Disclaimer: The characters here and the world they inhabit are the creation and property of Margaret Mitchell, her heirs, and their assigns.
It had been years since Rhett had accompanied his wife to the dressmaker, but she insisted that he choose the design and color of her gown for this wedding. It might not be the custom, but Scarlett told him she wanted to look as he dreamed her for this event. She said it in a manner that would be called shy in any other woman. Rhett found that he liked the idea. She was sure to be the most attractive woman in any room she entered, but on this day, he wanted everyone in Atlanta to see the woman he had long admired.
While he was at it, he also picked out several other dresses and then looked through the intimate garments. Scarlett blushed as much as she had during similar shopping trips back in New Orleans; she was still reticent about some things. For some reason, Rhett found that added to the attraction. There were some aspects of Scarlett that she kept hidden from everyone except himself. Her physical modesty was the most ladylike of her attributes, perhaps the only one. As long as she forgot she was a lady in their private rooms, he was prepared to encourage her modesty outside of their home.
He hadn't updated his own formal wear in years, not seeing any reason to purchase any, and spent some time at the tailor selecting a new suit for himself, with accessories to match his wife. He looked through other gentlemen's fashions as well, making additions to his own wardrobe. For some reason, there was almost as much anticipation as there had been before the first wedding between them.
The flowers would be more difficult. Orange blossoms would not be in season, so he selected hothouse roses and gardenias. The florists in Atlanta were able to source enough for him to decorate both the church and the ballroom of the house, lending their ambiance and a heady scent to the festivities.
Scarlett, for her part, spent the time before the wedding going through all of the account books with vigor. After several days of checking the numbers and cross checking her various books, she was satisfied. "It's much better since you came back to Atlanta, of course," she told Rhett that evening in the parlor. "You do make things come out the way they should."
He smiled and put his arm around her, "It's easy enough when it's laid out so well by someone who knows what she's doing."
An easy intimacy was between them now that they had been forced to confront so many things about themselves and each other. They'd accepted it all, and although they hadn't quite understood or forgiven every single thing yet, they were comfortable with the honesty and trust that they had started to rebuild.
Physical intimacy was so far confined to kisses and holding each other. Although they shared a bed, they were not physically intimate, yet. Scarlett couldn't understand the reasoning, but Rhett smiled and said they should wait until after the wedding. "It's only a few weeks, now," he said.
Scarlett fumed. "It's not as though we're any less married than we were last Christmas, or when we had Gerald, or… Bonnie."
She had a point, but Rhett had a strange sense that it might be better if they waited. "Don't you think a full break, until the time we've made this new vow to each other, will be worth it?"
Scarlett wasn't ever good with intangible things, but she could grasp this well enough to agree, although half-heartedly.
One night had proved the exception to that, after a day when many things went wrong. Something had gone quite amiss at the store. Scarlett spent several hours trying to find over one hundred dollars, only to realize that the discrepancy was due to a sale that had never been completed and the inventory in question was still in the back room. As a result, Scarlett's order for the month was higher than the store could afford and Scarlett would have to draw on other funds to cover it. Wade and Ella both had difficult days at school and snapped at the dinner table. Gerald was teething, and Melanie set in with colic. Rhett got sarcastic when Scarlett started to scold, and the family was out of sorts that evening before bedtime.
Rhett was awakened by Scarlett's nightmare. She rarely had them when they were in the same bed, but she had gone to bed troubled in mind and heart. He heard her crying and moaning and pulled her close. "My love, I'm here," he whispered. "I'm here."
For several minutes he soothed her until she finally came out of it. "Oh," she said, "I thought I was back at Tara, and they were showing me all of your wedding plans with her. I thought I'd lost you."
"No, Scarlett, my dear, I'm right here. I'm with you and I'm not going anywhere. You're the only wife I've ever wanted, the only woman who could possibly be my wife."
She had started kissing him then, softly, then deeply, then passionately. Rhett responded in kind. There was no stopping what came next. There was no reason to stop. They had been waiting because it suited them. Tonight it suited them not to wait. He let her set the pace and met her frenzied movements with his own increasingly rapid ones. When it was over, he pulled her close protectively and she clung to him.
"I love you," she whispered. "I can't do without you."
He kissed whatever he could reach of her head, her hair, her eyes, her forehead. "I love you," he answered, "and I need you, too."
The first Sunday in November dawned beautifully. Scarlett got up early and went to early morning Mass. Most of the decorating of the house had taken place on the days before, but Rhett oversaw the final arrangements later in the morning. They would exchange vows in the afternoon followed by a party that afternoon and a ball that evening.
Scarlett came home and the family sat down to a relaxed breakfast. Rosalyn was in Atlanta for several weeks and barely put down the baby except when Rhett demanded the privilege of being the child's father. Scarlett complained that the only time they let her have the baby was when she was hungry, but in truth she was quite busy at the moment. The cotton gins were going night and day now, the store was preparing to ramp up for the Christmas season, and of course the wedding plans were pressing. If other family members wanted to be with the child, for hours at a time, she let them, knowing little Mell would always come back to her. As mother of the groom, Rosalyn sat at the head of the table and engaged the entire family with stories of Rhett's youth mixed with directions to the children for the rest of the day.
After breakfast, Rhett walked Scarlett up to their bedroom, which they'd finished furnishing that week. The room had been painted in restful hues of green and blue and the linens were of similar hues. The furniture was sturdy but delicately carved, made to look lovely but last for years. They hadn't stayed in the room yet but would on this night. Scarlett would use the room to dress today while Rhett used the room that was thought of as his.
He kissed her at the door. "I'll see you in a couple of hours," he said.
"Do we really have to do this?" she asked.
"Yes, we do," he answered. "I can't wait to see you. I know you'll be beautiful."
"You do run on, Captain," she murmured, flashing her dimples.
Eventually the moment came when Rhett found himself standing next to Father Halloran at the altar rail of the church, adjusting and readjusting his gloves. Ella, Gerald, and Melanie were on the bride's side of the pews, each in more elegant finery than they'd ever experienced before. Wade was currently standing to Rhett's left as the best man. As Rhett watched, Suellen walked in and took her place as matron of honor.
Suddenly the organ changed tunes and everyone stood to see the bride. Rhett Butler had many ways of smiling, from sarcastic leers to full bellied laughter, but his guests today got a glimpse of full happiness and delight on his face. One could just about see the emerald toes of her slippers, above which was a full-hooped skirt of silk shantung in the color of the emeralds around her throat. The organdy overskirt and lace trim were the color of her eyes. The basque, which cut across her collar bones to puffed short sleeves, was made of the same fabrics. It wasn't the most fashionable silhouette, having been copied from a Worth design of perhaps a full decade before, but it suited the woman and the occasion, providing a certain drama as the bottom ruffle of the skirt brushed against the pews on both sides. Upon her head was a hat in similar shades of green with a short veil that did not hide her smile, the counterpart of his. Scarlett was as beautiful as he envisioned, simply radiant.
He caught a glimpse of his mother, wiping her eyes as she divided her attention between her daughter-in-law and her son. She had told him that she was proud of him today and had brought Rosemary's congratulations. So far Thomas hadn't responded to Rhett's letters. The first had been a personal letter, but the second would be from his attorneys.
At his side, Wade was whispering, "I will take her with me to Boston if you don't do right by her."
"I'll help her pack myself if it comes to that," Rhett responded out the side of his mouth.
Scarlett reached the altar rail and handed her flowers to her sister. Then she placed her hand within Rhett's elbow. Father Halloran beamed down on them and quietly asked, "You're both still decided upon this?"
Scarlett never took her eyes from Rhett's as she nodded her head, and Rhett barely glanced away from her to the priest as he answered, "We are."
Father Halloran cleared his throat and used a voice that would carry to the back of the church. "We will begin by asking your consent. Rhett Kennesaw, will you take Katie Scarlett for your lawful wife?"
"He looked down at Scarlett, whose face was full of wonder and said, "I will."
"And Katie Scarlett, will you take Rhett Kennesaw for your lawful husband?"
He felt a thrill go through her as she clearly said, "I will."
The vows were said next, and their rings were exchanged. At some point they knelt for the final blessing, after which they stood and Rhett was given leave to kiss his bride. His hands trembled more than he would ever admit to as he lifted the veil and then cupped her face, leaning down to place a gentle kiss upon her lips that neither would forget even on their death beds. The organ played again, signifying that it was time for them to walk back down the aisle. He stood just inside the door, to the left of Scarlett so that he could put his left arm around her waist and both would have right hands free to shake.
It was done now, and although it might not have seemed much different than their wedding in city hall, there was something different about this wedding. Rhett ignored the spiritual questions and decided it was due to the differences in the two of them. They both admitted to loving each other and were therefore free to do so in ways they had not been before. This exchange of vows signified the fact that they had developed in new ways and that their marriage had as well.
After the guests had gone outside, Scarlett and Rhett got into their waiting carriage and went to their house, where the monthly party for the old guard had never been so grand. Even the wrought-iron fence was festooned with bunting, and the house was brimming with flowers and other decorations, leading guests up to the ball room, where tables were currently set up around the edges for dinner.
Scarlett and Rhett took some moments to refresh themselves as their guests moved through the house to the third floor ball room. Rhett returned to her room to see that she was feeding the baby. "I had to do this sometime," she said. "With any luck, it will be hours before she wants me again."
"Don't you want to hear what they're all saying upstairs? Everything is so beautiful, and they're no doubt praising the decorations to the skies."
"Fiddle dee dee. You know as well as I do that's not what they're talking about. I'd just as soon let them get some of the worst gossip out of the way when I'm not listening to it."
He sat in a chair opposite to her and they enjoyed a moment of domestic happiness.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, today."
"When you speak, Captain Butler, I never know whether to believe you," she answered airily, her eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly wing.
He threw back his head and laughed. "No doubt I deserve that, but I mean it genuinely, Scarlett. I won't say everything I want is in this room, because our other children are out there in the house, along with our family and friends. Still, Scarlett, you're the center of it all, whether you're dressed like a queen as you are now, or feeding chickens while wearing patched muslin and barefoot out at Tara. What I see is the fire and vigor of life within you, something that doesn't change if your clothes are different or even if you've been picking cotton for weeks, although in this gown you are beyond words."
"Rhett," she whispered, and he could see she couldn't say any more. A tear slipped down her cheek even as she smiled at him, so he got out his handkerchief and gently dabbed it away.
It was fitting that the most lavish party ever thrown at the Peachtree Street house would be a celebration of the marriage of the owners. It was also oddly fitting that the guest list should include all of Atlanta's finest families as well as a few from Charleston. If it was odd that the Atlanta guests treated the Charleston guests like losers in some sort of competition, Scarlett and Rhett were never made aware of it. They did the tasks required of a host and hostess but otherwise stayed within the circle of their family.
During the dinner, Rhett played the enamored swain and brought Scarlett a plate. She likewise pretended to be a belle at her first picnic and complained that she couldn't possibly eat a bite.
"You'll eat it," he averred. He leaned over her until his mustache tickled her ear. "You'll need your strength, Mrs. Butler."
Scarlett's eyes got wide, but they sparkled brightly. "Mind you get a plate just as full for yourself, Captain Butler," she replied. He laughed and then went to get his dinner.
At some point the dinner was over, and the musicians signaled that they were ready to begin, and Rhett led Scarlett to the head of the line. Although they weren't the most romantic of songs, certainly not in the centennial year of the republic, they started with "Dixie" for the reel and "When this Cruel War is Over" for the waltz to follow, just as it had been at the bazaar where they had first danced. A light came and went in Scarlett's eyes as she sang the words for him, just as she'd done before.
Dearest one, do you remember
When we last did meet?
When you told me how you loved me,
Kneeling at my feet?
"I wasn't kneeling in our bedroom this afternoon, but I will if you wish it," he said.
She shook her head. "I don't believe we need that, today at least," she answered. "I recall being so scandalized by everything you did and said that night."
"What are you thinking tonight?"
"That I love you."
"And I love you," he answered, bending down to brush his lips over hers.
"Rhett!" Scarlett's eyes were scandalized, looking to see if anyone was watching them. Several people were speaking behind hands and fans, but they'd been doing that all night.
"Have you forgotten we're married?"
"But still—"
"Just how much reputation do you have left, and do you want to keep it over something like this?"
Her green eyes flashed up to him and she shook her head. He started to lower his again. "Surely we can wait a little longer?" she asked. "The song is almost over and we'll have to dance with our guests."
Rhett looked around the room. "Ah yes, Rene Picard, Hugh Elsing, and the rest of them all will want to dance with you. Whomever will you choose first?"
Scarlett looked around the ballroom until she saw her eldest. "Wade, of course, followed by Gerald. And you will dance with your mother?"
"Yes, followed by each of my lovely daughters."
Some time later, after more dancing, after more refreshments, after bidding farewell to their guests and putting the children in bed, Scarlett and Rhett were finally alone. Hand in hand they walked into their new bedroom, where the sheets had been turned down and the lamps lit.
Scarlett had asked Rhett, earlier in the week, whether he wanted her to go to their room ahead of time to perhaps put on one of the nightgowns he'd recently selected. He'd shaken his head and said no.
"Lovely as that dress is, you're unlikely to ever wear it again. I intend to examine it very closely and remove it myself, Mrs. Butler."
"But the nightgowns are so beautiful, too."
"You'll wear each of them many times for me, and if I want to see one of them on Sunday night, I can always put it on you." The wolfish leer he gave her belied that idea entirely.
The bedroom door shut with a click, but neither heard it. At some point during the evening, many of the flowers that had decorated the ballroom had been moved to this room, giving the same essence to it. Rhett and Scarlett didn't really notice it, however. They were too busy looking at each other. A moment later they were kissing. Within the hour they rediscovered the joy they had in each other. By the end of the night they found many new joys to experience and explore in the future.
A/N: I can't believe we're almost done! Thanks so much to everyone for reading and reviewing, including gabyhyatt, Laina Lee, COCO B, Truckee Gal, Melody-Rose-20, kanga85, Romabeachgirl1981, Asline Nicole, and Guest.