Thank you all for viewing and reviewing!

As promised, here is Chapter 10... Rosemary is showing her teeth... I enjoyed writing this chapter very much! I hope you will enjoy reading it as well!

Well, enough with the bubbling... Let the war begin... :-)

CHAPTER 10

After spending a whole afternoon in King Street trying to organize their trip to New Orleans in such short notice, Scarlett's single wish was to return home, take a hot bath and just lie on the couch for the rest of the evening doing practically nothing. Alas! This was not going to happen any time soon, she thought with frustration, when she stepped through the door. Sitting in the parlor along with Eleanor and Rosemary was Caroline Sharp. And sharp she was to the letter, especially her tongue. The first time she met her she thought Caroline was a very agreeable lady. She was in her early forties, short and fleshy, her round face always smiling and flushed, two smart brown eyes observing everything. She was a widow, one of the many that the War created; her husband died at the Battle of Antietam back in 1862. Unfortunately they didn't have children and she was currently living with her old mother, the only relative she had left. She appeared to be really fond of Scarlett from the moment they were introduced. Scarlett was thrilled with that, for Caroline was pleasant and funny and she saw a possible friend in her. Rhett almost choked with laughter, when she told him so the very same day and Eleanor tried really hard to suppress her giggles.

"My dear," he uttered, when he caught his breath, his eyes watery from all the laughing, "you remain absolutely hopeless when it comes to judging people."

"Pray, can you elaborate, if that's not too much to ask?" she said icily. How dared he offend her like that in front of his mother?

"What Rhett means, darling, is that you should be really careful around Caroline," Eleanor made an attempt to smooth her daughter's-in law feathers.

"Whatever for?" she wondered. "She is such an adorable person."

"Well, yes, she is a darling. But she is also Charleston's number one gossip teller," Eleanor explained kindly and caused a second round of roaring laughter coming from Rhett.

And there she was standing up to greet her, all smiles and compliments, when she entered the parlor.

"Why, Scarlett, it's so good to see you! How are you, my dear?" she took her hands in hers and squeezed them slightly.

"Caroline! What a pleasant surprise! I'm fine, thank you! And you?" she faked a sweet smile.

"Would you like a cup of tea, Scarlett?" Eleanor stepped in.

"I would love one, Miss Eleanor," she looked at her with gratitude and took a seat next to Rosemary."Good Lord," she whispered to her in a conspiring voice. "Which poor creature is she dredging up today?"

Instead of a giggle a grim look was all she got.

"Actually, it is quite an interesting story, Scarlett," she whispered back. "I'm sure you will come to like it."

Scarlett arched her eyebrows up in unpleasant surprise and opened her mouth to demand an explanation, but Caroline's voice drew her attention.

"You arrived just on time, my dear. I was just telling the ladies about the Evanses. The juicy part is about to begin," she chose her words carefully making sure Scarlett would take the bait.

"Henriett and Francis Evans?" Scarlett puzzled.

"The very same," she said all too emphatically. "I understand your astonishment, believe me. They were such a quiet couple. Who could have guessed that they would be in the centre of such a scandal!"

"A scandal? Why? What happened?" curiosity got the better of her just as it was expected.

Caroline was in the gossip telling for years. She knew exactly how to present a story and prolong the suspense until her audience would be hanging from her lips. This story deserved all her talent.

"It all happened at the Christmas Ball the other night. It was an undeniable success, as you must already know. We were having a marvelous time. The punch and the champagne were flowing, the music was excellent. It's been years since I danced so much," she laughed. "Suddenly we heard loud voices coming from the outside. Imagine how loud the voices were, because I tell you, the music was loud enough! We all stormed out in the garden terrified. Something terrible much have happened," she paused for a second to emphasize. "Henriett and Francis were standing right there, screaming to each other like madmen. The names they were calling each other… Dear God! I can't even bring myself to repeat them!" she sighed with embarrassment forcing herself to blush even more.

She scanned the parlor to ensure that she still had everyone's undivided attention and then her eyes gleamed with excitement. It was time for the best part.

"Apparently," she stressed the word "Francis went in search for his wife and he found her in the garden… in the arms of another man!"

Before she had a chance to react to the information, Scarlett felt Rosemary's eyes gawked on her. She turned to face her and what she saw made her blood turn cold.

"I told you it was an interesting story, didn't I?" she grinned maliciously, her eyes full of resentment.

She knows, she thought in panic. How is that possible? Her mind was working frantically trying to find the answer to that question. Could she have acquaintances in Atlanta that informed her? But this would mean that she inquired about her. And why would she do that? Since her arrival, Scarlett was nothing but pleasant to her. She knew that Rosemary was skeptical about her, but she had hoped that with time she would relax. She was Rhett's beloved sister. All she ever wanted was for them to get along. But since she knew, her whole attitude made perfect sense. In Rosemary's eyes, she was the vicious, cheating wife. How on earth did she find out? And what about Miss Eleanor? Did she know too? The single thought of Eleanor resenting her was unbearable. No, anything but that.

"Scarlett, darling, are you alright?" Eleanor's concerned voice brought her back to reality. "You look really pale."

"She is shocked, Eleanor," Caroline said. "Isn't it obvious? How can she not be? The magnitude of the scandal!"

"Dear Caroline, certainly it's not the first time she hears of something like that. She probably has a lot to add from her own experience. Am I right, Scarlett?" Rosemary said in a flat voice.

Was she going to expose her? Was that her plan all along, but just waiting for the right opportunity to occur?

"Rosemary!" Eleanor exclaimed. "How could Scarlett have an experience like that? The mere suggestion!"

Scarlett exhaled inwardly. Eleanor didn't know.

"Mother, naturally that's not what I meant. Scarlett lived in Atlanta for years," she looked at her again. "Rhett had repeatedly told me what a modern city it is. I'm sure you had plenty of scandals like that."

Was she implying the unthinkable? No, no, it was impossible. Rhett would never do that. Would he? No time for that, she thought. And as always Scarlett's monumental coolness in the sight of danger kicked in. She wasn't going to make it easy for her. Not without a fight. She gave her sister-in-law an innocent smile, her eyes flashing in warning. Later, was the loud and clear message. Rosemary gave her an even look. Later.

"I'm afraid I will disappoint you, Rosemary. I don't think I can recall any scandal as big as this one," she turned to Caroline. "So, do we know who this other man is?" she asked.

Shortly before supper Scarlett entered the library ready to face Rosemary. Thankfully Rhett wasn't home yet. She found her sitting on the armchair reading a book. Apparently she was expecting her for she didn't even raise her eyes from the book.

"You put on quite a show earlier this evening," she said icily.

"Me a show? You are the one acting her role around here," Rosemary answered calmly.

"Am I? How so?"

"You can fool everyone, Scarlett, but you can't fool me. I know about your reputation back in Atlanta. You have been banned from decent society for years. And if it wasn't for your late sister-in-law, no decent family would receive you."

"You seem to be very well informed," Scarlett grinned. "It makes me wonder though. You of all people should know that appearances can be deceiving. You are, after all, the sister of a man who wasn't received either. Who people think he is and who he is in reality are two completely different things."

Rosemary didn't see that coming. She was taken aback.

"You are nothing like my brother," she protested.

"Are you sure about that? He seem to think we are cut from the same cloth. And he knows me much more than you do."

"You can't blame me for being suspicious about a woman who I met two weeks ago after being married to my brother for six years."

"I don't blame you for being suspicious. That, I understand," she was beginning to lose patience. "What I don't understand is why a clever woman like you chooses to base her opinion on gossip instead of forming one of her own. What I also don't understand is you acting sweet and kind in front of you brother and be nothing but hints and jabs behind his back. Why are you doing this?"

"Because I don't trust you," she stated.

"And what exactly do you think you can achieve by acting like that? How will your brother feel if he finds out?"

"I suppose you plan to inform him?" Rosemary derided.

"No, I don't. It may come as a surprise to you, but I care about your brother. He loves you and he wants us to get along. Your mother as well. That's why I'm here."

"Look at you, being affectionate and considerate about my family."

"They are my family too. Your informants didn't do a very good job after all. They should have told you that there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect my family."

"Are you threatening me?" she asked.

"No. I'm just being frank with you. I won't have you distressing them, because someone filled your head with silly ideas about me."

"Even if that someone is your very own husband?" she spat and made Scarlett's breath caught in her throat.

"Do you honestly think I would believe something as hideous as that?" she asked incredulously.

"Believe it or not, it's true. Rhett told me everything about you marriage. So spare me the whole "I love my husband" speech. It may have worked with Mother, but it won't work with me."

"For the loving sister you proclaim yourself to be, you betrayed his trust very easily, Rosemary. What does that say about you?" Scarlett said and from the way all color was drained from Rosemary's face she knew she had touched a sore spot.

She moved to the door with the air of someone who had won a battle. She halted at the doorway and turned to Rosemary again.

"One last thing. Consider it a friendly advice from a married woman," she stressed the word loud enough. "Duplicity and back stabbing aren't among the virtues that a man values when he sets to choose a wife."

Rosemary turned crimson and her eyes flashed with rage.

"And that's an advice coming from a woman who buried two husbands and made the third one consider a divorce," the words came out before she could stop them. Too late. Scarlett's jaw dropped ajar and Rosemary knew she had said too much. Scarlett wouldn't never let this go. They heard the front door open and they knew that Rhett was home and this conversation was temporarily over.

It was an unusually quiet supper. Rhett was observing his sister and his wife closely. Something was terribly wrong. Scarlett was grubbing her plate listlessly, keeping her head down. Rosemary appeared to make quite an effort to swallow her food.

"Could you pass me the salt, please?" Rosemary asked Scarlett.

And she did, without even making eye contact.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome," came the mumbled response.

"Is everything alright?" he dared to ask.

"Yes," they answered in unison and they raised their gaze to him, faking smiles. Apparently for the sake of Eleanor whose eyes were rapidly going from one to the other in clear bewilderment.

And there in front of him was the answer to the mystery. Rosemary's eyes were filled with guilt and remorse. Scarlett's, on the other hand, were gleaming dangerously. She was way past furious. Damn it! He had hoped against hope that Rosemary would keep her promise. It was more than obvious that she didn't. Scarlett knew. How much?

"If you'll excuse me, I think I will retire," Scarlett said flatly and threw her napkin on the table. "I have a horrible headache." And with that she left the room.

He gave Rosemary a stern look, which only caused his sister to drop her head apologetically.

"Rhett, she is not sick, is she? She barely touched her food," Eleanor worried. "Please go and check on her."

When he went upstairs to find their bedroom door wide open and the guestroom door closed, he knew that the damage was far more severe than he had feared. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"It's me," he said.

"You can go to Halifax and never come back," was the angry response.

He turned the doorknob.

"Don't you dare come in here, Rhett Butler," she warned.

He opened the door anyway.

I thought about including the second fight of the day in this chapter, but it would have been too long... I also wanted to prolong the suspense... :-P

Please review and tell me what you think! :-)))