Chapter 7

It was almost noon when Mammy knocked on the door. Everyone knew that Captain Butler had slept at home and, when Pork announced that his bedroom was empty and his horse was still in the stables, all the servants started shooting each other knowing looks.

Miss Scarlett was the heroine of Atlanta right now. Of course the story about Ashley had been almost forgotten, and the new escapades of the Butler family had set the town on fire. Everyone, from the lowest servants to the heads of the old families knew how courageous she had acted. A wife to step foot in a whorehouse, and bring back her philandering husband in the middle of the day! She must love him madly to do something so desperate. Of course, everyone had an idea about Captain's Butler involvement with that woman, but this had been the final proof. When the gentle ladies of the town had raised their hands in prayers at night, they mentioned the Captain's name, asking God to forgive his many sins and save his soul. It was a pity for such a fine gentleman and devoted father, with such nice children, not to be able to drag himself from the cauldron of hell of that bawdy house, and the clutches of a red haired creature who made husbands lose their minds.

Melly, had, of course, started doing her rounds early, and with all her sisterly devotion. With all those adorable children in tow, under the pretext of taking them to the park, she stopped to talk to every lady friend of hers, for they all seemed to roam the streets quite early that morning.

Blushing only slightly, she told them how proud she was of Scarlett, and how India's lies could finally be put to rest. And, under her gentle guidance, the married ladies of Atlanta, who all had their slight disappointments in the husband department, nodded and swore they could never, but how brave of Mrs. Butler for.

Meanwhile Rhett was entertaining himself by lounging in bed, smoking a cigar and slowly dragging the sheet away from his wife's white and naked bottom. Scarlett was sleeping on her stomach, her hair a mess and her little mouth drooling on the pillow. When he heard Mammy's knocks he hurriedly threw his robe on, covering his chest as much as possible and opened the door only slightly, a huge smile on his face.

Mammy humphed and asked directly if she should bring breakfast up, and then slightly moved her head to the right. Rhett's body turned slightly to the right too. Mammy said nothing and discreetly turned her head in the other direction. Rhett almost felt like blushing, thanked her profusely and closed the door, not without noticing the tiniest of smiles on the woman's lips.

He went straight for Scarlett's little toes, and almost dragged her out of bed and send her to the washroom. His wife, rubbing her eyes and mumbling curse words under her breath was almost there when she realised she was still naked and came back running for the nightgown discarded on the floor. Rhett went to his room to change and was back five minutes later, fixing his cravat, and bringing with him the tray that had been left outside by invisible hands.

Scarlett was brushing her hair and started complaining as soon as he came in that she had a million knots, and that Rhett should do it, for he was more patient and it was his fault anyway.

He sighted, but his wife's whining sounded like the voices of angels this morning. He dragged a small ottoman behind her and started his penance. Scarlett was smiling at him so prettily, it made him feel like he was the boy with the most presents on Christmas day. She took his free hand in hers and brought it to her lips, kissing his palm. Then she asked without looking too bothered about it:

"Rhett, what are we going to do?"

"About what, my beautiful kitten?"

"What do you mean? You do realise the whole town is talking about us. Not that I care too much, but still."

"I imagine that they all applaud you, my dear, for finally taking the reins and doing your wifely duty."

"You think so?", Scarlett asked, more than delighted. "Oh, Rhett, but I don't want anyone saying mean things about you."

"Well, I know what I'll do. I'll pretend I'm the most remorseful citizen Atlanta has ever seen, and look embarrassed and humble for a few days. I'll tip my hat in everyones direction, and smile politely and make pleasant and slightly awkward small talk while you stay right next to me with the most victorious grin on your face."

"I can certainly do that.", Scarlett smirked at him.

"Let's be grateful that this turn of events will erase your little rendezvous at the mills from everyone's mind.", he added and seeing her face fall, quickly hugged her.

"Scarlett, I'm not saying this to embarrass you. What I mean is that a man's indiscretions are easier to forget than a woman's."

She looked at him, not knowing if she should get angry. But she couldn't and anyway, she didn't want to.

"Don't be mean to me. I thought you believed me."

"I do believe you. I'm not mean, I'm just honest."

Scarlett turned to him with the most determined look on her face and threw her arms around his neck.

"I love you and only you. I don't want you to remind me of Ashley every time you feel like teasing me."

"I won't. I promise. I'll never mention his name again. Now be a good girl and let me finish, or I'll call Mammy to brush your hair, and she doesn't have my patience and my gentle touch."

When the Butlers finally got out of the house and started walking hand in hand towards the park, to bring their offsprings back, it was like the whole of Atlanta exhaled after having stopped for air the whole morning. But they looked happy enough and in one piece, and Captain Butler at least had the decency to appear a little out of sorts.

Melanie blushed explosively when she saw them, but managed to act as normally as she could under the circumstances. When Rhett decided to put the woman out of her misery and announced he was going to play with the children, she even managed to look him in the eye and thank him. Scarlett wasn't feeling better either. She wanted to apologise and explain to Melly everything, but didn't know how to start and what to say.

As he was walking away, Melly quickly grabbed Scarlett's hand and told her:

"I'm so proud of you, dear Scarlett. You are truly the most courageous person I have ever known. How smart of you to do that. No one is going to believe India's lies now. The whole town applauds you for it."

"Do they now?", Scarlett asked trying to sound indifferent but feeling quite proud. It felt nice for once to have people talk positively about her.

"Of course", Melly continued, the blush covering her face not showing any signs of abating, "I know you did it because you love him as desperately as he loves you. I always knew you were perfect for each other. "

"How…?", Scarlett started asking but stopped. What was the woman blabbering about? "I don't know Melly, maybe you should stop reading all those fancy books you keep reading.", Scarlett said, but her eyes were glittering happily, and she squeezed Melly's hand in return.

"Melly…", she then started her plea in the meekest tone, "I have to tell you…", but Melly grabbed her hand harder and shushed her.

"I'm not going to listen to you apologising for something you have no fault in.", and Scarlett's heart almost broke hearing her sister-in-law speak with such confidence.

"If only!", she thought.

Melly went on saying God knows what, but Scarlett wasn't listening to her anymore. A long line of people appeared in front of her eyes, people she had lied to, cheated on, stole from. Charles with his big, innocent eyes, Suellen with tears her pinched face, Frank, oh Frank, how she had used and abused Frank on every occasion. She looked at Melly, at her small determined face and tiny body in a decisive stance, going on about how everyone was jealous, and felt a shame so formidable she almost felt the need to crouch at the woman's feet.

But Melly, serene as always, hugged her and whispered in her ear: "There, there, Scarlett dearest. It will get better, you'll see. I'll make sure no one gossips about you anymore.", and Scarlett hugged her back and thought how Melly was more like Ellen than she had ever been.

The children were gathered under an old walnut tree, where Wade and Beau had found the dead body of a squirrel. They were all having different reactions to this discovery, each according to their personality. The boys, though they felt a little sad that a cute squirrel had died, were finding far more entertaining to push it with sticks towards Ella, who was crying and screaming. Bonnie was looking at the scene with some confusion, not knowing if she should join them or make a fuss like her sister. Rhett admonished the boys, who quickly apologised, and lifted Ella in his arms, shushing her. Bonnie quickly grabbed his leg and started wailing "Up, Daddy, up!" Rhett lifted her too, thinking for a second that he was getting old, and, abandoning all thoughts of playing anything, started walking back to his wife.

When Scarlett saw Ella red and teary, a quick look of irritation passed her face. But Rhett gave her a warning look, and she smiled and held her hands out for her ginger haired daughter. "Why not start today?", she thought, "I want to be a better mother, why not start right now?".

Ella went to her mother's arms and started her usual long line of questions: "Mother, there was a dead squirrel and the boys were mean, and mother, why was the squirrel dead? Do birds also die? Is Wade's dog going to die too? Do they all go to Heaven, with my Daddy?"

Bonnie looked at her sister for a second and decided she wanted to be in her mother's arms too.

"Mama hold Bonnie" she said.

"I can't hold you both, Bonnie darling. I'm not as strong as Daddy."

"Daddy strong.", Bonnie said with pride and kissed his cheek.

"Yes, baby. Daddy strong.", Scarlett sighted. "Is this how my life is going to be?", she thought. "Thank God for Mammy. And for Rhett. How did Mother do it all?"

She looked in Wade's direction and saw him lowering his eyes. She remembered Charles, maybe for the first time in her life, with some affection. She went to his side and grabbed his hand, noticing the surprised look he gave her. "Let's go home.", she sighted again. "I think we all had enough excitement for the day."

After supper, and after the children started their long and arduous climb tot the nursery, stoping on every step of the stairs to ask a question, complain about each other and remember something that needed to be discussed at that very moment, Scarlett, feeling an impressive headache coming her way went to relax by checking the ledgers and counting money.

Rhett came in and started moving aimlessly around the room.

"God's nightgown, Rhett. Stop fidgeting.", she said without looking at him. "You're worse than the children."

Rhett stopped. "I'm going out.", he announced.

Scarlett finally lifted her eyes, dangerously narrowed, and said: "No!". Remembering she wanted to be a sweet, dutiful wife, she started in a honeyed tone: "But, Rhett, who's going to make Bonnie fall asleep? You know you're the only one who can."

"You are, now that you've discovered among your many talents the one of being a mother. I have to go and talk to Belle about the ownership of the house." Apologise, set the bill and leave like the hounds of hell are at my heels, he mentally added. Only now he was going to run home, to his bewitching and simple at the same time wife. Let her throw at him whatever she wanted, he was hers and she was his and he didn't care anymore. He was going to mock her subtly and make her angry, because that simply couldn't be helped, and kiss her and make love to her until she forgave him again and again until his last day. And the thought of another baby, hopefully another girl, was making his heart flutter as if he was a young girl with her dance card full on her first ball. Poor Belle, he thought with some nostalgia, her job was done.

"You said you want me to sell it, right?", he said, managing with some effort to interrupt his own daydreaming .

"Oh yes, Rhett, I do. But can't you go like a normal person, during the day?"

"Would you like the circus to start anew? What would the good citizens of Atlanta believe if they saw my horse in front of her house during daytime?"

"They would probably feel sorry for me, again.", Scarlett said, undisturbed.

"I only need half an hour, my dear. And then I'll be home, under your thumb, for the rest of my life." Rhett was kneeling in front of her chair and taking her hands in his. Seeing him looking at her so starry eyed, Scarlett sighted and her mouth opened ready for the kiss that was going to follow…

"What? No, Rhett Butler, I'm not falling for your tricks again. Talk to your lawyers. Let them handle this."

"I will do that tomorrow. But I have some things that I need talk about with the woman, to make sure that everything will be handled with discretion.", Rhett lied smoothly, kissing her hands. "You don't want anymore gossip, do you now?"

Scarlett jumped from her chair at the thought. That was something she couldn't even imagine. For everyone to know what she did with her husband in a whorehouse…no, she never wanted to think about that ever again.

Rhett's hands went around her waist and pulled her to him. He started gently kissing her neck and slowly moving his palms up to her breasts. "I'll be home in less than half an hour, Scarlett. Maybe you could think of ways to reward me while I'm gone. I wouldn't mind finding you naked and cold and lonely in your big bed."

Scarlett slapped his hands away and started towards the door. "Ha! Dream on Captain Butler! You'll have to work hard to convince me tonight."

"I'm certainly dreaming. Bonnie needs at least an hour to fall asleep. I'll probably have to carry you snoring to our bedroom and do the job myself."

"Half an hour, Rhett.", Scarlett said, starting to climb the stairs. And then, looking back at his handsome face, she added lovingly : "Next time I'll shoot you, I promise."

Hours later, when only stifled moans and giggles could be heard from the biggest house on Peachtree street, Belle Watling was siting in her office with a glass of champagne. On the desk in front of her was a generous check with Rhett's firm signature underneath. The Butlers were going away, it seemed. Good for them, she thought. She was quite relieved to be free of Rhett's moods and the drama that was his marriage. Sure, she was always sad to see him go, but she had learned many years ago that he wasn't hers and her heart had healed in time.

When he entered her office tonight, trying hard to look remorseful, Belle had only waved her hand and accepted his apologies as nothing had happened, although half of her arm was blue because of Scarlett's riding crop. She could see he was jumpy and desperate to leave, so she graciously accepted the check and assured him she was going to meet with his lawyer to sign whatever papers they might give her. Maybe sending that anonymous note hadn't been such a bad idea.

She should leave too, she mused. Now that she was the sole owner of the business she could sell and move to New Orleans. She was tired of long nights and drunkards. Her son was growing so fast and she didn't want him to ruin his chances, considering he was doing well enough in school.

Belle sighted, thinking of the boy who wrote the note. Almost a year ago, this young, delicate young man entered her establishment looking for work as a piano player. He was the bastard son of a plantation owner, educated and polite to a fault. He was also suffering from consumption and all the doctors Belle brought in only gave him a few months to live. He was so grateful that Belle took care of him, he even started to help her with the books of the place, without anyone knowing. Belle could write, but not very well, so his help and gentle manners had been welcomed.

After putting Rhett to bed three nights ago, she asked him to write a note and Scarlett's name on the envelope. With the words trembling on her lips and nervous hands playing with the tassels of her dress, she told him to write: "Your husband loves you. He's at Belle's." The boy barely managed between coughing fits.

She had played with the note for hours, not knowing if she should send it or not. She was terrified to think of Rhett's reaction if he ever found out. In the end, she got dressed in old clothes and left at four in the morning to push the envelope under the door of the Butler residence. She never imagined Scarlett would come to her house, she just thought it would make her jealous enough or angry enough to do something, anything and try to fix her marriage.

Well, the poor boy was dying, it was only a matter of days now. Rhett and his tempestuous wife would be gone for at least eight months. No one would ever know of her involvement, Belle thought and lifted her glass to an imaginary partner. Maybe it had been for the best.

THE END

AN: If you've got this far, thank you for reading. I hope there aren't any glaring mistakes, or not a lot of them. This is the first time in years when I write something not boring and my first attempt at fanfiction, so I would love to hear what you think.