Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Twenty-Nine

After the New Year Rhett heard that Belle had passed away. She had contracted cholera and died rather quickly. He had seen and talked with her occasionally when he went to The Painted Lady to meet a business associate. He would conduct his business then visit with her for a few minutes. They had little to talk about these days. They were both still fond of each other because of their history but they had little in common now. He was a gentleman with a family and she was a madame of a whore house. As much as he would have liked to attend her funeral because of their long history he knew that he could not jeopardize his standing in the community to do so. He could not insult Scarlett that way and he felt the shame of having insulted her by blatantly visiting a whore house in the past.

He was sad at Belle's death and he shared that sorrow with Scarlett and for once she was not the kind and understanding woman, he had grown used to during the last six years. Scarlett said, "You can grieve for her but do not expect any sympathy from me. She was a whore that ran a brothel that my husband was visiting and shaming me with for all of Atlanta to see."

Rhett was amazed and he said, "Do you remember that or have people told you about it?"

Scarlett looked at him with a very cold face and said, "People have been telling me about you and Belle Watling since the summer of eighteen seventy-one. Every time someone would tell me I would have to pretend that it didn't hurt me to know that you had preferred a whore to me."

Rhett said, "I never preferred a whore to you. That was when you had shut me out of your bedroom. Why did you not tell me?"

She said, "What could you do about it? The damage was already done. I just had to keep pretending it didn't bother me. There are women in this community that still don't like me because of things I did and said years ago. They would always confidentially ask me if everything was alright between you and me because they had seen your horse outside of Belle's. I knew nothing was happening but I still had to smile and pretend that it didn't hurt. But it did hurt to be reminded of that bad time in our married life. That it didn't hurt that people would think you would do that because they knew you would do that."

Rhett said, "Scarlett you should have shared this with me."

She said, "No. This is like people thinking you are a wife-beater. If we deny it that will make you look even guiltier. After all these years of us being happy I still cannot be alone in a room with Ashley without everyone thinking the worst. We are flamboyant people. We will always be the center of attention and people will always want to think the worst about us. No matter how many years we are happy together. In fact, us being happy together makes them secretly resent us even more. We are accepted. We are happily married. We are rich. We are beautiful. The good people of Atlanta will always want to spread ugly gossip about us and believe it."

Rhett got up out of his chair. It still amazed him that she had so much insight after having none before the fall. He sat down next to her on the divan and wrapped his arms around her. He said, "I have always preferred you to a whore. I love you. I would never betray you that way ever again."

Scarlett said, "What if for some reason I can never do that again?"

Rhett said, "Then I will never do that again. I only did it at that time to punish you for kicking me out of your bed. If you had told me I would have gone somewhere else. Some place that didn't have a brothel."

Scarlett said, "You should have figured that out by yourself."

Rhett smiled and thought she was being petty but he said, "Yes I should have. Maybe I should stop having business contacts that I can only meet in bars at night."

She said, "Yes you should."

He held her close and sighed. She was right about all her assertions about the Old Guard. They would always be gossiped about because of who they were. People would always believe the worst about them because it made them feel superior to them.

Later that night while Rhett was smoking his cigar Scarlett said, "Tell me how you met her."

Rhett said, "I have known Belle since I was thirteen. You remember me telling you about that sea captain that took me out on his ship. She was his daughter. When I first met her, she was just seven years old. I watched her grow from a little girl to a beautiful woman. Unfortunately for her she believed a man when he told her he was going to marry her. When she was sixteen, she left town with this man. Everything was great until she got pregnant. He abandoned her in New Orleans. She turned to being a bartender at a brothel to support herself. She soon became a prostitute because the money was better. I ran into her at a brothel and we became re-acquainted. Ten years later I saw her again at another brothel and she was beginning to look old which is the kiss of death in the whore business. She asked me to help her set-up a brothel in Atlanta and I thought it was a good idea so I did. She had been in business for two years when we met. She was never interested in me romantically. She likes women."

Scarlett sat up in the bed and said, "What?!"

Rhett said, "There are people who would rather be with their own gender than with the opposite."

Scarlett said, "You are lying to me. You think I am so naïve I will believe anything."

Rhett smiled and said, "I am not lying."

Scarlett laid back down and thought about it. Finally, she said, "I think Alice Wright is that way. She is always standing too close or is touching me."

Rhett smiled at his beautiful naïve wife and was glad they were at peace again. He said, "Who can blame her for being attracted to you?" And Scarlett simpered at the compliment.

Scarlett said, "I always thought Belle wanted you for herself."

Rhett said, "She may have but not the way you want me. She wanted to be with me so she can be on easy street. You want to be with me because you can't live without me."

Scarlett smiled and said, "Conceited"

Rhett said, "Yes I am. But I want to be with you because I can't live without you either." And kissed her. "Enough talking let's go to sleep."

She thought about it and decided that him using a whore was a physical thing but what she would have been afraid of was an emotional connection. She still wasn't sad that the woman had died.

In April of that same year the Butlers had an awful fight. After Bonnie turned ten Rhett had decided he was going to teach Bonnie how to jump. Scarlett was absolutely adamant that he would not. Scarlett stated that she wasn't going to let her daughter die like her Pa had. Rhett had been insulted that she thought he would let any harm come to their child. They had been lying in bed not talking to each other but the anger seething off of both of them. Suddenly Rhett jumped up and started putting his clothes on. Scarlett started peppering him with questions but Rhett was not answering her or even looking at her. Scarlett had gotten out of the bed and had just watched as Rhett got ready to storm out of the room. Scarlett didn't know how she knew but she knew she couldn't let Rhett leave the room. As he turned his back to walk out of the room she ran and jumped on her husband's back. Because he was in midstride and he had not been expecting Scarlett to jump on him Rhett lost his balance and fell to the ground. Rhett rolled over to throw Scarlett off his back but she had been anticipating that action. She had jumped up and straddled him once he was on his back. Scarlett grabbed his shirt and said, "I am not letting you run away from me and this argument. I know from having spoken to other people that in the past you were always running away from me. Not anymore! We will talk this out even if we have to stay up all night. Now to you want to get undressed and get back in the bed with me."

Rhett just stared at her then he calmly said, "I know it is scary for you because of the way your Pa died. I will take every precaution to ensure nothing happens to our oldest daughter but it is something I really think she would enjoy. Trust me."

Scarlett said, "Alright. As long as you don't let her take any chances. Let's go back to bed."

Rhett said, "I'm not sure I can move. You may have broken something."

Scarlett said, "I hope I knock some sense into that hard head of yours. Leaving is not how problems are worked out."

Rhett smiled at her and said, "You are right. Leaving just causes more problems.

Scarlett said, "Let's get back in the bed."

Rhett said, "You have to get off of me before I can get up."

When Scarlett felt Rhett's arousal she said, "I don't think you really want me to get off of you. I think you are enjoying me being on top of you naked."

Rhett said, "Yes I do but I would enjoy it more if you let me get undress. Would you like to help me?"

Scarlett said, "Yes I would."

She did help Rhett undress and they soon moved to the bed where it was more comfortable and judging by his performance Scarlett was sure he hadn't broken anything.

Life continued for the Butlers. Scarlett and Rhett fussing and fighting but always making up. Rhett teasing Scarlett. The children getting older. Rhett taking his entire family on every business trip he went on. They went to London, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Paris. Wade would stay with his Aunt Melly when they went during the school term.

Scarlett mentioned that she would like to go back to the Grand Canyon and within the month they were visiting it. After that Scarlett knew she had to be careful about telling Rhett she wanted something because before long he had given it to her.

Rosemary married Mr. Jeffery Bowles in the winter of eighteen seventy-nine. Scarlett wasn't sure it was a love match as much as a companion match. Mr. Bowles had never married and Rosemary had never married and Scarlett thought they just didn't want to grow old alone. Scarlett helped Rosemary plan the wedding. Scarlett wanted Rosemary to have everything she wanted in her wedding. Scarlett was disappointed. All Rosemary wanted was a simple ceremony in the back yard of the Butler's home and a small dinner party. Scarlett gave her what she wanted. Rosemary moved to Atlanta and set-up house down the street from Melanie on Ivy Street. Rhett thought they were a good match and Scarlett agreed.

Elizabeth Butler had to make a hard decision. Should she move to Atlanta or remain in Charleston? She had lived all her life in Charleston but two of her three children lived in Atlanta. Her favorite grandchildren lived in Atlanta. Rhett and Scarlett's children were definitely charming. Then during the winter of eighteen seventy-nine at Rosemary's wedding Henry Hamilton started courting her. Scarlett had laughed so hard about Rhett's reaction. He didn't know if he like the idea of his mother being courted. Elizabeth Butler never officially moved to Atlanta but she did spend a lot of time there. After Scarlett's Aunt Eulalie passed away in the summer of eighteen-eighty Elizabeth rarely went back to Charleston.

She passed away in her sleep during the summer of eighteen eighty-two. She was buried next to her husband in Charleston. Rhett sold the house on The Battery. He contacted Jacob about the contents of the house. Jacob never returned any of Rhett's letters. Rhett sold most of it but he and Rosemary brought home all the memoir pieces. The pieces from their childhood and the pre-war pieces. Rhett took his mother's death very hard but found comfort in his children and his wife. It was equally hard on the children because she was the only grandparent any of them had ever known.