at something the porter said, turning his head slightly and revealing a row of straight, white teeth which contrasted very attractively with his tanned face and dark beard. There was something in that gesture which arrested Anne's attention. Somehow, it seemed very familiar to her and when the man turned his face towards the train, she could see his features clearly.

Anne felt the colour blooming on her cheeks as she recognised him at once. The man was Gilbert she realised, and heat flooded her body at the sight of him. She gasped at the change in him and her eyes widened. It wasn't just Gilbert's tanned skin, longer hair and growth of beard that made her mouth go dry. He seemed to be more heavily muscled than she ever remembered seeing him. The short beard framed his strong jawline perfectly, and his full lips were still parted in that amused grin. She would recognise that expression anywhere. She could practically see his hazel eyes twinkling, even from this distance. Gilbert hadn't noticed his wife yet, and Anne swallowed hard as she waved to attract his attention.

She began walking towards him and her heart leapt in her breast when he finally saw her. She could feel the blush creeping from her chest all the way up to the very roots of her hair when that magnetic hazel gaze held hers for a long moment. Anne was thinking of the many times these past weeks she had touched herself imagining that exact impenetrable stare. She held her breath as she felt his eyes travel slowly over her and she wasn't sure if it was approval or contempt that seemed to make them darken slightly.

Deliberately, Anne placed a bright smile on her face as befitted a bride, and rushed to his side. Aware the porter was watching them, she stood on her tip toes and dared to place a light kiss on Gilbert's cheek, surprised by the feel of his beard on her lips. It was unexpectedly soft.

"Hello, Gilbert," she said, searching his eyes, but not quite sure what she might find there. "Dearest." Anne added the endearment in a wavering voice, but it still sent a frisson down Gilbert's spine to hear it.

"Hello," his voice sounded husky before he glanced at the porter over her shoulder. The man was looking at Anne with evident interest lighting his merry brown eyes. "Jeremiah, this is my wife, Anne."

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs Blythe," the man nodded his head politely as Anne felt an inexplicable thrill course through her body at being introduced as Gilbert's wife.

"Thanks for the conversation," Gilbert slid his arm around Anne's slender waist. "But we'd best get Anne's luggage and head home."

"Say no more, Gil," Jeremiah grinned knowingly at the newly-weds. "I imagine you'll have a lot of ah - catching up to do after a month away. I'll be right back."

With that, Jeremiah winked at Anne and strode off to collect her trunk.

"Rob was kind enough to lend me a buggy tonight, so we won't have to catch a taxi home," Gilbert said, avoiding Anne's gaze. That light kiss she had placed on his cheek was still burning on his skin.

After a month away from her, Anne was even more beautiful than he remembered. The pretty brown travelling suit she wore complemented her ruddy hair and pale complexion perfectly. Her wide-brimmed hat had brushed against his ear when she leaned up to press her lips softly on his cheek and the shiver of delight he felt had pulsed straight to his trousers. Even though he knew it was so they would appear like any other newly-weds, it had taken him by surprise. Her hands were clasped in front of her and her slender fingers were clenched together tightly.

There was a pause as they waited for Jeremiah to return. Gilbert stood with his arms crossed. Was his chest even broader, too? Anne wondered.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to break the silence. That tantalisingly spicy scent filled her nostrils, but she continued on valiantly.

"Thank you for your letters," she said. "It sounded like very hard work."

Good heavens, I sound like an imbecile! she chided herself.

"Yes it was," Gilbert replied, frowning slightly as he found himself remembering night after night spent fantasising about Anne. "Very - hard."

Another uncomfortable pause followed, and they were both relieved to see Jeremiah returning with Anne's baggage.

"Thank you, Jeremiah," Gilbert smiled at the porter and Anne's breath caught in her throat again.

His teeth seemed so very white and his pink lips were so distractingly kissable surrounded by that dark beard. His brown curls flopped forward as he bent to lift Anne's trunk with the porter. She could see the muscles positively bulging in his arms and she felt her nipples hardening as she stared at her husband. Was this handsome, strapping man really her old school chum, Gilbert?

Anne continued to stare as the men hoisted her trunk into the buggy. Gilbert gave Jeremiah a coin and turned to Anne expectantly as he placed his hat on his head.

"It's getting late," he said, sounding more terse than he meant to. "I'm sure you're tired, Anne."

He held out his hand to help her into the buggy and Anne slid her fingers into his large warm grasp. Their eyes met for a brief moment and Anne tried to read the unfathomable expression in those hazel eyes.

"Thank you," her voice faltered a little as his fingers closed around hers.

When she was seated, Gilbert strode to the other side of the buggy and gave Jeremiah a wave in farewell. Then he picked up the reins and clicked his tongue at the pony. As the buggy lurched forward, Anne could not resist a sideways glance at Gilbert's profile, curious about his mood.

His jaw seemed to be clenched a little too tightly, bright hazel eyes trained on the road in front of him. Had his eyelashes always been so long? The brown curls which were usually so neatly trimmed seemed a little wild and unruly as the motion of the buggy ruffled them.

Anne's skin grew uncomfortably warm again and she glanced away.

"Where is our new house exactly?" Anne asked. "You only told me that Rob helped you to find it."

"It's close to Redmond, up that big hill to the east of campus," Gilbert kept his eyes carefully on the road. "Rob's father owns it and rented it to me quite cheaply - for a mere song, you might say."

"That sounds perfect," Anne said. "What's it like?"

"It's not very large," Gilbert said evasively, thinking that was quite an understatement. "Rob told me there was some romantic story connected with its original construction, which explains the name of it. Apparently the man who built it named it for his wife."

"What's it called?" Anne asked curiously.

"Mount Desirée."

"That does sound romantic," Anne said.

Gilbert was reluctant to say more. He was strangely troubled by what Anne would think of their new lodgings.

When Gilbert mentioned to Rob Cassidy that he had to find accommodation for himself and Anne in Kingsport, his friend had immediately offered him a solution.

"My father owns a building very close to Redmond," Rob had announced. "I understand it was quite a grand mansion in its day. Of course, Father's turned it into four separate residences now, and I'm sure he'll rent one to you. He said you are one of the best workers on the railroads he's ever seen."

On the day Rob took Gilbert to look at it, his friend had been apologetic.

"Gil, I never realised it was like this," Rob looked aggrieved as his bright blue eyes surveyed the two tiny rooms. "This won't do for you and Anne at all. I'm sorry, we'd better find another place for you to live."

But Gilbert shook his head.

"I'll take it," he said. "The price is right, and it's in the perfect location for Redmond. Besides, I'll never find another place with term about to start next week."

"But -" Rob began to protest.

"Thank you for your help," Gilbert interrupted. "Please thank your father for his generosity. I know he could easily get more rent than he's taking from us."

But now, as Gilbert drew the buggy up before the imposing stone structure with Anne sitting beside him, he was questioning the wisdom of his rash decision to accept these lodgings, even if they were cheap.

He glanced warily at Anne's face. Her eyes were taking in the building's façade, which seemed to loom above them formidably. Although it clearly had been a stately mansion in years past, it was currently in a state of sad disrepair.

Anne's wide grey eyes were locked on the elegant black lettering attached to the drab, grey stone wall at the front of the building, just to the right of the front door. The last letter had come almost completely loose from the wall and hung at a forlorn angle, so that it was upside down, and much lower than the other letters. This had a most unexpected result on the way the name of the building appeared.

Instead of the much more romantic and dignified name of Mount Desirée, the sign now read Mount Desire.


AN: Thanks for reading! I am so grateful for your continued love and support for this story.

Now we're really getting to the juicy bits, dear reader. I wonder how Anne and Gilbert will go now they're all alone together and married? Hmmm.

See you next week!

Love and smiles from Jx