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Beta-edited by Lawdymissscarlett
A/n: Something went into my eye, caused me much pain. The doctor fears infection and has prescribed eye drops. This took much of my free time, which is so less as it is :( Also I have started to write a Pride and Prejudice fic, when I posted it I got an overwhelming support. Something I never imagined I would ever get so early in a fic. But then again you all have supported this fic quite well, I must say a few years back I did dream of over 100 reviews but never got more than 20..
A special thank you to the reviewers of the last chapter: rhett's love, Jamistarme1, surose, littlemsstrawberry, scifiromance, Khanah linh and guests.
Recap: Rhett Butler had concluded his business in Columbia. He exchanged all the paper money he had for gold. He also formally enlisted. He was now an honourable member of the Confederate navy. As an enlisted blockade runner he had received some cotton that would be shipped to England in his vessel. He was also invited to a ball to take place on the 19th of June, in honour of the troops and regiments of South Carolina.
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Chapter 13: The Preparations
Suellen O'Hara sat on the sunlit parlour, with her bonnet in her hand. She was re-trimming it with some lace generously provided by her Aunt Pauline, while listening to her Uncle Carey drone on about Shakespeare. This was in essence an extension of lessons. But for once Suellen did not complain.
Suellen's lessons had progressed after Scarlett left. And she showed marked improvement ever since the news of Scarlett's departure to Columbia came to them in form of a letter penned by Eulalie. Her mood was still sour because of all the reprimands she bore all day. But that all changed once an invitation to the Butler's soirée came for her aunt and her. Realising that Suellen was the kind of person who strived hard when motivated with incentives, Pauline presented her with a new evening gown for the soiree along with some matching lace to trim her bonnet with after Suellen rendered a soulful piano performance.
It wasn't perfect, thought Aunt Pauline, but it was definitely a start.
Thus the three of them sat content, Suellen happy to get a dress and an opportunity socialise, Aunt Pauline at Suellen's progress, and Uncle Carey was happy simply by airing his opinion about the bard.
They spent all day thus until the sun set. Thereafter they dispersed, Suellen to practice on the piano, Uncle Carey to his study to oversee the plantation matters and Aunt Pauline to supervise setting of the table.
R&S
The sun set in Columbia saw three weary girls: Scarlett, Melanie and India, along with Uncle Henry and Aunt Eulalie accompanied Charles Hamilton outside the hospital. Charles was free to join his troop. Lieutenant Ashburn joined them too, at the entrance. He was on horseback, dressed in his grey confederate uniform with gleaming bronze buttons and a yellow sash. Scarlett thought he never looked more dashing and she smiled at him while flirtatiously glancing at him from underneath her lashes.
Sadly, Lieutenant Ashburn had no time to wait on the ladies. He had come there to take Charles back and hand to the ladies the formal letter of invitation to ball, from Colonel Hampton himself.
Melanie hugged Charles before he mounted his horse and cheerfully bid him farewell. It was only after he left she burst into silent tears. India held her hand, while Scarlett stroked her hair while supporting her trembling form. It was all rather awkward for Scarlett who was not the maternal type. And Melanie Hamilton in her present state looked more childlike than ever. Her underdeveloped body always made her look like a twelve year old masquerading in her mother's hoop skirt and her weeping form only heightening that illusion.
So it was a comfort to Scarlett when Aunt Eulalie suggested they should all retire to their rooms and rest.
R&S
Rhett Butler found himself near the red-light district of Columbia as the sky darkened. The Congaree River flowed swiftly besides the road. The sun had set some time ago, and its afterglow had disappeared too, but the sky hadn't gone all back yet. It was what the artiste called "l'heure bleue."
He could see Venus shining brightly in the sky. Venus the goddess of love, the one woman he wished he had seduced before he marred Scarlett. For Scarlett, was just like Atlanta, the huntress, who killed those suitors who couldn't outrun her. Perhaps if he had prayed to Aphrodite like Hippomenes!
Rhett let out a bitter laugh.
R&S
The sky was now dark and full of stars but no one was there to admire them, everyone was inside. Rhett Butler was in a sporting house drinking Bourbon and having a friendly game of cards. The madam of the house sat beside him. She called herself Désirée Cousteau.
When Rhett won the game again the men who were playing against him, claimed that the lady luck favoured him and went upstairs leaving cards in favour of a more pleasurable pursuit. After all of them left, Rhett let out a loud amused laugh.
Desiree chuckled too, drawing Rhett's attention towards her. Her hair were bleached and set in elaborate curls upon her head, her eyes were dark and her figure voluptuous. She was obviously as old as Rhett, and her self-assured mannerism suggested she was equally experienced.
"You have caused the night to start early," she said in a deep alluring voice.
"I'm a villain," said Rhett with a roguish smile, "it is said we are our strongest at night."
"I would say that you're the kind of villain, to whom day or night wouldn't matter," she flirted back.
"Perhaps you would like to see our selection," Desiree added, "call it a day and start your night early."
The effect of the sentence was instantaneous; all the women available to Rhett came towards them, each of them trying to show off. There were blonds, brunettes and redheads. One of them clearly had some African blood. She had a delicious caramel coloured skin and curly hair. Rhett considered her for a bit then his eye was caught by another.
She had the same eyes as Scarlett, at least the same shade of green. He studied her features, she had the same square stubborn jaw but that's where the resemblance ended. The girl had light brown hair where Scarlett's hair was dark. Her skin was freckled and the rest of her features coarse as compared to Scarlett, in fact were it not for her green eyes Rhett would have never considered her. She looked rather wild.
Rhett considered this pale imitation of Scarlett for some time then looked away. No, she wasn't Scarlett. Desiree looked at him eagerly. She had been associated with him long enough to know he had a way with women. She was now the madam of the house and off the shelf for regular customers but not for him.
And though Desiree was considered an old woman, Rhett wanted someone his own age, someone with experience. He didn't want wild passion. He wanted to be soothed.
R&S
Scarlett woke up with a start. She looked out of her window only to see darkness. A slender moon peeked at her from its place in the starry blanket and the warm air from the window lulled her.
What woke her up, thought Scarlett, yes that strange dream. She meditated on its strangeness as she lay back on her bed. She remembered being in some gathering in a hall, with stalls: a bazaar perhaps. She remembered seeing a lot of women in pretty dresses and Mr Butler; he was calling her Mrs Hamilton.
Scarlett yawned, her eyes were closed and she could visualise her dream once again.
"Permit me," Rhett Butler said bending over and disentangling the flounce. "I hardly hoped that you would recall me, Miss O'Hara."
Just then Melanie turned towards them. She was dressed in black, clearly she was in mourning. 'What was Melly doing out there dressed in black', though Scarlett. With a start she realised that even she was dressed in black. 'So this is what woke me up', thought Scarlett drowsily. In the back of her mind she remembered she had no clothes for the ball she was attending.
A little man with a basket was now making rounds in the bazaar. People were literally handing over jewellery to him. And with a start it occurred to Scarlett that she had no jewellery to wear to the ball, either. Oh where is Aunt Eulalie, thought Scarlett, only to realise she was dreaming.
She dreamt on lucidly, until finally the fine line between dream and reality finally blurred. The last thing she remembered was a pompous man with a goatee proposing an auction for leading the reel. An idea that Scarlett thought was simply too scandalous to be real.
R&S
The next morning when Scarlett woke up she didn't remember the dream immediately. It was a lazy morning, now that Charles had left the hospital to join his troop. She wasn't required to dress quickly and rush to his side. Now all she had to do was sit and relax. Soon, she would be enjoying a ball, dancing again. That is when she remembered the dream last night, where she dancing with Mr Butler.
"How divine was that dance!" She thought.
She had a content dreamy smile plastered on her face when all of a sudden she remembered her dress, her black mourning dress in the dream. How awful, she thought, shivering. The dream felt too real.
'But I'm not mourning anyone,' whispered Scarlett to herself, 'I haven't even brought any black dress with me.'
To reassure herself she checked her dresses. The pink sash of her rose organdie dress peeped out as if to reassure her, but Scarlett still looked at the various multi-coloured cotton dresses she had brought along with her just in case one of them turned back overnight. After inspecting each and every one of these dresses, she finally pulled out the lavender barred dress, one that made her look school girlish, deciding to wear it today.
Suddenly it hit her, she had no ball dress. She never packed her ball dress, for she never expected to be invited to a ball in Columbia. She yearned for the apple-green, watered-silk ball dress which sat back in her Aunt's home in Charleston.
Oh she couldn't wear a morning dress to the ball. No, morning dresses were plain and modest, with long sleeves and high necks. She would look dowdy in any one of them and what would soldiers think, they wouldn't want to dance with her. And all the girls would mock her and laugh at her.
How awful that would be! She, Scarlett O'Hara belle of three counties, mocked and reduced to being a wall flower. No, though Scarlett, she won't have that. She considered asking help from Aunt Eulalie.
"I must get dressed first," said Scarlett to herself as she rung the bell for Prissy.
R&S
Meanwhile, in another chamber of the Hotel, Melanie Wilkes sat, fully dressed in plain brown dress. Her hair arranged to matronly smoothness, primly in her net. Last night she along with India and Uncle Henry had shifted to the same hotel as Scarlett, Mrs St. Clare's suggestion.
Melanie had slept peacefully, knowing that her brother was alive and well. She woke up early, as was her habit and dressed soon after. Then she sat thinking about Scarlett. In her heart, Scarlett was already her sister and Melanie loved her as much already. She had heard about Scarlett's reputation of being fast, and had wondered if Charles was doing the right thing. She never questioned Chares of course, for Charles was older and a lot smarter.
Now she could see for herself that Chares did right, Scarlett truly loved her brother. Honey didn't even accompany her and Uncle Henry, for all her claim of love for Charles and broken heart at his engagement to Scarlett. She could have easily come with them in India's stead. Melanie shook her head and smiled, all is well that ends well.
With that thought in her head, and her heart filled with love for her sister to be, Melanie had an intense desire to see Scarlett, in order to get to know her better. So she left her room only to knock on the door, which was a few doors left of hers. Melanie stood there nervously.
Behind the door Scarlett wondered who could be calling so soon. Prissy had dressed her, but was yet to do her hair. As Prissy left to see the door, Scarlett quickly put her hair into a simple chignon and went toward the door.
Scarlett thought it was her Aunt. She was thinking how to broach the subject about not having an evening dress with her all morning. Scarlett was afraid that Aunt Eulalie won't allow her to go the ball itself. She didn't fully approve of it as it is. So Scarlett was surprised to see Melanie there, at the door, standing awkwardly, with a soft shy smile on her heart shaped face.
Scarlett invited her warmly, a plan already forming in her head. She knew there was no time for her to get a new dress made, nor was there anyone she could borrow the dress from. The only thing she could do was to alter the bodice of one of her morning dresses.
Scarlett was not an expert seamstress, never needing to be. At home in Tara, Ellen fixed all their clothes but she had some training in the craft. All the girls were trained to run a household: a plantation. Their schooling, both at the academy and at home equipped them for this. However altering the bodice all alone was a task she simply wasn't up to. So Melanie seemed godsend.
Scarlett didn't know if Melanie was good with the needle. She never really took interest in her own sex. But between the two of them, Scarlett was sure they would be able to work it out. Working her charm on Melanie, she started of happily: about getting to see Charles and dance with him.
Melanie happily listened to the glad tittering of Scarlett. Until:
"Oh Melly," said Scarlett, "If only I had a ball gown."
"I didn't think of packing a ball dress," added Scarlett, "I was so worried."
This was partly true, for Scarlett was very worried leaving the comforts Aunt Eulalie's home and not for Charles as she implied. Melanie listened sympathetically, not really understanding the need for a ball gown but pledged to help Scarlett in every way.
"Oh Scarlett, you don't need a dress to make you look pretty," said Melanie sweetly, "Charles already adores you and I really can't see how we can make a dress so soon. But I will do whatever you say."
"Oh I don't plan to make a new dress," Scarlett said, "I was thinking we could modify one of my morning dresses. We can send Prissy to get some lace."
"I have some lace," said Melanie, warmly, "and I will be happy to give it to you."
Scarlett was so happy to hear this, she embraced Melanie. She didn't care how or why Melanie had that lace. All she cared was for that dress, in a single minded way that was unique to Scarlett.
Melanie didn't mind at all, she was happy that she could help Scarlett. A warm flush had spread on her face when Scarlett embraced her. And she quickly went back to her room to fetch the lace and her sewing kit, in order to help Scarlett.
The lace was for Honey Wilkes, who Melanie thought to be heartbroken over her broken engagement with Charles. But, by saving Charles, Scarlett had cleared a large space for herself in Melanie's heart. So Melanie didn't think of Honey, as she handed the lace to Scarlett.
R&S
Suellen had arrived to the Butler town house, with her uncle and aunt at noon. They all sat in a closed carriage. The summer sun shone brightly. The trunk beside her, housed their clothes: including her new gown: that she was to wear in the evening.
They would have gone to Aunt Eulalie's house, and not directly to their hosts, but both Aunt Eulalie and Scarlett were in Columbia. The house was shut indefinitely.
Suellen wondered what Scarlett was doing. She didn't know that Scarlett was working frantically with scissors, threads, needles and laces modifying a dress for a ball. She didn't know about the ball at all. She gleefully thought Scarlett won't be at this soirée, and for once she, Suellen would shine.
R&S
By dinner time the ball gown was mostly done. Scarlett had cut the bodice into shape and fixed the lace on it with pins. After being satisfied with the position of the lace, Scarlett marked their position removed it then proceeded to hemming the neck and the sleeves.
Melanie worked on the skirt. They had enough lace to fix it on the skirt as well. And Scarlett had sent Prissy to get some ribbon as well. These ribbons were turned to rosettes and roses and were used to decorate the skirt.
They both had worked relentlessly, and save for having breakfast didn't pause at all. If there were any pauses at all, it was to admire and criticize their handiwork. By the time dinner was served both girls were quite exhausted. They decided they will rest till tea time and then continue working.
The dress was done by supper time. Scarlett wore it and preened herself while Melanie watched and admired. The girls planned to go to the market in the morning to buy Scarlett a fan and the re-trimming of the bonnet was also scheduled for the morning. Scarlett did not usually re trim her bonnet, she simply brought a new one but money was short. She was already planning to borrow money from Melanie for the fan.
Aunt Eulalie observed Scarlett and Melanie together and left them to their own devices. She spent much of her time with India instead. She was hoping that Scarlett would form a strong bond with Melanie and secure her prospects of marriage further. She easily gave them permission to go to the market in the morning.
A/N: Next chapter will have Rhett and Scarlett moments for sure… until then please review