Scarlett's Maliase

by Marilyn1000

Scarlett suffers one to many blows.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Note: Scarlett suffers one too many blows.

Rhett could be excused for not immediately recognizing that his wife had changed for he was not aware of all of the events that had befallen her.
He knew about the "Caveat Emporium" incident because he had instigated it. What he didn't know was the look of pity that Ashley had given her when he had told her the meaning of the sign. At first, she didn't recognize it as pity until she remembered where she had seen it before. It was the look Ashley had given Charlie in the days before they had been deployed. The four of them had been sitting around talking when Ashley, Melanie and Charlie started talking about a family named the Marchs. Scarlett said, "The Marchs? Do they live in the county?" Charles and Melanie had looked at her with love when Charles said, "They are characters in the book Little Women." But Ashley had looked at Charlie with pity. She had forgotten all about that pitiful look. She would like to be mad but it made her sad, very sad. Ashley had never loved her he had only pitied her. She realized he had never said he loved her. She had made herself believe that he loved her but he had only felt sorry for her. So sorry he couldn't tell her the truth. Maybe he thought she would grow up and discern the truth for herself. Scarlett decided she had never loved Ashley but to be pitied was almost too much to be borne.
Scarlett was so mad about Rhett running away with Wade she went to see Uncle Henry about what she could do about it. Scarlett found out once she married Rhett, she no longer owned anything. Her mills, her store, her children all now belong to Rhett. She was even considered Rhett's property. Her mills? Her children? Even herself? "Uncle Henry! You should have told me I was going to lose everything." Scarlett cried. Then much to Uncle Henry's distress she burst into tears, heartbreaking sobs. All Uncle Henry could do was pat her arm until she finally got control of herself. Uncle Henry said, "Yes. I suppose I should have said something before the wedding but I never thought you would want to run your own businesses once you were married to Mr. Butler. After all it is so unladylike."
Inside Scarlett felt as if Uncle Henry had slapped her but she said, "I suppose it is. After all I wouldn't want to unsex myself."
When Uncle Henry heard that he decided to tell her something that had been bothering him for a while. "Scarlett, are you aware that Wade is never invited to any birthday parties because of your activities?" If Scarlett had not been filled with such profound sadness she probably wouldn't have cared about Wade's misfortune. After all they were just children's parties. At that moment Scarlett was filled with pain for Wade's lack of invitations. The injustice of her child being left out brought her down even further.
"Can you find a buyer for the store and my half of the mills? I will find out if Ashley wants to sell his half also."
Uncle Henry said, "We can talk to Ashley about the sale tonight. You are going to Melly's dinner party tonight, aren't you?"
Scarlett had forgotten all about it and she said, "No. I'm not feeling well but go ahead and talk to him. You can let me know tomorrow."
She got up to leave and with her back to Uncle Henry Scarlett said, "Will Rhett have to sign the contract for it to be legal?" If she looked at him, she would burst in to tears again.
Uncle Henry gently said, "Yes"
Scarlett somehow made it home without crying but she was in a daze. When she got home, Ella was crying because Wade was gone and she had no one to play with. Scarlett picked her up in her arms and they laid on Scarlett's bed and cried together until they both fell asleep.
Scarlett kept Ella with her the rest of the day. Scarlett sent a note to Melanie telling her she was unwell and would not be able to attend the dinner party. Scarlett felt like she did when the Yankees had burned the cotton, they had worked so hard to harvest. She felt like she did when she had finally made it home to find Mother dead and Pa broken. She felt like she did when she had finally gotten ahead a little bit and they raised the taxes. She felt the way she did when she had left the Fire House. She felt like she did when Rhett had abandoned her at Rough and Ready. She remembered how he had kissed her at Rough and Ready and what had he said? He said a bunch of things she hadn't understood. He had said he had waited for her longer than any other woman and that ... he loved her. A month ago, she would have brought him to his knees remembering what he had said that night. Now she didn't care. Even if she brought him to his knees, he would still control every aspect of her life. She felt hopeless. She didn't even have her love for Ashley to buoyancy her. With an insight rare to her she understood that was all her love for Ashley was, a light at the end of the tunnel.
She thought of her mother and how she always seemed not to be happy. She couldn't remember her mother ever laughing or crying. Her mother had just existed. Her mother had followed all the rules of society because... Why? Scarlett scooped Ella up and they went in search of Mammy. Scarlett was talking to Ella the entire time she was looking for Mammy. Just before she found Mammy, she noticed Ella had her eyes, her smile, and her dimples. Scarlett thought with that I can make her the belle of Atlanta. I just have to get back in the good graces of the Pea Hens. This is my new challenge in life. Be the best wife and mother I can be according to society's rules. I need to know why Mother never laughed or cried.
Scarlett found Mammy in the kitchen. Scarlett asked her out into the gardens. Scarlett tried to get Mammy to sit with her but Mammy said, "It wouldn't be fitting." So, Scarlett moved on to her questions. Scarlett asked, "What was my mother like before she married Pa? Why would my mother marry an Irish man three times her age? Who is Phillipe? Why did she never laugh or cry?"
At first Mammy tried to avoid the questions but when she looked at Scarlett's face, she knew Scarlett wouldn't let her not answer her questions. Mammy sat down and started the tragic story of Miss Ellen's life. Mammy was very honest not sparing Scarlett's feelings. It was too late for that. Ellen was a lot younger than her sisters. She was a spirited, lively child. She was her father's favorite and he had spoiled her. Miss Ellen had fallen in love with her cousin, Phillipe. Phillipe was wild and worse poor. He was not good enough for Ellen. He went to New Orleans to make his fortune. He would return rich and they would marry. While Phillipe was away Ellen was being courted by an Irish man with a plantation in the backwoods of Georgia. Normally he would not have stood a chance. Pierre Robillard would not allow this match for his favorite child. Fate stepped in and changed their lives. Phillipe was killed in a bar fight and Ellen received the news the very day Gerald proposed to her. Ellen blamed her father for Phillipe's death. Her father could either support her marriage to Gerald or she would go into a convent. Pierre felt Ellen being married to an Irish man was better than her becoming a nun. Miss Ellen never forgave her father or forgot her first love but she was a good wife to Gerald.
Scarlett doubted that. How can one be a good wife when one is in love with someone other than your husband? Scarlett smiled at her thought. She was just as bad. She should never have married Rhett. Scarlett thought the worse thing Ellen had done was go through life without feeling anything. Mammy was more mother to her than Ellen had ever been.
Scarlett stood up and hugged the older woman. She said, "Thank you. I know that was hard for you to tell me. I don't think my sisters need to know. Thank you, Mammy, for loving us as if we were your own."
Scarlett left Mammy in the garden and took Ella to her nursemaid for her to be fed her supper. Sadly, Scarlett had to ask the nursemaid Ella's routine. Ella would be fed and changed then allowed to play until six when she would be put down for the night. Scarlett asked, "If she is put down that early when does she wake up."
The nursemaid, Anna, said, "Usually between six and six thirty."
Scarlett said, "She sleeps for 12 hours? Is that normal?"
Anna said, "Yes ma'am."
Scarlett grasped that of course she didn't know how to act like a loving mother. Ellen had never acted as a loving mother. Scarlett understood that her mother had still been breathing but she had died when Phillipe had died. Ellen had not committed suicide because it was a mortal sin. Scarlett wondered if Ellen had any feelings for Pa and his children. She thought Ellen probably didn't. Scarlett had not cared for her two first husbands or their children. Scarlett laughed. Her mother had not cared for her children but Pa had and he had given her confidence. She had done pretty good for the daughter of an Irish immigrant. She laughed again. She had ended up married to the richest man in Georgia, one of the Butlers from Charleston. Not bad. Not bad at all. And he loved her. She would be a good wife to him. Much better than Ellen was to her Pa.
After playing with Ella (she really was a sweet child.) Scarlett put her to bed. She had supper in her room and was trying to decide her future. She would love her children to the best of her ability. She would love them because they were her children. She would look for ways they were like her. She would find a way to bond with them. She would love Rhett as much as he would let her. Her lot was casted. She would be the best mother and wife she could be. She would also have as many children as she could in order to stay busy. What did a 16-inch waist matter now. She was going to thoroughly enjoy herself in her marital bed because Rhett did have a way with women at least their bodies anyway and so few things would bring her pleasure from now on. She would never be that girl of a week ago. That girl had hope. Hope is a luxury Scarlett cannot afford. She would attend the sewing circles and work with the Catholic Church's charities.
Rhett and Wade came home in the middle of the night. He had planned it that way so he would have the advantage of surprise. He carried a sleeping Wade upstairs and laid him in his bed. Rhett took off his shoes but left him dressed otherwise. It would do Wade no harm to sleep in his clothes for one night.
Rhett placed his carpet bag down as soon as he walked through his bedroom door. His bride was asleep. She made a beautiful sight. He got undressed and slipped into the bed. Yes, he was going to wake her up. He wanted that gorgeous body and he had been a good boy in New Orleans. He pulled her to him and started kissing her. She responded. Probably dreaming of Ashley but Rhett continued kissing her and rubbing his hands all over her body. She said, "Rhett." He stopped rubbing her body and she said, "Don't stop, honey." And he didn't for quite some time.
When he woke up the next morning, he could not believe how into it she had gotten. Maybe she had missed him. She was rubbing his stomach something she had never done before. He turned and looked at her and she was looking back at him. She had never attempted to give him pleasure before this morning. Her hand kept getting closer and closer to his manhood and he was so anticipating her touching him that he missed what she said.
Rhett said, "Huh?"
Scarlett giggled and said, "Did you bring me anything else from New Orleans?"
If she would stop rubbing his stomach, he would be able to think. "Anything else?" Rhett parroted.
Scarlett whispered, "Anything else besides this?" and wrapped her hand around his manhood.
Rhett finally said, "Isn't that enough?"
Scarlett whispered, "Yes."

Ashley agreed to sell his half of the mills also. Uncle Henry found a buyer for the mills and the store. They went down and signed the papers. Rhett gladly signed the papers for Scarlett after all they weren't his mills. He was glad Ashley and Scarlett would no longer be business partners. Rhett watched Scarlett closely at the meeting. She was friendly and polite to Ashley but there was none of the blatant adoration like before. Scarlett was excited that Ashley had already found another job working for a newspaper. After Ashley left, they had Uncle Henry set up two trust with the money she had received. Scarlett put half in one trust for Wade and the other half in a trust for Ella. She made herself executor and Rhett first alternative.
When they left Rhett remarked, "I would have thought you be sad selling your mills. You worked very hard building them. You seemed very proud of that accomplishment."
Scarlett said flippantly, "I was but it was time to move on. I have other things I want to do now like taking care of you." And she patted his leg.
Rhett wanted to dig deep into this. He couldn't believe she had voluntarily given up her daily contact with Ashley. He said, "I don't take that much taking care of."
Scarlett replied, "You'd be surprised, Mr. Butler, on how much of my day is spent taking care of you. Not that I mind taking care of you. It is lots of fun for me too." And smiled and let her dimples show.
"I plan to spend my time with my children and the ones we are sure to create with all this activity. Then there is Melly and all her projects. I'm wondering how I ever had time to work." Scarlett said.
Rhett knew he shouldn't say anything. Things were going so well between them. He couldn't help himself. He said, "Maybe seeing Mr. Wilkes was a strong enough motivation for you to neglect your other responsibilities."
Instead of her getting angry she gave him a sad look and said, "You are probably right and I'm sorry for that but you and the children are my top priority now."
'What was going on? What was she up to?' Rhett thought
They had arrived at the house and she waited for him to help her down with that sad expression on her face.
Then she brightened and said, "You can take care of me now." She reached for his hand and walked inside the house and up the stairs.
The next six weeks were almost boring in their normality. Rhett saw Scarlett conversing at length with both Mammy and the nursemaid. He saw her spending afternoons with Miss Melly and their children. She was also attending sewing circles two afternoons a week. She was working with Father Stevens on the church's charities. When he would ask if she had a good time at these meetings, she would say no. He would ask why she went if she didn't enjoy them. She replied it is something I am doing for my children. He then quipped, "Still trying to make people believe you are a good mother. You aren't fooling anyone." He expected her to get angry and tell him how wrong he was but instead she looked at him and said, "You are probably right but I can only do the best I can and hope for the best."
Since he had come back from New Orleans she had never questioned him leaving after dinner. The only thing she said was, "If you go to The Painted Lady would you park your horse around back so nobody at the sewing circle feels the need to inform me of your activities." She never mentioned it again after that. Even when a couple of times he had forgotten and parked his horse out front. Once when it happened, he told her he was sorry he had forgotten. She said, "Thank you for trying." When he mockingly asked her if she was trying to be the best wife or the best martyr in Atlanta. Scarlett looked at him and said, "I can only do the best I can and hope for the best.

Rhett said, "What do you think I am doing when I go to The Painted Lady?"

Scarlett smiled and said, "You are playing cards, drinking whiskey, and making business deals."

Rhett meanly said, "Maybe I'm going upstairs also to enjoy some female companionship?" He didn't know why he was saying that. Why was he being mean?

Scarlett looked at him and laughed harder than he had ever seen her laugh. She was laughing so hard he was beginning to get insulted. Finally, Scarlett got herself under control and said, "You aren't visiting the women. I know for several reasons. As much as you state otherwise that you aren't a gentleman you still have a code of honor. As long as I don't cheat on you then you won't cheat on me. You never come home smelling like anything but you. And finally, you come home and make love to me most nights as soon as you crawl in the bed." With that she held up her hand for him to be silent. "I know how long your recovery time is." And with that she kissed him and walked out of the room. Then he heard her laughing in the hallway. Rhett started laughing. She was right on all points. This new Scarlett was a lot more observant than the old one. With that thought he followed her upstairs to their bedroom.

Rhett noticed that the Scalawag wives were never at the house anymore and they were never attending any of their parties. She had been so excited about giving her first party in their home but now she never said a word about it. When he asked her about the party she said, "The Old Guard won't come and I don't want white trash in my house so why have a party. We can have a party just the two of us and have a lot more fun."

A week later she asked him to take her to Charleston to meet his mother. To say he was shocked was an understatement but he said, "Yes."
She took off her engagement ring and set it down next to him. "This ring is too big. The people of Charleston will critique me far too much for my reputation to endure. Will you buy me another one that's much smaller?"
Rhett said, "Yes. What would you like?"
Scarlett was staring out the window and said, "Something tasteful and elegant but not too big. Buy something you like. You have good taste." Then she turned and looked at him, "I will need some extremely conservative dresses. I have an appointment with the dressmaker this afternoon at one. Can you escort me and choose the correct ensemble?"
Rhett tried to make a joke of it and said, "Watching you get dressed and undressed is always a pleasure for me."
He did get a smile for his efforts but it quickly disappeared. She said, "Thank you."

The dresses were as Scarlett expected nothing but bland boring fabrics. When the dressmaker suggested styles that in the past Scarlett would have loved. She said, "No. I'm looking for something in the maternity line." she added, "It is just a matter of time." The dressmaker nodded.

When they left Rhett said, "Don't you think the father should be the first to know?"
Scarlett replied, "I'm not with child. I just don't want to go clothes shopping twice."
"That's a lie!", Rhett shouted, "You love buying clothes."
Scarlett simply said, "Not anymore."
Rhett just wanted to reach over and shake her.
Scarlett surprised him by saying, "I discovered that I don't love Ashley. Probably never did. He was something I made up in my head."
Rhett said, "Where does that leave us?" He didn't know why he asked it but he was even more surprised when Scarlett said, "You loving me and me not being sure of my feelings. I don't know what love is. I know I'm very fond of you, I know I don't want to live without you, I know I feel safest when you are around, and I know I only want to have your children. Is that love? I don't know."
Rhett didn't argue about whether are not he was in love with her. She stated it as a fact and seemed to accept it as a truth. He wasn't going to be able to argue her out of it. And maybe he didn't want to.
That night when he made love to her he uttered the words he'd only dreamed of saying. She held him close to her and said, "Me too". Not the declaration he was hoping for but he would be happy with it for now.

The next week Rhett gave her a beautiful, tasteful, elegant emerald ring. The emerald was surrounded by tiny diamonds. Scarlett thought 'It looks like something Rhett's mother would wear.' She said to Rhett, "It is gorgeous. Just exactly what I had in mind." She was happy with it. She no longer wanted to make people pea green with envy. She no longer wanted to stand out from the group. She knew now for her children to be accepted she had to be accepted by the matrons of the Old Guard. She could no longer flaunt anything. Rhett brought another object out of his pocket and gave it to her. It was a small brooch made with the diamond of her first engagement ring. When Scarlett saw it, she was truly happy. She hugged Rhett and told him excitedly, "This is perfect. You are so wonderful to me." As she walked away Rhett thought 'That is the real Scarlett.'

Rhett noticed that she wore the brooch everyday no matter what other jewelry she had on. It always made him happy to see the brooch and he was happy that he had found a way for her to wear the large diamond without insulting the matrons of Atlanta society. The diamond was important to her. He was glad he had made her truly happy. hH
Soon they were on their way to Charleston. Scarlett was perfect the entire time they were in Charleston. His mother and sister loved her. His mother and sister decided those stories out of Atlanta must just have been vicious gossip. She was wonderful. She was kind, loving, and considerate. When Rhett and Scarlett were amorous, she was not just willing she was an enthusiastic participant. She never got that dreamy look on her face which meant she was thinking of Ashley. The only problem was she was Scarlett without the spark. When he teased her or attacked her most favorite thoughts or feelings, she would smile at him but not respond. He never saw that flame in her eyes.
Their last day in Charleston Rhett escorted his wife and children to visit her aunts. The visit was an interesting affair. The aunts acted like Rhett wasn't there altogether. They said unkind things about Scarlett which she ignored but when they attacked Ella for being ugly. Scarlett stood up and said, "We must leave now. Rhett please take the children to the buggy. I need to have a private moment with my aunts."
Rhett took the children out of the parlor. He told Wade to take Ella to the buggy while he stood by the door to listen.
Scarlett said, "Listen you old vicious cows. Next time you want to treat my husband so disrespectfully you should remember whose name signs those checks you quickly cash. With one word from me those checks can ceased to exist. Next time you choose to verbally attack a sweet, kind, loving child on the bases of something as unimportant as her looks those checks will cease also." And with that she swept out of the room. She didn't even look in Rhett's direction. She just said, "Come on."
After they got in the buggy Scarlett took Ella into her arms and loved on her. Scarlett didn't say anything to Rhett about what had just happened. He asked her, "Are you okay?" Scarlett looked at him with the most serene expression on her face. All she said, "Yes. Thank you." When they got to Elizabeth Butler's house Scarlett took the children upstairs to play. Rhett told his mother what had happened and all Elizabeth said was, "They can be such ninnies sometimes." After twenty minutes Scarlett came to the sitting room and asked to speak to him in their room. As soon as Rhett entered the room Scarlett launched herself at him. Soon neither of them was thinking about her aunts.
They returned to Atlanta and life continued. Scarlett finally got what she had been working for an invitation for Wade to a birthday party. It was for Mrs. Merriweather's grandson. Finally, all that hard work and spending of Rhett's money had gotten her the goal. She was accepted socially again. It was a lot harder negotiating these situations than it was running a business.
Scarlett's next negotiation of the shark filled waters of Atlanta's Old Guard was her pregnancy. She wanted to use the Yankee Dr. Harrison because he used chloroform during labor but Dr. Meade was the doctor of the old guard. She would need Rhett's help for her deception but he could be so contrary sometimes. He kept looking at her like he was trying to solve a puzzle. She knew it was because he thought she had lost a lot of her passion for living but the truth was she had control of her passion and her temper. She let go of a lot of those feelings in their marital bed.

While they were lying in bed about to go to sleep Scarlett said, "Rhett, I believe I am with child."
Rhett reached over and hugged her. She hugged him back. He asked, "Are you happy?"
Scarlett said, "I'm happy about having a child. I'm not happy about the process."
Rhett said, "I can understand that it's like you lose control of your body."
Scarlett said, "Yes. And with Charles he was dead before I even found out I was pregnant so it didn't matter. With Frank as soon as I found out I was pregnant I ended relations with him. With you I am hoping you will be creative so we can continue being intimate."
Rhett smiled and said, "I will be as creative as possible."
Scarlett smiled and laid close to him. She said, "I want to use the Yankee doctor, Dr. Harrison. He uses chloroform to take the edge off the labor pains."
Rhett said, "Then use him."
Scarlett said, "You have to take the blame with the Old Guard. You are the reason I am using Harrison over Meade.
Rhett laughed and said, "Where did my brave Scarlett go?" When Scarlett didn't say anything Rhett said, "Blame it on me if it makes you happy. "
Scarlett said, "Thank you."
Scarlett went to sleep while Rhett wondered who was this woman sleeping beside him. All he knew was this wasn't the Scarlett he had married. Maybe she was better but he also felt like he had lost something valuable he could never get back.

Rhett was happy. Scarlett was kind and loving. She spent time with her children. She spent time at her sewing circles and charities. She was kind and appreciative of Melanie Wilkes. She was slowly redecorating the house to look elegant and refined. Six months ago, Scarlett would have hated the decor. She seemed to appreciate him and was enthusiastic in their love making. If he told her he loved her she always responded she loved him too but she never said it unprompted by him. Even when she was miserable during her pregnancy, she would just ask him to rub her back or her ankles. She would smile indulgently when he would randomly touch her abdomen.

One day Rhett asked Mammy, "Have you noticed anything different about Scarlett lately?
Mammy said, "She is acting like Miss Ellen but with more love."
Rhett asked her, "What do you mean?"
Mammy said, "She is acting like Miss Ellen after Miss Ellen decided her life was over."
Rhett said, "Do you think she has a suicidal wish?
Mammy said, "Nothing that extreme but she acts like she no longer has her passion for living."
Rhett turned to her and said, "When did she lose her passion?"
Mammy looked at him and said, "I don't know when she lost it. I suddenly noticed one day it was gone. I don't know how long it had been gone."
Rhett said worriedly, "The same is true for me. One day I realized that she had lost her spark. Do you think she will get it back?"
Mammy shook her head and said, "No, Mister Rhett, I think it's gone forever. I don't think she wants it anymore."

Rhett thought about it for a long time. Scarlett was loving to him, respectful and enthusiastic in their bed, kind and interested in her children, a good friend to Melly and others, willing to selflessly give her time to charity as a proper lady. Everything a proper southern lady should be. He was not happy? Because her spirit was gone. She was not Scarlett living and loving life, she was Scarlett going through the motions. Something vital in Scarlett was broken. Who broke it? Or were there several people who had a hand in the breaking of Scarlett O'Hara. Rhett knew he had help break Scarlett, the person who he thought was unbreakable. He wanted that feisty, unsinkable spirit back. But he knew that girl was gone forever. Rhett figured she finally had her dream come true... Scarlett had become her mother.

Their baby girl was born and they both were so happy. Scarlett was so warm and loving to him he could not complain. They named her Eugenia Victoria but nicknamed her Bonnie Blue.
Scarlett was a kind, loving mother. She was almost as good as Miss Melly.
She spent time with the children but never neglected him. She was perfect.

About eight weeks after Bonnie was born Scarlett had a visitor. Scarlett greeted Ashley a little hesitantly when he came to call one afternoon. Scarlett told him, "You will have to leave. It is highly improper for us to be alone in the parlor."
Ashley said, "Scarlett, let me speak to you for a moment. It's important.
Scarlett said, "No." She turned to walk away.
Then Ashley said, "Oh, my dear, I can't bear to see the way he has brutalize you, you who were always so sweet"
"Who has whatted me?"
"I've got to say it and I haven't any right. But I've got to say it. Your ... Rhett Butler."
"Everything he touches he poisons."
"And he has taken you who were so sweet and generous and gentle, for all your spirituous ways, and he had done this to you... hardened you, brutalized you by his contact."
If he were any other man in the world, I wouldn't care so much... but Rhett Butler! I've seen what he's done to you. Without you realizing it, he's twisted your thoughts into the same hard path his own run in."
Oh, yes, I know I shouldn't say this... He saved my life and I am grateful but I wish to God it had been any other man but him!"
"I tell you I can't bear it," he went on, "seeing your fineness coarsen by him, knowing that your beauty and your charm are in the keeping of a man who ... When I think of him touching you..."
"I apologize most humbly, Scarlett"
"I've been insinuating that your husband is not a gentleman and my own words have proved that I'm not one."
Scarlett turned her temper lose. Scarlett said, "Ashley Wilkes you are indeed no gentleman. If you were a gentleman you would have spoken extremely plainly to me that day in the library and told me you didn't love me. You would have told me that you were marrying Melly because she was your true love but for some reason you wanted to keep me on the line.
If you were a gentleman you would have told your cousin/brother in law that the girl he was getting ready to marry him didn't love him and how you knew she didn't love him.
If you were a gentleman you would not have asked a mixed up girl to take care of your wife. What kind of man does that?
What kind of man stays in prison for honor when his wife is dying because of the fact he impregnated her?

What kind of man continues to string a confused girl along so she will continue to employ him because he is too weak to find another job? I asked you to help me out while I was pregnant with Ella. Ella is two and a half. You could have quit and gone to New York but you were too weak.

What kind of sick man imagines me being intimate with my own husband? It makes me feel dirty to know you are thinking of me in that way.

As far as my husband is concerned I better never hear you say another word against him.

Now get out and don't ever show up at my home again without your wife.

As Ashley practically ran from the parlor Rhett who had just walked in held the door open for him.

Scarlett looked at Rhett and then turned to walk up the stairs. When she was halfway up, she turned and said, "Are you coming?" And as Rhett ran up the stairs she said, "How much did you hear?"
As they continued to climb the stairs Rhett said, "Almost all of it."
When she opened their bedroom door Scarlett said, "Good. I wouldn't want to repeat what he said about you."
As Rhett closed the bedroom door he said, "Thank you for defending me."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Just doing my wifely duty. Speaking of wifely duties Dr. Harrison says I can once again preform my duties." And pulled him down to kiss him.

Rhett finally realized that Scarlett's spark was still there. What she had lost was her foolish impetuousness. She had grown up. She was no longer a child. She was able to control her emotions by letting all that fire out in a healthy way. She let it out on people who wronged her loved ones and in their marital bed. Rhett decided that his life was pretty damn good and he was going to appreciate his wife just exactly the way she was right now.

Rhett did appreciate his wife for the rest of his life. As the days went by, she would tease him and laugh when he teased her. After Bonnie's birth Rhett repented and restored his reputation. If one didn't know about his great love for his children people might have thought he lost his deviousness. He discovered as Scarlett had the year before that when they broke societies rules it wasn't them that suffered but their children. They had several more children together and there was a lot of spirit in the house. They lived in Atlanta but spent a lot of time traveling.