Kindness of Strangers
Chapter 10
The small child scrambled behind her governess and clung to her skirts when set on the ground. Scarlett and Rhett looked to each other in concern, what if Emmie refused to accept them as her new guardians? Neither of them expected to become replacement parents to the small girl, but they didn't want her to hate them either.
"Emmie, these people are going to look after you from now on. Come out and say hello like a nice little girl." the woman said prying little hands off her dress.
Emmie's eyes widened, "No!"
"Emmie dear, you must. They so desperately want to meet you."
But the girl was adamant, and it wasn't long before she started crying, "No! No! No!"
Seeing the governess struggle with embarrassment, Rhett stepped forward calmly and got to the girls eye level. "Hello Emmie. That's an awfully pretty dress you have on. Is green your favorite color?"
Scarlett watched him in silence, she wondered if he was remembering Bonnie. Rhett had a way with children, a gentleness Scarlett never possessed.
"Yes..."
"You're a pretty little thing. You look like a princess."
Emmie smiled wiping her tears away, she tugged at the nanny's skirts and whispered, "He says I'm a Princess!"
Rhett smiled softly, "You know Emmie, princesses live in palaces. I own one myself, that you're welcome to share with me."
"Are you the King there?"
Scarlett cocked her brow as Rhett laughed amused, "I suppose."
"And she's the Queen?" Emmie asked pointing her finger to Scarlett.
"Oh, yes."
"And I'll be your Princess, and you'll protect me from the mean dragons?"
Rhett's heart stung for a moment before he answered, "Always."
Emmie brought the house back to life again, and although no one could ever replace Bonnie, Rhett adored and spoiled Emmie instantly.
Emmie soaked up his attention with pleasure, she was a rather vain child. Rhett was not a stranger to her, and it wasn't before long Emmie lost memory's of her real parents and replaced them with Rhett and Scarlett instead.
Like always, Scarlett's maternal tendencies lacked, but she fully realized this. While she wanted to be better, and try to fix her past mistakes, it was hard to achieve.
In ways Emmie was extremely different from Bonnie, but in other ways just the same. Although Emmie reminded Scarlett more of herself than anyone else. She was confident and scheming. Scarlett could often see the child thinking of a way to get what she wanted, never acting rashly as Bonnie had often done.
Scarlett and Emmie's relationship was somewhat a strained one. Scarlett often saw through Emmie's devices, and hardly paid any attention. Where Rhett would only fuel the child's behavior.
Scarlett shut her eyes in irritation trying to block out the girls small whining cries. "I didn't do it Daddy. I didn't do it!" Emmie pouted.
"Mrs. Merriwether states other wise." Scarlett pointed out. "She says you broke her vase because you were acting foolish. You shouldn't act poorly in other peoples houses, it isn't right." Her tone was firm and scolding.
Emmie continued to pout however, and eventually convinced Rhett otherwise. "Of course you didn't mean to break the vase Emmie. Now stop you're crying, I simply won't have it. I'll go over to Mrs. Merriwether's in the morning and have everything straightened out."
When Scarlett brought Emmie's behavior to Rhett's attention later that night, Rhett simply laughed at her, "Oh Scarlett! Do you know I believe you're just jealous?"
"Me jealous!" Scarlett scoffed. "Of a three year old?"
"Either that, or it irritates you that she's just like you." Rhett snickered.
Scarlett's cheeks reddened, there was truth in that statement but she would never admit it. "Well... you don't help any! You only encourage her."
"My pet, she's a child. A harmless child, I think her behavior is rather cute."
"Oh fiddle-dee-dee! You condemned me for such behavior! But it's perfectly acceptable from a small child!"
Rhett laughed, "And now the truth is revealed. I didn't condemn you Scarlett, and I'll ask you not to condemn an innocent child." Rhett ended the conversation after that, leaving Scarlett to herself more infuriated then before.
It was a great surprise to Scarlett when she was awoken in the middle of the night by Emmie, who looked beyond terrified. "Emmie..." Scarlett yawned lighting the candle by her bed. "What's wrong?"
"I had a nightmare!" she cried clutching her stuffed bear to her chest.
"A nightmare?" Scarlett questioned still coming to senses. What was Emmie doing in her room, why wouldn't she just go to Rhett? And since when did the child have nightmares, or even remotely wake up in the middle of the night? But Scarlett noticed how scared the child really was. Emmie's green eyes were wide and wild, her face pale as a ghost. "Emmie...?" Scarlett whispered to the child somewhat concerned.
But Emmie didn't move, and her crying had subsided. Now she stood like stone, her eyes empty.
Scarlett reached out for her and pulled her closer, "What happened in the dream Emmie? Tell me."
There was no answer, Emmie could only shake her head in silence.
Genuinely worried now, Scarlett looked around the room before deciding, "Would you like to sleep in here for the rest of the night Emmie? You'll be safe in here. And whatever you dreamed about won't come back."
Emmie looked at Scarlett in surprise but nodded her head and lifted her arms up so Scarlett could lift her onto the oversized bed she could not climb herself.
Rhett was surprised to hear of the episode in the morning, as he was puzzled just as Scarlett had been. Emmie had never had any trouble sleeping before.
And yet, such episodes reoccured every night after that, and Emmie always retreated to Scarlett.
"I just wish I knew what she was having nightmares about..." Scarlett said. "It doesn't make sense."
Rhett rubbed the back of his neck, "We never found out how Henry and Isabella died- did we?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Hmmm... I think I'm going to visit Thomas Wilkes tomorrow." Rhett decided.
Scarlett stared at him, clueless of his implications, and he didn't bother to fill her in.