Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Forty - One

Rebecca walked out of the house and wondered if this was true. This was too good to be true. This would be her first piece of good luck in six years except for Tory, of course. Rebecca hoped the children were as nice as Mrs. Butler. Rebecca laughed. She hadn't even asked any questions about the children. It didn't matter. There could be twenty of them. She would manage to teach them all."

When Rebecca got home and told her mother her good news. Mrs. Giles skeptically said, "It is too good to be true."

"I know."

"Why would a rich woman do something like that?"

"She's an American."

"Oh, that explains it. The Americans are so unrefined."

"The Butlers can be savages for all I care. We are going to have a better life because of Mrs. Butler. From now on mine and Tory's last name is Jones. My husband died in the carriage accident with Papa. He was studying to be a doctor. That way we don't have to remember any more details.

Mrs. Giles smiled the first real smile since the death of her husband. Yes, indeed, this was a turn of good luck.

That night after they had retired, Scarlett said, "I hired a governess today."

"When does she start?"

"Tomorrow."

"Good, very good."

They were quiet with both people disrobing and taking care of their nightly ablutions. Rhett said, "What is her name?"

"Rebecca is her first name. I don't know what her new last name is," With the cock of his eyebrow, Scarlett continued, "She is a lady of quality. She was raped which resulted in a child," Sarcastically Scarlett said, "So, of course, now she is ruined through no fault of her own."

When Scarlett paused, Rhett didn't speak. In truth he was speechless. He couldn't believe Scarlett was showing another woman compassion, not pity but compassion. This really was a truly kind and considerate act. When Rhett didn't speak, Scarlett continued, "I hired her. She, her daughter and her mother will be moving in tomorrow. Her mother will help Mammy in the nursery. Her daughter is the same age as Vicky. It will give Vicky someone to play with while Ella is in school. I told her to change her name and make-up a story about her husband."

"Why would you do that?"

"What if that man had actually raped me that day when I was attacked in Shantytown? I would have been shunned. The baby would have been shunned. I don't think even Melly could have gotten me received.

Rhett was even more amazed. Scarlett was empathizing with another woman. Yes, he had seen all the little changes in her since they moved to London after Old Frank's death. He knew already she really was becoming a good person. This was leaps and bounds above anything he ever thought either one of them would ever achieve. This was almost a Miss Melly level of compassion.

Scarlett was sitting at her vanity bench. As she looked down at her hands she whispered, "You probably wouldn't even want me."

Rhett walked over and sat down next to her even though it was a tight squeeze. He put his arms around her and said, "I would have wanted you. I will always want you. Although, I'm pretty sure you would have accepted my proposal instead of making me that very attractive alternate suggestion. Either way we would have ended up together. We were destined to be together."

"Thank you, Rhett. I love you."

"Want to show me how much?"

"No!"

"You can't blame a guy for trying."

At nine months of pregnancy there was only one thing they could do, and she was not doing that right now. She was just too uncomfortable to participate in any fun and games. She smiled and led him to the bed. She gave him several sweet kisses but that was all. Rhett was disappointed there wasn't more, but it wasn't the first time he had been disappointed, and he knew without a doubt it would not be the last time.

The next day after Rebecca had arrived at the house Scarlett's first question was, "What is your last name?"

"My name is Rebecca Jones. This is my daughter, Victoria Jones, but we call her Tory. This is my mother, Martha Giles."

"Let me show you to your room then I will introduce you to the children. My youngest daughter is name Victoria also. I named her after Queen Victoria."

"I did too."

Scarlett showed them a room in the servants' quarters. She introduced them to the staff. She introduced them to Mammy. She introduced them to the children. She showed them the room that would be the school room for now. At the end of the week Scarlett Butler had a devoted employee, probably for life. By the end of that same week, Scarlett knew that Mrs. Jones was going to be a great governess.

All summer long the couple had looked for a house to buy. Scarlett had said, "We will need to find a mansion."

Rhett had agreed and wondered why Scarlett thought that was so funny. In three months of looking, they had not found anything acceptable. The styles of homes were much the same as in the South. They had decided to buy and already built home for there was no land available in London proper.

Through his business contacts Rhett had received entrance into several gentlemen's clubs but he had no hope of ever being accepted as a member because he was an American. One day late in the afternoon he was playing poker with a very bad poker player. Rhett found out he was the Earl of Bluestone. The man was not only an awfully bad poker player, but he was drinking far too much. He also thought he was a better poker player than he was. He also thought he could hold his liquor better than he could. After taking almost a hundred pounds off of the man Rhett rose to leave. The Earl started squawking and said, "You must give me a chance to win my money back."

Rhett replied, "I have taken far too much of your money already."

"Horse feathers. Sit down. My luck is about to change."

"Thank you, no. My wife is waiting for me."

"What are you at your wife's beck and call?"

"I guess you could say that."

"I thought Americans were known for being brave, but I guess you are nothing but a coward."

"My Lord, if I am going to incur my wife's wrath you are going to have to make it worth my while. What have you got to bet?"

"I have money and I have property. I even have a house in Welburn that is worth fifteen thousand pounds."

Rhett sat down and said, "Tell me about the house. I have a very large family."

"It is in the Georgian design. It has ten bedrooms and a nursery. The servant's quarters are on the third floor. It even has a dowager house for that pesky mother-in-law."

Rhett didn't think Scarlett would like the Georgian style, but he would let her do what she wanted with the inside. "I don't want to win your house through the poker game, and you later claim you were too drunk to be playing. That I took advantage of you." Rhett said all that for the people around him. Rhett was trying to be a better person, but this was like finding money on the ground. He couldn't resist.

They played for another hour and Rhett was just amassing more and more of the Earl's money. Finally, Rhett said, "I have to go. One last hand. No ante. No raises. You bet your house in Welburn and I will put a check in the pot for the amount of the house."

"Great idea."

The cards were dealt. Rhett's cards were bad. He had just thrown away fifteen thousand pounds. He kept the ace and got four cards more. Rhett was cheered up when the Earl got four cards also. Rhett had gotten another ace, so he had a pair of aces. Rhett laid his cards down and the Earl laid his cards down. The Earl had nothing. Not even an ace.

The Earl stood up and said, "Please give me your address. Tomorrow I will be round with the deed for the property and collect my marker."

Rhett did. He collected all his winnings and his check and went home to face what he knew would be a very mad Scarlett. He was supposed to take her out to supper tonight. It was past ten. Yes, she was going to be mad.

Rhett did not come home to a mad Scarlett. He came home to a very scared Scarlett. She was in the parlor with Elizabeth, Rosemary and even Samuel by her side. When Scarlett saw him, she ran across the foyer and hugged him like she wasn't ever going to let him go. She was crying. She was almost hysterical.

Elizabeth walked out in the foyer and gave Rhett a reproachful look that even at forty-five still made him feel so bad. Elizabeth said, "Where have you been? Scarlett has been beside herself with worry. She was sure you were dead. You should have sent a message saying you were detained." His mother didn't wait for an answer. She turned and walked out of the foyer.

Rhett couldn't believe how hysterical Scarlett was. He led her to the stairs as Rosemary saw Samuel to the door. As they walked to their bedroom Rhett kept saying, "I'm alright. I'm sorry I worried you." Over and over again. Scarlett finally calmed down. Rhett could barely get her to let go of him. Finally, Rhett got them both undressed and in the bed. Rhett was feeling so much shame for the first time in a very long time. It had never occurred to him to send a message telling Scarlett he was alright. As he laid there in the bed. Rhett hoped she liked the house after everything he put her through to get it.

What Rhett couldn't know was this was the day Rhett had left her in the earlier timeline. Scarlett knew he would never leave her in this timeline so that meant he had to be dead.

The next morning Rhett woke up to a squirming Scarlett. He suspected she had gone into labor. He hoped it was just a coincidence and not all her worry from the night before. When Scarlett opened her eyes she said, "Go get Mammy."

Scarlett had gone into labor and Rhett felt even worse. He put on his robe and went to get Mammy.

Mammy who always knew everything, took pity on Captain Butler and said, "Everything is fine. I've been expecting her to go into labor for a few days now."

Mammy being nice to Rhett actually made him feel even worse. The entire time Scarlett was in labor, Rhett kept thinking over and over again, 'A simple message saying I had been delay could have prevented all this.'

In the midst of Scarlett delivering his child the Earl of Bluestone came to call at the Butlers home. Rhett met with him in the parlor and obtained the deed to their new home. He had hurried the man out the door. He had no desire to be friends with a drunken poker player. As he was walking back up the stairs to wait in the nursery he smiled and thought, 'That was what I was until I got this chance to redo my life. To think I wanted that life over this one. Not only was I a stubborn jackass, I was a stupid idiot also.'

Rhett did not have to suffer too long. Within three hours their second daughter was born. She looked like a cross between her parents, but she did have the O'Hara blue eyes. They named her Charlotte Elizabeth. The name pleased Elizabeth very much. For Elizabeth's name was Elizabeth Charlotte Kennesaw Butler. She thought Scarlett had been very clever in naming her daughter. Scarlett was honoring her while the child still had a name that was uniquely her own.

Both his mother and Mammy assured Rhett that his newest daughter was healthy as could be. Although Mammy did add, "I'm sure Miss Scarlett going into labor this morning didn't have anything to do with your actions last night." Rhett knew it was a jab at him. It actually made him feel better. Everything was back to normal.

After the room was cleaned up Rhett brought his children into the master bedroom so the children could see their mother. Wade was visibly relieved when he saw his mother. Scarlett held out her arm and he quickly went into her embrace. She said, "I am alright. The baby is alright. You have another sister."

Ella said, "Let me see."

Scarlett showed her the child.

Vicky said, "She is too small."

Rhett said, "You were that tiny once. She will grow."

Ella said, "When can we play with her?"

Scarlett said, "It will probably be at least six months before you can play with her. Take Kenny and go play with him," The girls and Kenny went to the playroom. The entire time Wade had not moved out of his mother's embrace. She said, "Rhett, would you take Charlotte and show her to the staff? I need to talk to Wade."

"Of course, my love. Come here, my littlest one."

After Rhett had left, Scarlett said to Wade, "I wish that I could tell you that nothing is ever going to happen to me, but I can't. All I can tell you is that I am going to do my best to make sure nothing ever happens to me. That is the problem with loving someone. It makes it possible for them to hurt you," Wade hugged his mother and she continued, "We just keep on loving people and hoping nothing ever happens to them."

"Mama."

Scarlett hugged her son for a long time. At last, she said, "Go to the kitchen and get me some cookies. Some of those butter cookies that Mrs. Cloud made yesterday. Enough for both of us." Wade scampered off a happy little boy again.