■■■

The people of Avonlea were devastated. Victoria's sixth sense was proven to be real as it appeared that Nate and Mr Dunlop were frauds and there was no gold in Avonlea.

Victoria felt bad that a lot of people lost their well-earned money, and that she accidentally provided Gilbert with incorrect, fake news.

Caroline and Benedict Edwards couldn't have arrived at a worse time, but the couple were more than willing to provide help to those who needed or asked for it.

It didn't take long for things to go back to normal at the Edwards' house. Edward, Hamilton and Victoria were all chuffed with the return of their parents, and Gideon seemed to be well-liked by everyone in the household.

Victoria was going to go meet with her friends, desperately needing to catch up with them.

There wasn't much to do in the house during that time of the day. Benedict was at work, Caroline was trying to find a place to put a new vase, and Edward was still asleep. Hamilton and Gideon went on their daily four-hour horse ride which made everyone wonder what the hell they were doing that took them so long.

Putting on her coat, Victoria left the house and made her way towards the Cuthberts. Anne was already waiting for her on the porch and waved once she saw her friend.

Abandoning all poise, Anne decided to meet Victoria halfway and the two collided in a hug and burst into a fit of giggles.

"A lot has happened since I last saw you, are you alright? Everything went all to pot in such a short time."

Anne sighed, "I'm still very appalled. Thank the heavens that Marilla, Matthew and I did not receive the short end of the stick. Some people lost a lot more." Anne explained.

"I'm just glad that everyone came out unscathed. I knew something was dodgy about those two, I just wish I had said something." Victoria said as they slowly made their way to the Barry house.

"You did tell me about them. And that made me realise that I'm not just being paranoid. So, you did help after all."

Victoria snorted. "Stop trying to make me feel better, it should be the other way round. Let us talk about something happier, like how beautiful the weather is today- it's a perfect day-"

"For a tragical romance! I agree!" Anne stated excitedly as she increased in speed, causing Victoria to almost stumble.

"Slow down! They're not going anywhere!" Victoria said between laughs but to no avail. If anything, Anne just ran faster until they saw Diana, Ruby, and Jane.

One thing that one should know when in the presence of Anne Shirley Cuthbert, is that things never getting boring. It was a talent that she was gifted with, managing to fill people up with excitement, rather it is with actions or words.

Anne seemed to be obsessed with the current poem that they were covering in school, finding the tragical romance to her liking. "Whoever plays Elaine must lie in the flat and float to Camelot while the others mourn her death most sorrowfully. I find it helpful to think of something that makes you sad in your own life."

"And you must be Elaine," Victoria added after Anne animatedly gave everyone a role. "What? I could never! Not with hair like mine. I specifically had you in mind."

"When are you going to get it through your head? Your ginger hair is exquisite. And with how obsessed you are with Elaine, I would think of no one else better to play her." Victoria patted Anne's shoulders and urged her to go on.

After Jane cut some flowers, Anne laid down in the boat at the edge of the Barry's pond. "She does really look dead. My mother says that all play-acting is abominably wicked." Ruby whispered as Anne closed her eyes. Victoria scoffed. "Do not be ludicrous. Playacting is magnificent."

"Now she's ready. Farewell, Elaine the lovable!" Jane added. Just before they could continue further they were stopped by the cries of Mrs Barry, calling out to Anne to get out of the pond. "I've been calling. You were to be practising lessons, and here I find you engaged in perilous, senseless... whatever this is!"

"We were practising lessons, in a way." Anne defended. "Truly, we did. We meant no harm." However, it seemed that nothing could put some sense into her. "Diana, home. Now. The rest as well, before you catch your death."

Long story short, their romantical day ended early thanks to Mrs Barry.

"You want to do something else instead?" Victoria asked with a sigh as they walked away. "Yes, please! You would be saving my day!" Anne stated with excitement. "Well, my house is too silent. Shall we?"

"What are we waiting for? I have not visited for quite some time. A totally unrelated topic, will Hamilton be there?" Victoria pondered at the question for a moment. "I think he is still on his walk with Gideon. They get along quite well. Very well..." Victoria trailed off as she continued to think about it.

"Anne. Might I ask something?" "You know that you are allowed to ask anything and everything that you want."

Victoria breathed in harshly before slipping the question out. "Do you fancy my brother?" Anne immediately halted in her tracks. "No, of course not. That is absolutely untrue, I have no idea what so ever where you got the idea from... How did you know?"

"Tell you the truth, you make it quite obvious." Anne let out a groan. "I know that it might make you feel most uncomfortable, and I am well aware that nothing can ever happen even in my wildest dreams. Except, he is such a splendid person in both looks and character, and I only want to admire him from afar." The rambling went on for quite something until she had no choice but to stop breathing properly.

"Well, I think you said more complimentary statements about him in a minute than I ever said in a lifetime. However, I think he has his eye on someone." Anne's eyes opened wide at the news.

"Really? Did he say something?" Victoria shook her head. "No, he did not. But I'd like to think that I know my brother well enough that he doesn't need to say anything for me to know that something big is happening to him."

"Even though my heart has, broken slightly, I am glad that he is content," Anne added. "Don't worry, you'll find someone way better and less annoying than him. And before you say anything, yes, there will be many who would long to have your attention and even if you do not, there is nothing wrong with that."

"You give me too much credit, Victoria. Your kindness is never-ending and something that I aspire to have." Victoria smiled at Anne's words, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "With a comment like that, I think that you are almost there. Now, let's hurry up. I have created a list of books that I am sure that you would love."

Anne mirrored her friend's grin and the two hurried along towards the Edwards' quiet, grand estate.

■■■

"The weather is getting colder. Not that I'm complaining. I love how fresh the light air feels with every breath you take." Hamilton explained as he took in a deep breath.

Gideon smiled, "Look at you, William Wordsworth." Gideon said with a chuckle causing Hamilton to shy away. "It's quite cold this time of year. I never was fond of cold weather." Gideon admitted.

Hamilton looked at him incredulously. "Really? But you're from Wales, it's not exactly the warmest of places." Hamilton said to which Gideon shrugged in return. "I think of that as just another indication that I didn't belong there. Bollocks, I should have brought a warmer coat." Gideon rubbed his arms to create some friction.

Tugging at his bottom lip, Hamilton slowly leaned closer to Gideon's side and threw his arm over Gideon's shoulder. Without hesitating, Gideon connected with Hamilton to take some of his warmth. "Better now?"

"I always feel better with you by my side, Hammy."

Hamilton let out a very dramatic sigh. "I told you not to call me that."

"Would you rather another nickname? Love? Darling? Angel?" Gideon said with a teasing tone and Hamilton avoided eye contact. "How about you just call me Hamilton?" He continued and Gideon stopped pushing it. After a few moments of silence, Hamilton spoke once more.

"I do quite like darling if I'm being honest." He spoke in a low and hesitant voice as if testing every word that came from his mouth.

"You know, we developed quite the habit. A daily ride and walk. Speaking about everything and nothing, always the same circle." Gideon said. Hamilton looked down into Gideon's light grey-blue eyes, his perfect, stunning eyes. "Well, I do not know about you, but I'm not one to disagree with change. I-uh, may I?" Hamilton asked.

Gideon grinned and gave an eager nod of the head. Unlike the other times, Hamilton seemed more confident as he closed the unwanted gap. Gideon gave out a sigh of contempt and smiled into the kiss that Hamilton seemed not guilty of initiating.

Hamilton's eyes were shut close as he placed his hands on Gideon's waist, bunching up the fabric of the waistcoat. When he pulled away he pressed his forehead against Gideon's as he took in heavy breaths. "How was that?" Hamilton asked, trying to control his breathing.

"Perfect, absolutely perfect. Rwy'n dy garu di." Gideon replied, saying the last part in an almost silent whisper. "I have no idea what you just said, but thank you." At that answer Gideon let out a breathy chuckle, his eyes wrinkling at the sides with how wide he was smiling.

"Shall we return?" Hamilton asked as he turned away. Gideon grabbed his arm to stop him. "We can stay here longer. For some reason, I don't feel as cold anymore."

Hamilton raised an eyebrow as he smirked. "I'd be happy to continue warming you up." Gideon laughed heartily as he tried his best not to make eye contact with him. "Stop talking and kiss me again."

■■■

"Usually I'm the biggest fan of books, but this one deserves to burn into ashes." Victoria said in distaste as she handed 'Social Etiquette' for Anne to inspect.

Diana had come to school that day bearing bad news, stating that her mother insisted that she needed to become a 'proper lady'.

"I never want to be a lady. If little girls could understand the vulgarity of putting heads together and giggling as if the whole world was a ridiculous affair, they would refrain from such unmitigated nonsense." Anne started as she flipped the book open on a random page.

"No laughing. No waddling. Only look straight ahead of you when walking. Burping is social ruin.." Anne read off causing Victoria to snort at the written words.

"We can no longer afford finishing school in Paris, so Mother's determined to finish me herself. She says childhood is over." Diana explained. "That's ridiculous. How does one expect a person to stop living their childhood when they are not physically an adult." Victoria added, mad at the cause of Diana's frown.

"You're very lucky, Victoria. Your parents are some of the most carefree people I have ever met. I may not know them personally but it seems that they aren't shoving the notion of marriage underneath your nose." Diana felt a bit of jealousy tug at her heart as she said that. However, she was glad that one of her closest friends didn't have to go through the same awful thing as her.

"I am indeed grateful for them. They always tell me that I should marry for love rather than power. After all, my mother was just a kitchen maid when she met my father." A fond smile cracked across Victoria's lips and it was clear that her words caused surprise in both girls.

"I was never aware of that. That sounds like something straight out of a book, I never heard of anything more romantic." Victoria smiled at Anne's daydreaming, knowing very well of how romantic she is at heart. "Are you being serious?" Diana asked as surprise was still evident across her features. The thought of it seemed more of a dream rather than something that would happen in real life.

"Very serious. It caused a lot of problems, my father was pretty much shunned and was almost disowned. Luckily, he had always been his great aunt's favourite so she made sure that he was provided with any necessary things. Then she died and left everything to him." Victoria explained to Diana.

Diana breathed in quickly. "It sounds too good to be true. If only I was brave enough and didn't have to suffer any consequences. Otherwise, I would do it in a heartbeat." Victoria noticed Diana's very solemn mood and linked her hand through hers as a source of comfort.

"Maybe one day you will. You cannot give up just yet." Anne added. Diana was about to reply but was cut off by the door opening. Cole entered the room and immediately looked apologetic and grabbed the erasers in his hands tighter. "Sorry."

"It's alright. We've only just learned that our friendship has been sentenced to death. Is there a ridiculous, hateful book that teaches boys to be men?" Anne said as she showed Cole the book.

"If there was, it... wouldn't help me," Cole replied causing Victoria to wonder what it meant. It seemed that Victoria wasn't the only one unsure. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Sorry." Cole said as he left the room again. Victoria pursued her lips for a second before deciding to go speak to him. She told her friends that she would be there in a moment before chasing after Cole.

"Hey, Cole, have you had time to eat or are you still being tortured by Mr Phillips?" Cole stopped in his tracks at this question, noticing Victoria's gaze on the blackboard erasers in his hand. "I just finished," Cole admitted.

"I cannot believe he prolonged it for so long. And didn't even say anything to Billy for making a mess with all that ink. I never met someone so hypocritical." Victoria's words caused Cole to crack a smile, feeling relieved that somebody agrees with him.

"I'm glad that you have my back. Something tells me that having Victoria Edwards on my side is a blessing." Victoria chuckled slightly. "I would have to agree. By the way, I wanted you to know that you can join me and the others for lunch whenever you want, the girls should be fine with it."

Cole was touched by the invitation just as much as when she and the others joined him for lunch a few days ago. "I might take you up on that offer."

Victoria's eyes lit up with the answer. "Brilliant! I think it's safe to say that this is the start of a spectacular friendship."

■■■

I took forever, I know, I'm very sorry.

The stress rate is super high right now and the headache is never-ending.

I'm a bit late to the conversation but I watched Bridgerton. And I hated it, please don't come at me. I'm a whore for historical fiction, but hell no.

I did however enjoy one thing from the show, and it's Benedict Bridgerton. Why? Because I'm a single woman with no life whatsoever.

Anyway, hope that y'all enjoyed this chapter.