Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews. I read every review and consider every suggestion therefore if you see something in my story that you suggested than if probably was because you suggested it. Sometimes it is just because great minds think along the same path. Thank you. Your suggestions help me keep my stories straight.
I had to revise this chapter for as Klenk Eniko pointed out in her review it was not Rhett-like to not ask about her encounter with Wilkes. Thanks Klenk Eniko.
Chapter Thirteen Revised
The next day a very happy Scarlett was at the Fire House. It had only been two days but she had missed seeing her husband. Scarlett was escorted to the office they were allowed to use for their visits while the private when to go get her husband. As soon as the door closed behind Rhett they were once again in each other's arms. They were telling each other how much they had missed each other even though it had only been two days. When Rhett sat down and pulled Scarlett down with him, she said, "We can't."
Rhett held her close and took deep breaths. When she moved to stand up, he held her closer. She said, "Wouldn't it be better for me to not be right beside you?"
"Probably but I don't want you to move away. Tell me about your encounter with Wilkes. That will cool my ardor quicker than anything else."
Scarlett laughed and told him, "You were right. He was a little bit disappointed and a little bit relieved that that we were finally going to end what ever was between us. He agreed that he should devote himself to Melly and he wished us happiness."
Rhett wondered why Scarlett was lying to him about her encounter with Wilkes. He suspected that she didn't want him to be concerned about Wilkes anymore. He would always be concerned about Wilkes because he didn't trust the man. He suspected that it had not gone as easily as she was pretending it had.
She then told him about Suellen paying the taxes and her offer to sell her part of Tara to Scarlett for three hundred dollars.
He had thought three hundred dollars was a bit steep for that land but he agreed to give Scarlett the money anyway. Rhett quipped, "It is certainly a lot cheaper than that monstrosity you built on Peach Tree Street."
Scarlett smiled and said, "Do you want to help me design and decorate our home this time."
Rhett looked at her and with great seriousness said, "That house was never a home."
"No. It wasn't. We will have a home this time."
She told him about hers and Melly's plans to maintain her reputation. All too soon their hour was over.
In three days, everyone in polite society was calling to see Melanie Wilkes and Scarlett sat right by her side the entire time. She would go see Rhett in the morning then be home for dinner. They would put the children down for their naps and receive callers. Scarlett played the dumb belle to the hilt. Melly would look at her and smile. She knew what Scarlett was doing.
Scarlett made the ladies believe she was lovesick over Rhett which she was so it didn't stretch her acting skills. She would say, 'He was so handsome. He was so smart. He was so courageous to enlist in the Confederate army at the end. He had such pride in the South.' And with a blush she would say, "He's so rich." then she would act embarrassed and almost ashamed. It was working. The dowagers decided that the aftermath of the war had changed Scarlett. She was no longer proud and arrogant. She had an almost humbleness to her.
Melanie Wilkes had been telling everyone in confidence of how horrible their time was after the war. She had told everyone about the woes that had befallen poor Scarlett. She had told everyone that although Scarlett loved Captain Butler, she had really married him for financial security for herself and her family. Afterall she didn't have a male relative to support her or her family not with what had happened to her father. If they didn't know what had happened to Mr. O'Hara, Melanie would hesitantly tell them of Mr. O'Hara losing his mind because of his grief over the death of his wife. Poor Scarlett didn't have her mother either. She and her family had practically starved since she and Melanie had left Atlanta during the war and even though they were starving Scarlett had insisted on feeding the confederate veterans that were going home. Melly told everyone that the responsibility for everyone had fallen on Scarlett's shoulders at such a very young age. Melly told everyone how Captain Butler had somehow gotten them out of Atlanta before the Yankees had taken over. Melly would say, "I am sure that Beau and I would have died if Captain Butler hadn't gotten us out of Atlanta." No, she didn't know how he did it but it was a pretty heroic thing to do since at that point Scarlett and Captain Butler were just friends. She would tell them confidentially, 'I think Captain Butler was already in love with Scarlett.' Nothing was ever said about him abandoning them at Rough and Ready. Of course, Scarlett knew that Melly was telling everyone about their last year and a half. That had been part of the plan.
When people asked Ashley or Suellen about the last year and a half all they did was confirm that the information was accurate. Suellen would have like to tell everyone what a bitch Scarlett had been during that time but Frank convinced her to hold her tongue. Ashley, of course, would add he wasn't there for most of the time. He so wanted to tell all the good people in Atlanta about Butler abandoning the women at Rough and Ready but he knew that Melanie and Scarlett would somehow turn even that around and make Butler out to be a hero even in that situation.
The matrons decided that with all that had happened to Scarlett in the last years it was no wonder she had chosen the security of being married to Captain Butler even if he was a reprobate. At least he was a southerner and not a damn Yankee. They all knew she had always liked him. Scarlett was probably swept up in his charm, good looks and a lot of hero worship. She was just a child who didn't know how she had placed herself in social jeopardy and she believed Captain Butler loved her. Although the matrons were doubtful of that. They all believed he had taken advantage of Scarlett's naivety to get her to marry him. They decided to continue receiving Scarlett but not her husband. There was not a firm plan on what to do if Scarlett showed up for an evening event with Captain Butler in tow.
Dolly Merriwether was going to confirm Captain Butler had actually joined the Confederate army. Mrs. Merriwether knew Captain Butler had told Scarlett that but she wasn't sure that Captain Butler hadn't lie to poor Scarlett. He may have just said it to impress the naïve child.
It was the first day of February and Captain Jaffrey told Rhett, "Belle is here to see you and she is madder than a wet hen. Do you want me to send her back or send her away?
Rhett was not ready to talk to Belle. So engrossed was he in Scarlett and their returning in time he had forgotten that Belle would find out about his marriage through gossip. Men gossiped more than women and therefore Belle always knew what was going on around town. He remembered that he had refused to see Belle in the first timeline. He was going to have to get back in her good graces if he was going to use her as an alibi. He hoped the clan didn't make that fool hearty raid but he had to keep Belle on the line a little bit longer. He had plans for the two-faced whore as soon as he didn't need her any more. Him saving the lives of the clan members was one of the things that helped him get received again so he needed to save them again if the opportunity arose. Rhett said, "I know what she is mad about so I might as well get this over with. Send her back." Rhett thought, 'Please forgive me, Scarlett, for what I am about to say.'
Belle was not extended the same courtesy as Scarlett. Whereas Scarlett was allowed to meet with Rhett in privacy in an office Belle was brought back to the actual cell. The Yankees would not let her into his jail cell for which he was thankful. He didn't need any bruises or scratch marks he would have to explain to his bride. She was possessive of his body which he liked a lot and he wanted to keep it that way.
Belle stormed in the room. She was in full fury and she was not pretty when she was mad. It actually showed her age. Belle snarled, "Is it true? Have you gone and married the bitch?
Rhett said, "I don't know who you are referring to using that ugly word. Surely not my sweet, demure bride?"
"I'm talking about Scarlett Hamilton. The same woman you called a cold-hearted self-centered bitch."
"Well yes, although her name is Scarlett Butler now. Yes, she made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I decided to marry her and have my fill of her. When I am sated, I will divorce her and give her a nice settlement."
"I thought you weren't a marrying man."
"It was the quickest means to the goal. The goal of having carnal relations with Scarlett."
"Are you in love with her?"
"My feelings for Scarlett have not changed since the last time I saw you."
"Everyone is saying that you and her are in love."
"I do believe that she is in love with my money. I am still in love with her body. Maybe I said something to make her think I was in love with her but you know men lie all the time. Don't be mad at me." Rhett put a woeful expression on his face.
"Oh Rhett, I can't ever stay mad at you. I just hope you aren't too disappointed when you finally get to plow her. You know she isn't going to know how to make a man happy like I can."
"I know that she is not as experience as you, Belle. Nor does she know all the tricks to bring a man pleasure that you know. But I have to have her. Now run along I don't want my new bride to hear about you until I am ready for her to hear about you."
Belle left in a very happy mood. She was thinking that Rhett was finally going to get over Scarlett O'Hara and come back to her. He would once again be content to be with her.
Fortunately, the Yankee guards liked Rhett so they were not going to say anything to Mrs. Butler about Belle visiting him. They thought he was a fool to be messing around with Belle when he had such a young, beautiful bride but some men were stupid.
Rhett had always been a lucky man in cards and in business deals. That was why he had amassed a large fortune. Unfortunately, he usually was very unlucky in his relationship with Scarlett. He would have admitted that a lot of his misfortune was his own fault but sometimes it was just bad breaks. For once he had a stroke of luck. Scarlett missed seeing Belle leave the Fire House by less than five minutes. She had some errands to run before going home for dinner so she was arriving at the Fire House earlier than she normally did. Rhett's stroke of good luck was that as Scarlett was leaving her house Wade had stopped her to ask for a kiss. She had turned around and given her son a big smooch, a hug and a tickle. That amount of time was the amount of time that had transpired between Belle leaving and Scarlett arriving at the Fire House.
When Mrs. Butler walked in the door of the Fire House the private who manned the door just stared at her. Scarlett was used to men staring at her so she didn't pay it any mind. She smiled at the private and said, "I'm here to see my husband."
The private continued staring at her. What he was thinking was, 'She must not have seen that whore that just left. She would not be that happy if she had. Then again maybe she doesn't know that woman was a whore. Ladies don't know about those things.' Finally, he said, "Yes, Mrs. Butler. Just go to the office that you usually meet him in and I will go get him."
The private went to Rhett cell. As he was unlocking the door to the cell he said, "Your wife is already here. She is early today. You have got to be the luckiest man alive. I think she missed seeing that whore by less than five minutes. Of course, I'm sure your wife wouldn't know the woman was a whore her being a lady and all."
Rhett groaned. One good thing was that Rhett knew that if Scarlett had seen Belle, she would let him know. She would let him know by throwing objects at his head but he would at least know. He hoped she hadn't seen Belle.
Rhett said, "Did she seem mad?"
The private said, "Not that I noticed."
Rhett smiled and said, "If she was mad you would have noticed."
The private escorted Rhett to the office and said, "I'll be back in an hour to get you."
Rhett thought, 'I hope I am still alive in an hour.'
The woman that greeted him inside the room was his lovely, receptive wife and he silently thank providence for his good fortune today. He needed to remember this day when he had a run of bad luck at the poker table. This piece of luck was worth more than all the good luck at the poker table. He had drawn in to an inside straight and he knew it.
He knew that Scarlett would go insane with jealousy if she knew he had seen Belle while in this jail. After he was released from this jail, he would explain to Scarlett about their need to keep Belle on the line. Their need for Belle to provide an alibi for the clan members. He was not going to explain it to her here when he couldn't monitor her emotions over the next twenty-four hours. He was going to be a lot more open and honest with Scarlett this time around.
The next day when Scarlett went to visit her husband, Rhett told her he was going to be released the next day. They would spend the next night at the National Hotel. They were going to celebrate their marriage in a bed.
Rhett was going to go North and get some more money after his release since he didn't need to stay for the auction.
She said in between kisses, "I will be glad to do it in a bed."
"You don't like my creativity. Be careful what you say. My feelings might get hurt."
"I enjoy your creativity immensely you know that but I would like to do it lying down."
Rhett laughed and said, "Me too. You might want to sleep as late as you can tomorrow," Scarlett giggled. "I will come and get you hopefully in the morning."
"Wonderful. Sadly, I have to go so I can continue being received. I know. I know. It's important for our children."
"Come and give me a kiss." Scarlett gladly did.
"I love you." It always touched Scarlett when Rhett said it first because he so rarely did.
"I love you, too. Good bye until tomorrow."