Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

After they arrived in Charleston it was a busy three days before their ship sailed for London. Surprisingly, Robert invited Rhett and his family over for supper the night before they departed. Rhett knew that his brother would never speak to him in public, but he was actually moved that his brother had allowed him into his home. Over the supper table Rhett had said, "I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth and I am incredibly grateful for the invitation to dine in your home but why?"

Robert smiled a smile that was the same as Rhett's and said, "With you moving to London we will probably never see each other again except for your rare visits to the South. I wanted to see my brother one more time before you left. It is time to make peace between us."

"I am grateful."

"Of course, I still won't speak to you on the street."

Which made everyone laugh. The conversation flowed onto less personal matters. As they were leaving Robert pulled Rhett aside and said, "I gave Jackson permission to court Rosemary and I would approve for them to marry if Jackson can get a job that pays well enough to support a family."

Rhett said, "If he is the man, I think he is I am sure he will find one in London."

"I agree."

The next day the Butlers, Mr. Jackson and Mammy were on a ship to London. Mammy was the only servant they were taking with them. They would hire staff when they got to England.

They arrived in London on May twentieth which gave them almost four months to find a house Scarlett was willing to live in before the baby was born. Rhett's London solicitor had rented them a house to stay in until they purchased their own. There were too many of them to stay in a hotel suite for very long. The house was furnished so they didn't have to buy anything but a crib for Kenny. Scarlett could buy a bassinet when it was closer to the arrival date of the child. The solicitor, Mark Peterson, had hired a staff but Rhett had assured Scarlett, she could replace them if she didn't like the people Mr. Peterson had hired.

Rhett took his mother, his sister and his family to Paris to buy clothes and then to Florence to see all the lovely artwork there. They were quite the group. Five adults and four children. They had to get two suites. At the last minute, Scarlett invited Mr. Jackson to accompany them. Rhett got him his own room. Supposedly to explain all the historical sites and works of art. Rhett knew that the romance between Rosemary and Mr. Jackson was growing on Scarlett. It was obvious to even Scarlett that they were very much in love. They were gone from London for four weeks.

Upon their return to London, Rhett admitted to himself that although Mammy was annoying to him, she certainly took good care of his children. Rhett laughed when he thought, 'She takes good care of my wife also.' It had been Mammy that had made Scarlett rest every afternoon when the children napped. Rhett smiled when he remembered how Scarlett would whine like a little girl that she wasn't tired but would give in to Mammy's nagging every afternoon. Rhett knew that if he been the one trying to get her to rest, she would have stubbornly refused.

After the group returned from their trip, Scarlett and Rhett started looking for a house, but they were not finding one that was large enough that they both liked. They were both alright with staying in their rental house until they found one, they really liked. Rhett was also waiting for the outcome of the cholera outbreak in Charleston. Rhett was and always would be an opportunistic man. If Robert and his family passed away in the cholera epidemic, then he hoped to convince his mother and sister to stay in London. He didn't think he would have any problem getting his sister to stay. It was his mother that he didn't think would give up her Charleston life.

History did repeat itself and there was a cholera outbreak in Charleston. Rhett got the telegram he had been dreading getting the first week in July. It was from his Charleston attorney.

It read: Brother dead STOP Entire Family dead STOP Instructions STOP.

Rhett went to find his mother. He found her in the family parlor with Rosemary and Scarlett. She was playing with Kenny while Vicky was telling her mother an awfully long story. Rhett knew it had been a long story because Scarlett's mouth was pressed tightly together to stop herself from snapping at the child. Scarlett looked up and saw Rhett had his mask on. She knew now that meant he was trying to keep all his emotions inside. She saw in his hand what looked to be a telegram. She didn't know exactly what had happened, but Scarlett knew this was going to be a bad day for Elizabeth. Maybe even the worst day of Elizabeth's life if Robert was dead which Scarlett suspected he was. Scarlett said, "Vicky, darling, let's go find Ella."

Vicky said, "Ella's with Mr. Jackson."

"Let's go make sure. Mother, I'm going to take Kenny with me."

Scarlett took her son and her daughter and left the parlor.

Elizabeth looked confused and said, "What was all that? She left so abruptly."

Rhett said down next to his mother and she was smiling at him. Rhett didn't want to say the words. Until he said the words, Robert was still alive to his mother and sister. He gently said, "Mother, Robert is dead. There was a cholera outbreak. He and his entire family succumbed to the disease."

Elizabeth was staring at Rhett. Incomprehension written all over her face. Rosemary moved to sit next to her mother. Rhett didn't say any more. He let that sink in before he said any more. The truth was there wasn't any more to say today or probably even tomorrow.

Elizabeth said, "I don't believe you. Why are you lying to me?"

Rhett knew his mother didn't believe those words she had spoken. She was just trying to deny the reality. Rosemary picked up her mother's hand. Elizabeth looked at her daughter and she saw the truth written there. She looked at her son. Her only son now. She burst out crying. Rosemary held her mother close. Elizabeth was probably closer to Rosemary than her two other children because she and Rosemary had lived together for so long. When Elizabeth got herself together, she said, "Will you get me a picture? I believe you. I would just like to have one more picture of Robert."

"Just Robert or Joyce and the children also."

"All four of them if you don't mind."

Elizabeth stood up and said, "I am going to lay down. I won't be down for supper."

Rhett said, "Do you want a tray sent up?"

Elizabeth shook her head and said, "I don't think so."

"Would you like some laudanum?"

"Yes, maybe a spoonful."

Rosemary said, "I'll bring it to you."

"Thank you, my dears. I am going to my room now."

Rhett said, "Do you need help getting to your room?"

"No, thank you."

As their mother walked away, Rhett said, "Scarlett has some laudanum. Will you get it from her? I need to send a reply telegram before they put the bodies in the ground."

"Of course."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm in shock but I had already decided to stay in England so I had already accepted I would never see Robert again."

"Things are that serious between you and Mr. Jackson."

Rosemary blushed and nodded her head. "Let me get the laudanum from Scarlett."

Rhett wired Mr. Mobbs back. His read: Need pictures of all family members STOP Bury in family plot STOP Dispose of assets and pay off his debts STOP If need more money contact me STOP

That night as Rhett and Scarlett got into bed Rhett said, "I think with Robert's death my mother will live with us here in England. I will wait until she has recovered some to ask her."

"And Rosemary?"

"Rosemary has already told me she is staying."

Scarlett laughed and said, "They do make a cute couple, but Mr. Jackson has to get a good paying job before they can marry."

Rhett chose to not inform his wife that good paying jobs were a lot easier to come by in England than they were in the South. He was going to let her be happy for a little while longer.

Yes, Rosemary had already decided to stay in England by the time they had sailed out of Charleston. Samuel was in London. She loved Samuel. She wanted to marry him. She hoped here in England he could get a better paying job.

While the Butlers were dealing with their grief Samuel was searching for a better paying position. Samuel found himself a position at a boy's school teaching History. The position had a nice salary, enough of a salary to support a wife and children. Samuel who had always dealt with Scarlett asked to speak privately with Rhett.

They went to the neighborhood pub and had a pint. Rhett could not drink in his home, so the local pub seemed a great place to have a private conversation.

At the pub, Mr. Jackson said, "I asked your brother for permission to court your sister and he gave me that permission."

"When did you ask my brother?" Rhett said. Rhett already knew Robert had given Mr. Jackson permission, but he wanted all the details.

"You remember when Mrs. Butler gave me two weeks off a couple of summers ago?" Rhett nodded. Samuel said, "I went to Charleston for those two weeks. Then I went again when she gave me a month off last summer. I stayed with your brother both times."

Rhett smiled. He said, "Alright. Go on."

"I have gotten a job at St. Matthew's Academy teaching History. I have always found English History interesting, so I am qualified for the position. I am tendering my resignation and I would like to have your permission to ask Rosemary to marry me."

"I have no say over Rosemary and her actions because I am not officially part of the Butler family. As you know I was disowned. I do approve of the match though. Yes, go ahead and ask her."

After several more pints Rhett and Samuel went back to the rented house. Samuel asked Rosemary to go for a walk with him.

Rhett found Scarlett in the family parlor. As Rhett sat next to Scarlett, he picked up the bundle of clothes that Scarlett was mending and put it in his lap. He smiled at the fact she was mending all these clothes when he could easily afford to just buy new ones. The first time Rhett had seen her doing all this mending, he had suggested they throw them all away and just buy new ones. Scarlett was so appalled she had gathered up the bundle of clothing and marched out of the room.

He had asked Mammy about it and for once she had told him more than just the facts. Mammy had smiled and said, "Miss Ellen had always mended all the clothing of her daughters and the slaves. Even though Mr. Gerald could easily afford to buy new clothes."

Rhett knew then that it was his wife's way of being like her mother. He guessed she still wanted to be like her mother. At least in this small way.

He said, "Good news, bad news. What do you want to hear first?"

"Good news."

"I think Rosemary is going to get married."

Rhett felt such happiness at his wife's happy face for Rosemary's good fortune. He knew the minute his clever wife figured out the bad news.

She said, "No! We can't allow this."

"I can't stop it. She doesn't need my permission to marry. With Robert's death she has no male protector just like you when your Pa died."

"No! You have to stop this."

"No! I can't. I won't even if I could."

"He agreed to come to London to be our tutor. He tricked us. He used us just to get to London so he could get a better paying job."

"Maybe he did but there was no guarantee he would have gotten a better paying job once he got over here."

Scarlett turned to Rhett and pouted. He just sat there with all the mending in his lap and waited. After a short amount of time, Rhett saw the acceptance on her face. She said, "This being a good person is so hard."

"Yes, it is my baby, yes, it is."

"I wish Melly were here. She would say something and make everything alright."