Thank you for the reviews, I enjoyed reading each and every one, including those that felt it could have used more dialogue and less history (which I actually agree with!). I hope I have my chess pieces where I want them, and the next few chapters will contain a lot of dialogue. The woman salesperson mentioned in the story actually existed, the background story apparently is true. The "Atlanta Constitution" was the major daily paper of the era. The roller skating ring, the Springs, and the public schools all exist in 1874 - as for the "Girl of the Period" Saloon, I give that a solid "maybe" because I could find nothing on it after the war. Perhaps it was still operational, perhaps not. Here, it is.
Disclaimer: as in the first chapter.
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."– Blanche Dubois in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams
Prissy brought Wade and Ella down from the nursery shortly afterwards. Wade smiled shyly at his mother as he slid into his seat at the table. Despite the fact that Scarlett was always busy her awkward attempts at fostering a closer connection with her children had not been entirely fruitless - they had gone out for a picnic to the Springs a few times, and she had taken them to the roller-skating ring on the corner of Forsyth Street, much to Ella's delight, who had shown a real aptitude for the sport. In fact, it had astonished Scarlett that Ella, her silly child, who took hours to get through one story and had the attention span of a sparrow, could be so … graceful.
She cut Ella's pancakes and, for the millionth time, wondered if she should send them into one of the newly opened private schools in the neighborhood that she was always receiving flyers in the mail for. Atlanta even boasted a public school system these days, but she was not about to send any of her children, with their Robilliard blood! to school with poor people who couldn't afford a better school, or a tutor.
"Uncle Rhett is coming today," Wade said, lifting the end of the sentence slightly so it came out halfway between a statement and a question. Aside from Scarlett herself, Wade had struggled most with Rhett's departure and was always elated when he returned - and deeply crushed when he left again.
"Yes," Scarlett replied firmly, "Uncle Rhett is coming."
At half past five the carriage drew up in front of the house, and a few minutes later James opened the door, carrying a suitcase, closely followed by the man in question. He looked well, dressed in a white shirt and a brown waist-coat over dark gray trousers, his skin darkened by the spring sun and his body almost as lean and hard as it had been when she had first seen him at the Barbeque at Twelve Oaks. He had been working outside, she thought, perhaps at the family plantation he had mentioned, the plantation that she had never seen. Only his eyes were the same as they had been in September, empty dark eyes that looked at her, and indeed at life, with impartial solicitude and nothing more. Embarrassed and mortified by the heat on her face she tucked her chin against her chest, unaware how well the tender look in her eyes and the flush to her cheeks became her.
"Hello, Rhett," she said quietly, trying helplessly to accept that she would always be as incapable of hiding her true emotions as a five-year old child. "I'm glad to see you."
"Hello, Scarlett", he answered quietly. With his love had gone the acerbic comments, the jibes, and the witty remarks that had exasperated her, challenged her, and, towards the end of their marriage, only wounded her. She didn't really miss them, but she missed the spark in him that had provoked them, and the keen interest in her they had covered.
Wade and Ella, who had been waiting in the background, now stormed forward, and Ella dropped herself to the floor, clutching onto one of his legs. "You never get to go away again Uncle Rhett", Ella declared. "I've CAUGHT you and you're STAYING." Wade was slightly more hesitant, his adoration already starting to mingle with resentment. He had been left one too many times already.
"If you don't let me go I can't get you your present from the bag," Rhett said reasonably to the small pink face turned up at him from the floor. Ella let go at once and got up, dancing around him in excitement. When he had produced a porcelain doll for herself and a sturdy wooden sword with a silver handle for Wade, she piped, after cooing over it extensively: "And what did you get for Mommy?"
Scarlett flushed an even deeper red, certain he had brought nothing for her. She was therefore surprised, and somewhat elated, when he chuckled. "Can't forget Mommy, can we?" He dug into the depth of his bag and held out a large square package to her.
'Thank you," she said as she accepted it. With an effort, she squashed the sudden surge of hope in her chest. He had done it because he anticipated the children would wonder, not because he cared about pleasing her. She carefully opened the wrapping, and was surprised to find a good amount of dark green cloth inside, enough to make several dresses.
"Have them made up and wear them around the house, at least when I'm here," he said. At her surprised expression he added softly, "I can't bear the black anymore."
She thought she understood then. She, too, found every glance in the mirror a fresh reminder of her losses. In an effort to lighten the mood, she said quickly, "I'll go have them made as soon as possible. Did you know I found out Mr. Regenstein's dry goods store actually employs a woman salesperson! Her name is Martha Owens, and she told me she came to Atlanta to nurse her husband who was a soldier, and when he died she had to look for work, and Mr. Regenstein was the only person that would employ her! And now she's….."
She could tell he was no longer listening to her rambling, and stopped herself with an effort. "Children," she called instead, "let Uncle Rhett go to his room to settle in and we'll all have dinner together in a little bit." Wade and Ella both briefly wore mulish expressions, but seeing the look on her face, they dutifully left to play with their new toys.
James had already gone upstairs with Rhett's luggage, and she found herself uncomfortably alone with her husband. The silence between them stretched, and she felt herself flushing again as he looked at her. "I hope you had a pleasant trip," she said finally, just to say something. A sudden bout of coughing shook her and prevented her from saying anything further.
He nodded, still holding her in his disconcerting gaze. "You look pale, Scarlett. You have rings under your eyes. And I see you've still not shaken that cough you had around Christmas."
She grimaced. So much for him finding her irresistibly attractive. "I'm fine," she said rather brusquely, trying to hide her disappointment. "I've just been very busy."
"Unrequited love not agreeing with you, my pet?" he said, with the ghost of the ghost of his old taunting smile.
The man was a cad, and would always be a cad! "Not really, no," she answered, her voice laced with layers of false sweetness. "Did it agree with you?"
He almost laughed. "Touche, my dear." He made a graceful half-bow, with all of his old agility.
She turned abruptly, and then sighed. "I don't want to argue anymore Rhett. It's been hard enough with the store, and business being so poor, and …"
"How is the new manager working out?", he asked.
"Thomas? Oh, very well! He's rearranged the entire merchandise and he's implemented the system you suggested by which we can track what sells best, and he's very popular with the customers. We're still not making a big profit but at least we're not losing too much either."
"So if not your store, what is it that you are so concerned about?" She looked away, unwilling to risk his ire by answering.
"But of course" he said lightly. "What about the estimable Mr. Wilkes and his situation has being preying on your mind? Is he struggling with the mills in this recession?"
She was irritated that he could still read her like a book after all this time, but the temptation to unburden herself was too great. "Oh yes Rhett," she said frankly. "I don't know how much longer he'll be able to pay his salaries. The only people that are making a go of it are the larger conglomerates and they have been buying up mills left and right. And Ashley is so helpless he would almost deserve to go under if I hadn't promised Melly I would look after him and Beau. It's been driving me to distraction. I was even thinking…." Her voice trailed off.
"Of letting me look at his books?" Rhett drawled. "I doubt he would appreciate my input, Scarlett, although I am touched by your faith in my business acumen. However, have you considered it might be to his benefit to sell to a conglomerate now, before the situation becomes even more desperate? Ashley was never cut out to run a business, and lumber mills are particularly vulnerable in a recession where no one is building. Even much more experienced managers than he are folding. He could use the proceeds to take a salaried position somewhere – a newspaper, for example. I have connections to the Atlanta Constitution – the chief editor is a friend of mine. If you like, I will enquire if they would take Ashley Wilkes if he applied." At her concerned frown he added, "He would never have to know what strings were pulled on his behalf."
Scarlett considered this, and after a few minutes, nodded slowly. "I think you're right Rhett. That is a good plan." Ashley was good at writing, she thought, he would enjoy not have to worry about figures and making customers pay the bill. It was perfect. She turned her brilliant green eyes on her husband and smiled warmly, her former irritation forgotten. "Thank you."
He shook his head. "So pliable, and so full of reason. If only you had looked at me like that ten years ago, or even five years ago, when it still would have made a difference." With that, he turned, and proceeded up the staircase.
Scarlett stared at his retreating back, silently fuming. Only he could be so nice one minute, and then suddenly turn so nasty! He had been so polite during his last few stays, did this mean that he planned to humiliate her again, like he had done during the last years of their marriage? Well, in that case he was welcome to stay in away entirely and never come back! She impotently wished she were sixteen again with a vase within her reach. What was worst, she feared that he had not been trying to be nasty at all. That he was simply being honest with her. And that thought was unbearable.
They all assembled for dinner half an hour later, and Rhett was at his most urbane, mostly directing his conversation at the children, and when he did speak to her, he was as indifferently polite as ever. Scarlett realized that trying to understand his moods would remain futile, and she concentrated on the thought that he was here, that the children were enjoying themselves for once and he would soon see her in a green dress! Green had always been and always would be her best color. Had he brought her green because he remembered how well she looked in it? She dimpled at the thought, the first pleasurable thought she had had in months.
"Mother!" Wade called. "I'm talking to you!"
She flushed, irritated that she had lost track of the conversation, and she had the disconcerting notion that Rhett had caught the expression on her face and knew exactly what it meant. "What were you saying, dear?"
"Uh….." Wade stuttered, but stopped speaking. Being called "dear" by his mother in that tone of voice never boded well.
"He asked if we could go to the Springs with Uncle Rhett," Ella piped in enthusiastically. "We could all go! Tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow we go to the unveiling of the monument," Scarlett said. "We won't have time."
"How about the day after?" Ella asked. "You have to see it Uncle Rhett there is a BRIDGE and the streetcar goes on and on and it's HIGH and you can look all around and around…"
"Ella," Scarlett chided. "We don't know how long your Uncle Rhett is staying, and he might be very busy while he's here." There, she thought, now he could explain to the children when he was leaving again.
"Uncle Rhett?" Ella asked hopefully.
He cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. "We'll see, Ella. Perhaps we can go one of these days if the weather cooperates."
Ella was satisfied with that, and the rest of the meal proceeded without interruption.
Afterwards, Prissy had taken the children back into the nursery to give them their bath and prepare them for bed. Scarlett read Ella a story and talked for a while with Wade before returning downstairs. This was another nighttime ritual she had recently established, one that all three of them had come to enjoy. This time, she wrapped it up rather quickly, kissing them both on the cheek and turning off the lamps when she left the room.
She stopped by her own room and changed her black dress for a dark blue one – it was not her most attractive dress, but it was the only one that would currently fit her. She had bought it from a catalogue several years ago and it had come a size to small. She had never bothered to return it. Now, with all the weight she had recently lost, it would probably fit just fine.
She sighed. There was no use worrying about it. It would just have to do.
Rhett was in the drawing room when she came downstairs, holding a glass of wine. His eyes took her in, and he nodded. "Better." In truth, it looked nicer on her than she had thought it would, and that knowledge gave her battered confidence a much needed boost.
"Will you be going out tonight?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied. Seeing her crestfallen look, he added with a slow smirk: "Unless you are offering better entertainment."
She lifted her chin. "Perhaps I am." He would not disconcert her so easily.
He laughed. "It's almost tempting to call your bluff, my dear, just to see you fold when you are actually asked to perform."
She looked at him wrathfully. "I'm not bluffing Rhett. And I honestly don't know why you do this! It's not like you don't have all the time in the world, and all of the rest of the world, to see your whores in! Why must you do it here, in front of me, in front of the children? How do you think it's going to look if all of Atlanta knows you come back only to see …..to see that creature! On your first evening home?" She hated herself for the tears that were starting to fill her eyes.
He was silent for a moment. "I am meeting Henry Hamilton and his poker circle at the Girl of the Period Saloon for drinks and cards, Scarlett. I'm not anticipating it will be particularly racy, unless Henry has turned over a very new leaf since we last met."
"Oh," she said, feeling foolish, but also incredibly relieved.
"Oh," he mocked, though not unkindly. "I'll be the first to acknowledge I wasn't exactly a model husband during the later part of our marriage but you will grant me that I was not without ….provocation to act out. What possible motivation could I have now to consciously hurt you? Revenge? The pleasure of seeing you suffer, knowing that I am with someone else? I may be a cad, but not that great of a cad."
She took a deep breath, telling her heart to stop hammering in her chest. "I am sorry, Rhett." She attempted a watery smile. "I seem to be saying that a lot these days, aren't I."
"Don't overexert yourself," he said lightly. "I'll give Uncle Henry your regards. We should have him over for dinner while I'm here. He's not getting any younger, and he enjoys seeing Wade."
She nodded. He pinched her lightly on the chin, and grabbed his coat at the sound of the carriage drawing up in front of the house. "Get some sleep if you can, Scarlett. You really do look tired. And you needn't worry. I promise to be on my best behavior tonight."
There it was again, the ghost of the ghost of his old smile. She watched him close the door behind him, feeling strangely comforted. Perhaps she would even be able to sleep tonight.
