Chapter Text
The streets of Carmody were bustling with activity that morning. Any mortal walking along would have appreciated the warmth of the sun as it shone down on man, horse and street alike. Today however, it was not more appreciated by any as much as it was by three merry young ladies traipsing their way to Miss Jeannie’s dress shop. One titian, one raven and one golden head giggled merrily under adorned hats and lace-y parasols as they walked and talked.
Such a pretty sight as they were, they almost caused young Mr Boot, the local apothecary’s apprentice, to fall out of his buggy upon seeing them as he drove along. He quickly appropriated himself however, pulling in the reigns just in time to prevent mare from sprinting.
The ladies looked on in concern as he disappeared from their sight, oblivious to the role they had had in the mishap. They glanced at each other and filed into their destination, barely containing their excitement.
“Well my dear Anne, you and your friends are a sight for sore eyes”, Ms Jeannie smiled as they walked into her shop. They were taken upstairs to a room that delighted Anne to no end. A large french window lit up the space, an elegant divan tucked into the circular shape. A plush carpet of deep blue warmed the floor, a tea table in it’s centre set with a vase of lilies and a thick curtain hung from the other end, shielding a dressing room. They settled themselves; skirts, flounces, puffed sleeves and all, into this pretty corner where they, full of anticipation, prepared to do their second bridal party dress fitting. The first wedding amongst their group caused much excitement.
Anne, with her fumbling limbs and awestruck expression always felt exceptionally less elegant when in Jeanies’s vicinity. Today was no different but she was able to say “Thank you for preparing our dresses for us Miss Jeanie.”
“They were my pleasure to make”, Miss Jeannie responded bringing out the dresses, one in resplendent white and two in a muted periwinkle blue.
They were put on in the dressing room. Hair tumbled out of pins, skirts shuffled as extra layers of underskirts and bone wire loops were added (“For more drama!”, Jeannie explained to an exasperated Anne) The girls’ giggling and loud voices should have left any ‘proper’ matron properly scandalized but Jeannie only sighed with nostalgia as she assessed the fit.
“Oh won’t these look ethereal with flowers in our hair!”, Diana as they walked out of the dressing room, admiring the work on each.
“I feel like I might cry.” Ruby’s eyes shone. The other two young ladies looked at each other, unsurprised.
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“Oh Marilla it was an absolutely splendid morning indeed. Jeannie was so lovely. We took lunch at Mrs. Westfields tea room afterwards with Mrs Gillis. How wonderful it was to be back in Carmody after these two years. It seems only yesterday we went shopping before Queens!”
The ladies were back in the Green Gables parlor, where they planned to make up some bags of sugared almonds for the wedding guests. Anne updated Marilla on the events of the morning whilst she prepared tea for her friends.
Exhaustion and merriment being the order of the day, the ladies found themselves to be in a state of whimsy by late afternoon, and proceeded to get up to mischief. Inevitably the dresses came out for viewing once again. The girls insisted that Anne try on the white dress, for they wanted to see how she might look on her wedding day. Anne brought down Marilla’s veil to complete the look.
“Oh Princess Cordelia, you look divine’, exclaimed Diana, kneeling on one leg. It was a strange scene indeed, one full grown lady playing knight in her long skirts. Extremely inappropriate. Ruby laughed merrily. Anne made a pose, one hand under her chin the other lifted up to Diana’s cheek.
“Oh please Princess, do come to the ball with me?” Ruby asked, hands clutched and standing on the footstool.
Marilla shook her head, rolled her eyes and promptly wandered out of the kitchen, a smile playing on the corner of her lips as she walked upstairs. “Now mind you girls do not ruin that dress!” She yelled out. “And they are getting married soon it seems. What has the world come to”, they heard her mutter.
They became vaguely aware of the kitchen door open, assuming Matthew was looking for his tea.
Anne twirled around, taking a corner of the veil in each hand “Oh handsome Prince, when shall you take me into your arms and make me yours?”
“I can do that right now if you don’t mind, Princess?”, a deep voice interrupted making all three girls jump. They turned around to see a talk, dark haired smirking man, who was clearly very amused. Anne flushed scarlet and ripped the veil from her head.
“Gilbert!”, Anne exclaimed, running to him smiling. She couldn’t help it. “You are here a day early!”
She flung herself onto him, hands around his neck as he hugged her tightly. The other two girls both proceeded to be very busy with the almond bags, as the couple shared a gentle kiss full of longing.
“I missed you so”, Gilbert said quietly, hand on her chin. They had been apart for one hundred and seventy one days. He kissed his mother’s engagement ring on her hand, he loved to see it there.
“Me too”, Anne whispered, putting their foreheads together, savoring each other’s space for a minute.
“I was able to finish my assignment early”, He said lips curled. “I had motivation.”
He kissed her forehead before they broke apart, arms around each others waist as they faced the girls. He admired her dress, flushing a soft pink at the thought of one day seeing her walk down the aisle to him.
“Not that I’m complaining, but did I miss the invitation to my own wedding?”, Gilbert questioned, all confusion and eyebrows. He turned to Anne in an overly scandalized manner “Is it someone else?” he mocked, hand on his chest, knowing her love for theatrics.
Anne rolled her eyes at him.
“Why don’t you ladies continue your work? I have to go find Moody anyway, I just wanted to see you first thing my love.”
“Awww!”, the girls exclaimed.
He pulled her towards the parlor door saying quietly. “You look so beautiful. I can’t wait to see you like this, on our special day.” His fingers ran through her hair on her shoulder as she blushed. “That day can’t come soon enough for me.”
“Awww!” Came from the parlor again.
“Is nothing sacred anymore?”, Gilbert scoffed, but he was smiling."I'll see you tomorrow first thing. Usual picnic?" He kissed her cheek at her nod and walked out, taking her heart with him.
“Give Moody a big kiss from me!”, Ruby yelled to Gilbert as he left.
“I absolutely will not”, he retorted laughing as he retreated from the porch. “That man is handsy!”
Ruby grinned in return, eyes gazing.
"How absolutely mortifying", Anne exclaimed. The girls giggled. She looked funny indeed, slumped in the chaise lounge, red in the face, the hem of the white dress stopped abruptly at her shins, for it was a foot too short. Their laughter got louder.
“Please refrain from such unmitigated nonsense!” quoth Anne, earning another more peals of laughter, which she joined.
Anne gleamed, feeling a little numb as she went upstairs to change out of the dress. She thought about how knew she wanted Marilla to make her dress for her special day, white and elegant. Although she really didn’t care if she married Gilbert in a potato sack, as long as she did. She said a silent prayer that the years they had agreed to work, save and study go quickly so she could meet him at the alter soon. They had big dreams that they were working on though, and neither wanted the other to let them go.
Returning to her friends she exclaimed, “Right lets get back to work! We have so much to do.” She settled into the armchair.
“Your wedding in five and a half days Ruby!”