Possibility (Gilbert Blythe)

Chapter eleven

Further into the day as my chores came to an end, I decided to re-visit my thought about the letter to Adrian Williams. I brewed a teacup and seated myself in the kitchen with a feather pen and an empty page I had ripped from a worn-out book in my trunk. To keep my mind busy I had previously cherished writing. One can only read so many tales until one begins to plot out an original. I never took it further than to write them down to myself and hold the book close to my heart as a secret for me to keep. Perhaps this was because I had no one to share my tales with, I had not told anyone about them. It was raw and personal, something I did not want to share either.

However, writing a personalized letter was difficult. I found it a challenge as I leaned back in the stool and had only plotted down a few sentences. What does one say in their first letter? I had never written one before and I did not know how, so I decided it best to confide it to Miss Cuthbert, but she was rather busy.

A breeze went past me as she hurried to the cabinet. I offered my help, but she did not require it and told me to stay seated. "It's only a visit from Rachel," She told.

"Would you wish for me to occupy my mind somewhere else?" I asked in the hope she might, but she shook her head. "It's the first time she's come over since Anne. Might be clever to have a witness"

"I'm sure it will all be alright Miss Cuthbert...." I lowered my tone as I sipped my cup and said to myself rather snarky than intended: "As long as Rachel can keep her manners"

"What's that?" Asked Miss Cuthbert as she did not recall what I said. I shook my head and placed my cup down.

"Nothing of importance" I smiled. There was a swift knock on the door, and I felt my heart startled. Rachel did not wait out of politeness and supported my claim about her lack of mannerism as she hurried in the door on her own.

"Good morning Marilla"

"Good morning Rachel" They greeted each other as she handed a basket to Miss Cuthbert.

"I brought you some scone. I felt sure you wouldn't have time for baking. What with all the hubbub" She sent her serpent tone my way and starred at me rather discomforting as if she forgot I tend the house, not keep up Miss Cuthbert's time.

"Thank you," Said Miss Cuthbert politely and Rachel moved further into the kitchen. "I'll just come in and sit a spell, shall I? Catch my breath" She moved a hand over her chest as she sat down across for me. I found it better to fold my letter out of secrecy and I hid it in my front pocket. She knitted her eyebrows by the movement but did not pry which took me by surprise.

"I've been hearing some surprising thing about you and Matthew" Started Rachel on that week's gossip of the town as Miss Cuthbert decorated the table. "I don't suppose you're any more surprised than I am myself," Told Miss Cuthbert.

"What an incredible mistake, and again! How is it possible? The mind reels" Exclaimed Rachel as she kept her wild eyes fixated on me. I felt uncomfortable and shifted in my seat, sipping on my teacup as I let my mouth stay closed.

"Couldn't you have just sent her back? Both of them," Continued Rachel. I could not keep myself shut by her personalized attack and snapped back at her: "You do understand I'm the hired help?"

"A boy would've suited better that's for sure" Her eyes darkened again as they fell on me, the same way they did when we first met, and I felt my skin crawl.

"Aurora is plenty of help. As for Anne. We may yet, but for now, she's here on trial" Miss Cuthbert defended unexpectedly. There was no hand movement for me to keep my tongue and I felt more comfortable there I sat under Rachel's judgmental observation. "Trial?"