Anne led them to the Charlottetown Square where there are plenty of shops, street selling tents, new restaurants, and tea places. He remembered the one in the corner of the street where he and Winnie had a couple of friendly afternoon teas – at least for him. He wanted to bring Anne there but thought that it might be in appropriate due to the circumstances in the past, but all he wanted to do is for her to try their lemon cake as it was very tasty.
"Have you tried that tea house in the corner of Berkin Street?" he asked, curiously.
"Which one? The Persephone?" she asked, tilting her head to him to see his face. He nodded in confirmation. "Yes! We frequent there with some colleagues from the News Club in Queens." she answered nonchalantly as they continue to walk, passing more tea houses and restaurants.
"Ah, you mentioned those classmates of yours, right? Was it Amber, Charlotte and Fil?" he asked.
"Yes, sometimes." she said still looking straight on the street. "But you said you are frequent there? Did you have more meetings with other members there or the other girls perhaps?" he asked curiously.
"Well… I also had some meetings there with the other editors." she said as she stopped walking making him stop in his tracks and looked at her. "What is it?" he asked rather forcefully as he know that there is something more she wanted to say.
Anne took a deep breath. She doesn't know how to vouch this subject to him and to be honest, she doesn't want to. She kept on thinking that this has nothing to do with Gilbert at all as this is her circumstance during her days in Queen's, but her subconscious has been nagging at her for the longest time that she should let Gilbert know on the unwanted attention she had from plenty of admirers since she started college.
"Gil," she stated. "I… I don't know how to say this to you and forgive me if I didn't mention this to any of our correspondence but…" she stopped, gulped, and looked at him in the eyes.
"Ever since I started Queen's there are few, well, admirers, guys that showed interest in me. Most of them has been either my classmates, clubmates and some of the upper classman." she blushed from her neck up her face while stuttering with this confession. She was still shy about getting too much attention from opposite gender as she made believed for as long as she can remember that she isn't the type of girl to be desired. Gilbert remains unmoving and silent, a bit of darkness slowly creeping on his face.
Anne didn't know what to do. Was he angry that she never mentioned this to him? "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it's just that, I didn't find it beneficial to both of us to discussed them in our correspondence and I swear I didn't give anyone permission to visit me in Blackmore House nor gave them any chance to be more than friends. I am very clear with each and everyone of them that I have you, and that it will only ever be you." she said, tears starting to pool in her eyes.Why didn't I mention it to him from the start?!she scolded herself.Well, I TOLD YOU SO!nagged her subconscious.
Gilbert took a deep breath to clear his reeling mind and to clear the dark cloud of jealousy in his heart. How could he miss that possibility! Anne, being ANNE – her beautiful, glorious, vibrant self, without any suitor would be absurd! He remembered the time he first saw her in Blackmore House that blessed day they have come to understand their feelings for one another. How her dress fits her, how her hair complemented her dress, how very grown up and desirable she was, how ethereal and beautiful she looked like – how on earth has he missed that he is not the only one who would admire her beauty, intelligence, and pure heart.
He raised his face towards the skies and laughs at himself loudly causing the passers by to give him a questioning look which could only mean – HAS HE GONE MAD?!
"I don't know what is funny, Gilbert Blythe, but I hope to god you are not making fun of me or the vision of me having other admirers apart from you." Anne said acidly which brought him back to the now.
"Oh, My Love, none of those. Please! I would never ever laugh at you or make fun of you and not about this matter." he said raising both of his hands as a gesture of apologies and surrendering. "I was laughing at my stupid self, My Love.
Forgive me if it gave you the impression that I was laughing at you." he added then caressed her face with his knuckles. "I was so stupid. I was in a bubble of happiness from the moment of our first kiss at Blackmore's lawn and I forgot that it is not only me who will be blessed by your beauty." and right there and then, in the middle of the busy street of Charlottetown, he kissed her senseless.
Anne was stunned momentarily at his ardor, what they are doing is considered a scandalous act and she know at the back of her head that many people (if not all) that see them are giving them disapproving looks and disgusting comments about propriety. But that was only for a short moment as right now, all she can focus on is Gilberts lips on her, sucking her lower lips, licking it as his tongue enters her mouth and do the dance with hers, they all know too well.
His left arm snakes around her waist and his right hand on her neck while he deepened their kiss causing her to moan on his mouth and it felt deliciously right, her left hand clutching his forearm and her right hand cupping his cheek; and they don't care who sees them or where they are. Gilbert made sure that no misunderstanding with this confession cause, nothing else matter – no one else matter – it's just him and her. Anne and Gilbert, Gilbert and Anne. He slowly lessens the pace of their dancing lips until they came to stop, not letting go of each other, standing still in the middle of the street, forehead touching, eyes twinkling with love.
"I love you, Anne. I will always love you even after I die." he confessed fervently.
"I love you too, Gilbert. It will only be you, ever." she answers before kissing him softly again.
And like the lovesick fool that they are, they grinned ear to ear while embracing each other tightly. When they separated, they saw more than ten pairs of eyes looking at them with surprised and scandalized expressions. "I just want to let the love of my life know that I love her so and nothing can keep us apart!" Gilbert said a loudly so the people around them could hear. "I love her so much!" he added.
"What are you doing??" she said through gritted teeth, feeling embarrassed, first for they public show of affection, second him pouring his heart out in front of these people they don't know.
Anne was expecting to receive nasty comments, dirty looks and uncharitable thinking from the people who witnessed their moment a while ago but to her surprise, she saw them give them a small smile and started to walk their way and left them alone.Maybe the world is really changing, after all it's the 20thcentury.She thought to herself.
"That was so unlike you." she said while picking up her small bag that was discarded on the street when Gilbert kissed her, he did the same. "I didn't think you would do that at such public set up Gil. What would the town people think of us?" she added feigning disbelief but with a smile on her face.
"Think whatever damn they want! All I know is I love you and I will never tire of showing it,whenever and wherever." he said as he took her hand on his and started walking again, "So where should we go?" he asked.
They entered theRosemeur, a newly establish teahouse in Charlottetown. The ambience of the place is romantic, sweet, and comfy. It is a perfect hide away if you need some alone time or for a private meeting as it offers secluded booths and there are not much of clientele (maybe at this time).
"This is our favorite teahouse, me and the girls. It only opened towards the end of the term, so we were only here for maybe about five times before the summer vacation started. Their rose cake is magnificent! I didn't know we can incorporate rose in what we eat!" Anne said excitedly. "Let's go!" she pulled his hands towards the corner private booth.
"Hello, Anne." a cheerful voice of a young man greeted them few minutes after they have settled themselves in the booth.
"Hello, Raymund." she greeted.
"Oh, you have company. Where are the other girls of Avonlea?" he asked while smiling fondly at her.
"This is Gilbert Blythe, my beau. And Gil, this is Mr. Raymund Rosemer, the son of the owner of this teahouse." she said, introducing the two men.
"Gilbert Blythe. Nice to meet you." Gilbert said and offered his hand for a shake.
"Raymund Rosemer. It's a pleasure to meet you. Anne has shared a lot of things about you. You came straight from Toronto?" he asked looking at him and his bag on floor.
"Did she now?" he said while giving Anne a questioning look. "Yes, my train just arrived thirty minutes ago. Anne decided we should take something to eat and a little stroll before we go about our journey back home together." he explained.
"I see. So, the girls have left earlier than you?" Raymund asked Anne.
"Yes. Diana left the other day while the other girls took the first train today." she answered.
He nodded in understanding. "What can I get for you then?" he asked jubilantly.
"The usual please. I'd very much like Gilbert to try it." she said with a smile.
"Alright then, for two. I'd be right back." he said then go back to the counter.
"So, I did get to meet one of your admirers then." Gilbert said mischievously, taking her hand that was on the table while unknowingly playing with her fingers.
"Oh, stop right there Gilbert Blythe! Raymund is a friend, and he has his eyes on Jane. You should have seen him stutter whenever she talks to her." she said laughing at a memory of the first time she and the girls went to this teahouse. "I think that was love at first sight I witnessed."
"Jane?" Gilbert asked confused.
"My, my, future Dr. Blythe. Have you forgotten your roots after spending such time in the city?" she teases. "Jane Andrews, Gilbert. Jane Andrews." she reminded.
"Ah, Jane!" he chuckled. "I'm so sorry My Love. I think my mind got clouded of all things you and is not capable of anything or anyone to think about." he added.
"So, are you saying that you are a scatter brain?" she asked, enjoying their banter.
"Only when you are around. Surely, that has been demonstrated quite a few times." he said winking.
"Are you flirting with me Mr. Blythe?" she asked, smiling like a fool.
"Always Ms. Shirley-Cuthbert. Always." he said, bringing her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles softly.
Raymund then return with two cups of rose tea, two slices of rose cake and a small basket of scones. They updated each other on the happening in their lives that were not covered on their weekly correspondence while enjoying an uninterrupted eating, laughing, flirting and everything in between.
"That was really good, Love. Thank you for letting me try this marvelous meal." Gilbert said.
"I am glad you liked it." she muttered while leaning towards him, bring her hand to his face and wiped some crumbs of scones at the corner of his mouth.
Gilbert melted at the gesture. It's so pure and intimate for him, its full of love and adoration. He smiled at her, and words are no longer needed as Anne can see the love overflowing from his eyes.
His eyes are full of romance.
She remembered how Ruby described him – looking at her – all those months ago, when everything was still chaotic in her mind, and her heart was still swimming in confusion.
His eyes are full of romance – for me! She realized.
"What?" Gilbert asked, bringing her back to reality.
"I just had an epiphany!" she exclaimed.
"Of…?" he tried to pry.
"Of you!" she said, blue orbs open wide.
"Of me….? And…?" he pried some more.
She sighs. "You see. All those months ago when we were still in Avonlea school. When I asked you to post for Ruby on the take notice board?" she reminded him. He nodded as a response that he indeed remembered – as clear as day it seems, she broke his heart that moment.
"Well, she told me that your eyes were full of romance." she said, then licked her lips before continuing. "I just realized that the romance in your eyes that she was talking about was… for me?" she rather said that as a question than a statement.
"And you are asking me because?" he said, a smirk slowly creeping out his face, he knows where this is going.
"That –" she said, but he didn't let her finish that sentence, he wanted all the declaration of his feelings came from his mouth, she deserves to hear it.
"That I only look at you with that intensity, that romance, that adoration, that longing, that desire and that love – only you, Anne. Only you." he looked at her intently. "I will only ever love you, for the rest of my life and beyond that." he said, stressing each word so that she won't forget. "I love you, Anne. Only you." he added. And a lone tear fell down her eyes.
This declaration of love is something that Anne has never thought she will have in her life. For as far as she remembers, she was told that she is of all things unpleasant – ugly, scrawny, trash, underserving of love and more – that has caused her confidence to surge down the abyss of sorrow.
She has believed it for all the years of her life, but now, with her family she gained along the way, her friends and Gilbert, especially Gilbert, she cannot thank providence enough that she was sent to Avonlea and met these people – even as a mistake.
"Going home to Avonlea is all I wanted to do."Anne thought through her flowing tears and smiled at him lovingly.