The rumor that Scarlett O'Hara had been seen outside the bazaar in a compromising situation with Captain Butler spread like wildfire. Maybelle wasted no time telling her mother and Mrs. Merriwether reacted in kind and spread the rumor further along Atlanta's high society.
"Did you hear about Scarlett and Captain Butler? Maybelle swears she saw them together outside the bazaar...she didn't see what they were doing but they were together and alone..."
"...it all makes sense when considering how much money he bid to dance with her! My dear, he isn't even received in Charleston! Why Scarlett agreed to dance with him in the first place is beyond me!"
'"He might be a great blockade runner but I knew he wasn't a decent man...I am really surprised at Scarlett though. What will her mother think?"
Such was the talk circulating around Atlanta the following day, and Scarlett soon heard about it. It sent Aunt Pitty into hysterics and Melanie was quiet and awkward with Scarlett all day. Scarlett was livid that Maybelle could not keep her big mouth shut about seeing her alone with Rhett, but she was grateful than Maybelle had not seen more than she did. That would have been an unimaginable disaster! But even though the worse had not happened, Scarlett was still upset at the situation.
She knew her reputation was on the line and she had to fix it somehow. After much deliberation with herself Scarlett came up with what she thought was a plausible excuse for why she was with Rhett outside the bazaar. Through expertly faked tears she explained to Melanie what had happened.
"Captain Butler left the dance floor right after the dancing was over. He disappeared." Scarlett dabbed a few tears away from her eyes. "I wanted to thank him for all the money he raised for the hospital by bidding to dance with me." She sniffled. Melanie put her hand on Scarlett's arm affectionately. "I couldn't find him anywhere in the ballroom so I went outside to look for him. I simply could not let him leave without saying thank you!"
"Of course not darling!", Melanie agreed.
Scarlett paused to cry a little more then continued.
"I found him outside smoking. I went up to him and thanked him for all the money he donated then asked him to do everything he could to bring as many supplies for the hospital as possible on his next blockade run for Atlanta." At this point Scarlett started sobbing and flung her arms around Melanie and buried her head in her shoulder.
"He said he would do his best and then left! I stayed outside a bit longer to get some fresh air and then I came back to the hall. That's all that happened Melly! Truly! I just wanted to help the hospital Melly! That's all I wanted to do! And now that Maybelle is saying such bad things about me! It's simply not fair!" With the conclusion of her account Scarlett hiccupped into Melanie's shoulder and sniffled once more.
"There there, Scarlett darling!", Melanie said as she patted Scarlett's back gently. "Of course you were just trying to help the hospital. You are such a selfless thing. You did nothing wrong. Please don't cry darling, this will all be sorted out in no time."
Melanie did not doubt her best friend's story for a second. The next day she quickly went about using her connections and popularity with the Old Guard to rectify the situation. She repeatedly told Scarlett' story of what happened between her and Captain Butler and when questioned with the impropriety of it Melanie emphasized Scarlett's desire to do all she could to help the hospital and the soldiers. Melanie stood unmoving by Scarlett's side and would not rest until her friend's name was cleared of any wrongdoing. Scarlett could not help but feel a warm tide of gratitude in her heart towards Melly during the entire ordel, and for the first time since Ashley's wedding Scarlett did not hate the woman she previously considered to be her unworthy rival.
"She really does love me, doesn't she?" Scarlett realized.
At first the Old Guard was reluctant to accept Scarlett's explanation but the more they thought about it the more they relented. After all Scarlett did bring in a lot of money for the hospital by dancing with Captain Butler, and if she had indeed only thanked him and asked him to bring in supplies for the hospital while they were alone for a short time, what was truly not so terrible. Only as long as it was for the Cause. They decided to pardon Scarlett for the time being and wait for Captain Butler's return to Atlanta with new cargo. If it included bandages instead of yards of lace then Scarlett was telling the truth and any black mark on her record would be erased.
Scarlett was full of joy at having her name cleared, for this time at least, and she prayed and prayed that somehow Rhett would have the sense to bring in supplies for the hospital like she had supposedly asked him to and not just the feminine fripperies that he could sell so easily to the fashion starved ladies of Atlanta.
"I can't believe that my reputation depends on that blackguard!" Scarlett wondered to herself. "It's been two days since the bazaar and I haven't heard anything of him. He's probably laughing at my misery and telling people lies about what happened!"
Even though she was upset she was hoping Rhett would remain in Atlanta long enough to hear of her story and bring in the right cargo on his next run and save her reputation.
When Ellen's letter came on Thursday, a mere three days after the bazaar, Scarlett was mortified. Someone, she suspected Mrs. Merriwhether, had written to Ellen the day after the bazaar before Scarlett could defend herself and now Ellen thought the worst. Did the people of Atlanta have nothing better to do than gossip and write letters?
"I do not know exactly what happened, but if what I hear is true then I am extremely disappointed in you, Scarlett" she read her mother's neat hand. "I do not understand how you could be so careless as to be seen alone with a man like Captain Butler! He is not received by his own family and I've been told but your aunts in Charleston he has the most terrible reputation. I expected better from you, and I am very grieved to hear that you acted so irresponsibly. As much as I respect Aunt Pitty and am grateful for her taking you in these past several months I believe that it will be better if you returned to Tara and were with family again. Your father will be in Atlanta on Friday to speak with Captain Butler and to bring you home. I know you might be upset at this, Scarlett, but it is for the best."
Gerald was coming to Atlanta to speak to Rhett? She had to go back to Tara? This was just awful. If it only wasn't for that stupid Maybelle none of this would he happening! What was she going to do? Scarlett definitely did not want to back to Tara and the thought of Gerald confronting Rhett frightened her.
When Gerald arrived the next day Scarlett put on her sweetest smile for her father and tried to distract him with every topic of conversation imaginable all day but after dinner was over Gerald got up from the table and prepared to go out to confront Captain Butler about Scarlett. No amount of pleasing or honeyed words could stop him.
Scarlett went up to her room distressed that night and could not fall asleep. Several hours later, as Scarlett was staring up at her ceiling with numerous scenarios playing out in her head about how the talk between Rhett and her father could have gone, she heard a loud noise coming from the street. She went to the window and saw a buggy pull up in front of the house and two figures climb out, one very tall and one much shorter; Rhett and Gerald. Her Pa was singing at the top of his lungs while Rhett was holding him up and walking him to the front door. Scarlett practically flew out of her room and down the stairs to open the door. She could not have Pitty or Melly wake up to this sight, as both of them would be too mortified with such a scene to be of much help anyways.
Scarlett opened the door to see her extremely drunk father supported by a very composed and grinning Rhett Butler. At least he was still in Atlanta.
"Your father, I believe?" Rhett was trying to hold back his laugher but it soon died in his throat when he looked at her and saw that she was wearing only a wrapper and that her hair was long and loose past her shoulders. His eyes suddenly filled with desire and Scarlett felt how his gaze penetrated right through her wrapper
She was extremely annoyed that he looked at her like that at such an inappropriate time. Her father was right there! How dare he look at her like that? Who did he think he was getting her father drunk and then taking advantage of her state of undress? The man was an absolute cad.
She fought back the urge to yell something insulting at him and instead moved away from the entrance.
"Bring him in please," she said as calmly as she could. Rhett took him times looking up from her body to her eyes and smiled a wicked smile. He was so infuriating!
"Shall I bring him upstairs?"
"No!" Scarlett said this rather loudly. The thought of Rhett Butler upstairs made her rather nervous. "Just put him on the settee in the parlor," she instructed.
Rhett did as told and once Gerald was settled down as best as could be managed Scarlett and Rhett stepped out into the entryway.
"Captain Butler, what did you do to my father?" Scarlett whispered hoarsely. It was dark but they were standing close together and Scarlett could see a smile forming on his lips.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Miss O'Hara," he replied innocently. "He came to the saloon looking for me, to discuss you I assume. I suggested we talk over a couple of hands of poker and naturally we had a few drinks during the game, then with my ever gentlemanly behavior I returned your father to you safe and sound." He leaned a little bit closer to her and gently tugged at a lock of her hair. She slapped his hand away.
"You got him drunk and in all likelihood made him lose a lot of money! What were you trying to accomplish toying around with him like this?" She was fuming at this point.
"I got to see you again, didn't I?"
Suddenly Scarlett couldn't breathe. He was so close to her now, his lips almost touching hers and his strong arms snaking around her waist pulling her against him. Not this again! Scarlett could feel herself becoming intoxicated by his closeness and forgetting why she was mad at him. This conceited, scheming maddening man had so much power over her and she hated feeling a loss of sense control.
They looked each other in the eyes for a moment before he lowered his head and kissed her. This kiss was nothing like their previous two. At Twelve Oaks and outside the bazaar his kisses were strong and passionate, almost smothering. This time, his lips were gentle and instead of exploring her body his hands were softly cupping her face. Scarlett grabbed onto the lapels of his jacket for support and kissed him back more timidly. There was so much tenderness in the way he was kissing her she did not know how to respond. Rhett then gently sucked on her bottom lip lightly and Scarlett ran her tongue along his hesitantly. She heard a soft groan from him and one hand went from her cheek to the back of her head while the other dropped down to her waist, but he did not pull her any closer. This confused Scarlett and she leaned into him further, feeling the heat of his muscular body come through her wrapper making her swoon. At her increased response to him Rhett tested her further, wanting to see just how badly she wanted him, and he tried to break the kiss and pull away. Scarlett felt this and without a second thought she moved her hands up to his head and brought their mouths back together. He smiled against her lips and finally crushed her body against his and gently slid his tongue in her mouth, which she gladly accepted.
Scarlett knew that this was by far the most indecent thing she's ever done, having Rhett Butler in the house at this late hour, kissing him unashamedly with her father in the next room but she didn't care because it felt too good. She had a warm feeling in her stomach and her lips were tingling. She had never felt like this kissing any other man and she never wanted to stop. But she had a feeling Rhett knew exactly what he was doing to her and this made her come to her senses and break the kiss. She wasn't sure how far he could push her and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out at that moment.
As she pulled away Rhett looked down at her curiously, as he could tell her demeanor had changed. "What's the matter Scarlett?"
"We shouldn't be doing this." Scarlett could hardly believe how breathy her voice sounded.
"Why not? We are both certainly enjoying ourselves and I must say you look incredibly fetching in the little outfit you're wearing," he said mischievously.
"Oh why must you always talk about such things? You are so coarse." She was embarrassed about his speaking of their enjoyment of each other's kisses but was also flattered that he found her attractive in her wrapper.
"Stop being such a prude, Scarlett. There is nothing wrong with what we were doing or with you enjoying it. After all, they say I'm a terribly good kisser."
Scarlett paused for a moment to think of who "they" actually were and the notion of him kissing other women ignited a flare of jealousy within her. Why she cared about who he kissed she did not know, but the moment was lost and she wanted nothing more than to get away from him. She moved his arms away from around her waist and stepped back.
"Please leave now, Captain Butler. Thank you for retuning my father. Good night." She went past him to open the door but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.
"Am I sensing some jealously, Scarlett? Do you want to know who "they" are that praise my kissing abilities?" He was laughing at her once again. Why did he have to be so hateful? And how did he know exactly what she had been thinking about?
"I don't care who you have kissed and I don't want to hear anything about it. Leave now."
"Don't be angry at me, Scarlett. Come, our last few encounters have been so pleasant I would not want this one to be any different."
"Good night."
"Are you sure you want to send me away so harshly? Especially since your reputation solely depends on me?", Rhett asked in the most self-satisfied voice.
"You heard about that?!"
"Of course I did. Atlanta is a city that can keep no secrets. I heard about what we had supposedly done and the following day I heard about what you said happened between us. If you ask me I much prefer Atlanta's version," Rhett explained then chuckled.
"Don't you dare laugh at this Rhett Butler! It is all your fault for having me come outside with you."
"If I recall correctly, my dear, I only made a suggestion. You were the one who followed through on it."
Scarlett paused as she thought of a response. He was right of course. She did not have to meet him outside, but she had.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm the one people are talking about and now my father is here ready to take me back to Tara." As she said this Gerald mumbled something incoherently in the other room then went back to snoring.
"I thought you didn't care if people talked about you."
"I do care about this. I don't want my reputation ruined and I do not want to back to Tara!"
"Your father will not be taking you back to Tara tomorrow. As for your reputation, I told you before that reputation is insignificant. Don't go all your life worrying about it. You'll miss out on all the fun."
"And what fun would that be?"
"Why , all the fun you have with me ,of course." He pulled her in for another kiss. She let him kiss her briefly then pushed him away. Scarlett would not let him have the last say and she was somewhat annoyed with him for treating her reputation so lightly.
"You have gone too far Captain Butler and I will ask you one last time to leave," but this was said with much less venom in her voice than the first time she had asked.
"Alright, be that way. I will go but I can assure you that you will regret sending me away in such a manner and that you might even miss me."
"Why would I ever miss you? I hardly even know you!"
"Because I will be leaving Atlanta tomorrow for some time and I do believe that you will miss me, no matter how little you know about me. Trust me on this matter, my dear."
"You are conceited and a snob and I don't care if I ever see you again, and I will most definitely not miss you!" She said defiantly as Rhett walked out the door and shut it silently behind him.
Scarlett checked on her father before she returned to her bedroom, Scarlett tried to ignore the fact that she already longed for the heat of Rhett's body and his strong arms around her and instead kept telling herself how irritating he was and that she would never speak to him again, no matter that she needed him to salvage her social standing. She fell asleep that night attempting to think of her beloved Ashley but no matter how hard she tried Ashley's figure kept being replaced by a large dark-haired man with a mustache.
The next day two things happened. First, Gerald did not take her back to Tara just like Rhett had predicted. When Gerald woke up the next morning he attempted to piece together the events of the previous night. From what Gerald could remember he went to the Girl of the Period saloon to find Rhett and when he did find him the two ended up playing poker and drinking the night away. Gerald lost all the money he had brought with him to buy goods to Rhett. They never got around to talking about Scarlett.
"How could I lose so much money to that swindler? How could I be such a drunken fool? What will I tell Mrs. O'Hara? How can I tell her I gambled away five hundred dollars and haven't a thing to show for it?"
Scarlett saw a window of opportunity and seized it immediately.
"Mother doesn't have to find out, Pa. If you let me stay in Atlanta she will never hear a word of this," Scarlett put her hard on her father's shoulder reassuringly. "I won't tell Mother anything if you tell her that what she heard about me was just gossip from the old cats."
Gerald looked at his daughter skeptically. If he brought Scarlett home that day and had no money he would have two women upset with him. If he let Scarlett stay, he would have a very happy daughter and a wife that just needed an explanation.
"Very well, daughter, you can stay in Atlanta with Miss Melly. I'll just have to think of something to tell Mrs. O'Hara about the money though," he said, defeated. At his words Scarlett gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek before skipping off to her room. Gerald was left sitting at the kitchen table running this hands through his hair trying to decide how to handle the situation. Scarlett on the other hand was happy again and then she remembered Rhett promising her last night that Pa would not take her back to Tara. How did he know? Was that his plan in getting Pa so drunk and making him lose his money so that she could stay in Atlanta and he could see her again? But then she realized the second thing that happened that day.
Rhett left Atlanta the same morning and Scarlett had no idea to where or for how long. All she knew was that he was gone.
That was now three months ago. Rhett had made sure that she was able to stay in Atlanta but then left right away. Scarlett did not understand it and she also had some doubts as to whether or not he would ever come back. "If he doesn't come back I'll kill him myself!," Scarlett thought, trying to ease her fears.
During Rhett's absence and her wait for his return however, Scarlett noticed that she thought about Ashley less and less and about Rhett more and more. At first she attributed this to wanting Rhett to come back so that she could be cleared o f any wrongdoing, but when she found herself dreaming of his kisses and of him holding her she could not use that excuse anymore. She had feelings for Rhett Butler. What kind of feelings she did not know but they existed whether she liked it or not- and Scarlett most decidedly did not like it.
"I love Ashley! I love Ashley!" She tried to chant this over and over again when Rhett invaded her thoughts but to no avail. Rhett Butler was not to be forgotten. When she compared Ashley and Rhett in order to prove Ashley the better of the two, somehow Rhett always won the battle and Ashley came out looking less appealing than ever. Rhett was handsome, rich, a good dancer, and also a phenomenal kisser. But he was also smart, witty, charming and most importantly he understood and accepted Scarlett for who she was. When he found out she did not care about the Cause, instead of judging her he agreed with her and told her to be honest about her feelings. When he heard about her lie to save her reputation he laughed at her but did not chide her for doing what she did. He could read her like an open book, which she found aggravating but at the same time oddly endearing. Even though their interactions had been limited, just from talking to him at the bazaar and at that night in Aunt Pitty's entryway Scarlett could see that her and Rhett were similar. She did not need to hide her true self around him like she did around Ashley and this drew her towards Rhett and away from her childhood infatuation. Where before she longed for Ashley to return home from the war she now wanted Rhett to come back to Atlanta so he could kiss her again. Where before Ashley's letters to Melly made her jealous and spiteful, she now wished she had letter of her own from Rhett telling her of his blockading.
On one such occasion when Scarlett, Melly and Aunt Pitty were sitting in the parlor and Melly was reading a letter of Ashley's letter, Scarlett found herself ignoring Melly's words and thinking about Rhett and where he could possibly be at this time. "Is he in England? Or maybe Yankee territory?" she pondered. "Why hasn't he come back to Atlanta yet? Has he been thinking about me?" At that instant Scarlett almost jumped up in her seat.
She was in love with Rhett Butler. She, Katie Scarlett O'Hara was in love with Captain Rhett Butler. How on earth did this happen? She was supposed to love Ashley! She always loved Ashley and hated Melly from taking him away from her. She could not love Rhett because she barely knew him and he wasn't received and-
It was no use. She loved him.
The next few days were an emotional tumult for Scarlett. She did her best to contain her emotions and remain calm whenever she considered the matter. Her heart would start beating rapidly and tight knots would form in her stomach every time she thought about Rhett. She felt overwhelmed and confused and spent a lot of time with her brow furrowed in thought. This nervous, shaky unstable feeling was nothing at all like what she felt for Ashley. This was scary yet exciting. She always thought that once she got Ashley everything would be so easy and simple and they would live together happily all their lives but what she now felt for Rhett was the complete opposite. He was mysterious, dangerous, unknown. She had no idea what being with him would be like and this thrilled her to no end. Would he take her with him when he went away-
"Stop it!", she chided herself inwardly as she sat at her vanity one night brushing her hair. "You just think you love him, you don't really know if you do. And besides, he might not even care about you." This idea struck Scarlett and made her feel ill. She had never had any trouble getting men to fall at her feet, but Rhett Butler did not seem like a man who could be easily ensnared by womanly charms, even hers. A man like him could never love her or anyone for that matter. He only wanted to have some fun with her, as he said himself. She probably amused him and when he grew tired of her he would disappear and find another girl and that would be the end.
But...perhaps there is some hope. Scarlett quickly went over their time together in her head. He stopped Charles' proposal to her for some reason. He singled her out at the bazaar, spent a lot of money and danced all night with her. He dealt with her father and helped her stay in Atlanta. That is certainly a lot to go through if only meant to trifle with her.
He also wanted her badly. She knew enough about men to see that he desired her greatly every time they kissed. Was it possible that there could be more behind his intentions than lust? Probably not. If he found out how she felt he would make fun of her. He always found a way to make fun of her. Or worse she would end up like that girl from Charleston with a bad reputation and no marriage. If Rhett knew of her love it would all be just a big joke to him and nothing more. He would toy with her feelings then crush her. Scarlett could not let that happen. She might love him but she did not trust him with her heart.
"I simply won't let on how I feel about him. I will just wait until I forget him, just like I forgot Ashley. That happened quickly enough." But even after she came to this conclusion she knew it was hopeless. She loved Rhett and wanted him to come back to Atlanta desperately. Scarlett had no idea what she would do once (or if) he came back but all she wanted was to see him again. The consequences from the incident outside the bazaar no longer mattered.
Once Scarlett accepted her feelings she went through every day with a constant nervous anticipation. The war was still going on and she joined Melly at the hospital every day tending to the wounded soldiers, hoping that somewhere along the way from the house to the hospital and back she would see Rhett. But it never happened. He was gone four months already; it was now November. Every day was long and filled with faceless men, none of which she cared about. She even almost forgot what Ashley looked like. He was no rarely in her thoughts, except when she thought of Melly.
Melly.
If there was anything that gave Scarlett happiness since she realized she no longer loved Ashley but Rhett instead was her new and now real friendship with Melly. With Scarlett's jealousy of Melanie over Ashley gone like her love for him, Scarlett found it very easy to bond with Melanie. She was so kind and gentle and Scarlett knew she had in Melly a true best friend, someone she could count on no matter what, and it was easy giving her love to her. It also made living at Aunt Pitty's enjoyable for the first time since she arrived in Atlanta and it made working at the hospital bearable.
One morning, as Scarlett and Melly were chatting and walking to up the steps to the hospital door, it suddenly flew open and an excited Mrs. Meade stood in the entrance.
"Girls! I'm so glad you're here. We need your help...come see what has happened!" Before they had time to respond they were both being pulled by the arm into the building by Mrs. Meade, neither having any idea whether a disaster or miracle had happened. They quickly received an answer.
Mrs. Meade led them into the operating room which was empty of patients for the moment and instead was filled with fresh medical supplies. Crates of them. Bandages, medical instruments, bottles filled will all color liquids, stretchers. Anything a doctor could want. All new and clean.
"It was all delivered this morning. Captain Butler brought it over himself! Isn't it wonderful?"
Melly was overwhelmed and almost in tears as she ran to Mrs. Meade to hug her and find Doctor Meade to share in her thrill that the hospital could take proper care of its patients now. Scarlett was rooted to her spot and could only think one thing.
Rhett did this for her. He brought in all of this to save her from Atlanta's wagging tongues. He did not have to but he went along with what she said and now everyone will believe her and they will thank her for what she did and she can be seen with Rhett again. It was all too much. To think that Rhett Butler ran in all of these valuable goods for her. All of a sudden she was overtaken with her love for him as well as hope, hope that maybe he could care about her, maybe even love her.
The rest of the day at the hospital went better than any other ever had. Scarlett had a skip to her step and a smile for every soldier. It was easy to be happy when they could actually help the wounded and she was thinking about Rhett loving her.
When it was time to go home, Scarlett had to almost drag Melly because her friend did not want to leave. Scarlett convinced her that she was no use to anyone all tired and worn out and that a good night's rest was necessary. Melly agreed and the two left the hospital.
About halfway home Scarlett heard hooves approaching closely behind them but made no move to turn around. Until she heard his voice.
"Good evening, Mrs. Wilkes. It's been too long. And good evening to you, Miss O'Hara. Aren't you looking lovely tonight?"
So many thanks to rubeanddodo for being an absolutely amazing beta! Already started working on the next chapter and since this week is not too busy I'm hoping to have it finished and posted pretty soon =)
Keep sending those wonderful reviews! They keep me going... and I also just love talking GWTW.