8.
"Anne!"
Gilbert called after her as she fled through the fair. It had been too much and she couldn't stand still for another second, faced with Winifred, tall, smart, refined, and beautiful as she was on Gilbert's arm. The ruined cake was just the cherry on top and she needed to run. And so she did, to quick to notice Gilbert immediately moving to follow her.
The fair he's been going rather well for him thus far. Winifred had finally managed to visit Avonlea where they were able to walk amongst the fair, so informal compared to Charlottetown although that did not stop Winifred from having a few minor interruptions in her balance that required a steadying hand. Thankfully despite all of his wardrobe indecision earlier that morning Winifred's parents were kind, generous and open minded people who gave him the impression that they were pleased with him as a suitor to their daughter. Everything had been going so smoothly, he had been so focused on the company of Winifred and her parents right until Anne made a dash out of the food judging pavilion after her cake was judged harshly as it had turned out drastically different to what she was expecting. Without a second thought he released his arm from Winifreds hand and pursued her, knowing she must have been feeling humiliated and his only desire in that moment was to be a comfort to her, just as she had been for him on so many occasions.
"Anne!" Gilbert called out again. Only this time she stopped and turned to him.
"It's fine. I'm fine. honestly. I wish you two every happiness" Anne said out of breath in an attempt to cover up her wounded heart. Gilbert on the other hand was immediately confused by her statement. Was she referring to Winifred? "I..." Gilbert had wanted to ease her discomfort, only the source of that discomfort was perhaps not what he had thought it was, at least not completely. "Was just going to say that..." Gilbert thought about what had transpired in the big tent and what Anne had said just then, coming to the conclusion that the cake was most likely not the root of the problem and therefore he may be able to cheer her up if he put a silver lining around the cake incident. "Mary would've found that really, really funny" Gilbert said as he remembered the woman who had provided Anne with the recipe for the cake, and to whom it had been dedicated, taking the moment to share Mary's memory with Anne as he attempted to cheer her up.
Anne couldn't even process the embarrassment over her failed baking attempt right now, as she looked into his eyes she felt so forlorn as she absorbed the fact that he was courting another woman. Just as she had begun to realise the depth of her own regard for him she lost him before even having the chance to know how much she wanted him. She felt her heart crumble and she needed to to get away from him and this feeling.
Gilbert had hoped he could brighten her mood even just a little and so he stood with her and smiled as she thought about what he said... or thought about something rather intently. There was a gravity in the way she looked at him as she held his eyes, he felt himself inching closer to her under its pull. He felt as though she was desperately searching for what she needed from him and it was just out of her reach, willing it to her with the sheer force of her gaze. Anne suddenly seemed to panic and quickly ran from him. He was left standing alone as he watched her retreat, fighting the urge to follow after her again. Gilbert's heart ached at her sorrow, wishing he knew what she had been searching for within his eyes so that he might wholeheartedly be able to deliver it to her. If only he knew...
He stood in that spot for a few moments and thought about what she had said. Wishing him happiness? With Winifred? It was obviously apparent to Anne that he and Winifred were... something to each other, and when Gilbert had followed her to this very spot in order to help console her about the cake she hadn't even mentioned it. Only mentioning his happiness. With Winifred. Gilbert considered the possibility that Anne had been hurt by the knowledge that he was with a woman. Why, the only reason she could be hurt by someone else spending time with him is if she wanted-
His thoughts interrupted as Winifred came in to his line of sight. He took a deep breath and pushed away his musings as he rejoined the Rose family.