When Rhett returned for Wade's 14th birthday, he presented Wade with a horse of his own. Then he spent hours patiently teaching him to be an excellent horseman. Scarlett felt a little left out, but she pretended not to mind and spent the time with Ella. She taught Ella some pretty piano duets that they could play together. Then Ella had the idea of a musical evening, just for the four of them. Ella wrote invitations to Rhett and Wade in her best cursive writing, to join them in the parlour that evening.

They all dressed in evening wear. The evening program began with Ella and Scarlett playing their duets. Rhett and Wade applauded appreciatively. Then Wade played the clarinet, and following that Wade and Ella sang together while Scarlett accompanied them on the piano. Then Rhett urged Scarlett to sing and play for them. As her voice rose and fell Rhett could not take his eyes off her. When the song ended, he hastened to break the mood. He stood up and announced 'Now I would like to sing you a new song called 'The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze'.' His voice ran out, loud and clear, as he sang unaccompanied;

'He floats through the air
With the greatest of ease
The daring young man
On the flying trapeze
His movements are graceful
He tries hard to please
I know that he must be the best'

This time it was Scarlett's turn to be entranced. How nice to hear a song that wasn't about war or broken hearts or yearning for the old days. What a deep, rich voice he had. It sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. As the song ended, Rhett bowed deeply and they all laughed and clapped.

After Wade and Ella had gone off to bed, Rhett invited Scarlett to join him for a nightcap. It was the first time Rhett had not disappeared to his room as soon as the children went to bed, and Scarlett accepted his invitation readily.

As they sat together in the candlelight however, there was a tension between them.

It had been such a pleasant evening, but now, without the children, there was nothing to distract them from awareness of the other. Rhett lit a cigar and his eyes flicked over her, but he said nothing. Scarlett's chest rose and fell rapidly as she sought to maintain her composure.

Rhett saw her discomposure and it added to his own. She was a beautiful woman, he thought, even more now than when he first knew her. He eyed her appreciatively. She was strong, resilient, passionate. . .

He stood abruptly and pushed his chair back. 'Forgive me, I find I must retire after all. Good night.' And he hastily retreated to his room, leaving Scarlett alone, wondering what had gone wrong.

The next morning Rhett was not home when Scarlett got up, and she wondered if he had left town again. But he returned in the afternoon, saying he had been riding. He seemed pensive on his return, and Scarlett left him to smoke on the veranda.

At dinner that night, he announced that he would be leaving the following morning. 'But Rhett', Scarlett protested, 'you said you would stay until Saturday'.

'My plans have changed,' he replied abruptly.

She took a deep breath. Disappointment showed clearly on her face but she responded calmly, 'Very well, Rhett, do what you must'.

'Thank you my dear', he said quietly.

She looked at him sharply. Sometimes he seemed almost to love her, yet at other times he couldn't stand to be in same room as her. It was most confusing.

Rhett caught the early train to Charleston the following morning, and Scarlett was left feeling bereft again. To distract herself, she visited the store and spent the morning pouring over the accounts. Business was going well and it did cheer her somewhat to see that she was making a tidy profit. She spent some time serving behind the counter while Willie was at lunch, and found that she was actually enjoying herself.

After lunch she came home and sat in the shade on the back veranda with a cool drink. However she could never quite enjoy the view of the garden without visualising Bonnie's lifeless form sprawled on the grass, so after she had finished her drink she walked down into the garden to find a shady spot. As she sat under a tree, her thoughts turned again to Rhett. She wondered what he did when he was away, and whether he was happy. He certainly looked well. She sighed. He was so secretive, she sometimes felt she hardly knew him at all. She wondered if life would go on forever as it was now, with an aching void between them.