Wishes Are No Horses, part 3 (Anne of Green Gables) Title: Wishes Are No Horses, part 3 Author's Name: Hyel Disclaimer:Anne of Green Gables (c) L.M. Montgomery. Warnings: AU and fluff. Ratings: general Summary: An abortive proposal by proxy. 300 words. Author's Note: I guess this could also go with Tuesday's prompt.
'Diana, I want to tell you something. May I?'
Jane sounded serious, so Diana nodded and said 'Of course.' They were lying warm and snug in Diana's bed, as Jane was staying over. Outside the wind was blowing and rattling the windowpanes with the last gusts of winter.
'What do you think of my brother Billy?'
'Billy? I've nothing to say against him. Why, is he running for president of Ruby's concert club?'
'No, no. But do you like him?'
'Sure I like him,' Diana said, before she realized with horror what Jane must be driving at. Diana's engagement was still a secret until it could be properly announced to everyone at once. Fred said he'd taken this long about proposing for want of a romantic enough spot – as if Avonlea wasn't lush with romantic spots, even after those horrible ads had gone up along so many walks!
'Would you like him for a hus-'
'Oh, no!' Diana shrieked before Jane could even finish. 'Oh, dear – Jane – I am to marry Fred Wright.'
Jane stopped. 'Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?'
'I just did. I'm sorry. It's all rather new.'
'Billy will be disappointed. He had all his hopes pinned on you.'
'But you see...'
'I see,' said Jane stiffly, and turned away. Evidently she did not think Fred Wright quite as wonderful as her brother. Diana sank into the mattress, her heart beating wildly. What an escape!
A happy flush came to her cheeks when she thought of Fred. She'd been hungry for love even long before he'd fixed her heart. Her friends were close, but never close enough. In Fred, she had her heart's companion.
She fell asleep dreaming of her childhood, and that queer empty space in it that she was now so close to filling.