This Time
Rated: PG-13 maybe higher
I did this for a GWTW contest story and I have not finished it yet, but I still wanted to post it here.
It takes place during Rhett's marriage proposal to Scarlett. What would he say or do to make her change her mind? I took out a few things also and edited it.
"Say, yes," Rhett commanded again in an alluring voice before his mouth descended upon hers. Somehow her arms wound around his neck and she was clutching him as if he were the most stable thing in this world. Finally, he pulled away; his face was still poised above hers, his dark eyes intently searching her face.
The moment his silky lips stopped brushing against hers, Scarlett's mind unclouded with the dizzy affect of his kisses and the alcohol. Roughly she wrenched herself out of his arms.
"You get out of here, you fitly rotten bas…"
"Now, don't be calling names, Mrs. Kennedy. Let's let bugles sing truce, shall we?" Confidently he sauntered off and sat down on the settee, pulling out a long cigar from his coat pocket. He struck a match with steady fingers and lit the cigar, taking a long puff from it.
Scarlett glared at him before sauntering over towards him, her hands placed on her swaying hips. Roughly pulling the cigar out of his hand, she stubbed it out until smoke gathered around the room, causing her to gag. She set the burnt out stub on a small table and turned towards him with a glare.
"You can't smoke here! Haven't you any morals? Aunt Pitty would have a heart attack." With definite moves she went to the settee a few feet across from him and gracefully sat perched on the edge. "Why are you here, Rhett?" she asked again, turning accusing green eyes to him. He leaned back, undaunted by her anger and crossed his long legs carelessly in front of him.
"I told you, I came here to retrieve my bride."
"I told you, I wouldn't never marry a cad like you!" She replied through clenched teeth.
He clasped his hand dramatically to his chest. "You wound me, my pet."
"I am not your pet!"
"You will be." His confident voice riled her and she clenched her fists so tightly, her knuckles turned white with strain and her wedding ring dug into her finger.
"No, I'll never be any man's pet, Rhett Butler, and you best be remembering that." Her eyes flamed with anger. "Besides," she added mockingly, "I thought you weren't a marrying man. Marriage didn't hold any charm for you,' you said." Her eyes challengingly met his.
"No marriage has ever held any charm for me or ever will, but, alas, my mother wants to see me happily married before I get too old. I can't blame her really. I am getting a bit over my years…"
He didn't look a day older than thirty but Scarlett would never tell him that. Her chin tilted proudly. "I'm sure Belle Watling would be more than happy to be your wife, Rhett." She wasn't able to keep the jealousy out of her voice, and as Rhett's eyes glittered in triumphant, she berated herself for falling into his trap.
"You're jealous."
"I am not!" She cried, her eyes belied that fact and she went for a different approach. "I just don't… see how you can ever get an respectable wife if you are consorting with people like… like that Belle!"
"Jealousy doesn't become you, my dear," he taunted her and she was all the more riled. She wanted to stomp her foot on the ground but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her make a fool of herself.
"Why would you want to marry me, when you could have a…"
"I want you." He spoke so convincingly and savagely that Scarlett had to catch her breath before she spoke again.
"I don't see how that has to do with anything. You've never wanted me before except to be your mistress. I'll never marry you! You're heartless and don't have the heart to love another person but yourself."
She saw him flinch briefly at her accusation and she wished she hadn't have said that but it was too late now, and she wasn't going to take it back. He didn't say anything for a moment before he roared with laughter. Scarlett was utterly mystified. He rose and sauntered over to her sitting form. His towering height intimidated her and despite her pride, she cowered back, until her back came in contact with the back of the settee.
"You'll marry me, Scarlett," he said confidently. "You won't pine away the rest of your life for a man that doesn't love you. And when I have you, I'll control your mind, body and soul, and ultimately your heart, until Ashley Wilkes only becomes a faded memory in your deceitful mind."
He rose and walked over to her sitting form. His towering height intimidated her but she squared her soldiers, glaring at him. Before she could even think she was pulled off the settee and into his arms.
"Rhett!" she cried, shocked.
His lips conquered hers easily, his hands roaming over her back and then finally coming in contact with her clad taffeta breasts. His hands moved so his mouth could firmly take over and Scarlett felt her knees quaver as she felt his warm breath seep through her dress. His fingers took over and one by one each button came undone. Her shoulders were visible now and his lips took over, kissing her neck and shoulders with fervor.
A knock sounded at the closed parlor door, shattering the intimate moment. Scarlett forcefully pushed Rhett away, clutching the front of her open dress to shield herself from his roaming eyes.
"Miss Scarlett, Miss Melly is here to see ya," came Mammy's booming voice through the door, causing Scarlett's cheeks to flood with more heat.
"Tell her I'll be right there, Mammy," came her breathless reply.
Mammy's only reply was a mutter, her heavy footsteps sounding her departure down the hall. Hurriedly, Scarlett started to button the undone buttons with shaky fingers, avoiding Rhett's piercing gaze.
"Leave," she ordered him in a shaky voice. How could she have acted so disgraceful?
"Scarlett…"
"Leave right now!"
"No. It would be so much easier if you would only say yes. But mark my words my dear, you'll marry me and I'll own you completely."
"You'll never own me, Rhett," she replied with more confidence than she felt. Patting her unruly black hair she started off towards the door. Turning to him one last time she said: "I believe you can show your self out."
He chuckled, walking towards her in long easy strides. Lightly he pinned her shoulders against the doorframe. "You're so naïve, my pet, I always get what I want and I'll have you." His lips descended upon hers again, almost as if sealing the promise he had made. Futilely, she turned her head away but his hands cupped her head, drawing her closer and closer, until her mind dizzily spun. He finally pulled away, his hands caressing her face.
"Yes, Scarlett, I'll own you. You are mine and no one else's, not even the honorable Ashley Wilkes. I'll get you any way I can, even if it means I must pursue you in front of all the old cats in Atlanta, I will."
He opened the parlor door, closing it quietly behind him. His confident footsteps sounded down the hall until they grew faint and the front door clicked shut. Tiredly, Scarlett's back rested against the shut parlor door, her body still shook with the affect of Rhett's kisses. She squared her shoulders and walked over to the small basin, which was next to Rhett's stubbed out cigar. Angrily she picked the cigar up, throwing it out of the slightly open window.
Splashing cold water on her flushed face she grabbed a small washcloth, patting off the remaining droplets of water and started off towards the door. She vowed she wouldn't give into Rhett, no matter how tempting his kisses were.
Chapter 2
Rhett Butler was very determined indeed, Scarlett observed, as she quietly sat on the plush settee, staring idly through the open window at the passing carriages and people, her legs comfortably crossed underneath her.
An odd sense of reminiscence flashed through Scarlett's mind. She was a widow once again; longing for the things she could not have. Just like the many times before, when she had looked out the same widow, longing for freedom when Charles had died, leaving her a widow and pregnant. How old was Wade now? He was at least four years old. And she was only twenty-one years old, too young to be widowed twice and left with two small children.
Rhett was right, she was jealous, she had no desire to be but she was just the same. It seemed the mysterious ex- blockade-runner, who had considered himself at one time an eligible bachelor, was now pursuing many women. She had just heard last night, from Aunt Pitty, that Rhett was seen taking Emma Wright to his room at the National Hotel. Her blood boiled every time she thought about it. And just four days after proposing to her!
Ella's cry sounded throughout the quite house, breaking Scarlett out of her thoughts. But she didn't make any move to go to her crying daughter. Melanie, Mammy or one of the mindless servants would tend to her, they always did. But after minutes and no sign that Ella's crying was going to cease, Scarlett grudging rose, walking across the hall to the nursery.
Once entering the nursery, she noticed Ella was red with fever. She was squalling, her dark hair plastered to her small apelike face. Nimbly, Scarlett picked her daughter up, trying to soothe her. It worked but Ella was still very hot and the room was stifling.
She started off towards the door, Ella still in her arms; she looked around the dim lit house. There was no sign that another person was present. The only sound in the house was Ella's soft gurgling noises and the swift patter across the hall of her shoes. Carefully, Scarlett descended the stairs and stepped out onto the side porch and sat down in a rocking chair, shielded by a cool shade.
She quietly sat there, humming and smoothing Ella's ruffled hair. Ella happily gurgled in response and Scarlett laughed in spite of herself. All though she thought all children were nuisances, Ella was still a very happy baby and couldn't help but make those around her smile.
As she sat rocking Ella and humming softly to herself, she heard the sound of hooves coming up the side street and, peering cautiously through the tangle of dead vines on the porch, she saw Rhett Butler riding towards the house.
She hadn't seen him in four days, and yet it seemed to be a lifetime. All of the old anger came flooding back to her. He thought so little of her to run off with the first woman he could find. That Emma Wright had accompanied him to his hotel room. She didn't need his words of denial or the truth from his lips, she knew.
He came up the walkway, with a smile planted on his lips, his eyes seemed to see through her black mourning dress and she held Ella tighter to her, until Ella began to fuss and whine.
"Hello, my pet," he said in greeting. His eyes weren't mocking but very sober and there was sadness in them. Briefly, Scarlett wondered if she was the cause of his sadness, a deep feminine feeling washed over her; angrily she pushed that thought away.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him, clutching Ella closer to her bosom. He didn't answer but sat next to her, words of protest arose to her lips but she didn't say anything, knowing it was useless.
"To see my betrothed of course," he replied, a grim smile on his face. Before she could oppose to his statement, he asked: "Where are Miss Hamilton and Melanie?"
"They're not here," she replied briskly, without thinking. The second the words came from her lips, she berated herself yet again. Surely Rhett wouldn't try to take advantage of her? If he did, she knew she would be powerless to stop him.
A grin touched his face as he leaned over towards her, her eyes immediately fluttering closed without warning. But she didn't receive a kiss from him, Rhett took Ella out of her arms and he sat her securely on his lap, as if he had handled babies' everyday of his life.
She stared at him confusedly, shouldn't he be trying to kiss her or even seduce her into accepting his proposal? But no, he sat there quietly, little Ella resting on his broad chest. She finally came to the conclusion it was one of his nasty jokes, like the many times before when he had asked her in uncertain terms to be his mistress. Before she could catch herself, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She could tell Rhett had noticed her relief because he chuckled.
"Don't worry, Scarlett, I'm not going to kiss you. There will be plenty time for that, once we are married."
"I told you I would never marry you!" She yelled in a strangled voice, not caring if the Meade's down the street heard her. Rhett didn't reply, he only stroked Ella's small back with gentle fingers.
"Never say never, my pet," he whispered in a husky voice. She quickly rose to her feet, snatching Ella out of his arms. Immediately Ella began to cry at the rough treatment and Scarlett quickly started off for the door, not giving him a second glance.
She entered the house angrily. Roughly she grabbed the brass door knob with her free hand, intending to slam the door shut in his face but Rhett's booted heel stopped the door from closing. He pushed himself into the house with ease and grinned down at her.
"You can't keep a wolf out of the house he intends to enter, Scarlett." Easily he scooped Ella out of her arms and started up the stairs, Scarlett angrily trailing behind him. In a futile effort she tried to stop him, grabbing onto his arm. But that proved to be ineffective, for he entered the nursery and laid Ella gently down in her crib.
"If you don't get out of my house I'll…"
"You'll what, Scarlett, bodily throw me out? Or will you call the honorable Ashley Wilkes and have him do it for you? I dare say he couldn't throw a mouse, much less me out of your dearly departed husband's home."
Scarlett very nearly shook with anger and quickly stormed out of the nursery. She shut the door behind her and Rhett and spun around to face him, hot words coming to her lips.
"Rhett…" Before she could finish her sentence, he easily pulled her into his arms as if he had held her many times before. His warm breath caressed her face and lips. A forbidding shiver of pleasure ran down her spine and for once, she was the one to close the distance between them.
She was surprised by her body's own torturous response. Rhett kept the kiss light, almost as if savoring it, letting her take the lead. She knew she should pull away but couldn't find the will to do so. She had gone too long without a man's kisses. She pulled Rhett closer to her.
"Scarlett…" He groaned against her mouth and she felt excitement well in her chest. Taking even more of a bold move, she stood on her tiptoes, pushing up against him and kissing his neck.
Finally, she came to reality as she felt Rhett placing heated kisses on her neck. Hastily, she pulled away from him, but he caught her easily and began to kiss her again.
"Rhett, stop…" He didn't listen to her plead and his kisses became more deeper. With what little strength she had, she pushed him away from her with a cry of anger and disappointment.
His harsh breathing and hers sounded throughout the stifling hallway. Shakily, Scarlett dashed down the stairs, knowing Rhett was following not far behind her. How could she have been such a fool? She had succumbed to Rhett again and now he thought her no better than a Belle Watling. Her anger was not at Rhett but at her own body's torturous response. Yet, she wasn't the only one to blame. He had come only to seduce her and it had worked, for only awhile. Once reaching the front door she turned towards him, their eyes meeting, hers flashing in anger and frustration and his with triumph.
"Leave now! And I mean it this time. Never come back, Rhett, I will not accept you. Not even your kisses would be persuasive enough for me to marry a man like you. If you ever come back, don't expect to see me in need of you; I will not be waiting for you. I'll never come to you… Never!"
Still, Rhett didn't speak. Prompting Scarlett to finish, "Well? You do understand, don't you? I shan't marry you, Rhett, and nothing you say will change my mind."
"You've made that perfectly clear," he said in a neutral tone.
She eyed him in suspicion. "So you won't pursue this any further?"
"No."
She seemed startled by his easy acquiescence. "Well… then you won't ask me again? We'll forget this ever happened?"
"No. I don't think I can forget as easily as you can, my pet. As you can see, I need a wife. And your apt view of me, including the society of Atlanta, wouldn't hardly qualify me as er- shall we say suitable for a woman of good breeding."
"It's not my fault you have a mistress!"
"Even if Belle were my mistress, which she isn't," he said evenly, "it was you that had told people that she was." Scarlett's face became pale with furry.
"I did not!" She denied, her eyes flashing angrily.
He was undaunted by her denial. "Well, you do believe she is my mistress, do you not?" His eyes glittered triumphantly as he stared down at her.
"Well, yes, but…"
"Yes?"
"God's nightgown! What do you want from me? I can't marry you, Rhett!"
"You made that perfectly clear. Yet I still need a wife." He rubbed his chin, casting her a speculative glance. "So why don't you provide me with a replacement for yourself."
Clearly he had startled her and she was irritated beyond words. "Whatever do you mean?"
"You know many young women, and you have the ear for society. I'm sure you could find me a woman to become Mrs. Rhett Butler."
"Find you a wife!" The panic in her expression pleased him inordinately. "Don't be ridiculous! I- I wouldn't know who or how or…"
"Then you plan to leave me in this situation?"
"Yes. No! I- I mean…" She broke off, her eyes narrowing. "You act as if you must marry right away. Surely you could pay off one of your mistresses or go to Charleston… Yes! Go to Charleston."
"I can't," he bit out.
"Why not?"
He sighed. "I am not received in Charleston, you know that as well as I. No woman would ever marry the likes of me there."
Placing her hands on her hips, she said sarcastically, "And you think here they would?"
"Yes, with your help of course."
"But," she cried like a child. "I am not the one that showed them your key!"
"If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have had to reveal it."
Scarlett gasped, feeling as if he had stabbed her in the chest. Yes, she knew that much was true. If she hadn't been riding out at the mill alone, she wouldn't have been attacked. Then Frank wouldn't have been dead and Rhett wouldn't have had to rescue Ashley.
"Melanie would never tell anyone, Rhett." She wished her eyes wouldn't have been so doubtful; she was sure that Mrs. Meade had already told all of society, including Mrs. Merriwether. She probably already knew, with all the gossip going around.
"Of course not. But all of Atlanta knows," he silkily replied.
"Damn you!" Scarlett cried, clenching her fists angrily. "Why must you decide now, that you need a wife? You never wanted one before."
He shrugged. "I never needed one before."
Scarlett sighed, all ready feeling cornered. She would have to help Rhett, there was no other way that he would leave her alone. She began to pace, her delicately arched brows knitted in thought. In one last attempt she raised cold eyes to his. "I am a widow as you can see, Rhett, how do you expect me to be in society when I am to be sitting home, 'mourning for my husband'?
"You can still keep up with society with Melanie's aid, I'm sure. And of course you have Miss Hamilton. She does have an ear for gossip. Any woman would be suitable."
Meeting his gaze archly she said, "Somehow I doubt that."
He grinned. "You see? You all ready know me so well." Teasingly he walked over to her and pinched her cheek. "You all ready have the knack of knowing which women would suit my tastes."
Her gaze went to his. "Fiddle- dee- dee, I don't know you one bit, but I suppose that list includes the notorious ladies of town?"
"No, Scarlett, they may be notorious but they aren't ladies." He put some distance between them, seeing that hunted look in her eyes. At a slow steady pace he started off towards the parlor doors. He heard the slight sway of her petticoats from behind him and smelt the scent of lilac, which she wore everyday.
Sitting down on the champagne colored settee, he observed her with alert black eyes. She was wringing her small hands in frustration and then finally proceeded to sit down across from him. He had sat there many times before during the war, when he had come calling on her. Bringing her many trinkets from the blockades, in hopes of having her fall for him so that he could have her for his mistress.
He had acknowledged she would have made an appealing mistress to any man, from her elegant body, to her delightful never ending temper. But now, more than wanting her for his mistress, he wanted her as his wife. He knew that her honor and pride had kept her from becoming his mistress and he admired her. Admired her much more than any woman he had ever known.
He marveled that she didn't realize herself how unwilling she was to marry him off elsewhere. Stubborn woman. Her pride kept herself from accepting him. And her jealousy, no matter what she protested.
Well, he'd use that jealousy against her. He would make her see that watching him court someone else was much worse than having to endure the never ending gossip that Belle was his mistress. And if he had to dance with ten thousand women, so be it.
Scarlett cast a quick look up to the ceiling as if hoping for advice; to get her out of this unwanted promise. Then she lowered her gaze to his. "All right. I'll do what I can."
Rhett could barely keep the look of triumphant from crossing his eyes. With a satisfied grin playing across his face, he rose and walked across the room towards Scarlett. He sat next to her. Her eyes were filled with wariness and suspicion as she scooted to the furthest corner of the settee.
"Thank you," Rhett said in a hushed tone. When he saw the surprised look on her face, he added, "And don't think I won't hold you to your promise tomorrow. Tomorrow we will have a picnic by the creek, where we won't be disturbed."
Coming from anyone else, Scarlett would have felt at ease, but not from Rhett. The way he was watching her unsettled her and stirred deep feelings within her. She could have used her widowhood as an excuse to not join him tomorrow, but it was futile. He would corner her until she gave in and it was better to get it over with.
"Very well." Surprisingly, her voice wasn't shaky but calm and resolute. For that much she was grateful as she stared up at him. Surprise flickered in his dark, bold, arresting eyes but he nodded and made no move to leave.
"Well, aren't you leaving? Or is there something else of great importance you would wish to discuss?" She hoped her mocking words would arise any anger in him and he would leave but they did neither.
"No, I'll leave the rest of our conversation for tomorrow. Then I gather you'll be ready tomorrow to begin your efforts on my behalf." He couldn't resist adding, "Of course, if you change your mind about my proposal…"
"I shan't," she retorted, though he noticed her words lacked conviction this time.
"Very well. Until tomorrow." He gave a slight bow, and then headed out the door. Scarlett watched him through the window in awe as the sun silhouetted his brilliant figure. Gracefully, like no other man she had seen, he mounted his black stallion in ease, his booted feet spurring the horse forward. She stood there, until the sound of the galloping horse's hooves didn't reach her ears.
Chapter 3
Melanie returned an hour later with the smiling Wade with her. She had taken him to the park, hoping that he would have some time away from the bleak house of Aunt Pittypat's. The house was very quite, almost ghostly. There had once been some laughter in the small brick home and now there was none, nothing but the echo of her light footsteps.
She put Wade down for his afternoon nap and quietly walked over to Scarlett's room across the hall. Scarlett was sitting at her desk, her brows knitted in frustration, absentmindedly twirling the pen with her ink stained fingers. Upon hearing Melanie enter the room, her head shot up suddenly. Quickly, she set down her pen and ledger down, and rose, giving Melanie a faint smile.
"Hello, Melly. Is… everything all right? Wade isn't hurt is he?" Anxiously, she looked past Melanie towards the open door.
Melanie smiled, walking gracefully over to her sister in-law and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "No, darling. He is in the nursery, taking his afternoon nap. I took him to the park for a while. I hope you didn't mind…"
"No," Scarlett briskly replied, her shoulders hunching with relief. "Of course not, Melly. I wish I could spend more time with him. I just have been so busy…" She made a gesture towards the ledgers. "I don't know what I'll do. The debts are piling up, ever since Frank…" She broke off with a sigh and tiredly sat down at her desk, rubbing her aching temples.
"Darling!" Melanie cried, quickly walking over to Scarlett. "There's no need for you to worry so. Why don't you go to Tara and hire another person to help with the ledgers. I had always hoped you would rest; this is too much work for you. You should be resting and spending time with Wade and Ella."
"Don't tell me what I should and should not do!" Seeing the shocked look in Melanie's soft brown eyes, her eyes softened. She grabbed Melanie's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry, Melly, I don't know what's come over me. I would love to go to Tara, but I can't, not just yet. I need to get everything settled first… And then, maybe I'll go for a week or two."
"Of course, dear. You need your rest. Why don't I take Wade home with me?"
"No! Melly, Thank you, but I want to have Wade here… with me," Scarlett finished with less conviction. She wouldn't have Melanie taking care of her children. She was a perfect enough mother, she assured herself, and not even all of these debts would make her show otherwise.
"All right, dear," Melanie quickly agreed, her brow still puckered in worry. But she knew how Scarlett loved Wade and Ella and didn't want to cross her. Seeing Scarlett's tired appearance, she quickly made haste to leave.
After giving orders to the cook and seeing to the preparations that Scarlett's lunch was fit. She quietly made her way back to Scarlett's room, the lunch tray in hand. But upon entering, she noticed she was fast asleep, with her shoes and dress still on.
With ease Melanie removed Scarlett's soft satin slippers and lightly placed a few sheets over her, since the weather was still humid. With one last kiss to her sister's forehead, she was off, with Wade and Ella in tow.
Chapter 4
Scarlett awoke only an hour later, finding her slippers removed and lying in the comfort of her bed. The house was quite and she now remembered Melanie coming. By the house's quite atmosphere, she was sure Melanie had crossed her word once again and taken Ella and Wade. She supposed she should have been grateful and in a way she was. Toady, she decided she would go to the store and mill. It had already been four days since she had last been there, and she didn't care what all the old cats said. On the way back from town, she would pick up Wade and Ella; no one could say she was a bad mother, not even Rhett Butler.
Rhett. Scarlett had almost forgotten about his visit, yet she couldn't forget, not completely, from his heated kiss to his tempting proposal. She dreaded tomorrow, when she was to see him alone and unaccompanied. She was sure if he kissed her again, she would be powerless to stop him. She wouldn't want to stop him, she thought with a grimace. He was a horrid man! And to think she, Scarlett O'Hara, wanted him to kiss her! It was enough to cause a scandal! Well, she would not bother over it now.
With a tired sigh, she rose up on tired feet and made her way over to her vanity, taking in her appearance. She looked awful! Her face was pale and her hair a mess. No wonder why Rhett wasn't more insistent that she married him! She looked like an old black crow. Quickly, she added some rouge and braided her hair in a simple twist on top of her head. Longingly, she looked over towards her closet door. If only she could wear her new taffeta royal blue gown, she had only purchased a week ago. And now she would have to dye most of her frocks black.
On the way downstairs, Scarlett met with Mammy. Mammy's face was stern and angry as she demanded were her mistress was going. Scarlett only laughed.
"Why, to town, Mammy," she gaily replied. "I need to go to the mills and then the store. Maybe I'll even buy a new frock… Go have the carriage prepared."
"No, Miss Scarlett. Yous is bad! Wut will all of Alana' say! To see the daughter of Miss Ellen paradin aroun' town as if she had just los' a husban' dat didn't mean anythin' to her!"
"Let them talk! You know as well as I do that I didn't love Frank. I'm going to town, even if I have to walk." With a scowl, Scarlett made her way downstairs. With disapproving mutterings and creak of the wood floor Mammy made her way downstairs.
The carriage was ready twenty minutes later, with Mammy sitting in the back seat. Against Scarlett's protests and tongue-lashings, Mammy had found a way to accompany her to town.
"I still don't see why you had to come," Scarlett crossly complained as they started off for town. Grabbing her handkerchief she wiped the perspiration, which had all ready begun to gather at the crown of her forehead and run down her neck from the stifling May heat.
"I ain't gonna have one of Miss Ellen's daughters shame the family name! Dar is laws dat a lady has to follow or else she ain't a lady at all, an' ya bes' be rememberin' dat." With a mutter of anger, Mammy wiped her wrinkled black face with her sleeve. She looked like an avenging black god as she scowled. Scarlett bit back her laughter.
"Says who, Mammy dear," she asked in the sweetest voice, leaning back against the leather seat and sighing with a look of pure happiness crossing her face. She was finally out of that wretched house.
Mammy's scowl became fiercer as she indignantly stared down at her mistress. "Says your Mammy, dat's who. Miss Ellen would be rollin' in de' grave if she were to see her daughter conductin' herself in such an unladylike manner."
Not even Mammy's upbraiding could dim Scarlett's happy mood. "Oh, Fiddle- dee- dee, Mammy! I'll go to the mills if I want to and not some gossiping fat old cat will stop me. Besides it's not as if Frank had just died…"
Mammy's angry look seared through Scarlett and she quickly looked away from Mammy's angry gaze. She felt like a small child that had been just caught stealing cookies before supper. Mammy's gaze was as normal as the hot stifling sun of Georgia but it didn't help her conscious any less.
The carriage rocked with an abrupt stop, saving Scarlett from her guilt. "I'll be right out, Mammy," Scarlett called back, opening the carriage door. The disapproving mutterings of Mammy sounded from the carriage and Scarlett shut the door firmly behind her. Happily Scarlett skipped over to the lumber mill office and opened the door lightly with a smile. But what she saw caused her smile to fade instantly.
In the office she saw the pale Ashley going over the ledgers. But, not only Ashley was there, but Rhett as well. Upon hearing the door open, both men looked up, catching Scarlett's shocked expression. Only Ashley came over to greet her with a welcoming smile, Rhett stayed behind watching them in amusement.
"Captain Butler," Scarlett said coldly, offering her hand cordially in greeting.
"Mrs. Kennedy." Rhett nodded in greeting, taking her hand in his. Angrily Scarlett placed her arm back at her side and turned to Ashley with a smile.
"Whatever is Captain Butler doing here, Ashley? And you… You shouldn't be here, Ashley Wilkes! Do you want to catch your death?" She indignantly added with a slight toss of her head. For a moment he didn't speak and then fondly took her hand in his.
"No, Scarlett dear," he replied looking over to Rhett's brooding frame uneasily. With a small uneasy smile, he added, "I only came by to bring the ledgers back with me."
"Oh… Ashley, there is no need! I'll take care of them, you need your rest…" Scarlett's vivid green eyes became lost in Ashley's deep gray ones. She had forgotten they weren't in the office alone, until she heard Rhett's throat clear from behind them and she jumped in surprise, embarrassment and mostly anger.
"Captain Butler," she muttered, turning away from Ashley. A false smile came to her clenched lips as she cordially nodded to him. "Whatever are you doing here? I didn't know you paid visits to other people's mills."
"Well, Mrs. Kennedy, since you have been indisposed with grief, I thought it most suitable to check on the mills. But alas, I come here and find the ledgers to be most distasteful. The rows are not calculated quite right and the debts are sky high. But, of course you knew that, being the refined intelligent woman that you are. And of course not to mention you are the boss in question."
He was mocking her. Angrily she fumed. Her anger fueled even higher as she saw Ashley flinch out the corner of her eye. Immediately she flew to Ashley's defense, although Rhett hadn't blamed Ashley outright but in uncertain terms.
"How kind of you, Captain Butler, how very generous. But I do not need your help. Mr. Wilkes and I are quite capable of managing on our own." Angrily she placed the ledger back in the desk drawer and turned to Rhett challengingly.
"I can see that," he finally murmured with a sardonic grin. Only did Scarlett catch the sarcasm in his words and their meaning. Her face flamed with anger and humiliation.
"I am the manager in case you have forgotten," she icily replied.
"No, I haven't forgotten, Mrs. Kennedy. But in case you don't remember I am the one who purchased this mill in the first place." Rhett's eyes challengingly met hers once again, roaming over her entire black clad form. His eyes seemed to see right through her gown and Scarlett blushed at the remembrance of the hours before, when Rhett had held and kissed her ardently, like no man had ever dared to kiss her. She was a lady, she told herself, not a wanton.
"Scarlett, dear, I should be returning home…" Ashley's weak voice reached her ears, erasing all of her turbulent thoughts. Her gaze left Rhett's and settled on Ashley. His face was uncommonly pale and his gray eyes darted around the office like a scared rabbit. Embarrassedly, Scarlett nodded. She berated herself for losing her temper in front of him.
"Yes, Ashley. But, please rest and get well soon. I shall worry about you all night and not get any rest if you take the books home with you. I'll take them home with me, you needn't worry."
Ashley nodded, his gray eyes showing relief. "Goodbye dear." He lightly brought her black-gloved hand to his lips. "Good day, Captain Butler," he said, turning in Rhett's direction. His troubled eyes did not meet Rhett's, and he quickly fled the office.
As soon as Ashley disappeared, Scarlett spun around quickly, hot words coming to her mouth. But all she could manage to mutter was, "How dare you!"
"I dare a lot of things, my sweet."
"Don't call me that!" She roughly replied. Her face flamed with anger. "Leave now, your presence here is not required, furthermore I do not wish to have it."
To her astonishment, he chuckled. "That may be so, my pet, but I wish to be in your presence, here and in my bed," he finished with a gleaming white smile. Despite herself her heart fluttered and she had to hold on to the desk for support. Her ring dug into her finger and she bit her lip to keep from shouting out in anger.
"I'll never enter your bed willingly, Rhett Butler, you can be in no doubt of that." Releasing the side of the desk, she stood firm, her small jaw clenched and tilted up in challenge. Her green eyes narrowed and her shoulders squared in defiance. "I would never soil myself by sharing a bed with you. Even if I were your wife… I would pity the woman who ever married you. And certainly, I would marry any man but you… so deceitful…"
She saw anger flicker in his eyes and in two easy strides she was in his arms. His arms hurt her and she was crushed up against his solid chest. "Let me go!" She ordered in a hiss, struggling against him.
"Surely I am not that disgusting. You seemed to enjoy my advances well enough a few hours ago, Mrs. Kennedy. Surely my eyes haven't deceived me. I could actually almost believe you enjoyed the exchange. But, then again, I may be too bold in saying so. Tell me, Scarlett, do all women with your ladylike qualities act that way nowadays, letting an blackguard kiss them in their husbands home, and enjoying the exchange nonetheless."
"Go to hell." She pulled away from him and he released her. She stumbled back, and would have fallen if he had not caught her with a steady hand. He watched her with amused eyes and she watched him with pure resentment. Finally, against her efforts to pull her hand out of his grasp, he brought it to his lips.
"I will take my leave to you, my dear, on a good note," he mockingly drawled. His bold black eyes danced with amusement as he released her hand. "I will see you tomorrow, and will be most grateful on your efforts of finding me a suitable wife. Seeing as you find the thought of me as your next conquest being repulsive." Seeing her disgusted look, he added, "Need I enumerate that?" When she didn't answer, he chuckled, and with a mocking bow, he was gone. She watched him leave and angrily grabbed the ledgers.
Refusing to take the carriage, she ordered the driver to drive home. Against Mammy's angry muttering and disapproving glares, She started down Peachtree Street, her black mourning skirts collecting dust from carriages passing by. She was mindful of everyone's pitying and disapproving looks, but her eyes kept straight ahead. She was shaking with fury and longing as she entered the small brick home and shut the door firmly behind her. Making her way up stairs to her room, she locked the door firmly behind her.
To Be Continued…