Sorry I know that was mean! But I couldn't help it. Lol!
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"Would you mind repeating that?" Rhett said calmly.
Realizing she totally was busted she just decided to come out with it.
"She went to her grandfather's house when she left here." She replied.
"And exactly how do you know that?" He said evenly.
"Because she left a note" Rosemary said looking away from her brother.
"She left a note." Rhett repeated.
Rosemary did not say anything.
"And...This note is where??" Rhett inquired.
"Ok, I'm sorry! She left a note with me for Mama, and I thought you would be better off not knowing."
Rhett didn't say a word.
"So I burned it." She admitted quietly.
"You what?!" Rhett said raising his voice. He did not mean to raise his voice, and lowered it immediately.
"You, what?" He said again calmly.
"I'm sorry Rhett." She said simply.
Rhett did not say another word to her the entire way home.
At least he knew where he was going to look next...
They arrived at the house, and true to Rhett's prediction, there was the usual crowd at the house to welcome Rosemary back.
They sat in the drawing room while she told tales of her adventures.
Rhett went upstairs to change his clothes for his trip over to grandfather Robillard's house.
On his way down he stopped in to let his mother know where he was going, but he decided to wait until Rosemary took a breath from this tale.
"The estates are so grand! You would not believe your eyes!" Rosemary was saying.
"The lords of the mansions are so grand, and you never even see them! You can go tour the estate and look at the paintings and sculptures. And the gardens! Oh my goodness I have never seen such gardens in my life! They are like mazes! You can seriously get lost in them! The most amazing one I was able to tour was that of the newly named American Heiress in France; Berrier Hall. She is a Duchesse! She made a stupendous contribution in London to an Art society and everyone says she is amazing and wonderful, and rumored to be the richest widowed American woman in all of Europe! The Estate is a practically a museum. It is so amazing! It is said to be second only to that of the estates of the Royal household, rumor has it she is kin to the royal family 4 generations past. Her name is Catherine Duchesse of Berri."
"Wow, did you meet her?" Margaret asked.
"No. I didn't even see her. She doesn't have any portraits up yet because she has only been back in France for a few months."
"What else did you do?" Sally asked.
Rhett decided that was a good time to sneak in a word to his mother.
He leaned down next to her and kissed her cheek.
"I will be back in a while; I am going to Savannah on business."
"Okay dear."
"Make sure to send someone for Rosemary's trunks."
"Okay. I will."
"I will see you a little later Rosemary." Rhett said coldly, and kissed his sisters cheek.
She knew he was still seething, and she couldn't even meet his eyes.
"So tell us more, did you go to the countryside too?" Sally asked.
Rosemary continued to tell about the beauty she encountered as Rhett left.
He was going to Savannah to find Scarlett...
At length, he arrived to the grandiose pink Robillard house, only to find it was empty. Through the windows downstairs he could see the furniture was covered with sheets.
He turned down the walkway to walk down the street.
She obviously was not here. Then he arrived at another conclusion. Check with the Aunts...
This is ridiculous! Where in heavens name could she be!
He returned the way he came to go back to Charleston. He would have to ask his mother to find out now...
"Mother can I speak with you?" Rhett asked her as soon as he returned home.
"Sure darling, what is the problem?"
Rhett chuckled, "Why do you assume there is a problem?"
"You are my son, I know you. I can see clearly there is a problem."
"Rosemary told you?"
"That too."
Rhett chuckled again.
"Yes, I have a problem. I cannot find Scarlett."
"She is not at her Grandfather's house?"
"No. Everything is covered. No one is living there now."
"Why are you looking for her? She left you."
"I made her leave mother." Rhett confessed and sat down on a couch in the drawing room.
Eleanor closed the doors and sat down next to her son.
"What dear?" Eleanor asked confused.
"I made her go. I thought that is what I wanted. The truth is I can't live without her. I need to know she is okay and where she is." Rhett said with his head lowered and his shoulders a bit slumped.
"So what do you intend to do?"
"I don't know. I keep checking for her in Atlanta and she is not where she was supposed to have been." He said running his hands through his hair.
"Would you like me to check with her aunts?"
"Would you please?" Rhett said looking up at his mother.
She saw in his eyes such pain and the beginning of tears.
"Surely, I will go right now. You just wait for me here. I will have dinner sent up to your room."
Eleanor got up, ordered dinner for her son to be sent up to his room and left for Pauline and Eulalie's house.
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K, love!
See you guys later.
