A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews. I hope you like this next instalment.

Scarlett was waiting for Rhett to call.

Since that last afternoon, they had come to a gentle understanding. She accepted his apology and renewed visits, even if she didn't wholly understand his reticence. Didn't he care for her?

She admitted as much to him on one of his visits. He seemed amused at her inability to understand her own feelings.

"I don't know what you want from me."Her plea was wholly without coquetry.

"Isn't it obvious?" His words were mainly self-depreciative.

She shook her head.

"Here I thought I was making my intentions known. Alas, I'm a fool!"

She pouted in irritation. "Would you stop talking in riddles?"

He took pity on her, as once again, she'd demonstrated how very young she was. "Very well. I intend to court you, my dear."

"Court me?"Her face screwed up in confusion.

His smile was kind. "Yes with a view to asking you to marry me."

"Marriage? Fiddle dee dee Rhett, why don't you just come right out and say so?"

He grinned. "I'm a selfish man my dear and I want to be sure that I'm the only name in your book."

"What book?"

He gave a laugh. "Don't be so literal, my pet. Maybe I should say I want to be the only name on your dance card."

He watched the penny drop. "Oh."

"Yes, oh is right."

She gave a shrug. "You know they don't matter to me Rhett."

"Do I? Well, in that case, maybe you can holt your conquest of them?"

"You mean to tell me that you'll only court me while I talk to other men?"

His laughter filled the room. "If it was merely talking, it wouldn't be so bad but you still retain your Southern Belle simper and coquetry. I want more than flirting from you and until I have you to myself, well, I'll guess we remain as we are."

He left her to try and understand his words but it wasn't easy. He continued to attend social events but there was a lack of attention he'd bestowed on her. In fact he often spoke with other Atlanta Belles and watched Scarlett's jealousy grow.

Then one day he announced he was going on a business trip and Scarlett had to contend with a distinct lack of his presence. She tried to convince herself that she didn't care but the longer he was gone, the more she missed him.

He returned quite unexpectedly bearing his usual bonbons and compliments for the women of the Hamilton house.

He saw a queer expression in Scarlett's eyes but had to wait until they were alone to question it. She was almost shy with him.

"You look pale Scarlett. Dare I say this wanness means you've been missing me?"

She couldn't speak and her silence gave him hope.

"Scarlett." He took her hands in his. "My pet?" She still didn't answer. He sighed. "Don't tell me you've lost the ability to speak?"

She cleared her throat. "Oh don't be so silly."

He sighed in mock relief. "For a moment there I was worried. Don't tell me you're shy?"

"Shy? Me? Fiddle dee dee."

"That's better. So tell me, have you caught any more hearts in my absence? I do wish you'd stop breaking hearts when you've no reason."

"Oh Rhett..."

"Yes Scarlett?"

"I," she paused and he saw her jerk her chin, effectively changing her next words. "I wish you wouldn't talk that way."

He could have sworn she meant to say something else.

"I did hope that my absence may have caused a different reaction."

He picked up his hat and went to the door.

"Oh Rhett, you're not going? You only just arrived!"

"I have some business to attend."

He was almost to the door when he felt Scarlett's hand touch his arm. "Don't go Rhett. Stay."

"Why should I?"

"Please? I missed you."

He turned to face her and saw the earnest expression and took pity on her. Allowing her to pull him back into the drawing room, he pulled her into his arms.

"By God I've missed you my dear."

Amongst her protests, he pulled her onto his lap and breathed in the scent of her hair.

"Why were you away so long Rhett?"

"Mere business my dear."

"Oh. Are you going away again?"

"Not for a good while. How'd you like to come with me on my next trip?"

"Oh Rhett, you know I can't..."

"Maybe not in your current position."

He smiled before standing, taking her with him and depositing her back on her feet.

Reaching into his pockets, he pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "Open it."

Inside was a ring with a single solitaire diamond.

"Maybe this will help convince you?"

Scarlett couldn't speak and when Rhett took the ring back, she spluttered. But that stopped when she saw him go down on one knee.

"Scarlett O'Hara, will you marry me?"

There was no jesting look in his eyes. He was in earnest. Once she'd schemed about the way she'd torment him if he ever proposed but all that was past.

"Oh Rhett."

"Is that a yes?"

She nodded and standing up, he placed his arms around her. "I'd rather you say the words, my dear. Lest there be no confusion. Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

He kissed her then, allowing all his pent up frustration loose until she was pliant in his arms, mewling like a little cat. His little cat.

XxX

He dispatched himself to Tara the next day to gain her father's blessing. Gerald O'Hara returned with him to Atlanta.

"What's all this about Puss? This laddybuck has asked my permission to marry you."

"Yes, that's true. Oh Pa please say yes."

"I don't know daughter."

"You once said it didn't matter who I married, as long as he was a Southerner and thought like me."

"I was thinking more of the County bucks."

"But I don't want them Pa. I want Rh- Captain Butler."

"Will it really make you happy?"

"Yes Pa."

"Very well then. I hope you know what you're doing."

XxX

Gerald gave his consent and a couple of weeks later, Rhett followed Scarlett back to Tara for the wedding.

He'd presented her with some fine lace to enhance her mother's wedding dress, saying it was part of her trousseau and that he'd picked it out especially, so Ellen O'Hara could not argue about the impropriety. Not in the face of her daughter's happiness.

XxX

After the wedding, Rhett whisked his young bride off to Jonesboro where they caught the train to Charleston.

"You're taking me to Charleston?"

He laughed at her disappointment. "No my pet, that's where we're going to catch the ship."

"The ship?"

"I've always seen you in Europe, my dear. It's a good place and I know you'll have a good deal of fun."