Clara Pringle sat in her parlor, sewing a tablecloth for the upcoming Springtime Ball.
"Are you almost done with your sewing, dear?" Cordelia asked her daughter as she walked in the door, returning home from visiting many of her Pringle relatives.
"Yes, mother," Clara cooed.
"Very good. Make sure to take it to your Aunt Harriet's the moment you finish."
"I will, mother."
"Oh! Speaking of Harriet, I stopped by her boardinghouse just a few moments ago to see catch up on gossip and such. You will not believe what she heard from Samantha Pringle!"
"I already know that Ida Pringle is engaged to a doctor form the States. That was yesterday's news, mama!"
"No...it's not that! Do you know the new school teacher at Kingsport Ladies College? Gilbert, I think?"
"I do know him."
"Well, he's supposed to be a dashing young man, considering that he was raised in the countryside of Prince Edward Island."
"I suppose," Clara sneered.
"Well," Cordelia continued, "he and Anne Shirley, that no-good red-headed schoolmarm, were spotted kissing by Kingsport Lake this afternoon! And quite fervently, at that!"
"How scandalous," Clara commented. Of course, she knew that Gilbert would do anything for that silly Anne Shirley, so she wasn't entirely surprised by the news.
"And guess what else?" Her mother continued with even more enthusiasm.
"What?"
"Harriet heard from Ms. Stacey that Anne Shirley hit Gilbert in the head with a slate! And now, he's in the hospital with amnesia, poor thing. To be the victim of her temper...how absolutely dreadful!"
"He's in the hospital here in Kingsport?" Clara asked, a plan formulating in her head.
"Yes, dear."
"And he can't seem to remember anything?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid."
"And visitors are allowed?"
"Well, Ms. Stacey just returned from the hospital a half an hour ago.
"Oh, mother, I just finished my tablecloth!" Clara exclaimed conveniently. "I think I will go take it to Aunt Harriet right now."
"Why Clara, it's after nine o'clock!"
"You told me to take it over to her the moment I finished! I promise I won't be long!"
"Please don't be. It's not proper for young ladies to be wandering the streets after dark. Back in my generation, you would hear of no such thing!"
"Yes, mother. I promise to be home soon!" And with that, Clara set out on her evil, conspicuous journey to claim Gilbert once-and-for-all.
Author's Note: I am so happy that everyone seems to be enjoying the story thus far. Now, I have a quick question for all of my readers: How much longer should my story be? I don't necessarily have it planned out beyond the next chapter, and I'd like to know others' opinions on this matter. So, if you have any kind of preference, let me know! I'm also open to ideas for new stories, because once I finish Kingsport Kin, I'm sure that I will be anxious to start a new long-term project. Thank you for reading and for your reviews! They mean a lot to me!