Chapter 1: Lily of the Valley

The mid-June morning was a fine one, the sort of rose-and-gold morning that lifts one's spirits with its promise of a beautiful day and stirs one's dreams with its friendly, gentle breeze. Glen St. Mary basked contentedly in the cool air and brimming light, which softly spilled over the emerald curves of the land and winked off of tiny dewdrops, clinging gracefully to their deliciously colored petals. Ingleside, itself, was alive with growth, yet peaceful in its morning calm. The beloved house was more quiet at this hour than was usual, allowing for one early-riser to enjoy the solitude of the verandah.

Nan Blythe sat with folded hands and enchanted eyes, looking very much like her namesake mother as she gazed unseeingly at the landscape before her, lost in some girlish daydream that only she was privy to. The rest of the Blythes were not yet up and around on this jewel of a morning, yet Nan had opened her eyes not long after first light and felt impatient to get outside and soak in the new day. Moments of solitude were rare at Ingleside—a quality most certainly not begrudged by any of the Blythes—so Nan was content to take a little time to simply indulge her imagination. Thus, she sat, daintily poised on the top step of the verandah, hands clasped and eyes shining.

Those who knew Nan well liked her for her blithe nature—with a spice of her mother's temper and vivacity, mind you—creativity, and pretty laughter. She had a mysteriously graceful way of carrying herself at all times, as if she were never afraid of missing a step in life, which endeared her to her father, recognizing Anne's trait in their daughter, and garnered the jealous remarks of certain girls in the Glen. She was quick to merriment among those she knew well, while those who didn't know her mistook her eagerness to appear proper for pride. Nan was, by far, the prettier of the Ingleside twins, being more of a woodland fairy than Diana, with elfin-like features, striking nut-brown eyes, and silky, sugar-brown hair. Her looks matched her imaginative ways and so, she created quite a beautiful picture as she dreamed all alone in the softness of the morning light. She was, at present, seeing visions of a life full of romance at Redmond College in Kingsport, where she would begin studies in the autumn with her twin. The Blythe name was already well known at Redmond, thanks to Jem and Nan tingled with anticipation as she speculated about a new chapter in life, away from the Glen. So immersed was she in her imaginings of dimly-lit libraries, gay social events, and scholarly, handsome suitors that she was completely unaware of the tall, black-haired young man who was strolling easily towards the Ingleside gate.

Nan Blythe was the last person Jerry Meredith expected to see first thing on this fine morning, sitting alone on the front step, looking as alluring as she did in the shimmering sun. He was caught quite off guard by how lovely she was and inadvertently slowed his step as he watched her. How kissable her small, pink lips looked when she smiled faintly like that! It was the way she smiled when he would try to drag her into an argument, or when she teased him. Jerry almost laughed out loud thinking of their latest debate about some silly matter in the Glen, then realized he was still standing in the middle of the lane, staring at Nan like a fool. What was the matter with him? Jerry knew he had always considered Nan to be pretty, but seeing her had never made him stand and gape like an idiot before. He set his mouth and picked up his step, just as Nan awoke from her reverie.

"Jerry Meredith! What are you doing here so early? Is Jem expecting you? If so, you'll have to wait a bit. I'm afraid I'm the only one up." Nan's pulse had begun to beat more quickly as soon as she beheld him and the words sort of tumbled out of her. What in the world made her heart skip a beat like that? She was very aware of the gaze of his impossibly dark eyes this morning, for some reason.

A sarcastic grin creased the corners of those eyes. "Well, I assumed the Blythes would have been up by now. I wasn't counting on them being so lazy," he teased, "Now are you going to allow me in or what?"

Nan, ignoring his first comment, rolled her eyes and remained where she was. "You know very well, Jerry Meredith that you can visit whenever you like. And if you think I'm going to come open that gate for you, you might as well turn around and head back to the Manse."

"I thought all the Ingleside girls were supposed to be so well mannered. I wonder what the Glen would think if they heard from the minister's son that Nan Blythe refuses to open the front gate for her guests."

Nan laughed. "I'm sure the Glen wouldn't think much of what the minister's son had to say on manners when they all remember how horridly you behaved before your father married Rosemary." It was rather a shocking thing to say, but Jerry didn't mind such digs from Nan, and Nan would never have said to it to anyone other than Jerry.

"Well, if you're going to insult me, Miss Blythe, maybe I should head back to the Manse."

Nan laughed again, this time getting up and slowly making her way to where Jerry still leaned on the gate. They stood there, each on one side of the wrought-iron entrance to the Ingleside lawn, comfortable in their familiar route of debate. "Do what you will. Really, though, Jerry, what did you stop by for?"

Jerry regarded her for a moment then decided to pursue the thread of conversation, leaving the path of argument for the time being. Nan held his gaze patiently, as was her habit of doing. "I came over to discuss some details with Jem about our football league at Redmond before your clan takes off for Avonlea tomorrow." Jerry secretly decided that he was glad to see Nan before she left, as well. Suddenly, he stood up straight and opened the gate. "Say, why don't we take a brief ramble through Rainbow Valley? It's full of color this time of year and you won't see anything like it while in Avonlea."

Nan felt a little thrill at his suggestion as she slipped through the gate and fell in step beside him. It was not the first time she and Jerry had gone anywhere on their own to talk. Usually they were in the thralls of a lively conversation or debate, and the Ingleside and Manse folk were accustomed to seeing the two paired together. It had never really mattered before—not much, anyway—but for some reason, this June morning had a different air to it.

"So you and Di will be coming to Redmond this fall," Jerry said as they rambled lazily through the breeze-stirred grasses of Rainbow Valley. "Very likely you will cause some big scene that disgraces the sturdy Blythe reputation and your father will have to hide you in his house forever to recover from the shame of it. Twins are never to be trusted."

"Just as law students are never to be trusted," Nan retorted with a toss of her hair. "Oh Jerry, I'm so torn!" Nan admitted on a sudden serious note. "Father insisted on Di and me going to Kingsport rather than teach another year, and so I have easily won myself over to the idea of being at college with you and Jem and Faith. But then we are to go to Green Gables and visit all of mother's old haunts and suddenly I feel as though I were no more than a country schoolgirl, unprepared for Redmond and not quite wishing to go, either. I feel as if I belong in two different places at the same time. I love Avonlea and the Glen and being a Blythe at Ingleside, and yet, the idea of Redmond is exciting. Di is too logical to quite understand my sentiments. If only I could be as daring as Faith! Anyhow, I'm so glad she will be there with me. And you and Jem, too."

"Redmond isn't anything too terribly big and terrifying, Nan, really. If I know you at all, you will have half the male population cowed by your quick tongue and vivacity, along with Faith. The two of you together will be quite the storm." Jerry smiled sarcastically. "Besides, Avonlea and the Glen will always be here. It's good for people our age to get out and enjoy the world a little."

"What a fitting thing for the eldest son of a minister to say!" Nan laughed as Jerry shrugged his shoulders.

"I think I shall forever rue the day my father followed his life's calling," he joked, thrusting his hands into his pockets and turning to face her. "Truly though, Nan, I'm glad you'll be coming to Kingsport. Sure, there are plenty of swell girls there, but none of them have quite your flair for arguing." His black eyes twinkled.

Nan met his gaze and tried to repress the heat from rising to color her cheeks. "That is probably because they are more interested in flirting with you than arguing with you, Jerry," she stated bluntly. Nan felt bold. She wasn't sure why she had said such a thing, but secretly wondered if Jerry wished she would exhibit a more flirtatious attitude around him; though how such ridiculous behavior could possibly interest a man was beyond her.

Her disapproval showed in her face, causing Jerry to laugh. "That's probably so, which explains why Jem and I have brought none of them home."

"And Jem is sweet on Faith. What is your excuse, Mr. Meredith?" Nan's eyes were shining now. Jerry marveled at how interesting this conversation continued to get and how he had never before noticed quite how alluring Nan Blythe's velvety brown eyes could be. He suddenly wondered if maybe she were the reason he had never brought any of the Redmond girls home to the Manse.

He ran a brown hand through his hair. "I think it is safe to say that that matter is my own business, Miss Blythe." What a curious and dainty creature Nan was! She was open and trusting, yet not so serious as to miss an opportunity to chide him; unlike so many of the other giggling, foolish girls who had made his acquaintance and were only too eager to please. Yes, Nan would be a welcome addition to Kingsport life.

"Well, let us hope you turn out to be a better lawyer than you have been at the business of finding a sweetheart." Nan tilted her head and laughed, then smiled that faint smile at him as he regarded her, feeling as though the morning were somehow bewitched. She had no idea what had come over her to make her say such things, but she no longer denied the fact that she was drawn to Jerry. She felt a tingling anticipation within her and wondered if it was palpable in the air around them. Then—

"I'll miss you while you're in Avonlea, Nan."

He said it simply, with his hands still in his pockets and his black hair slightly ruffled, but Nan felt a blush warm her cheeks.

"I'll miss you, too, Jerry."

Afterwards, for the rest of the day, Nan was left to ponder Jerry's words and looks. As she packed her things for the train to Avonlea, she sighed in exasperation. Leave it to Jerry Meredith to wait until she had to leave for a fortnight to give a possible inclination of his feelings! It was just like a man, as Mrs. Marshall Elliot would say.

"Well," Nan said aloud to her trunk, "I certainly hope he has made up his mind by the time I return."