Happy Valentines Day everyone. I will post chapter 11 on Saturday :) Thanks once again to djeanne, Mrs. Scarlettbutler, Joyce LaKee and missysammy. :) You all made my day and I hope you enjoy chapter 10.

Part 10

Rosmary and Eleanor preceded Rhett and left the parlor, leaving Scarlett and Rhett alone. Rhett bowed elegantly as she made her way out of the parlor and he followed. Scarlett could feel the tension pulsating though the air as Rhett and her wordlessly made their way up the stairs to the second floor. The floor reminded her a lot like a ship, it was plain yet something about the plain hardwood floor was elegant. She waited for Rhett until he came to a whitewashed door to the left and opened it.

She entered and saw the room was overwhelmingly masculine. There was a desk, a few upholstered chairs and one large french window to the east. There was a dresser also and one large oval mirror hanging directly in front of the four poster bed on the sand colored wall. Nothing was striking about the room except that it was his. It looked unoccupied for it was neat to a fault, but Scarlett knew this was indeed Rhett's room. She could smell the faint smell of cigars and saw a decanter of brandy on the desk.

Scarlett turned towards Rhett after her inspection and smiled, hoping to win a smile or a word from him. But he merely observed her, leaning against the door nochantly. She wondered if he would speak or help her dress. She blushed awkwardly.

"Well?" she finally asked.

His brows rose. "Well what?"

"Aren't you going to help me dress?" she asked, blushing a deeper shade.

His eyes roamed over her body as if eyeing a horse. "No, I'll send Lucille up." He turned on his heel and left, shutting the door behind him. She heard his footsteps disappear down the hall.

After a supper of crab soup and at least three courses, Scarlett lay under the fresh sheets with her blue nightgown on and hair unbound, the only color she had worn in weeks. She idly played with her sleeve and wondered where Rhett was. The clock on the side board read ten o'clock and she hadn't seen him for two hours since leaving the parlor.

Lucille had helped her dress into her nightgown, her mind replaying the events of supper. The conversation had been most enjoyable with Rosemary's talk of Europe. Supper had went well except for Rhett balantly ignoring her most of the time.

Oh, well all that will change, she thought as she lightly slid off of the bed and went to inspect herself in the mirror. She had all ready given her hair the usual one hundred strokes but she grabbed her brush and quickly, brushing a few extra times until it looked like it shun. She did still look pale but her eyes did look more becoming.

Hearing footsteps sent her quickly running for the bed. She placed the sheets quickly around her and smoothed her hair. Placing her face into placid lines she lightly smiled as the door opened and she saw Rhett. His coat was off and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His cape was carelessly draped over his shoulder and he had a cigar hanging from his mouth as he shut the door behind him. The room seemed even smaller compared to his broad shoulders that seemed to consume the room.

"Hello," she calmly said with a smile and lowered her eyes. She felt as nervous as a bride but forced herself to raise her eyes to his. But he wasn't looking at her. He threw his cape on a chair and began to untie his caveat. Throwing it carelessly down, he took his cigar and squashed out the stub on a ashtray.

"I see you got undressed with no trouble," he observed after a moment of silence. He strode over to her side of the bed so suddenly her heart stopped and pulse drummed in excitement. He's going to kiss me, she thought. And she wanted nothing more but instead of taking her in his arms, he staid back. "Get up."

"What?" She tried to not let her befuddlement show but failed as her eyes met his. "Rhett, why on earth would I-"

"Get up," he ordered and when she refused to move she felt his hands on her arms as he pulled her up as if she weighed no more then a rag doll and pulled her onto her feet. He moved past her and bent over, pulling a coverlet from the bed and throwing it on the floor. He threw a couple of pillows on the floor also.

"Why, Rhett! What on earth are you doing?" It then dawned on her. "You don't expect me to sleep-"

"I wouldn't dream of making Scarlett O'Hara sleep on the floor. Well, I told you I wouldn't be a loving husband to you didn't I? I'll be sleeping on the floor tonight."

"But-" she protested but her protest died in her throat. "Fine then. It doesn't bother me one bit.. You could sleep outside for all I care and I wouldn't loose any sleep, Rhett Butler." She moved past him as he kneeled down to arrange the heap of coverlets and pillows on the floor.

He looked up at her perched on the bed. He rose to his feet and snuffed out the lantern. She was still sitting on the bed and only a scant bit of moonlight shun in. She could see the outline of his body as he moved around the room and heard the sound of him undressing. Her face flamed as she quickly slid under the coverlet and pulled the blankets to her chin. She tried to avert her gaze but curiosity got the better of her as she got a dark glimpse of Rhett placing his robe on and saw him tie the belt. It amazed her that he slept naked come winter or summer. She knew he was only wearing the robe for modesty, for once she damned his modesty. She blushed at her train of thoughts.

"You can stop watching me undress, Scarlett," he said, with some amusement in his voice.

"I don't know what you mean," she lied.

He didn't reply but she saw him kneel down and lay his long body down on the coverlet and arrange the pillows under his head. She heard him sigh. "You're still the worst liar. I won't have you lying to me or pulling your childish schemes in an attempt to win my affections. After New Years I'm sending you back to Atlanta. No objections I hope."

It was on the tip of her tongue to fight and protest but she held back a retort. "No..." and after a moment, "Are you terribly uncomfortable?"

"I've slept in worst conditions." She saw him somehow manage to light a match in the dark and saw the deep glow of his cigar as he deeply exhaled. She curiously watched him in the darkness of the night. She hadn't paid him much heed but now there was something about him she couldn't understand. Something waiting to be grasped. He had always mystified her and thrilled her.

"Is it when your father kicked you out?" she asked with a yawn. She was tired but she wanted to hear his deep voice. She drowsily remembered how he had once told her how his father had disowned him.

"Yes. If he could see me now he would see a son richer then the president and him dead in his grave." She saw him stub out his cigar and turn over, his back facing her.

"Good night, Scarlett."

"Good night, Rhett," she echoed. She tried to sleep but her mind refused to let her. This night wasn't turning out like she had expected. Rhett wasn't in her bed and might as well be millions of miles away. She frowned like an displeased child and spent most of the night plotting on ways to lure him into her bed.

TBC