Timeline - Anne of Windy Poplars, The First Year: Chapters 1-4

Chapter 5: Weekend

Letter to Anne Shirley, October, from Gilbert Blythe, medical student, Redmond College, Kingsport

Dearest Anne, my Anne-girl,

There are some sentiments that are shared better with a touch. And then there are some sentiments shared best in conversation. And then, there is the written word. Words that can be saved and read over and over again. That is how I read your words to me, Anne. Many times, I touch the tracings of your pen and long for you.

With everything that has happened this summer, I keep going back to that quiet moment in Hester Gray's garden. You changed me when you said yes. You changed me for the better. You fixed the Blythe in me, it seems to me the only reason why things have happened such as they have.

For fairies do not exist. No, because you have taken all their magical dust for yourself. You make everything perfect and those things that would exist, but now do not, are in awe. Truly, you can see that it's really not that amazing you found three, four-leaf clovers. No, my darling, you have favor with fortune. Accept it, it is your curse.

I am in a dorm room with two other medical students. Eugene Felder is from "here and there" as he puts it, and was married once, but his wife and baby died in delivery. It was the catalyst that made him want to be a doctor. He was most impressed when I told him about little Robbie's birth, with some details left out of course. My other roommate is Marcus Trimble from Marysville, Nova Scotia. He is engaged too, only he has a photograph of his girl. She looks very sturdy, but he's proud enough.

Anne, you must send me your photograph. It's not often I covet, but I do wish I had your picture. I can easily remember what it's like to touch your cheeks and soft hair, and the feel of your lips on mine, but I keep such recollections private. I say you're tall and slender, with brains under your crown of auburn hair. I tell them that I've been in love with you since I was thirteen. I get a lot of ribbing for that.

Anne, you must come and meet them at the end of this term! The medical school puts up a fancy ball at a hotel. There will be dancing with a band and supper. Awards will be presented. It's supposed to be a very grand and eloquent affair, and the alumni will be there too. I want to show you off, so everyone knows why I'm so enamored with you.

As far as my classes, I am ahead in subject reading thanks to the rather long recovery period I needed this summer, but I know that my small lead will quickly disappear. This school is not for the faint of heart. I am in lectures for seven hours with practicals in the late afternoon. Exams are every Friday. Saturday we go to the hospital and make rounds with the interns. My study group is two hours from nine to eleven at night. I sleep just about six hours if I am lucky. I am really afraid I will not be able to send long epistles, as much as I want to, but I do promise to write a few sentences each week, to remind you that you enchant my heart.

I am yours and yours forever, loving you,

Gilbert

Anne Shirley read and reread Gilbert's letter on the way back to Bright River on a late Friday afternoon. She sat alone and unnoticed by the other train commuters. She let down her guard a little bit, as she reconnected to Gilbert, also touching the tracings of his pen. She missed him, but at the same time, she paradoxically felt him close-by. Gilbert was whispering, "Have faith in yourself!"

She needed to metabolize the tender emotion for she was battered after her first month at Summerside High School. Her welcome there was barely cordial. She felt ostracized, yet she agreed somewhat with Gilbert's summation, that she did have favor with good fortune. The three, four-leaf clovers she found in the yard of Windy Poplars, her new home, told her to weather the Pringle storm.

Did she really possess fairy dust to sprinkle over bad starts? In the case of her boarding house, she had to wonder.

She was supposed to be boarding with Mrs. Thomas Pringle, whose home was large and comfortable, and Anne was sure she would have been satisfied there; however, fate had a different plan. Her current residence seemed tailored-made for a former girl that loved pretending she was a princess. It also presented itself in the last possible moment, when her need was most dire. It perplexed her. Did she have some sort of understanding with fairies and sprites per Gilbert's allusion? Or was this a result of her own plucky attitude which had been honed from sorrow since she was a baby orphan?

Anne didn't need to know the answer to her conjecture, no matter how much it pestered her. Whatever the answer was, she benefited greatly now. She slept in the tower room of an old house, like Lady Rapunzel. Anne had already written Gilbert about her thrilling accommodation. The truth was Anne would have never looked for the place if it had not been for necessity. Never-the-mind the snub she received from Mrs. Pringle about being tired of boarding the school staff. The tower room was more than she could have hoped for, and in spite of the difficulties she was immersed in now by uncooperative Pringle students, she felt quite the champion on this regard.

Anne tucked the letters safely away in her traveling satchel as the train began to slow down for its stop. Her slim fingers locked the bag and she safely moved it to her lap. Anne sat along the aisle, and it took a little leaning to the right for her to see the platform approach. She disembarked into a dusky autumn night, which was confused on whether it wanted to be hot or cold, windy or still. She found not Davy, but Diana Wright waiting to drive her back to her home of old, Green Gables.

"Now today I am the one that gets to be surprised," Anne said, as Diana hugged her. "Are you and Fred back in Avonlea for a while then?"

"Fred's at the farm finishing the harvest. It just worked out better for me to come and get you, it wasn't planned. I needed some things Mother had in the attic at Orchard Slope; and Davy and Minnie May were busy practicing a scene from Romeo and Juliet when I was there," Diana giggled at Anne's expression. "It seemed a real shame to have Davy come and get you when everyone watching was so amused with their acting. They've been assigned the death scene, but the way they're reading it, it's just so funny!"

Diana pointed Anne to her buggy off the distance. "I'm over there."

"Davy can be a bit dramatic, so I can see him hamming up some of those Elizabethan words," Anne tried on her best Davy impression, emphasizing each word in a gradual crescendo. "'Thus...with a kiss...I…. die!'"

Diana laughed again. "Minnie May is just playing dead, I know it's supposed to be a sad scene, but it's just..." Diana gave another jolly laugh which was infectious. "Well, you can imagine."

"I bet!" Anne laughed too for her imagination was quite good. "So, how is Davy handling the kiss?"

"He's kissing Minnie May's hand," Diana said. "And that's not very romantic at all, it adds to the humor, actually."

"Well, I don't know about that." Anne felt her face grow hot thinking back to some moments between her and Gilbert. "I always felt a bit swooned whenever Gilbert would kiss my hand. And that was before I knew I even liked him," Anne pushed herself past a hiccuped pause, deciding in an instant to tell Diana something she's told no one. She rested her left hand on Diana's arm to get her attention. "He almost made me faint when he kissed me goodbye. He's..." Anne's eye's flashed with excitement, "...so very good at it."

"Anne Shirley, I can't believe you just told me that!" Diana exclaimed. Her eyes bulged and her jaw went slack from the astonishment. The Anne Shirley she knew would never, ever disclosed exactly what she felt for Gilbert Blythe. It was always layers and layers of mystery. Anne just glowed next to her. She was completely in love. This was a new facade to witness.

"I can't believe I told you that either. Diana, I think he's turned my mind into mush. I don't know what's come over me in the last three months."

"You know Anne," Diana encouraged, "I no longer feel as if I'm missing anything not being able to watch Minnie May and Davy. Seeing you so in love is worth the price of this long drive."

"Not so loud Diana," Anne pleaded.

"There's no one else around," Diana said. Sure enough, the road was empty. Diana tilted back her head again and said loudly, for the bashful stars to hear, "My best friend, my bosom friend from childhood, Anne Shirley, is in love with Gilbert Blythe. I knew it all along, but then, so did about half of Avonlea."

"Oh, Diana, stop it," Anne said, burying her face in her hands.

"Yes, you know it's true!" Diana exclaimed, but she stopped her teasing as Anne shriveled up next to her. She had hit a soft spot.

Anne was becoming unreasonably upset and started to crawl behind one of her defensive masks. Diana went silent a few minutes. The horse snorted and clomped rhythmically toward home, turning before being asked. Then Anne recovered and Diana tried her best to re-enter Anne's very guarded place where she kept her feelings.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Diana implored. "I didn't mean to stir up anything hard."

"I dunno," Anne stammered, she felt tears form in her eyes. "I feel happy and sad, and stressed and joyous all at once. Is this really being in love? They're moments at the school where I'm teaching a class and I forget about Gilbert, and then I see his ring on my finger and it all comes back to me, and I feel horrid that I forgot. I dropped the chalk remembering how much I love him and how much he loves me. We're getting closer to figuring out the..." Anne stammered again. "What I mean to say is..."

"I know what you mean," Diana warmly grinned. "I'll say it for you. The closeness. The heavy-laden silences. The connections you make with a shared glance. The thousand places you've been together, and the one place you have yet to go."

"Oh stop it there," Anne interrupted. "I never expected you to be so frank. Where you're headed requires a bit of mental preparation. Mrs. Lynde has already cornered me to give me her marital advice and I'm not sure I've recovered."

"Well, I'll let you come to me then, when you're ready. I suppose since you have given me such gems on this long drive I could let you in on a secret." Diana said. "But you mustn't tell anyone for a little while. Not even Gilbert."

"What is it?" Anne quietly asked.

"I'm going to have another baby, I was at the doctor's today," Diana disclosed.

Anne said nothing in return.

"I know, I know," Diana answered Anne's silence. "I just had a baby, but I'm really happy for another. Honestly, I am. Fred's really happy too. He loves babies. He even diapers baby Fred, well you saw how he was when Robbie was born."

Anne realized that their children will be eleven months apart in age. She thought of Mrs. Hammond doubling her brood with two sets of twins in one year and how it made her crazy.

"Diana, of course, I am thrilled you'd trust me with something so important, but please forgive me if I don't seem happy. I know you and Fred have advantages to make it work, but when I was in service, I saw what it did to Mrs. Hammond to have babies so close together. I want to be happy for you, truly, I do, but it will be hard."

Diana stiffened up a bit. Anne could see from her profile that she was hurt, very hurt. Anne realized that her reaction probably seemed especially calloused after the considerate way Diana had been to her own bruised pride. She filled with regrets but she also knew what she said was true as well.

Changing the subject, Diana asked. "How is it going at Summerside?"

Diana urged the spotted horse with the reins now that they could see the lamp light at Green Gables.

"It will get better," Anne replied. "That's the short story. I don't know how or when, but it will get better. I am determined. Why don't you come inside and visit for a while? Marilla and Mrs. Lynde are waiting to pounce on me for news anyway. I could use a good friend to buffer them. And I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings, Diana. If you're happy, I can be too. I will always help you whenever I can. Remember that."

Marilla Cuthbert fortified Anne and Diana with a cup of chamomile tea and her good baking. In return, Anne reported her current troubles with the Summerside Pringles with a candidness she could not relate in her letters.

"I don't think it would bother me so much if it just stayed at the school. Miss Brooke is so sour to me, but I can understand her paradigm. She harbored aspirations for my job. But the entire city is so full of prejudice, it's even at church," Anne said. "And the Presbyterian church has a fine choir and I would love to sing for them, but alas, I was told that they would let me know when they needed more voices."

Marilla grimaced as she poured more tea into half empty cups, "Anne, it's just as well they won't let you sing with them. Your attendance will be too unpredictable for them to rely on you."

"Yes, but it's always the same songs," Diana said, declining a plum puff from Marilla's serving platter. "Haven't you ever noticed each church has its own repertoire of music, they just rotate the same twenty songs the organist likes."

"Well, I suppose you're both right," Anne agreed. "I just don't like this feeling I have of being maneuvered and managed."

"You're an outsider right now Anne," Marilla said, with a sympathetic smile. "I'm sure that things will improve."

Marilla then offered Mrs. Lynde a plum puff, which was accepted, but Anne noticed that Mrs. Lynde wasn't really eating the puff as she normally would, although she was trying. She had lost some weight since Anne had last seen her.

"What are you going to do?" Diana said, concerned.

"My job!" Anne returned. "I do understand how a school should be run. You know, I like this assignment Davy and Minnie May are doing together. A play is such a wonderful way to introduce literature to a class. The high school has an excellent stage and it's not used properly. A dramatic society will be a good way to round up all the students and faculty."

"Oh, that's a great idea!" Diana said.

"That's one way to turn things around," Mrs. Lynde agreed. "But I am worried about this Miss Brooke you wrote about and how uncooperative she is. You're both there to educate children, that's what. It makes you wonder who the child is with support like that."

"Well, I think there's a way around it, I just haven't figured it out yet. There is something about her that is deeper than willful unpleasantness. She's quite intelligent and well read. She knows more about world geography than I thought possible and has a flair for the exotic. She's really someone I would like to be friends with someday."

Marilla offered more tea, to which Anne declined. She was feeling pretty tired from the day and subsequent travel.

"How is Gilbert doing?" Marilla asked. "I assume he's written."

"Oh yes!" Anne answered. "He's doing splendidly! In fact, he's asked me to come over to Kingsport for a fancy-dress ball at the end of his term. I haven't written him back yet, I thought I should talk to you."

"Oh, you have to get his cousin Miss Blythe to make your dress!" Diana said. "She's ever so gifted. She's made me the most clever thing."

Marilla sat in her favorite chair next to Anne and drank her own cup of hot tea considering the question. "Well, I believe in his profession there will be many functions where you should be there too… to help advance his career. You'll need to get used to it now." Marilla said with a tone that suggested ballroom dancing was a chore for Anne instead of a gaiety. "So, I suppose with the right chaperone, you can go."

"Marilla, really?" Anne girlishly replied. "You surprise me because you and Mrs. Lynde forbade me from visiting Gilbert at school."

"I didn't account for this context," Marilla stated, throwing a glance to Mrs. Lynde. "Like I said, with the right chaperone, you can go."

Anne and Diana then turned their stares to Mrs. Lynde, who stopped fussing with her tea under the weight of all their eyes. "Me?" She said, incredulously, "Marilla, it's the mother's place to be a chaperone."

"Rachel," Marilla said, "I would defer to you on this, please. You know I've never been off the island. I'd like to keep it that way. Also, I think Gilbert will behave better if he knew you were watching his every move and taking reports back to his mother. That boy is too much like his father, and his father used to 'maneuver and manage' me easily."

Everyone grinned at Marilla's re-using of Anne's coinage.

"Oh, I should go," Diana said. "It's so late, Fred is probably worried and the wet-nurse needs to go home."

"Would it be all right if I stopped by tomorrow?" Anne implored.

"Why don't you come by Mother's for tea?" Diana suggested. "Miss Blythe will be there and Mother loves to cuddle baby Fred, so we should be left alone. We'll have a nice chat."

Anne spent the next morning helping the twins with the homework Mr. Holmes had assigned to their class. Dora also had a scene from Romeo and Juliet which was frustrating her, because she had to act her scene with Ralph Andrews. Ralph was being "really weird about it" according to Davy. Anne got to see a bit of Davy's Romeo before he shooed Anne's direction away in a huff. "Minnie May and I have this down pat now," Davy said, trotting off to finish chores.

Anne helped Dora by calmly explaining the scene and reading Romeo's lines. She listened as Dora said, "That which we call a rose by another name would smell as sweet," with a sly smile and internal chuckle. She still didn't believe a rose would smell as sweet if it were called a skunk-cabbage. Her objection to Shakespeare's argument stayed unspoken though, it wasn't the point of the assignment.

Dora read well enough. "Your Romeo has to react to Juliet's confession. He should positively collapse into a gooey, mushy mess knowing how much Juliet loves him." Anne closed the book and tried not to draw parallels to Gilbert and her confessions to him. "Really, all you have to do is remember the lines. The words themselves give great momentum."

"I'm so nervous," Dora said. Her hazel eyes blinked slowly down in thought, she pursed her lips. "I think Ralph will toss a kiss up to me."

"That doesn't sound too scandalous. How'd you end up paired with Ralph anyway?" Anne mused. "I would have thought you and Davy could have done a scene together, maybe not this scene, but something else."

Dora turned bright red at Anne's question. "Anne, I paid Minnie May ten cents to trade with her."

Anne tried not to smile at Dora's scheme. "That was quite bold of you."

"And expensive, but I can't be reading Romeo and Juliet with my brother," Dora rolled her becoming eyes and brushed back her blonde braids. "That wouldn't be right."

"Oh, no," Anne nodded. She still had an inkling Dora harbored an interest in Ralph. "Of course not."

"Did you have to do play acting in school?"

"No," Anne answered. "We learned soliloquies instead. Gilbert used to give them all the time at winter concerts. I did it once or twice."

"Oh, I bet you enjoyed that."

Anne cleared the kitchen table. Their study session closed. "I have a bigger appreciation for it now. When do you perform?"

"Tuesday, so Ralph and I will need to work on it Monday night," Dora said.

"I'm really sorry I can't be there to watch," Anne apologized. "I do want to ask you a favor since I see how resourceful you are. There's something in the school's storage shed I should like." Dora's eyes widened as Anne explained what she wanted.

Later that afternoon Anne walked briskly into Avonlea. She had her shopping basket tucked under her arm, for she meant to visit the general store and stop in at Helen's business. Along the way, Anne would leave the road for her favorite haunts, clipping heather and fern to take with her and treasure. The warm air brought the scent of cut grass and hay to Anne's nose. The fragrance of fall permeated the entire countryside.

Anne's mood was so content she was even able to bow her head politely to Josie Pye as she walked the other way with her young man. Anne was pleasantly surprised that both Josie and Gertie had kept their word about not telling anyone about Gilbert's magic. Then again, Gilbert and Anne were keeping Gertie's situation private too. Josie's story was based on good guesswork, for they had never flat out admitted to her that her theory was right. On the other hand, they had tangible proof of Gertie's soiled reputation in the existence of her son.

No, if anything had bothered Gilbert about that day, it was Diana's clever handling of Josie's accusations to him. Diana couldn't really know for sure that Gilbert had healing powers. There was no reason for her to know that, so it was very intriguing that she so skillfully handled Josie. Should they confirm the story for Diana's benefit, or should they let it go for now until necessary? Deciding not to decide, the latter solution was employed.

Anne had already told Gilbert she didn't want to lie to Diana, should Diana press her for information. Gilbert told Anne that he didn't want others to know, not until he had a greater handle on his re-formed abilities. He did acknowledge Diana was trustworthy and advised Anne he would trust her to do what's right, should the question arise.

Anne surmised that perhaps Helen needed to be consulted.

"Hello Helen," Anne said with a smile to her new friend. Helen had set up her sewing shoppe next to the Avonlea Post Office, renting the space from Mr. Harrison. It was only one room, with six sewing machines strategically placed along the walls. At a workbench, Helen had her head down and her shears out, cutting the finest of all lace into small curved triangles. Anne couldn't tell what Helen was going to make.

Helen stayed focus on her delicate work, the shears snipped the fabric with clean edges. Anne felt a little bit ignored, but waited patiently. Once done, Helen carefully stored her scissors away and returned Anne's smile.

"Hello Miss Shirley," Helen said. "I see you found my humble place of business."

Anne set her basket down on the counter and shrugged. "I thought we were using first names, Miss Blythe."

"And so we are, at home, Miss Shirley," Helen said. "I'm afraid that I must uphold formalities as I become acquainted with the other fine residents of Avonlea, per Mr. Harrison's rather autocratic lease agreement," Helen explained through gritted teeth. "Now, how may I help you today?"

"Well, Miss Blythe," Anne felt silly going back to such stiff rapport, knowing the things she knew about her. "Gilbert wrote and has asked if I might come up to Kingsport in December for the Medical School's Winter Ball. It's supposed to be a grand affair. I would like a new dress made for it." Anne pointed to the tiny bits of lace before Helen. "You come highly recommended, per my friend Diana Wright." Anne paused, still confused. What Helen was piecing together? "What is this you're making?"

"Ladies' underthings," Helen basted the triangles together, "Corsets, chemises, and lingerie. My client is trying to get her husband's attention."

"Oh," Anne said, feeling washed with too much information.

"It's a bit tedious, but I prefer making such clothing. It's more profitable than dresses and there's less competition. Would you like to see something I've completed?"

"Oh no!" Anne said. "That's quite alright. I'm surprised that Mr. Harrison hasn't exerted more authority over you frankly."

"Which is why I'm doing things by the book," Helen retorted. "But you want a fancy dress, did you have something special in mind?

Anne requested a green dress with cream accents, "And I know I shall be freezing, but I want capped sleeves with very long gloves and a bit of a train."

"Whatever Miss Shirley wants, I have some fabric swatches for you to look at," Helen pulled out her book of fabrics swatches her supplier had given her. "Green is not a very popular color for most folk, so I dare say I'll be able to get it right quick." Helen speed sketched what she intended to do which met Anne's approval.

Anne studied the fabrics, picking out something that hinted of the Irish coast and clover, but it was darker and richer, more like an emerald, yet not quite jewel-toned. Helen's blue eyes were delighted by it.

"Oh, that's a fine color for you," Helen said. "This green will really bring out the brightest parts of your hair. Oh, I'll need to write Gilbert and tell him what to get so he's equal to it. Like every man I've ever known, he thinks Sunday best will do. Don't worry, I won't tell him exactly how you will look, and with the right hairstyle…

"Have you ever thought of cutting a bang?"

"No," Anne said, as Helen scribbled notes down on the notions she would need to order in addition to the fabric.

"You should consider it. It's going to be quite the trend very soon," Helen winked. "And you have the perfect face for it, so long and slender, it would make your gray eyes even more alluring."

"Let me think about it," Anne said as Helen curtained a corner to measure Anne. "How did you meet Diana?"

"Mrs. Wright was my first customer here," Helen said. "I have to say that she placed an order as an excuse to meet me, but she loved what I made so much, she's really kick-started my business. She sent me all the Pye sisters and the Gillis clan. Raise your arms dear."

Anne lifted her arms as Helen measured her bust, waist, and hips and wrote it down in her order book.

"I'll be joining you for tea with Mrs. Wright over at her mother's house. Diana and I go way back."

"We can walk over together then," Helen said, as she ushered Anne back to the front of the store. "I like Mrs. Wright quite a bit. She's an easy read and she doesn't talk. She's very clever too, figured out what I was in no time. Not that I ever deny having a third eye."

"She knows about you?" Anne asked quietly. The shoppe was empty of other customers, yet they continued at a whisper.

"Well, with my short hair and my flamboyant personality, I do look the part, don't I?" Helen said. "All I need is a headscarf and big hoop earrings and I can join a carnival, right?"

Anne laughed, she made a good point. "But what about Gil? Does Diana know about him?"

"She wrestling with that question and hasn't decided anything," Helen said. "Bertie did tell me what happened in Charlottetown. You could play it off yet as nothing -that is if you don't want her to know, but… I think you'd be denying yourself a good ally, to be honest." Helen started pulling down the window shades to close for tea.

"I guess that's logical," Anne said picking up her things. They exited together. Anne stopped and waited for Helen to lock up.

Letter to Gilbert Blythe, from Anne Shirley, October

Dearer-than-dear, my dearest Gilbert,

My pen is scratchy today and I'm writing to you from my spot on the train, trying to report everything that happened at Green Gables this weekend. I'm tired and I'm afraid to say that my letter will not be more than just functional. Please know that I love you to pieces, and I miss you too, and yes, I even long for you as well.

First off is the good news:

I will be attending the ball! Marilla thought it important for me to go with you and "help advance your career" however, and there's always a but in such happiness, Mrs. Lynde will be my chaperone. So I shall dance with you under the suspicious eyes of a widow that truly knows every trick in the book a young couple might take to be alone, not that we'd do anything wicked, but it'd be so nice to tempt ourselves, wouldn't it?

Helen will be making my dress, and all I can say is that her 'gifts' may be stronger with needle and thread. It's amazing the things she can make. And she's making everything too; dress, coat, gloves, and foundation garments. The only thing she is not making is the shoes and I already have my eyes on something in Summerside. It's a fancy dancing shoe with slick bottom soles and heels, perfect for being glided across a shiny marble dancing floor.

But now I have to write about something troublesome. You remember how we discussed Diana's reaction to Josie's prods to you after baby Robbie was born? How Diana just knew the right thing to say and the right thing to do? We were left wondering how much of her behavior was legitimate and how much was an act? I'm worried she might know now. And if so, it's my fault dearest.

I had tea with Diana and Helen at Orchard Slope, and when Helen was visiting Mrs. Barry to inquire if Minnie May could work a few hours for her, Diana told me, "Helen has gifts, Anne! She's clairvoyant!"

When Helen had returned to our private circle, I found out that Diana asked Helen to visit Robert, Robbie's father, in a vision and tell him about his family and to come home right away. And this is the horrible part, you must forgive me Gilbert. Helen said that she couldn't quite reach him to give the message, but he was on board a ship sailing home already.

All in good humor, Diana asked, "How could he possibly know to return home now?"

And Helen replied, "Well, maybe someone else got word to him."

"Like who," Diana answered, but then all levity was lost from her and she stared very pointedly at me. "Anne, who else do we know that could do something that supernatural?"

Diana never flat out said your name. No. But it was implied. The entire ellipse was, "Does Gilbert have powers, like his cousin?"

I said nothing, I swear, but maybe I should have…?

I really think that by not answering and sitting there mute did more to support Diana's notions than not. She saw I was trying to protect you, my love. And I am also sure in Diana's way, she saw my reluctance to discuss you as ultimately honorable, and so she left her disappointment at my feet. I think she knows that Josie wasn't lying if she didn't already suspect it before. I never meant to betray you, if that's what happened.

I do hope you can forgive me. Please know I can't stand the thought of you being disappointed in me.

I love you, never forget that.

Anne

P.S. I will visit the photographer soon.

to be continued