A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Sitting at the large desk - that Rhett had strategically placed in front of the single large window that their bedroom possessed - Scarlett stared at the greyness that seemed to grace Liverpool's skies endlessly. The Liverpudlian nanny – who Rhett had especially hired for the baby - had assured Scarlett on more than one occasion that the summers in this part of the world could be just as warm and humid as the ones she was used to in Atlanta. After spending the two dullest seasons of the year without any real sunlight and – so far - only enjoying the occasional warm spring day, Scarlett had a hard time imagining the town bathing in sunlight. She wished they had stayed in London - a town that had been much more to her liking – but Rhett had decided that he needed to keep his very pregnant wife close by and so he had taken her with him when he travelled to Liverpool to capitalize on the precious goods that lay waiting for him there. The birth of their baby daughter – almost two month ago now - had forced them to prolong that stay.
Despite the gloomy weather Scarlett had awoken this morning with a feeling of excited restlessness. As usual Rhett had already left their marital bed; eager to get his business done before little Bonnie would wake up from her late morning nap: The baby always seemed to be livelier in the afternoons than at any other time of the day, according to Rhett a trait she inherited from her mother. Though used to it now, Bonnie had not been the name Scarlett had originally planned for her young daughter. In fact, she was officially called Eugenie Victoria, as so many other little girls in England or France, but -except for being placed on her birth certificate - those names were never used in connection to the beautiful black-haired baby that was sleeping safely in her nursery.
A smile burst on Scarlett's face while she remembered the occasion when her daughter received that most befitting name.
Giving birth to her daughter had been slightly easier on Scarlett than giving birth to Wade had been; this time she had known what to expect plus, even though a door separated her from him, she had felt secure of her husband's love and support. For once she had been grateful for Prissy's babbling nature since she had recounted time and time again how nervous Rhett had been, pacing in front of the door to her bedroom. Prissy swore she had never seen a man show such concern for a wife in labour and when little Bonnie had uttered her first cries – strong little whales that immediately proved the child's strength – both Prissy and the English butler that was in charge of the Butler's household had to urge him not to break down the locked door to get to his wife and child, assuring him that the baby's cries were a good sign. When Rhett was finally allowed in the room – about half an hour later – he had been ever so sweet, expressing his concern and gratitude most eloquently and even if he had not said it with so many words Scarlett could tell from his demeanour and the look on his face just how proud he was of her and of their little baby girl.
In fact he was totally smitten with their daughter the moment he met her and the stoic, guarded behaviour that was his trademark seemed absent whenever he was around them those first few days. He was in a celebratory mood, so much so that he came home from a dinner with a few business associates mildly inebriated. She had seen Rhett drink a fair amount of liquor before but usually this did not change his demeanour so much but this time the liquor combined with the great amount of happiness that he felt inside made him lose his usual controlled demeanour. So much so that he did a fairly good impression of Scarlett's Pa. Rhett's deep voice could be heard humming when he stepped out of the carriage and he kept singing all the way up the stairs to their bedroom where Scarlett was waiting for him, still not allowed out of bed after giving birth. By the time he reached the top floor he had burst into a rendition of 'Bonnie Blue Flag' for reasons beknownst only to him. He had stepped into the bedroom, his face exuberant with joy, his eyes glittering with adoration for his little family and after giving his wife a quick kiss on the lips he walked over to the crib to have a look at his little girl who happened to be awake and was staring at him with curiosity, her eyes blue and bright. And Rhett had started talking to the baby girl – something he did often and which mildly irritated Scarlett – telling her that this was what he would call her from now on; his Bonnie Blue. And despite her initial protests the name had stuck and even Scarlett had to admit that there was not a name that suited her more.
While her husband marvelled at life ever since the birth of their daughter, Scarlett had been feeling tired, lacking her usual energy and so thus far she had not minded her husband's absence during most of her mornings. However, this morning was different. How she would have liked to crawl into his arms, resting her head on his strong chest, chatting idly while she was toying with the wavy hair on his chest. She had not initiated kisses and cuddles ever since she had Bonnie and Rhett had surprised her with his patience and gentleness; he expressed his love for her in many ways but never did he pressure her into resuming their marital relation. This was a fact that had not bothered her until today. But feeling more like herself than she had done in months she had woken this morning with a silent longing.
A silent longing for bolder attests of Rhett's love for her.
And so she had spent the last two hours getting bathed and dressed. Rhett had bought her a silk wrapper that had a marvellous peacock pattern woven into the fabric and when she tightened it around her trim body it accentuated all the spots that a woman liked to draw attention to. Besides, the pattern was mainly green at the neckline, something that made her eyes even more expressive than usual. She had made an effort to find jewellery that matched the outfit to perfection. Her hair had been brushed until it was as shiny as the silk she was wearing. A simple golden hairpin held it out of her face but the long stresses delicately brushed the small of her back; she knew that Rhett liked to see her like that. As a last measure their little baby girl had been bathed and fed early; something that guaranteed them a few hours of peace and quiet. She looked at the big clock in their room and noticed that it was already past one but before she had time to worry about Rhett's tardiness she heard the deep bass of his voice greeting Prissy who was cleaning the front room. She waited to hear his footsteps approach their room but they failed to come.
'Dear Lord, don't tell me he has gone to wake the baby,' she muttered to herself, already on her way to find out if he had indeed. No sooner had she opened the door or she saw her husband, his dark head bent over the tiny baby in his arms, whispering gently to her while he carefully made his way towards their room. For a moment Scarlett forgot her irritation and studied the nice picture that they made; Rhett's tall bulky frame with large hands - that she was certain could crush a man's skull in an instance - holding the dark haired little girl delicately yet confidently, a child who was nestled cosily against his broad chest, her fingers trying to grasp one of the buttons on his jacket while she listened to the endearments that her father uttered to her. This sight always moved her, despite the fact that Rhett's devotion to their daughter annoyed her at other times. She had never seen a man so besotted with a child as Rhett was with Bonnie and she thought it was rather silly. Rhett had assured her on many occasions that he would not hold the child so dear had she not been its mother but this only partially subdued Scarlett. She had always felt the need to be number one in the lives of those she held dear. Something that had been easy with the boys she grew up with and she had no doubt in her mind that she had always been her father's favourite. Part of the reason for her infatuation with Ashley had been the fact that he had chosen another woman over her but Rhett's complete adoration for her had washed away any resentment she felt over that. She would have never guessed that Rhett's aloof behaviour during the war had only served to conceal the deep emotions she had stirred in him. Something that had taken him by surprise as he had confessed to her long since. She could not help but feel triumphant at that revelation but now that they shared a child – a beautiful baby girl with her father's dark hair, her mother's magnolia skin and her grandfather's striking bonnie blue eyes – his attention was no longer only on her. Somehow Rhett wanted to be a witness to everything that Bonnie did – which was not a whole lot in Scarlett's eyes, as babies slept most of their time. But Rhett seemed to be excited by even the smallest change in his daughter and, although Scarlett felt more connected to Bonnie than she had ever felt towards Wade, she did not share her husband's excitement. In fact, she missed how things had been between them before Bonnie arrived and she was determined to remind her husband of those good times today.
When Rhett came nearer she could tell that little Bonnie still felt drowsy; Rhett must have woken her up but that did not mean that she could not be brought back to sleep.
'Rhett, darling, I know you must have missed Bonnie when you were out but she has in fact just been bathed and fed. Besides, there is an important matter I need to discuss with you, so why don't you let the nurse put her back to sleep while you and I have a light supper in our bedroom?'
Rhett tore his eyes away from the little angel in his arms to glance at his wife for a moment. He always thought her beautiful but even he could see that she went through great trouble this morning to look even more appealing. For a moment he felt torn; all morning he had longed to spend time with Bonnie. And Scarlett too, of course. Somehow Bonnie's normal routine had changed today and he could tell that little child was too sleepy to be taken for a stroll in her little carrier as he had planned. With regret he called for the nurse and handed her the baby, urging her to inform him the minute the child woke up.
He had to laugh when he noticed the look on Scarlett's face and he wondered if she could go as far as being jealous of her own child. She turned around to return to their bedroom and Rhett could not help but notice how she had almost regained her old figure. Underneath the long dark locks that hung on her back the tininess of her waist was evident, despite the clear absence of a corset. She had lighted a few lamps in their room – the day outside so gloomy that it seemed early evening instead of midday – and the silk of her gown simmered in the light, accentuating her appealing curvy behind. He felt something inside him stir. Something that he often had repressed these last few months, not willing to bother his wife with his desires so soon after giving birth to his precious child. She sat down at the little table in the centre of the room and he followed quietly. He could tell that the food on their plates was exquisite but apart from sipping some of the wine he did not touch any of it. He just gazed at his wife instead. She had said they needed to discuss something important but the way she was dressed did not indicate that this would be a strict business meeting. He would never press her for anything more than a kiss but if he knew Scarlett O'Hara at all he wanted to bet that it was not only kissing she had in mind today.
Scarlett was savouring the meal – nursing a child made her even hungrier than usual – but she did not forget to flutter her eyelashes at Rhett occasionally. She hoped he would get the hint and would understand that she was ready to resume the more intimate 'duties' that marriage entailed.
When Rhett saw Scarlett glance at him from underneath her lashes for a second time he knew for certain that she had not brought him here to discuss the running of the household or any other business related issue. This was his wife's endearing attempt to seduce him. As soon as she finished the rack of lamb she had been eating he longed to pull her up from her seat and show her in no uncertain terms how much he had missed her these last months but he did not want to scare her. Besides, just because they had turned into an old married couple, secure of each other's affections, did not mean he did not relish in a bit of teasing as he had done so many times in the past. Though this time the teasing would not hold some of the bitterness that he had felt on occasion in that past.
He coughed politely and placed his napkin on the table.
'So, Mrs Butler, what was this important matter you had to discuss with me? Do you need access to more funds to run this household or to clothe our daughter for that matter? You know that all you need to do is ask and I will give you everything you want. Though I would think that you have access to enough money to keep this house - and three other houses for that matter-.' He laughed kindly, indicating to her that his little jest was not intended for being the stingy husband. Still Scarlett frowned.
Ever since they had set foot in Liverpool Rhett had made sure they had the funds to live like royalty. She never had any doubt that Rhett indeed had a fortune to his name but she could never quite grasp the magnitude of that fortune. The last thing she had in mind today was complain about money issues and she had hoped that her normally so perceptive husband would have realised that the moment he lay eyes on her. But maybe the love for his child had replaced the all consuming need for her which he seemed to possess before they ever had the baby.
Or, God forbid, maybe he thought she did not want to resume their marital relation because she had made it clear to him that she had not exactly been thrilled with the result of it at first. Only this morning she had inspected the contraceptive that she had packed without much thought when leaving for London and she was certain that it would serve for the time being in not getting pregnant again so soon after Bonnie.
She had hoped for a romantic afternoon in which her husband would be able to read her mind, as he always did, and fulfil her wishes without having to have an embarrassing conversation first. But maybe it would not be so easy.
'What is it, Scarlett? Cat got your tongue?' he said, his eyes holding a strange sparkle.
'Well, Rhett, it is not money I wanted to discuss with you…' Scarlett started saying.
'What then? Are you not pleased with the staff we have here? Is this apartment not to your liking – it used to belong to the Queen, so I would not know why! Or is it Bonnie? The nurse assures me she is in fine health, but maybe…'
'Oh, God's Nightgown, Rhett! Do you ever think of anything else but Bonnie? She is adorable and I am quite besotted with her too, but you… You seem to act as if I don't exist at all anymore!'
As soon as she said the last words, she knew they were unfair. Rhett had bestowed her with all the love a husband can bestow a wife. And she knew he had not demanded his rights only having her in mind. In fact, he had been sweeter and more patient than any husband in his circumstances would have been and now she had gone and said that to him.
Fearfully she glanced through her lashes at his face. His face darkened somewhat at first but then his features softened again. He pushed his chair backwards and soon she glanced down at the points of his well-polished boots. Before she had the chance to look up to him, he had pulled her gently up from her chair, dropping her napkin on the floor in the process.
'Oh, I do know you exist,' he murmured huskily. 'In fact I have never stopped studying you when you move through the room.' He pressed her closer to his chest. 'With pleasure I inhale your intoxicating scent every time you are near,' he whispered, his face buried in her hair, 'and every single time I kiss you good morning or goodnight I have to physically restrain myself not to rip the nightgown off your body. Don't you ever – ever – believe that there is going to be one moment in the rest of my life that I no longer want you! Because I can guarantee you that the moment my blood no longer urges me to possess you, it has run cold.'
'Oh Rhett,' Scarlett sighed before Rhett bent her body backwards and placed a kiss on her lips. A kiss that emphasized the passionate words that he spoke only moments before. And as soon as Scarlett felt his warm lips on hers - his hands greedily roaming her body and his strong body pressing into hers - she went wild.
Rhett had not been the only one studying somebody lately. Every time Rhett had come home and walked through the room to get a drink from the liquor cabinet, Scarlett had drunk in his frame. Especially when he had shed his jacket and carelessly rolled up his sleeves; Scarlett had looked at his tanned arms and had felt dizzy thinking of the strength that he possessed. His well-fitted trousers always accentuated his firm buttocks and Scarlett often breathlessly recalled how during lovemaking her hands used to press the muscles there in an attempt to have more of him, more than the abundance he was giving her already. As a young woman, toying with the attentions of many men; having all of them carelessly at her mercy, she had never imagined feeling so much at the mercy of a man herself – her own husband no less! While glancing at him with what she hoped was guarded desire, she knew that if Rhett wanted to, he could toy with her like a cat would toy with a mouse and still she would not be able to tear herself away from the attraction that his whole being presented to her.
And now he was kissing her with a fervour that matched her own but still it was not enough for her. She needed more. She needed to feel his skin – warm and bare – against her own. She needed to feel his well-defined muscles – that graced his entire body – underneath her fingertips. So she started pulling at his cravat, at the buttons of his shirt, all the while never letting go of his mouth.
'Scarlett,' she heard him murmur, desire making his voice one octave lower than it already was. She looked at him and she saw his eyes dilate when he witnessed the desire that she knew was apparent in her own eyes.
Without further ado she steered him towards the bed and with a small push from her hand ordered him to lie down while she quickly crawled on top of him tugging at the cravat that had already come half undone. As soon as it fell away, she dipped her head and started licking and biting the small stripe of exposed swarthy skin right below his chin. Small stubbles were already protruding the skin which she knew he had shaved with great care that morning. They felt rough against her warm lips but she enjoyed the masculine feel of it. Just like she enjoyed the spicy smell of him. It unleashed a whole array of deep dark desires that she hardly recalled having before.
Rhett's hands were in her hair, pressing her face against him, murmuring her name and incoherent encouragements, while she could feel his pulse increasing against her lips. She started pul1ling at the remaining buttons of his shirt. The first one she opened patiently but when the next one proved to be more of a hindrance she just tugged at the shirt till it opened by itself. She lifted her head for a moment, studying the bareness of his chest before she let her hands enjoy the feel of it soon followed by her mouth.
Rhett, who had been fairly passive so far, grabbed her shoulders and when she looked up she could see determination in his face. But somehow she wanted this time to be different. Somewhere deep in her mind she had decided that if he could prove his love for her by patiently waiting for her to recover from the birth she could prove to him just how much she loved him for that and just how much she still wanted him. All of him.
She groaned and then she put her own hands on the bulging muscles of his upper arms, pushing him back into the duvet, ordering him to let her be in charge for once. To her astonishment he did not press on and let her continue her assault on his body. He helped her take off his shirt and then he lay down to enjoy the feel of her soft hands sliding up and down his arms and shoulders, while her mouth nipped and kissed his chest. Her soft hair brushing all the parts she neglected at the same time. Then suddenly she sat up, looking flustered. She started tugging at the ribbon that tied her wrapper together and when her long nails hindered her to open the tight knot he pushed her hands away and did it for her, all the while staring her straight into her eyes, fire evident in them. Straddled on his hips she then push the gown down her shoulders at a maddening slow pace causing him to swear softly. Finally the fabric revealed most of her breasts; it only still covered her pink nipples. He was just about to push it down more – unable to restrain the urge to see them in all of their lusciousness – when she decided that it was time to move to the next stage: The removal of his pants.
She shifted down to his knees and hesitated slightly before she boldly took the band of the trousers and started opening the first button. When she undid the second one and swiftly moved to the third one – thus about to reveal most of his manhood – he softly murmured something like 'Jesus, Scarlett' but she knew he did not mind. Not really.
He looked heavy with desire and despite herself Scarlett grew crimson observing this proof of his need for her. Bravely she kept caressing him, her hands slid up and down his calves that were now bare, then up to his firm thighs. She looked a bit unsure on how to continue then but Rhett's long arm reached down; cupping her warm cheek in his hand while whispering how much he loved her and suddenly her boldness returned. She dipped her head, placing soft kisses on his thighs and then his lower abdomen while she felt him shake with desire under her. Her own body was on fire, she was swimming in sweaty warmth that possessed her both on the inside and outside. Before she gave her own body what it was so obviously crying out for she decided to give her husband the ultimate sign of her adoration for him.
While softly caressing his hips she dipped her head low and kissed that one part of him that she had neglected so far. She could hear Rhett gasp and she smiled while continuing her ministrations. Feeling quite victorious she climbed upwards until she found herself in the right position. She felt a bit apprehensive at first, not certain how much the childbirth still affected her and Rhett softly encouraged her to take it slowly. But soon she discovered that nothing had changed; they still felt so good together. So incredibly good. For a while she kept moving, her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of him. When she started feeling tired Rhett took over – placing her back swiftly on the bed - and then it was his turn to explore her entire body while they continued their gentle rocking.
It felt so good to feel his hands touch her in places that had not been touched in months. She could not imagine how she had survived the last period with him so close by yet so far away. Of course at the time she had felt too tired, sick - or both - to want anything more than a gentle hug but however a woman could ever live with such a man and not want him in every way a woman can want a man was beyond Scarlett. As often Scarlett wondered if she was the only woman – the only respectable woman – that enjoyed these kinds of attentions. Rhett had assured her she wasn't – though she never asked how he acquired that knowledge – but she still wondered just the same.
Rhett's gentle rocking became more urgent and when he placed a hand on her hip to push her against him she clawed his shoulders to hang on to him in return. The sensations in her lower abdomen intensified now that they had taken on a quicker pace, just like the darkness in Rhett's eyes intensified. She felt herself drowning in those eyes while her body seemed to be swallowed by the current that was sweeping them along. Her body tensed under him and she started begging him with little cries. Begging him to give her the release she craved so much, begging him for that thing that she knew only he could give to her. Her eyesight became blurry but she vaguely could see him smile at her. His lips moved to say something but she could not hear the words because her blood had started rushing in her ears so fast that it blocked out all sound. Everything became dark for a moment; all she consisted off was the hot flame that burst through her body, rendering her helpless. When she gradually became aware of her surroundings again she could hear Rhett crying out her name before he collapsed right beside her on the bed.
Sweat was glistening upon his chest and he had a wide satisfied smile on his face. Scarlett looked at him and giggled. He turned his head to look at her lazily.
'You should be ashamed of yourself, Mrs Butler, ' he said mockingly. 'Seducing your poor hard-working husband in the middle of the afternoon. Tsk, tsk, what would people say…' he said while he lifted himself up on one elbow and started toying with one of her long strands of hair.
'I wouldn't know and I wouldn't care,' Scarlett said while sticking her tongue out to him. 'But I do know that I want to take a small nap now, ' she said while stretching her body leisurely. 'Which means that you will have to look after our daughter for a bit; if I am not mistaken I hear her crying. She is probably offended that her daddy was not there to greet her when she woke up, as is his usual habit.'
Scarlett had not even finished saying the last words when she saw him jump out of the bed in all his naked glory. He grabbed his morning robe from the hanger and had barely put it on when he shot out of the room, calling to Bonnie and the nurse that he was coming.
In Scarlett's opinion there was nothing wrong with teaching children to wait for their turn but she was too happy to really care now. She went to the dressing room; despite assurances from the doctor that she could not conceive while nursing her baby she did not want to take any changes. She returned soon, wearing a soft nightgown. She caressed the luxurious sheets underneath her before she turned on her belly to have a well-deserved nap.
When she woke up Rhett was sitting on his own side, holding the baby who he was trying to keep satisfied with a cloth dipped in sugary water.
'Ah, Mrs Butler, finally you are awake. I hope you don't mind but your daughter has been very fidgety; I think she needs her mommy.'
'She needs my milk, more like,' Scarlett sighed but she moved to sit against the pillows and opened up her gown before she took the child from Rhett and started nursing it. Rhett placed himself horizontal on the bed so that he could have a good look at what he considered one of his favourite pictures. Scarlett had been shy at first, with him staring so intrusively but after a while she had gotten used to it and it had become a very treasured moment for both of them.
'Where is Wade by the way,' Rhett asked after a few moments of silence. He had wondered about that when he came home but then he had soon been too distracted to ask – he laughed to himself.
'He is playing with Dr. Bushnell's son again. It seems he has found at least one true friend here, though I think he still misses Beau.'
'Well, Beau is almost like a brother to him,' Rhett said and Scarlett studied his face for traces of resentment. Beau was Ashley's son after all and Rhett knew there had been times she had hoped to be a mother to both boys. But Rhett's remark appeared to be sincere; perhaps because Beau was not only Ashley son but also Melly's who she knew Rhett respected immensely.
'What do you think, Scarlett? Maybe it is time to head back to Georgia so that those boys can renew their friendship and this little one can start learning where she comes from?' he said while glancing at his daughter adoringly.
Scarlett looked up into his face with surprise. The subject of their return to America had not really come up in conversation before but Scarlett had had the impression that Rhett rather enjoyed staying in England. The society in Liverpool seemed less restrictive than the one in Atlanta and Scarlett knew this suited him much better.
Feeling her daughter become dissatisfied, she released her right nipple from Bonnie's mouth and moved the baby to the other side. The baby soon settled – the milk in the other breast now coming in abundance – and Scarlett resumed their conversation.
'I didn't know you were quite done with your business here, Rhett. Besides, I thought you enjoy being in England.'
Rhett, momentarily lost in the perfect picture that his wife and child made, murmured just how beautiful he thought they both were before he lifted his head up to look Scarlett in the eye.
'Oh, I like England, London more than Liverpool, but I would like this little one to take her first steps on Georgian – or Charleston- soil. I am not saying that I am turning into my father but I guess becoming a parent has made me appreciate our roots a little bit more. This gloomy town is no place to raise kids. They need to grow up amongst magnolia trees and during long sweltering summers, running around freely in fields that seem endless. Talking about the wilderness; I would like us to visit Strawbridge again.'
Scarlett's face immediately dropped.
'Why in God's name do you want to revisit that dreadful place, Rhett?'
'Oh, I know our stay ended quite miserable there, Scarlett, but you are forgetting that we also had some good times there. Some very good times,' he said, in a lower voice. Immediately goose bumps ran up Scarlett's spinal cord.
Yes, they did have some wonderful times there. But still Scarlett preferred the present day in which she and Rhett would not quarrel so much and were as deeply in love with each other as any man and woman could be.
'Besides, I always promised you to pick up Socks and by now her little filly must be on her way to become as beautiful a horse as Zephyr is. She would make a good horse for Bonnie one day.'
'Don't you even dare think that I will allow Bonnie to ride a horse before she has come off age, Rhett!' Scarlett said with a raised voice causing Bonnie to kick against her.
'Sorry, Sweetheart, ' Scarlett whispered. 'But your daddy is mighty stubborn sometimes.'
'I never thought I would see the day you turned into a real mother hen, Scarlett, ' Rhett said mockingly causing Scarlett to snort loudly. Bonnie let go off her, clearly satisfied, so Scarlett handed her to Rhett to let her burp while she adjusted her nightgown.
She studied how Rhett carried their daughter through the room, tapping her gently under her behind. He really was good with babies, she thought lovingly. Unlike her…
'I know I will never be the epitome of motherhood, Rhett, but I have always protected Wade and I will also protect Bonnie – with my life if I have to – so don't you get any ideas of sharing your dangerous hobbies with my children.
'I seem to recall you are quite the equestrian yourself, Scarlett, so I won't be teaching her anything else than your own father taught you,' Rhett said, keeping his voice soft so not to disturb the child that was gradually falling asleep on his shoulder.
'I love my father, but he was not perfect. I, for one, will not have you using Bonnie to get back into the house without witnesses after you had one or two brandies too many.'
This caused Rhett to laugh and subsequently wake Bonnie from her dozing.
'Shhh, sorry, honey,' Rhett murmured to his daughter. 'I will take this one to her little bed, but just for the record, Scarlett, my love, I thought your father was a great man but no scoundrel will ever get to see my daughter in her night attire due to me not being able to hold my liquor.,
'Oooh!' Scarlett yelled with frustration and she attempted to throw a pillow at him but he closed the door behind him just in time.
'Scoundrel indeed,' she murmured to herself, smiling, before she lay against the remaining pillows and started dreaming of their return to America.