Many thanks to all who review and PM'd chapter one. I knew I wouldn't be able to post as frequently as usual but getting my act together to write this has been a challenge. Hubby dear has cancer and right now he is my primary focus. Prognosis is good and I am so thankful for that, but the treatments are ...not so good. I have managed to do some writing along the way but mostly in another fandom where the characters seem to be speaking more easily to me right now. I do intend to keep at this one, although the inspiration comes at a snail's pace. I'm sorry I'm being so slow with it and do appreciate your patience.
I will apologize in advance for any typos or other errors.
It would be strange, Scarlett thought as they rode in the carriage, Wade would soon be married and Ella had married last year. Now it would be just the two of them, Rhett and Scarlett alone. But she was happy. Ella had married a boy whose family owned one of the farms near Tara. She remembered his family, though not well, since Richard's parents were older than she. But Pa had bought a few cows from Richard's grandfather and sold him some horses, so many years ago. So now Ella was happily mistress of her own home which had been built on the Granger's farm for the couple and no doubt would have babies to look after before long. And now Wade was marrying a Charleston girl and his place in society would be firmly well placed. It would ensure his success as he pursued a career in law, as Uncle Henry had encouraged him to do.
Rose Moulton was from some of the oldest families in South Carolina; her great grandfather on her mother's side was a Pinckney, old blood. Her family was among the richest and most notables in Charleston. For Wade to have latched onto this girl had been a stroke of luck; his place in society ensured. Of course the Hamiltons were an old family too and having the Rollibards in his pedigree didn't hurt either. They were good old Southern aristocratic names, unlike O'Hara. Besides, Rose was a pretty girl whose features mixed well with Wade's. The two made an attractive couple.
Arriving at the affair, Rhett stepped down first and helped his wife as she emerged from the carriage. The house was lit up, lights streaming from every window casting a glow as people gathered along the walk to enter. Wade was waiting near the door for them, his excitement reminding Scarlett of his father on the day of the Wilkes' Bar-B-Que. Wade looked so much like Charles, the same doe-like eyes and tousled dark blonde hair. But Wade had been raised in harder times and didn't have his father's innocent air about him. No, poor Wade had grown up half starved when he was small and then starved for society when he was older. Scarlett knew the latter was her fault, hers and Rhett's, because of all of their bad behavior. Oh, it had been fine for Rhett to behave as he wished, at least until they were married and even then he was a scoundrel. Bonnie had changed all that. But Scarlett failed in her responsibility to Wade and to Ella with her behavior, casting caution to the wind and going and doing as she pleased, no matter the consequences. Thankfully, her children seemed to be overcoming those consequences.
Atlanta society had long forgotten the wild, tempestuous Butlers from their early years of marriage. Other scandals had come along and the relatively new city was busy rebuilding and expanding. Wade would have been able to settle there and do well, if only because he was the nephew of the late, beloved Melanie Hamilton Wilkes. But memories in Atlanta were far shorter than the ones in Charleston.
Finally they were inside and Wade presented his parents to the Moultons. "Mother, Rhett, I'd like to introduce you to Rose's parents," he said hurriedly. His eyes were wide with enthusiasm and his cheeks flushed as he spoke. "Mr. and Mrs. Mouton, these are my parents, Rhett and Scarlett Butler."
Mrs. Moulton's eyes were dark and haughty as she looked at Scarlett. Her eyes didn't so much as glance at Rhett. MR. Moulton spoke softly to Scarlett, "Good evening, Mrs. Butler. It is so nice to finally meet Wade's mother." Without offering his hand in a gentlemanly handshake, Mr. Moulton cast a quick look at Rhett. "Butler," he said icily with a slight nod of acknowledgement.
Fury rising in Scarlett's chest, she fought to keep her anger in check. How dare they, she fumed. How dare they be so rude, especially to Rhett? She offered her hand to Mr. Mouton and spoke to him only, since he had at least attempted politeness. "Why, thank you. We are so pleased to meet you. Rose is such a lovely girl and we are so pleased that she and Wade are to be married." She forced her sweetest smile.
Rhett's quiet chuckle beside her cooled her anger somewhat but she was relieved when they excused themselves and moved on to the party. Wade spotted Rose across the room and led his parents to her. "Rose," he said breathily as they arrived. Rose turned and smiled at her fiancé and then his parents. "Wade, you're here. And Mr. and Mrs. Butler… I'm so happy you made it. Have you met Mama and Papa yet?"
Rhett took Rose's hand and kissed it lightly with a flourish, a reminder of the old days. Scarlett watched as the young girl flushed and giggled. "We did," Rhett answered with a smirk.
Scarlett heard music playing in the next room and looked at her son. "Wade, why ever are you standing here? That sounds like you should be dancing to me. You should claim Rose for the next dance before some of her other beaus do."
Rose giggled again, "Oh, Mrs. Butler, you know we are engaged. I won't be dancing with any other men tonight, unless Papa or…perhaps Mr. Butler," she said as she cast a coquettish glance at Rhett.
Scarlett felt Rhett's hand settle on her back as she watched Wade and Rose move away. "You still have all the young ladies twittering over you, Rhett," she teased. She delighted in the feel of his breath on her ear as he whispered, "That may be but none hold a candle to you tonight, my dear. And it seems all the men in the room know it as well," he taunted.
Scarlett looked up nervously and glanced around the room. Indeed, many of the men were eyeing her with interest. "Oh stop it and dance with me," she snipped. She heard his signature laugh as they crossed the room in the wake of her son.
Dancing with Rhett had never changed; it was always as thrilling as it had been on that night in Atlanta when he'd bid for her to dance a reel. Scarlett grinned as she remembered Dr. Meade trying to dissuade Rhett and her own insistence that she would dance with him. It had been scandalous, Scarlett thought with amusement. It had also been the beginning of them.
Rhett took her in his arms and as she looked up into his dark eyes, she realized he was thinking about that first reel as well. But soon the music overtook them and they danced the waltz, comfortable and happy in each other's arms. After their third dance, Scarlett decided they needed a break. Rhett was getting older and no longer capable of dancing all night. And if she were honest, she was a bit winded as well.
He guided her to some seats along the wall, well away from the dowagers, and left her momentarily in search of some punch. Scarlett sat quietly, watching the dancers until she over heard a conversation down the row from her.
"It's a shame really, the Butlers were such fine people….." and then something Scarlett couldn't quite hear.
Another voice chimed in, "yes, and he is so dashing and handsome still but of course after…."
It frustrated Scarlett, the drop in voices as the old biddies gossiped. "And how dare they anyway? Rhett had been a scoundrel but that was so many years ago. Why must they keep talking about it?" She thought angrily.
Rhett returned with a cup of punch for her and immediately noticed the anger seething in Scarlett's green eyes. "My dear?" he asked as he sat next to her.
Scarlett loosed a huff. "The old biddies…" she exclaimed in a loud whisper.
Rhett's eyes lifted from her face to the ladies down the row. Recognizing them, he sighed. "Are they making you uncomfortable?" he asked, already quite aware of the answer.
"Why can't they just leave it in the past?" Scarlett asked quietly. "Next thing they'll be dredging up all of my mistakes and poor Wade…he'll just die of embarrassment."
'Well, in part because the rather plump one is a favorite cousin of the girl who's reputation I ruined all those years ago," Rhett said evenly. "I suppose she has never forgiven me…and possibly rightly so."
"But Rhett…if that silly girl hadn't agreed to go riding out with you…" Rhett took Scarlett's hand in his. "Quite right, my pet. She should have known what a devil I was…still am. You knew it the moment you met me."
Scarlett's temper evaporated as she looked into his twinkling eyes. "That you are, my darling," she replied with a genuine smile. "Are you ready for another dance?" she asked brightly.
"Only if the right woman asks me," he replied, his own smile matching hers.
After two more dances, the couple made it out to the veranda at the back of the room. The air was cooler outside, the warmth of the September sun dissipating as evening set in. The view was beautiful, lights dancing over the Ashley River as it flowed by several yards below. "Oh Rhett, Charleston is so breathtaking at night," Scarlett whispered with awe.
"Not as breathtaking as you," he answered before capturing her lips in a familiar yet fiery kiss.
His kiss was sweet and demanding…and thrilling, as all his kisses were. In fact, it was so thrilling that Scarlet felt a tremor beneath her feet. "Oh Rhett," she exclaimed as his lips released hers. And then they heard screams and the ground shook again. After that shake, the earth seemed to descend into complete chaos.