Chapter 2: The arrival

The boat arrived at Charleston's harbour six in the morning. The sun was streaming through the windows in Scarlett's cabin; bathing the entire room in an orange and gold looking colour. Her black hair was arranged on the right side of her head, and lying in her white chemise with the rays of sunshine on her body she looked like a fairy tale princess. Slowly she opened her eyes. Today was the day she would meet Rhett again, and decide her entire future on the basis of this one conversation. Her stomach was in an uproar, and she wasn't sure if it was due to her nerves or the morning sickness. She swallowed some bile, and decided to skip breakfast and simply just have a cup of tea. It would indeed be a pretty sight if she went on vomiting in front of Rhett. The last couple of days her morning sickness had returned together with stomach cramps; her four former pregnancies had been relatively easy compared with other women, but now she had begun to get the feeling that this pregnancy was different. If it was due to her miscarriage or simply her being older she wasn't sure, but she would have to take better care. No falling down the stairs… But even thought she'd been poorly the last couple of days she'd still been dancing and gambling throughout the entire night. This boat-trip truly was her last bit of freedom, and she'd enjoyed it to the fullest.

They left the boat nine o'clock. Scarlett was wearing a showing day gown of dark green silk and a cream coloured sunhat. People were glancing at her wondering who the beautiful woman was. Scarlett was a bit lightheaded, and she leaned just slightly on Colum's arm.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked with a low voice.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired, probably the heat… why don't we fetch a carriage?" he nodded, and sent her lady's maid along. He looked back at Scarlett who was looking extremely pale in the bright light of the day. She shouldn't have been dancing and drinking the way she'd done, not when she was carrying a child. He blamed himself for not taking better care of her, and for even suggesting her to dance. Suddenly she gasped and pulled in his arm.

"What's…" he said confused. Scarlett turned her head against him, and retrieved her fan. She began waving utterly close to her face before speaking in whispered tones: "That's Sally. She can't see me here. I don't want Rhett to know I'm here… I want to have the upper hand, I want…"

"Hush now… See we'll just follow the crowd here, and then we'll have you seated in the carriage before we receive the luggage. She wont notice" he said calming. Scarlett nodded but kept waving with her fan to try and cover her face.

As promised he had her seated in the carriage without Sally noticing. Him and her lady's maid went to get the luggage, and through the pulled curtains she glanced out at the harbour; she could see Sally and an unknown woman talking. Suddenly Sally turned and with a wide grin on her face she greeted a broad-shouldered man. He had dark hair, and… and it was Rhett. Scarlett's heart began pounding in a sickening fast rate. He was here at the harbour, but why? Did he know she was here? Should she just go out there and greet him? Oh he looked as good as he'd done last time she'd seen him - his good coloured and smooth skin. She looked good as well - her green dress who brought out her eyes and the low neckline that called attention to her ample bosom, perhaps she should greet him now rather than later. Here in the middle of the bustling crowd he wouldn't be as nasty as if she were to meet him in private. Yes, she would go meet him now and show him that she wasn't ashamed or dishonoured, that she had enough courage to admit her love for him – a courage he'd never had. She was about to pull the door open when a brown haired girl joined Rhett and Sally. Her small frame and big innocent eyes slapped Scarlett in the face – Anne Hampton, the little lying bitch. Scarlett seized her hand on the doorknob, and looked when Anne laid her little hand on Rhett's shoulder. He looked down, took her hand and kissed it – his lips clearly touching her bare wrist. They really were going to marry. He was showing the entire harbour that… Scarlett shook her head. No, it couldn't be. She took a deep breath, opened the carriage door and stepped out. People turned their head at the sight of the very fine lady standing at the harbour. Clearly she couldn't be from Charleston, her dress was too expensive, but she didn't look like a north state either; the way she carried herself was too southern. Perhaps French though she came with the boat from Ireland. People wondered as they made room for her. Scarlett's entire body was rigid from keeping her anger under control, and when she walked her head was just slightly uplifted making it look like she thought herself to be the queen of England. She stood just 10 feet behind him, when Sally saw her and gasped. Rhett turned, and for once he couldn't hide his expression from her; wide eyes and slightly open mouth – he was clearly surprised.

"Hello Mr Butler how do you do" she said with an icy tone; her smile was there but her eyes glistered with hatred. Rhett put on his mask, and simply just raised an eyebrow before bowing lightly and with a honey sweet voice replied: "I'm fine, thank you very much. How do you do, Miss…" he raised his eyebrow mockingly as to remind her of their newly divorce.

"Please do call me O'hara. Miss O'hara" she said.

"Nice to see you again, Miss O'hara. May I ask you where you've been?"

"But my, Mr Butler, I thought you didn't care for my whereabouts"

"Frankly I don't. I was just being polite"

"Please don't be polite on my account…" Rhett chuckled.

"I'm not… everything's not about you, my dear. I'm simply keeping my good reputation" Scarlett clenched her fist, and felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

"Good reputation? Ha, what a joke! You're a scoundrel, Rhett Butler, a pure rat…" her rather sudden insult seemed to cause Rhett's temper to rise as well, though it was only noticeable by his clenched fists.

"A scoundrel I see" he said using his calm voice that meant he was nothing but calm, "Well my dear, rather a scoundrel than a… " Sally kicked his shin, and gave him a look Scarlett couldn't quite place. They stared for a minute, and then he hemmed before speaking.

"Miss O'hara why don't we continue this pleasant conversation somewhere else?" Scarlett thought for a brief second before replying. She knew now what she wanted to know – Rhett was clearly determined to stay in Charleston and marry Anne. He hadn't exactly said so with his own words, but he cared for his reputation, and the way he'd kissed Anne on her skin was clear signs. Besides Anne was squirming and shifting her feet awkwardly behind Rhett, clearly ashamed of taking Scarlett's husband. Yes, they were going to marry, and that meant Scarlett would keep her promise to herself; she would let him be and retrieve a new husband. She swallowed, and bit her lip before replying.

"I think we've said everything we wished to say, Mr Butler. I'm only staying briefly here in Charleston, and truthfully my schedule is tight. I just wanted to give my congratulations to you and Anne" she smiled falsely and nodded to all three heads, "Sally, Anne, Rhett", before she turned around, not waiting for a reply, and walked away towards the carriage. Once she was seated in the carriage – the door closed and the curtains pulled, she became overwhelmed by sadness, and she found herself unable to keep back her tears. They streamed down her cheeks and soaked her wisps of hair that framed her face. A few seconds later the door opened, and Colum appeared.

"But Scarlett, what's wrong? Are you poorly?" she shook her head and sniffed.

"Please just drive…"

"But?"

"Drive" she hissed with a thick voice, "Please just drive"