Author's Note: I apologize for my erratic posting. This is chronologically right after Scarlett and Rhett practice the scene from Romeo and Juliet. I've gone back to college for a second degree and my time has been consumed recently with making costumes for the upcoming show. I love costumes! But my professor chose to do a play with a large cast (35) and each person needs at least two costumes. Yeah I know that is an insane number of costumes considering that my college doesn't have a costume shop. So that is one of the ways that I have been spending my time. And they are all from the 60's and they need to all be accurate. It has been an all consuming task! But I am a little ahead with that and my classes, so I decided to share this. I am also taking Brit Lit to 1800, so you are seeing some of the things that I have been reading and discussing (such as courtly love). But I think for the most part these things are things that Rhett would have been familiar with, so I think that they can be relevant. Thanks for reading!

They performed their scene to much applause, although it was quite obvious that Scarlett was not pleased with the selection that she had chosen. But once people were clapping and congratulating them on a job well done, she was appeased. She was now making her rounds, milking more compliments from unsuspecting people gathered for the occasion.

He sat watching her from across the room, her bright green eyes dancing with amusement and happiness as she fluttered like a butterfly among the various men sitting around Mrs. Meade's Parlor. She was truly at her most charming at the moment, so recently freed from the chrysalis of mourning. Her dress was pale lavender, which was considered appropriate in the latter stages of mourning, and although she hadn't quite reached the correct time to wear that shade, she was still clinging in some ways to a grief that had never reached her heart.

And yet that loyalty, for in her own way she was still showing her loyalty to her husband of such a brief span of time, made him continuously fall deeper in lust and could it be more... with her. She was so much more than a body. She was intelligent, much more so than anyone else noticed. She was one of a kind.

But he would never tell her, could never tell her. The lessons of his childhood would forever be branded on his heart. The years of reading tales of King Arthur and his court couldn't be forgotten. The rules of chivalry and courtly love were seared on his brain like a branding iron. And the one that he adhered to most of all was that "when made public love rarely endures". And to utter those words would give her power over him, and certainly it was true that his thoughts were constantly consumed by thoughts of her. But it was said that love like this was constantly increasing and decreasing and what would be the benefit to give her that power if he suddenly didn't love her any longer. But this new love of loving her and sent all past loves to flight. They were erased from his heart and mind, and yet he didn't even know why he had fallen so completely for an uneducated child.

It wasn't as if he adhered to the rules religiously. He had lied many times. He had cheated at cards to make his fortune, or at least to take care of himself. He had shown little respect for authority over the years. But then still the rules of be polite and attentive, exhibit manners, they were all being followed. He couldn't quite point out why he followed the rules that he did. But he believed in chivalry, although if anyone had accused him of such he would have denied it vehemently.

He was a little startled to find that Scarlett had worked her way across the room, flirting with every single man present. But now she was standing before him, Her dimples flashing merrily as waited for him. "You look beautiful, Scarlett. Lavender is so much more flattering than black." He said with a grin.

Instantly her smile faded as her lines drew into a tight line. "Oh, hush Rhett. You shouldn't talk about such things."

He chuckled deeply, "you little hypocrite. You would have been pleased with the compliment if it hadn't reminded you that I have drawn you out of mourning sooner than people think is right."

Her eyes narrowed, and she turned with a huff.

"Oh, don't be such a dramatist Scarlett. And besides lavender is a much more attractive shade on you. Black makes you look like a crow."

He watched as her brows rose in indignation at being called a crow. He could always count on Scarlett to only listen to what she thought was the point of what he was saying. Today she had decided to be offended no matter what compliments that he offered.

"I think that you should take me home." She told him stonily.

"Fine," Rhett replied. "I'll go get the carriage."

He slipped out the door and quickly brought the carriage around. Scarlett hurried towards him, her skirt balled in her fist. He quickly swung down from his perch and lifted her into the conveyance before climbing back up to sit beside her.

"I don't know why you have to be such a skunk. You shouldn't mention things like that while we are in public. People already have a poor enough opinion of me already. You don't need to go making things worse." She frowned as she smoothed her skirts and settled in beside him.

"You are so preoccupied with what everyone around here thinks. Don't you realize that it doesn't really matter what they think." He replied smoothly as he took the reins and urged his horse forward.

"Yes, I know. You say that with enough money a person can live without a reputation, but perhaps you didn't notice but I'm living like little more than a pauper. It's this war. And if I spurn them, who would I talk to? You act like everything is so simple, when it really isn't." She said, her eyes glowing with emerald fire.

"Things are rarely easy and never simple, my pet." He countered.

"Would you stop being so glib!" She exclaimed. "This is my life that we are talking about!"

"People should enjoy you for being the person that you are. I find artifice so cloying. You are quite the interesting person when you aren't playing the part of the southern belle."

She squawked at this, "But that is who I am! What do you expect me to act like? A yankee? You drive me crazy! Can't you hurry your stupid horse up and get me back to Aunt Pitty's!"

"So that you can pine about your dear Ashely? Or are you hoping that Melanie has left one of Ashley's letters laying around so that you can hold it to your check and pretend that it is yours?" He asked with little expression. Another one of those courtly rules that flashed through his mind. You didn't love if you weren't jealous. And he was so jealous that he couldn't escape the emotion. It seemed that he was constantly plagued by it.

"Oh, you cad!" She screeched. "Let me out of this carriage! I shan't ride with you ever again! You are such a horrid, horrid person! You are cruel and mean." She struggled to rise with the carriage still moving.

"Sit back down before you kill yourself. We are almost back to Aunt Pitty's." With one movement of his hand she fell back into her seat and then turned to glare at him.

"You are the most horrid person that I have ever met!"

"You are such an endearing person. So charming." He mocked.

"I hate you! And I think that you are vile! And I never want to see you again!"

With luck they pulled up in front of the Hamilton home, and Scarlett lept from the carriage without Rhett's assistance. "Go away! And don't come a gain!"

Rhett just laughed and flicked the reins as he drove away. It wouldn't be long until she forgave him. It would take nothing more than some small token to woo his way back into her good graces. She would be on his mind until then, and he would be wondering if his love for her would one day fade suddenly to never be revived again, for after all that was another one of the rules of courtly love.