A Dire Situation
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Summary: After leaving the jail with Rhett, Scarlett knows she's now desperate. But where will she turn to get what she needs?
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She stormed out of the jail mortified. 'What have I done?' Her mind kept replaying the sickening events over and over. She couldn't think about it now, it was too humiliating, too painful. 'Oh damn Rhett" she cursed aloud, "and damn the rain" she muttered as she stepped from the shelter onto the muddy, soaking streets.
Scarlett had no idea where she was going. She couldn't return to Five Points, couldn't face Mammy and Aunt Pitty, what if they asked questions? Surely her shame was written all over her face. They'd guess what she'd done and then turn her out forever. Oh but what did it matter? Being an outcast and even death was better than returning to Tara penniless. And to think soon it would belong to Jonas Wilkerson, and there was nothing she could do about it. All was lost now, not even dignity remained.
So intense were her thoughts of defeat that Scarlett didn't feel a thing as a buggy screeched to a halt, splattering and soaking her from head to toe in filthy, muddy water. Only when a pretty, young girl, dressed divinely, with golden hair and sparkling blue eyes sprang out of the carriage and placed her delicately gloved hand on her shoulder did Scarlett even become aware that the world was still turning. Something she believed quite impossible after her ordeal.
A timid, sweet voice tore Scarlett away from her painful reminisces. "Excuse me miss, I'm so sorry my drivers new and he was being careless. We were in a hurry to get back here you see. Are you here to see Belle miss?"
'Belle?' Thought Scarlett. Then as realisation hit she looked up to see that she was indeed right in front of Belle Watling's Saloon.
A deep shame began to burn in Scarlett's heart as she was reminded again of the disgusting proposition she had just offered Rhett. But was it so disgusting? If it had gotten her her money she would have gone through with it.. even with Rhett.
Before Scarlett could process more she was interrupted again. "Pardon me miss, are you quite alright? You look rather pale. Perhaps you'd better come inside. You are here to see Belle aren't you?" This was all said in the patronizing voice of a mother as she gently took Scarlett's arm and lead her out of the rain and into the warm establishment.
"Belle, yes I'm here to see Belle, but she's not expecting me, is she in do you know?" Scarlett said all this very fast as if afraid her mind would change if she didn't.
"Why I'll just go look for you, please make yourself at home" Scarlett was lead to a plush settee and the girl disappeared.
'Poor girl' Sophie chuckled to herself as she went in search of Belle. 'She certainly seems nervous to be here. Why it must be her first time and she isn't sure what she's getting herself into. She was very pretty, though a little starved looking. Belle could certainly make her a lot of money.' It was then she realised she had forgotten to take the girls name for Belle.
"Excuse me Miss Belle" young Sophie interrupted politely, although she wasn't what one would a lady Sophie always observed her manners with her elders.
"Yes Sophie?" said Belle who looked entirely delighted to be interrupted from what looked like a rather dull conversation with an old, mean looking man.
"Umm there's a girl here to see you miss. She says you weren't expecting her, but she seems rather upset and desperate to see you." Sophie stated clearly misinterpreting Scarlett's look of desperation.
"What was her name Sophie?"
"I'm not completely sure Miss. I think she's here for a job, she's awfully pretty though." Sophie blushed as she said this, still not entirely comfortable with her profession, let alone discussing it so freely in the company of strange men.
"I'm afraid I'll have to see to this Mr Bamford. I'll be in touch." And so he was dismissed.
"Bring the girl in here to me Sophie"
"Yes Miss, she's terribly shy though, so please be kind. She looks like she's been through a bit" Belle dismissed the girl's rambling with a wave of her hand. She was indeed interested to see this new girl however.
Meanwhile Scarlett was fighting a moral battle with herself. What she was planning was not ladylike. She knew that. But then her conduct with Rhett previously was not either. This was the same principal. She needed the money. But then many of her friends were starving to maintain their dignity, plus her mother would have shot her own daughter rather than allow her to do this. Oh and what would Ashley say? All these dilemmas faded into the background as Scarlett saw before her the rolling red hills of Tara. The torturous hours she had spent labouring over them. She knew she couldn't face loosing them. This seemed her only way out. Never mind about casting herself out from society. Scarlett was in a highly irrational place. Yes what must be done must be done. Just in time did Scarlett make up her mind for at that moment Sophie reappeared.
"Belle will see you now Miss. Please follow me" Scarlett stood, gulped, swallowed her pride and strode forth. She could only imagine the triumphant look on Belle's face when she saw one of Atlanta's 'ladies' coming to her for help. But after her recent shame with Rhett, Scarlett felt she could bear anything.