Chapter Four : Scarlett has an Awakening Moment
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and do not intend on making any money off this story.
Story Line: Takes place after Scarlett falls down the stairs.
Ashley had never talked to anyone in that manner before in his entire life. And he never would have if not for the encounter he had a block before he met up with the two gossiping dowagers. It felt good to finally put to rest some of the scandal he had been tormented by these past few weeks. Even if Melanie did not believe a word of it, he knew what the town was thinking. Why his own sister was now outcast from his home, he knew India could at times be a very bitter woman, however it still pained him. He loved his sister dearly, the war had bittered her in a very distasteful manner. But hadn't it done so to many.
Ashley had been walking to meet Melanie at Scarlett's house when he was approached by a black carriage with all the curtains pulled. As the carriage approached he stood affixed the carriage loomed before him in a almost sinister manner, reminding him of one of Mr. Poe's stories he had read. He peered at the coach man he had no recognition of the ebony man.
"Mr. Wilkes," a woman's voice beckoned from within the ominous vessel.
"Yes?" Ashley's voice wavered a bit. "Whom is there?" he cleared his throat.
"Please, come set a moment with me." the face of Belle Watling appeared amid the plush shadows of the velvety curtains.
"Why Mrs. Watling what may I do for you?" Ashley asked as he deposited himself on the smooth leather seat. Wondering fervently what the Madame of a Brothel wanted with him.
"Mr. Wilkes, I have come to talk with you on behalf of Captain Butler." she stated flatly.
This thought sent shivers riveting through Ashley's soul. And so Ashley implored, " What is it that Captain Butler wishes you to speak with me about?"
"Oh, be assured Mr. Wilkes, Captain Butler has not sent me to talk with you about anything, rather as he is a dear friend of mine, I felt compelled to talk with you on a subject that has plagued my mind for some time now." Belle stated.
" And what is it, that plagues you so Madame?" Ashley swallowed hard.
"Well as you are very well aware, the town is under assumption that you and Mrs. Butler have had an affair." Belle stated flatly not bothering to mince words. "And from what I know of you, and what I have come to know about Mrs. Butler, I realize that these accusations are unfounded." Belle waited for him to say something and when he didn't she continued. "However you have not defended yourself at all, and this perplexes me, Mr. Wilkes."
"Well, I ..." he didn't know what to say. He knew Melanie didn't believe it so it mattered little to him, he did not realize what heart ache his silence was doing to others. "I never thought much about it."
"Captain Butler loves his wife very deeply, though I think he is apt to deny it. He would not like me discussing these things with you, and if not for his feelings I would not broach this subject for I do not hide my disgust for Mrs. Butler. But Rhett does love her so I mean to help these things get untangled."
"Mrs. Watling, I do not know what to say. " Ashley was without words being put on the spot so to speak. How did this woman know such things.
"If you are wondering how I know about you and Mrs. Butler well I have my sources. Just let it be known if you ever call me out about anything I have discussed this day I will deny everything. I just thought someone needed to open your eyes, Mr. Wilkes. Now if you will kindly descend my carriage I must go before someone see's me stopped here. "
Ashley had then retreated from the carriage and with Belle's words still playing in his mind he came upon Mrs. Merriwether and Mrs. Elsing gossiping about none the less but he and Scarlett. And to think the town thought Scarlett's child was his! Mrs. Elsing who had been best friends with Melanie's mother could spread such a rumor about her husband? The conversation he over heard pained him, had he really been so blind! He could not continue letting his family suffer like this the brunt of gossip. When all Scarlett and Ashley had shared that day at the mill was memories. And a chaste hug, to comfort an old friend. Well from this day on he was not
going to allow these rumors to continue. He could not live if Melanie ever found these rumors to be true. And though he disliked Captain Butler, for Scarlett's sake and her children's he would quell these rumors. He remembered back to that day he had told Scarlett that he could not bear the thought of Rhett's hands on her. Suddenly he felt ashamed, how could he do that to Scarlett, or Melly for that matter. Well it would never happen again.
Scarlett had just finished penning a letter to her sister Carreen, asking that she would come back and be a companion for her Aunt Pitty Pat. Scarlett felt for her Aunt deeply she knew from childhood what a horrid person India could be if she wanted to be. But Scarlett thought a bit more deeply to herself. "I caused India to be like this, a bitter spinster." Suddenly Scarlett's emotions over took her. "Oh, how could I ?" she thought. "I took Stuart away from her, they would have gotten married if I had not stole him away." Scarlett felt sorrow as if for the first time, but she knew telling India would not mend anything. She would still be bitter, and hateful to Scarlett. So Scarlett faced her remorse and put it aside, there was no use holding onto things like that, so she let it go along with her hate for India Wilkes. And somehow she felt better.
"Mammy, will you have Pork take this to the post. It needs to be sent out as soon as possible." she may have buried her feelings for India but she would not subject her kind hearted Aunt to living under the woman's wrath. Secretly she was over joyed to have an excuse that might bring her baby sister back to Atlanta.
"I am sure glad you be sendin' for Miz Carreen, Miz Scarlett. That child belong near us, what can care for her." Mammy beamed. "Now my lamb you lay back and take a nap. You don't wanna tire your self so."
Scarlett laid back as Mammy instructed she had gotten quite tired. She must be really drained, just writing that letter she felt like she had run up and down the stairs five times. "The stairs?" she thought to herself. Had she really fallen down them and lived. For sure no one could live from that sort of fall. Just as she said that a pain in her side reminded her of her cracked ribs. She had survived it though her face bruised as was her entire body. And the baby had survived, she smiled at this last thought. Holding her slightly rounded stomach. She was not even half way through this pregnancy, just over three months along. And with that on her mind she slipped into slumber.
Rhett had been down the hall in the nursery with the children. Ella and Bonnie wanted him to play dolls with them. Rhett had just bought both girls a new baby doll with beautiful china faces. Wade and Beau were outside playing jacks with the Brownelle boys. And Melanie had
went downstairs to see that everything was taken care of in Scarlett's house while she was bedridden. She had seen Ashley come up the walk and Melanie went to meet him. "Hello darling." she turned her cheek up for him.
"How's she my dearest?" Ashley asked.
"She is resting, nothing has changed. " Melanie smiled bleakly.
"Well I am heading down to the Mill then, see you for supper?" he replied.
"Yes, Beau and I will be home waiting for you darling." she smiled sweetly.
Scarlett was having another nightmare this time she saw herself standing at the top of the stairs, she was happy Rhett and Bonnie were home. Then she and Rhett were having a arguement, all the horrible things they were saying to each other ringing in hear ears. "No, Stop it!" she cried as a spectator. Telling the two of them, "Stop saying those things! You can not possibly hate each other so!" And then Scarlett watched herself lunge at Rhett and as he moved from her path she fell and rolled over and over to the bottom of the stairs. Ever bump, jab, searing pain came full to life for her again. She saw Rhett rush horrified to her side, saw the blood staining her night gown. And then as she was put on her bed all the pain of Doctor Meade trying to stop the bleeding came back to her. The old man's face puckered with worry. And then she could here his voice, "Well, I have got the bleeding to stop." the next few hours will be critical. "Yes the baby is still with her, No I can not say for certain she won't loose it Melly." Melanie's face filled with tears stroked Scarlett's fevered head. "Oh my poor darling." she smiled softly at her.
Rhett heard Scarlett scream, "No, no.." followed by a muffling mingle of words. His heart sank to his feet as he ran to her room telling the children, "Stay here and play, I am gonna check on your mother."
"Scarlett, darling...shhhhh its alright it was only a nightmare." Rhett went to her side and brushed the sweat dripped hair from her pale face.
"Rhett ...oh Rhett" she wept.
"You had another nightmare my pet?" he questioned.
"Yes." she nodded not wishing to discus the horrid dream, a dream that she presumed must be reality. "But how, how could she have, " she revolted the thought. "How could they have said such things to one another?" The thought made her sick and she motioned Rhett that she was going to be sick. He grabbed the wash basin from the stand and put it in front of her.
Scarlett vomited into the basin, tears running down her face. She felt humiliated this vulnerable side being shown to Rhett. "Oh, Rhett". She cried some more.
"It's alright Scarlett, there is nothing to feel ashamed about." Rhett soothed rubbing her back gently.
"Oh, Rhett." she sobbed. "Why must I be plagued by these horrible nightmares?"
"Well you have been through a lot, the pain is probably manifesting itself." he said in a calming voice, and stroked her hair. "What was the dream this time?"
"It was about the fall, mostly what happened before I fell." she said looking at Rhett for his reaction. His face was unreadable, but if she could read his mind.