'You are looking pale Mrs Butler. Is there a rouge shortage?'
He stood beside her on the landing, his eyes appraising her carelessly.
'Can this wanness mean that you've been missing me?' he questioned and though his lips smiled, his eyes did not.
Scarlett's heart pounded oddly. He did love her. He wanted to know if she had missed him. How good it was to see him, his strong athletic frame, his masculine smell, his calm self assurance. She smiled hesitantly. 'I have missed you Rhett', she said quietly. Even as she spoke she was afraid to be candid with him, afraid he would mock her and push her away.
Rhett frowned. 'Don't trifle with me Scarlett', he growled. Then, still studying her intently, he added, a little more gently, 'Are you ill?'
She should have known that Rhett would notice. 'No, it is nothing. Well, not really nothing, it is something, but not what you think', she answered confusedly, and she felt herself blush. She could not tell him here, on the stairs, where anyone might hear.
Rhett looked at her again more carefully and noticed the slight changes in her figure. Which could only mean. . . .
His heart skipped a beat then thudded painfully in his chest. His face was ashen and his palms sweaty as he responded quietly, 'You had better come downstairs and tell me all about it'.
Rhett poured them both a drink and sat down opposite her, eying her warily. 'Well?' he queried.
Scarlett took a deep breath. 'I am expecting a child Rhett', she told him, struggling to keep her voice calm.
Rhett swallowed. He had already guessed but still it disturbed him to hear her say it out loud. That night! That drunken, violent, wonderful, passionate night. He had initially thought that she had enjoyed it too, but now he thought he must have deluded himself. He had forced her, she had made it more than clear that she did not want him. And now she would be forced to go through all the pain, discomfort and danger of childbearing because of his actions. Or, at least, he thought suddenly, he hoped it was because of him.
'My child?' he asked quietly.
Scarlett's temper flared. 'Well of course your child, you cad. How dare you accuse me of such a thing!'
'I'm sorry, Scarlett', he answered quietly. 'But I needed to be sure'.
Yes, he was sorry. Sorry that he had hurt her, sorry that he had used her, sorry that she didn't love him and didn't want his child, maybe even sorry he had married her in the first place. Because he still loved her so much, and all he ever seemed to do was hurt her.
'Have you been very ill?' he asked.
'Yes, I have been ill and miserable and lonely', she snapped irritably. 'Did you have a nice trip?'
He longed to take her in his arms and comfort her. To tell her that he loved her. He looked away and sighed unhappily.
'I would have come back sooner if I'd known', he said. She didn't reply.
There was a long silence then.
Damn! Rhett thought to himself. Why was it so difficult for them to be honest with each other? She had missed him. Why else would she have said so? Should he tell her he had missed her too? All this pretending not to care had not helped their relationship. Things could hardly be worse between them. He decided to risk it.
'I missed you too Scarlett', he said quietly. Scarlett's eyes flew to his face. Could he mean it? He looked different. Less self assured, and strangely vulnerable. Cautiously she stretched out her hand towards him and placed it over his.
'Rhett', she said, 'please don't go away again.'