A/N: Here we go another update... see I've tried to do better and not let you hang for... hmm (sorry) a couple of months. Three weeks or so is not that bad now is it? I know it is only short, but more will come, in a hopefully not too distant future.

Well were did we leave off. Oh yes that's true. We left our dear Mr Butler quite puzzled at Melanies odd behaviour. Well, lets see were this story takes our characters next ;)

Happy Reading

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Though unlikely to admit it willingly and openly Rhett Butler prided himself of many things.

He of course took pride in his appearance, and in being a man of strong resolution and strength. He took pride in his rebellious reputation, in being seen as a devil may care man, and also in not being fooled by the hypocrisy that so many people hid their true intentions behind.

In addition to that he also took pride in being a man who kept his word, despite often appearing to do the opposite.

Those things however were all quite common traits in a man of his breeding and upbringing, bar perhaps the disrespect for the common social acceptance of hypocrisy, and thus not something that would have stood out, had he been forced to make a list of his best liked skills.

However, one thing more than anything else he was proud of; namely his ability to read people and interpret their actions.

A trait that would have caused many a lifted eyebrow from his fellow men, if a comparison of this imaginary list should ever take place, as it was definitely not something that stood out as a particularly masculine or even gentlemanly ability as it implied silent participation in events.

Not that this skill was something he bragged about on a daily basis, but he was in all matter of fact fairly certain that had it not been for said skill, all that would have been left of him at this point in time was a fleck of dust and a moss grown tombstone in some God forsaken corner of the world.

At the very least his life would have turned out quite differently from the way it had...

First of all without it he would never have been such a successful gamester – thus removing the foundation for his now well established wealth; nor would he have been able to navigate with the same success amongst the less admirable types he had associated with in the context of many of his business adventures. Many a time had what his silent observation had taught him guided his words, and brought success were his initial choice of words might have had the exact opposite effect

Also and perhaps just as importantly he would never have been able to see through his fathers hypocritical ways, and thus not have felt the need to rebel and expose said hypocritical ways to the world. An action that had in the end let to the striking of his name in the Butler family bible and to him being banished from the slow paced city of Charleston.

Of course, had Rhett Butler been someone without this talent, he might have led a perfectly happy life of his fathers inheritance, married to a beautiful yet uninspiring wife in the beautiful city he had once called home, and where the shattered pieces of his shed responsibility still could be found.

But he wasn't and for that Rhett Butler was ever thankful. Just the thought of how dull a life he would then have lived brought a slight frown to his face.

Thus the talent for observation and understanding people and their motivation was perhaps his most cherished gift.

It was no coincidence that Rhett Butler was also a great fan of eavesdropping, since it would often quite plainly tell you the things you could only guess at from merely observing people.

All in all to summarise in brief - this talent for observing and interpreting peoples actions and seeing through false pretences into hidden agendas had been a valuable gift that inevitably through a series of very interesting events had led Rhett Butler to exactly this point and place in time.

Meaning that from a very early age Rhett Butler had not only learned what could be derived by being an observer of people and their actions, but perhaps just as importantly he had learned how to apply the knowledge derived from this observational skill in a manner that would benefit himself and his ends. In some instances, if he saw fit, it might also benefit the one he observed.

Though that of course had not been his initial motivator.

Thus with the discovery of Melanie's odd behaviour this evening and the likely flirtatious intention behind it he decided to put this well honed skill to practice in order to discover what was her motivator for acting in such a, for her, uncharacteristic way.

The straight forward answer of course would be that she wanted to light the burning flame of jealousy and passion in the bosom of her husband.

This however was something that he was a bit reluctant to believe.

In all the years Rhett Butler had known Melanie Wilkes, he had never seen any indication that she felt she lacked something in the department of marital love. Never did she look at her husband, wooden-headed that he might be according to the very personal opinion of Rhett Butler, with anything less than total devotion. Always giving the air of requited love. A clear case of love serving as a blindfold to the faults of the one you hold dear, was the derisive conclusion Rhett Butler had often made from this fact. Though, secretly he admitted to himself, he wouldn't have minded if the same sort of blindfold could hide the faults he possessed to the cat eyed woman he held dear, and provide him with the same kind of loving devotion that Melanie Wilkes bestowed in plenty on her undeserving husband.

Since he neither in recent days not tonight saw any indication that this had changed, his curiosity was peaked. If not for gaining more attention and devotion from your loved one, then what would drive a person such as Miss Melly who was in no way inclined to flirt to do exactly that?

If not herself then who or what was to be gained from it?

Rhett Butler was indeed thoroughly puzzled. And as always when something puzzled him his interest was sparked, which only made him more eager to identify the facts behind his puzzlement.

So while still exuding an air of indifference to the whole situation his black eyes took in every move, every glance and every word that came from his companion. He saw the way she awkwardly tried to catch his eyes, or show an unnatural interest in every word he uttered. Saw the rosy hue that told the tale of the discomfort the task of being so forward obviously put on her.

He followed her gaze wherever her eyes went, he dissected her words for any hidden indication of her agenda. All the while keeping up a noncomitant conversation that served as an excellent backdrop for Miss Melly's flirtatious adventures.

He noticed how her eyes often sought out her husband and his wife across the room. Yet he still found no trace of jealousy when her eyes shortly afterwards would return to him.

It wasn't until one of these occasions where Scarlett briefly turned and made eye contact with Melanie as she looked at them that he got a hint as to Miss Melly's intention. An intention that he found staggeringly unbelievable. Yet beautifully simple and plausible and in full accordance with the loving heart that were beating rhythmically in the mousy woman's chest.

When the gentle grey eyes of Melanie Wilkes briefly made contact with the sparkling green eyes of Scarlett Butler, the former most uncharacteristically withdrew her gaze and with something that could only be described as deliberate precision and care turned towards the latter's husband and gently (if only very briefly) placed a gloved hand on the arm of said husband while saying something that finished with a hint of a smile and a nod of the head.

To Rhett who had observed the little scene play out with keen interest, the intention was clear. Though he had to control himself not to let his mouth hang open stupidly with the surprise. Of all the things he had expected to find behind Miss Melly's behaviour this evening, this was beyond even his wildest imagination. So unlike her, yet in a strange way it made perfect sense.

Perhaps he had underestimated just how well Melanie Wilkes understood the people around her.

Momentarily he eyed her with a new found respect. He had always respected her for her integrity, her genuine respect for all people and first and foremost her unstudied sincerity in all her actions. Even if he often found it borderline naïve, at least she was true to herself and her beliefs. Melanie Wilkes was a lot less impressed by the monetary values of the world than so many others he could readily come to think of.