Hello Dear Readers

I'm afraid life happened last year, rather than writing.

I hope to work on my life/write balance in 2025! I am relieved to be posting again on this story and I sincerely wish this finds you all well.

My thoughts are with those affected by the devastating LA fires. There are no adequate words.

With love

MrsVonTrapp x

Chapter Thirty Eight

Rheumatism in Their Souls

Anne stared at her reflection distractedly, trying to summon the requisite excitement for this long-anticipated night. On the outside, of course, she was looking as well as ever, with her glossy hair, darkening over the years to a bright burnished auburn, having been fashioned into a fetching updo by Phil's industrious fingers, tendrils escaping to tease her face. She had tossed and turned over her mint green gown from the football fundraising dance those many moons ago, when in the dappled moonlight she had danced with Gilbert and had felt the first thrilling tremors of her love for him. He told her later she had seemed that night like springtime to him, and of the verdant green hills of home, and she could have barely believed that his home – and Tom's – would gradually begin to feel like hers, too.

"How well you look in green, Anne!" Pris poked her head in the door of the blue room and stood there admiringly. "I remember thinking so back last year. Those accents Phil suggested look beautiful."

"Thank you, Pris!" Anne breathed unsteadily, wishing she could borrow some of her friend's enthusiasm. In truth, she had barely known what to do with her gown, having worn the beautiful blush concoction Mrs Blythe had made for her so often that it might well have threatened to disintegrate in protest. Putting it regretfully aside, she had puzzled over her green dress, knowing she had to make something of it as there was absolutely, unquestionably, no money for a new one.

But how to refashion it? She had pulled it out of her closet the week before, contemplating it severely enough that Phil laughed as she passed.

"Surely that lovely spring gown doesn't offend you, Anne?"

"That's exactly it, Phil. This dress says spring. I wore it this time last year but the weather seemed ever so much milder. It's true winter already this year and the dress just seems wrong this time, but I'm stuck with it."

"You would have to issue a challenge like that to me, wouldn't you?" that crooked smile flashed, and Phil disappeared to return with her sewing basket, a cloth bag of embellishments, and two ball gowns of her own Anne had never seen before in her life.

"I brought these two dresses back with me after summer break," she explained. "I thought I'd pick them apart for parts as they're terribly dated now. All you need to liven up your own dress is a little contrast, Anne. Think of our art lectures."

"I thought my hair was contrast enough," Anne sighed.

"Well, the opposite to green is red," Phil replied saucily. "But I was thinking a contrast in the hue – look here to this dark green lace on this old dress. See, if we added it to yours as a pretty panel on the bodice and sleeves… you could even take a little strip to make a choker for your neck… you certainly would have a contrast then, and our swan would be wearing her new feathers with ease."

"Oh… that does make such a difference! But I'm no dressmaker, Phil…"

"Well, I'm no cook, and that's why I stick to the cleaning. But I'll sew your panel and sleeves, honey, if you bake me a lemon chiffon pie. I've been hankering after one since Pris brought those lemons home yesterday."

"I'm not much of a baker either, but I'll surely try."

"Then it's a deal," Phil grinned, squeezing Anne's narrow shoulders. "Now are you sure it was only the dress that was bothering you? You've been awfully quiet these past few weeks. You put on a great show around Gilbert, but my witchy senses tell me something's amiss, Miss Anne."

"Phil, nothing's amiss that getting through our exams soon won't fix," Anne rolled her eyes, flustered to think the merry girl beside her had been paying such attention.

"Amen to that! All right then, darling, leave this with me."

"Thank you, Phil. So much!"

"You're welcome, sweetie. Anything to see that starry-eyed smile of yours again."

Anne now tried her smile back on for size, and it was enough to convince Pris, a vision herself in a beautiful pale blue that brought out her eyes and reminded Anne of someone else's.

"Don't be too long now, Anne! The boys will be here any minute!"

"I won't!"

Pris bounced out of the room again, as if on springs, so excited she could hardly wait for their escorts. Tom, having travelled all yesterday to be with them, had shared a late supper at Patty's Place, introduced round to an approving Stella and Aunt Jimsie, with Phil enveloping him in a delighted embrace that almost rivalled Anne's.

Meanwhile Anne had greedily taken in the sweet, lover-like exchanges Pris and Tom had engaged in, thrilling to their new romance almost as much as the couple in question. She had been so distracted by their quiet happiness when Tom and Gilbert arrived that evening she very nearly missed Gilbert's new tie.

"Oh Gil! It's green!"

"Well of course!" he grinned, arm snaking around her waist. "It's my favourite color, you know."

"We match," Anne beamed, banishing all thoughts of another long-ago dance, when the severe scarlet of Gilbert's tie had regretfully proclaimed him as Maisie's, even as his heart had already turned to her.

"I believe it's what courting couples do…" he murmured, giving her a lingering kiss.

Pris scanned the ballroom in barely disguised relief. Not a Herb Spencer in sight. It had taken all her powers of persuasion once it had been known that the Sophomore dance was on the horizon to dissuade him from making the journey to Kingsport, and she feared her mother would demand a doctor's note as evidence of her supposedly injured ankle, telegrammed home at the last minute as additional surety.

Now she verily danced on her toes and grinned up at Tom, a little less green around the gills than he had been yesterday after his ferry crossing, which he always found so turbulent. She had to admit the blue of his own new matching tie against his charcoal suit brought out the perfection of his pale blue eyes, which crinkled at the corners as he smiled at her in return.

"This is incredibly fancy!" he chuckled. "When Anne has talked of her college dances in the past I imagined a little old hall like back in Avonlea."

"Redmond College doesn't do things in half measures. And neither do you. Tom, I'm so thrilled to have you here!"

"I'm thrilled to be here, with you, Pris."

"Even if there's lots of dancing?" she teased, delighted to be able to do so openly.

"Even then," he gave a rare, beautiful full-bodied grin.

"Anne, what's the matter? That's the second time you've blinked back tears. Is my dancing really that bad?"

It was well into the evening, and Anne's mask of gaiety was beginning to slip. It was all too much. Too lovely, too festive, too perfect. She had been so happy, and now reality was closing in. Would this be the last dance she would attend as a Sophomore? Or ever?

She attempted a little laugh at his joke. "Oh, Tom, it's nothing really… I'm just happy that you're here and… I guess… just overemotional…"

"No…" he shook his head slowly. "I know you. That's not it."

His tone was serious but his eyes were kind, and it was his look, as of old, that undid her.

"Tom… I'm so sorry! I don't mean to ruin the evening! I just don't know what to do!" the dread admission came in a gush of desperation and despair.

With a frown of concern, Tom steered them inelegantly but purposefully towards the refreshments table, pausing to quickly commandeer a glass of punch for her before they made their way out through the double doors and to the small balcony overlooking the pretty terrace. For all intents and purposes it looked like they were merely taking in some air.

"Please Anne, drink a little and then talk to me. A problem shared is a problem halved, as Matthew likes to say."

Anne did as bid, blinking rapidly to compose herself.

"I'm sorry, Tom, you should be waltzing with Pris, now, not listening to my tale of woe."

"I've plenty of time for both," he smiled softly.

She sighed heartily, tears again threatening, which she quashed with effort.

"It's my own fault. I've just not been careful enough of my circumstances…"

Tom contemplated her earnestly, silently urging her on, and she grew the courage to continue.

"My financial circumstances, that is. I taught for two years back in Summerside to save the money for two years at Redmond. It was just going to be enough if I was careful, and I figured if I took on work at the Home during the term breaks I could build some savings for third and fourth year. Only… only… I underestimated what it was to actually live, and not just to exist. I started meeting wonderful friends such as Phil and Pris, and Diana… and Gilbert." She sniffed luxuriously. "And I reconnected with you. I was kindly invited to Phil's in Bolingbroke, and I've been to Avonlea twice, now - and every time I had a wonderful time away, but it meant that instead of earning money I was spending it…"

Tom nodded understandingly, and Anne's explanation gathered momentum.

"The Thorburn – that's the scholarship I won for this year – was a godsend, really. But it covers this year's tuition and no more. And I've been so reckless, Tom! Dances and balls and weddings and whatnot… hedging my bets on winning another scholarship to help me cover next year at least. But I had a letter from the Dean recently, saying that there was no scholarship in English to be earned this year anymore… and the Director of the Girls' Home says that they don't have any work for me this Christmas… and I can't even sell a story to the magazines… and I am going to run out of savings… clean run out of money… before the end of next term. Halfway through it, probably. And I'll just have to abandon it all and leave everyone behind and go off in disgrace!"

The last was given with the dramatic fervour he had so liked and admired in the days when they were children, but now her evident and understandable distress made his heart sink.

"That won't happen, Anne," his voice was low and reassuring, his pale blue eyes pained. He lay a hand on her arm, and then walked them over to the privacy of the far corner of the balcony. "Thank you for telling me, for trusting me. You know we would all do anything for you. Me most of all. And I'm sorry – so sorry – you have been put in this position. It's not fair. You've worked so hard and come so far. But you're allowed a life, Anne. Don't ever feel you aren't. But I can see… that you don't need sympathy now, so much as a solution."

His perfect words caused a great gush of tears, and he reached quickly for his hankerchief, which she took gratefully.

"How well you understand me, Tom! I'm not sorry for myself – I'm furious with myself!"

"You know I would give you all the money you would need, tomorrow. Every cent of it." He bent towards her, his voice a low, trembling vow.

"I know that," she gave a pained smile. "And you know I would never accept it."

"I have it though, Anne. Seriously, I do."

She looked up to him, touched the lapel of his jacket fondly.

"My old musketeer, the artisan businessman."

He snorted softly. "More like a lucky farmer who got a break."

Anne smiled again and breathed deeply and more composedly, returning his hankerchief and looking out into the cool night.

"I'll miss it here," she sighed softly.

"You giving up that easily?"

"Tom, what else am I to do? I certainly can't make it as a writer. The only thing I know how to do is teach, and it's not as if a position a term into the school year is going to fall from the sky into my lap!"

Tom stilled, sandy brow furrowing. "You would go off to teach?"

"Of course – I'll have to, if I knew where on earth to start looking for a position. I could go back to Summerside I guess and plead with the High School for any scraps they can give me, and board again at the Home, and –"

"But if you teach would you lose your place in your course?"

"No, luckily enough. I could just go off and continue it by correspondence. I'd have to combine it with work, but I could manage it."

"Could you manage it… in Avonlea?"

Grey eyes turned to blue, incredulous.

"Avonlea?"

Tom glanced over his shoulder to ensure they weren't being overheard, but there was only a couple come out to take up a place on the other side of the balcony, and at any rate they were far more interested in one another. He turned back to Anne, his words almost tumbling over themselves in his excitement.

"Anne – I am speaking a bit out of turn here, it's not common knowledge yet – it hasn't even been advertised. It's a bit of a scandal, actually – well, not a scandal, but it doesn't look good for our school board. You see, the teacher who replaced Gilbert at Avonlea school has been sick all this past term, probably a bit sickly since he started last year. He's had to take many days off and it hasn't reflected well on him, especially since none of his pupils have been sick, or not anything out of the ordinary. I've gotten to know him – I still chop wood for a few households and for the school – he's a decent fellow, younger than you even. His first position, I think. He's competent. He's no shirker. He's just been mysteriously sick with no cause. Anyway, our minister went to check on him at home and was quite appalled. Apparently the lodgings he was given, the teacher's house attached to the school, was in a right state. It was damp and there was mildew and mould everywhere. I guess no one had checked it out thoroughly for years and he hadn't wanted to make a fuss."

"Oh my goodness! But… Gilbert taught at the school! He didn't mention getting sick!"

"Yes, but that's because he didn't stay at the teacher's house. He lived at home with his parents."

"Oh yes, of course… I remember. So what will happen?"

"Well, poor Raymond will have to take a leave of absence. It's gotten into his chest. He has to go back home himself to convalesce. It'll be on the school board's money, too, now that they are liable for the bad state of the lodgings. The point is…" and here Tom allowed himself a small smile, "they have to find a replacement, quick smart, which is hard enough anyway. But the rub is they can't offer any lodgings and the new teacher would have to board with someone in town. That would discourage a lot of candidates, and it's not as if anyone local is much set up for boarders."

Anne's eyes flew to her forehead.

"You mean… there will be a teaching post, in Avonlea?"

He nodded, grinning.

"But…" Anne's mind was reeling, "I would need to board somewhere, too…"

"Don't be crazy! You'd stay with us for free at Green Gables, of course."

"But you don't have the room, either!"

"Anne…" he took her hand, "I'll sleep in the barn. I don't care. Please let us be some assistance to you for once. Everyone would be thrilled to have you. You'd be tremendous at the school. You could teach for however long you needed, or I guess until Raymond, poor fellow, wants his post back, if he ever does."

"Oh, Tom! You're the answer to my prayers – if I ever properly prayed in the first place!"

"Well, Marilla and Mrs Rachel might have something to say about that," he smiled wryly, delighted to have finally been some help to her.

"W-would you carry a letter back for me, for the Board?"

"Of course! Though better make it a general enquiry, or they'll think you have inside information."

"Tom Caruthers – you are too good at such subterfuge!" Anne exclaimed in admiration and relief, hugging him in gratitude, forgetting his own circumstances in the moment.

"I'm getting to be," he answered, resignedly.

Before Anne could realise her gaffe, others began to throng the balcony, and it was obvious the band was taking a short recess.

"We'd better go, Anne, they'll be looking for us."

Sure enough, Gilbert and Pris, partnered for the dance Anne and Tom had abandoned, poked their heads out, scanning the crowds. Anne waved across to them.

"Please don't say anything to anyone… to Gilbert… yet!" Anne murmured.

Tom, ever dependable, quickly squeezed her hand in reply.

There was lit in Anne the light of quiet hope thereafter, enough to have her determined to savour her last weeks at Redmond that year, if it was to be so. She threw herself into exam preparation and squeezed in as many social engagements with Gilbert and the girls as possible. Gilbert for his part was delighted that the slight distraction he had sensed in her had eased, and before they knew it the last week of term – and looming results – were upon them.

Anne received the telegram the Monday afternoon, as she was anxiously awaiting the post. She did not have good experience of telegrams. Aunt Jimsie carried it forth to her with great ceremony and the girls crowded round curiously.

OFFERING THE POST AT AVONLEA SCHOOL TO MISS SHIRLEY FOR IMMEDIATE START IN NEW YEAR. WE PRESUME ACCEPTANCE UNLESS OTHERWISE INFORMED. PLEASE REPORT TO BOARD DIRECTOR BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN. REGARDS, J STANLEY, SECRETARY.

Anne received the news with a certain composure; Tom had written as soon as he got wind that her appointment would be made, with a special stipend to cover expenses due to having to board in the village. The other residents of Patty's Place, however, were up in arms, and there were numerous tears watering their subsequent tea, and not all of them Anne's.

"It's a good thing, really!" Anne sniffed eventually. "And it's only for the two terms, till summer break. I'll be back here for Third Year, I promise. I'm only sorry that I'll be leaving you all in the lurch…"

"Oh, don't worry, honey, we'll rent your room out in a jiffy!" Phil, surprisingly stalwart, waved her hand to dismiss any difficulty. "I know three girls from back at the boarding house who would climb over their mothers to get away from Old Battle-Axe for a while!"

Jimsie tutted at such a description of a venerable boarding house mistress, but there was no strength in it; she and Stella had heard the story of Anne and Gilbert's adventures in Summerside long ago, and Anne's ill-treatment from said boarding house mistress thereafter.

"It looks to be settled then, darling, if the Dean will approve it," Pris gave a watery smile.

"Yes, I will see him first thing tomorrow."

"And… Gilbert?"

There was a collective sigh.

"I will see him tomorrow, too…" Anne answered, forlornly.

Their lovely Dean of Students was accommodating and not a little relieved to know that he was not farewelling one of his best students forever, assuring her that completing the rest of the year by correspondence was not uncommon and that he would arrange her tutors to send out weekly batches of any supplementary materials.

"Thank you, Sir. I will appreciate that immensely."

"I have the examination results here. I've only just perused them before you came in. I won't spoil the surprise but I offer you my hearty congratulations, Miss Shirley."

"Thank you, Dean Pritchard." Anne's cheeks bloomed.

"Well, the young scholars of Prince Edward Island will be lucky to have you," he beamed, shaking her hand. "Do not hesitate to contact me should any problems arise. You will only be required to travel back for future examinations, and we will arrange all that in due course. Otherwise, my best wishes, and I will see you next September!"

Anne smiled back tremulously. Suddenly September seemed a world away.

Anne headed with quick step to the noticeboards, where the exam results would be posted. Already there was a thronging crowd, though the Patty's Place girls looked to have been and gone. Anne noted with quiet pride that she was in the first four students in all her classes, topping English and second in Art History. Pris had done well in Classics and Stella had held her ground. Phil had come first in Mathematics, with a particular student coming in second; Anne was sure coming first in Biology and Chemistry would take the sting out of that honourable defeat.

"I live my life second to brilliant women!" a warm baritone murmured in her ear, accompanied by strong arms snaking around her waist.

"Yes, it's a pity the Science Department is so short on talent," she smiled as she turned into Gilbert's arms. "Congratulations, Gil!"

"Lucky break," he winked. "The others must have been off that day."

Anne laughed as Gilbert took her hand and drew her away.

"And modesty, too! What will I do with you?"

"Well, we have two weeks over Christmas to figure it out!" he grinned leadingly, hazel eyes twinkling. "Anyway, I'm not the one who topped basically the entire Sophomore year in English and was called to the Dean's office for congratulations!"

"How did you know I was just with the Dean?" Anne swallowed awkwardly.

Gilbert raised dark eyebrows.

"Charlie…" Anne groaned. "That boy is like a bush telegraph! I didn't even think to look for how he went…"

"He survived," Gilbert shook his head, with almost fond exasperation. "Which means his mother will probably throw him a street parade back home."

Anne smiled again, even more trepidatiously. The thought of home, never an uncomplicated concept for her, had suddenly taken on new meaning. She would be staying for months in Avonlea, now.

"Do you want to try to catch the girls for lunch, love, or do you want me all to yourself?"

Gilbert's buoyant mood was hard to resist, and her heart pained.

"I think I shall like us to spend a little time together…" she faltered, "and there's something… I need to tell you."

"Mmm… the last time you said that, Miss Shirley, you were about to inform me of a long-lost acquaintance in Avonlea…"

"Well… it does involve Avonlea, as it happens…"

"Better and better," he chuckled.

It had been a long time since they had sat at their special place, near the oaks, and the frozen ground was no inducement to doing so today, but beyond the quad was an overhang with a friendly bench where they had spent many a happy hour that term, snuggled together against the cold and peeking out at the sky. By unspoken agreement they headed there now, Gilbert brushing it down for them before gesturing to it with a flourish.

Anne seated herself with a heavy heart. Their conversation would pre-empt a difficult patch for them, but one she was sure they could overcome.

"Gil…" Anne began, taking his large gloved hand in hers.

"Well, I like the start to this already," he teased.

"Gil – please! You can't put me off! I'm afraid this is… serious."

"Serious? What's the matter, Anne?"

She took a breath.

"I'm going to have to leave Redmond for a little while."

He turned to her, incredulous. "Leave Redmond?"

"This is… so embarrassing to own to, so please just hear me out, Gilbert. You know that… well… that I have struggled with money issues for a while now. Even going back to last summer, when you tried to arrange some tutoring for me. Well, that sadly didn't work, and neither did my enquiries with the Girls Home for work over this winter break…"

"The Girls Home? But you're coming back to Avonlea for Christmas! It's all arranged."

"Yes, it is…" she blew out a nervous breath, fogging the frigid air. "And I am… but this time, to stay. Till next summer."

"Next summer? Anne, darling, what is going on?"

"I have a position there. At the school."

"At the school? You mean… teaching?"

"Yes! Oh, Gilbert, please just let me explain! I'm sorry, I'm not doing a very good job of this! The fact is, I've run out of money. Or at least, I will have, come a few weeks into next term."

"Oh, love…" he sighed, putting his arm around her and drawing her close. "Anne-girl, why didn't you tell me things were so difficult? I can help you out. I insist on it. Any books you need next term or – "

"Gil, thank you, but it's not just a matter of a few textbooks. It's me having gone through all my savings for my first two years at Redmond already! I just have enough left to get me back to the Island and to tide me over until I'm settled."

"Anne, darling, listen, we can get through this! I think you are perhaps going to the most extreme measure straight away. You don't have to leave. You certainly don't have to go off to Avonlea or anywhere else. We will all rally around you. We can sit down and work through a budget. Goodness knows I could do with being more mindful as well. We don't need to go out. You don't need to worry about any social obligations. We'll hibernate at Patty's Place until spring and then – "

"Gilbert, please!" she shrugged out of his arms. "I know you're trying to help and to problem-solve – and I love you for it! – but you're still not properly listening to me! Firstly, I refuse to take anyone's money. Secondly, it's not just a question of trying to stretch my finances and limp through the rest of this year. Because there won't be a Junior year for me at this rate! The Dean wrote ages ago, to say that there is no scholarship in English on offer for students going into Third Year. Their benefactor can no longer fund it. So even if I did through some miracle manage to scrape through the rest of this year, there's no money for anything in the future. Not unless I work now whilst the rest of my tuition is covered by the Thorburn and I can finish this year by correspondence. If I go back to Avonlea I can work at the school for the next two terms, and that should just about get me through Third Year but only if I also work during the holidays – every holidays! – instead of all this… this… decadent traipsing around!"

Anne had stood in the middle of this tirade, beginning to pace alongside her words, grey eyes flashing fire. Gilbert looked up to her, agog, before his face crumpled and he moved to fold her in his arms.

"Anne… Anne. I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Dragging you to Avonlea twice and then following you to Summerside this summer and –"

"Gil, it's not your fault. If anything it is certainly my fault, though Tom of course was adamant that I shouldn't be blamed for wanting to have a life…"

"Tom? What's Tom got to do with this?"

Gilbert had released her in his confusion, dark brows now hunkered over pained hazel eyes.

"Tom… he could see I was upset when… when we were at the Sophomore dance. I talked a little and explained things, and he told me that the Avonlea schoolmaster – your successor – had taken ill, and they needed to find a replacement quickly. He… he carried a letter back to Avonlea for me, for the Board, and they were obviously able to contact my references and were pleased enough because they offered me the position yesterday."

Gilbert was very still, digesting this news.

"And you didn't think to tell me any of this?"

"Gil, it only happened yesterday!"

"Tom has known for a month," he choked out, "and yet you're courting me and I find out now, when it's too late to do anything?"

"It's not too late to support me," she replied in a very quiet voice.

His eyes now blistered at this, hearing the gentle reproach in her tone, and he dove his hands deep into the pockets of his coat, pacing around now himself in clear agitation.

"I wish you had come to me, Anne," he finally offered, almost in despair. "I might not have been able to help, but I wish I'd had the chance to try."

"Oh, Gilbert…" she blinked back tears.

"This is not fair, Anne! Is there no way round it?"

"Not if I want to finish my degree, Gil. Not if I want to keep pace with you all and return to study alongside you…"

Gilbert breathed in deeply, fighting to contain his emotions. "How am I going to stand you being gone?" he gave a beautiful, pained smile.

"We will bear it, and in no time I'll be back," she took his hand again, squeezing tightly. He was trying so hard that it was not the time to remind him that there were many other things she'd had to bear, or that six months was nothing on her and Tom's seven years.

Gilbert drew her to him, catching her in a bone-crushing hug.

"I guess we'd better check out the teacher's residence for leaks, now that we know the schoolhouse roof is so well fortified," he joked gamely, his voice gravelly and low, his lips pressing against her temple.

Anne drew back to look at him, shrugging her shoulders helplessly.

"I'm afraid that's a pass. The residence is not fit to be lived in, sadly. It's very bad inside, with mould everywhere. That's apparently what made the schoolmaster sick."

Gilbert's eyes widened in shock, before narrowing again, contemplating.

"But Anne, where will you…?" he stopped himself short. "No, don't tell me…" he turned from her again, casting his eyes to the heavens.

"Gilbert, Tom said they offered a place at Green Gables immediately. It was very kind if them and it seemed the perfect –"

"The perfect solution? Yes, I'm sure it was, for Tom."

"Gil!" she protested.

"Where would they even put you, Anne? They're full to the brim!"

"Is that really the thing that's bothering you?" she spluttered.

He frowned briefly at her implication, but did not pursue it. Instead he sighed deeply, sitting down on the bench heavily and running his gloved hands through his curls. Then, as a rainbow after the rain, his countenance brightened and his head shot up.

"Anne… they don't have room at Green Gables, be honest. But we do!"

"What do you mean?"

"My parents. They have the guest room downstairs." His smile grew by degrees. "Anne, they would adore having you there!"

"Gil… I couldn't possibly!"

"Of course you could!" he leapt up, fired by his idea. "Let us take care of you!"

"I don't need anyone taking care of me!" she protested throatily.

"Then just let us help you…" he implored.

"Oh Gilbert, it's a lovely gesture, but you know it wouldn't be proper!"

"Since when have we cared about propriety?" he scoffed.

"And look where it got us!" she groaned, not wanting to dwell on those dread weeks after Summerside.

"Anne, please! This is the perfect solution! Why can't you see it?" he urged, pressing his warm gloved hands either side of her cold cheeks.

"Gilbert, we can't! It's just not done! We're only courting, not – "

She bit down on her tongue, but it was too late. Up this close to his beloved lean face, she could read the exact moment his long-lashed hazel eyes flared with feeling, his quick mind connecting invisible dots.

As swiftly as he moved on the football field, and with the same athletic grace, Gilbert dropped his hands… and dropped to one knee.

Chapter Notes

The chapter title is courtesy of Aunt Jimsie in Anne of the Island Chapter 25 'Enter Prince Charming'.

I am very sorry to send Anne back to Avonlea, this time to teach, but could not resist the full-circle moment and to embrace canon in a different way. Also in canon of course is Anne's idea to leave Redmond to teach in the first place, with a very interesting passage regarding her flagging fortunes occurring in Chapter 18 'Miss Josephine Remembers the Anne-girl.'

And then there is also the fact in this narrative that I am generally following the trajectory of Anne of the Island… complete with my own car-crash proposal for Gilbert.

And some shockingly overdue correspondence from last year…

DrinkThemIn (Ch 37): Thank you for always being one of my biggest cheerleaders – and this lovely review does not disappoint! Oh how I love, as you know, to blend canon, Sullivan and a little from me and then stir the pot! They are all intrinsically linked for me x Poor Anne never met Aunt Josephine in my universe, so she unfortunately can't benefit from that huge and timely cash injection, so I thought Fred a worthy recipient in her stead! Thank you, lovely, as ever x

Guest of June 24th (Ch 27): Dear Guest – I loved your musings about possible solutions to Anne's problem – and all of them excellent! I love the idea of her working at the Patterson Street school and in the orbit of the estimable Mr Blake! (did you note his appearance - or at least mention! – a few chapters ago?!) The paper is also an excellent idea – gosh too many tangents to explore! I too am very sorry that here Josephine Barry never met the Anne-girl. One of the sad trade-offs of an AU x

Guest of June 27th (Ch 37): Guest that is amazing to have read this entire story in one day! I am chuffed beyond imagining and very grateful! Some of those earlier chapters were looooog too! I am sorry for so long a wait for an update and hope you are still reading and will enjoy x

Guest of June 29th (Ch 37): Dear Guest thank you for your lovely words and encouragement for both me and this story! Ha yes the many cats of Patty's Place – I could not see a way forward without them! Thank you for your note about Tom and Pris's letters – they are an important relationship for me, though it is sometimes hard to give them their due! Argh Windy Poplars/Willows and the complete absence of Gilbert, even in written form – don't get me started!

Guest of August 16th (Ch 1): Thank you so much for your lovely words they were so heartening! I am so thrilled for your readership across my stories and so sorry for the long wait for an update for this one x

Vikki (Ch 37): Thank you so much Vikki for your lovely note and encouragement! It was too quiet for me on this site last year and I am thrilled to be back and hope you continue to enjoy x

Guest of Oct 26th (Ch 27): Dearest Guest, it is you who should be writing on this site, with those beautiful phrasings and thoughts! Not ever 'rudderless ramblings' xxx Thank you so much for them. I am thrilled whenever a reviewer encourages me to take another peek at a long ago chapter, and another letters-based one, which can be tricky to write! Thank you for noting in such a beautiful way the support of Anne from both Tom and Matthew and the latter's kindred-spiritness with Anne. That was definitely something I wanted to put across. Thank you for your many rereads and insights they are so appreciated x

Guest of Oct 26th (Ch 28): I think this is you from Ch 27 as well, Guest?! I'm so glad that line resonated! Gilbert has always focussed his dreams on Anne, even as you say, he is still ambitious. That was a through-line I always wanted to reinforce in this story x

Guest of Nov 3rd (Ch 37): Hello Guest! Poor Gilbert – he so DID want to problem-solve this situation! And then at the end he attempts to but… argh! I hope he can still get his knight-errant on in the future! Thank you for your comment!