Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Eight
The next afternoon as Scarlett was picking up Melly she saw India in the doorway. Scarlett thought, 'Maybe we can have a lot of people almost reach their dream then get let down at the last minute.'
After Melly had gotten settled Scarlett said, "Melly could you and Ashley come to supper this Saturday night? Rhett has a friend he wants to entertain. He is an old friend of Rhett's from Charleston not one of those nasty Scallawags Rhett was making me receive," Scarlett smiled her secret smile. "We came to an agreement about that. He wouldn't make me receive them if I would….. Well never mind."
Melanie knew that what Scarlett was doing was something a proper lady wouldn't do but that was part of Scarlett's charm doing the improper. Melly said, "Of course, dear. Ashley and I would love it."
"I am going to ask the Bakers. They will come because Rhett did save Mr. Bakers life and all."
"The Bakers are a nice couple."
"I'm thinking of asking Fanny. Mr. Townsend is single, but he is looking for a wife. Wouldn't that be so nice for Fanny? It will be my way of making up for getting Tommy killed. I'll get her another husband. Then she won't be mad at me anymore."
Melanie stared at Scarlett and wondered if anyone could be shallower. A thought struck Melly. Why not introduce India to this Mr. Townsend? Maybe he would fall in love with India and finally that whining, complaining, sourpuss of a woman would be out of her house. "Why don't you invite India instead? It would be nice for the poor dear to have a night out."
"Melly, India would never accept an invitation from me."
"Sure, she would." Melanie would make sure she accepted the invitation.
"I don't know. I don't want her to say yes knowing all the while she is going to cancel at the last minute just to spite me. If she did that it would be so awkward. You know having an uneven amount of people at the table."'
"No, dear, I will make sure she doesn't do that."
"Well, I don't know. Rhett wouldn't be happy if India didn't show up. You know how proper Rhett always likes things. If she didn't show up Rhett would get mad and call me a dumb bunny and worse. He can be very cruel when he is mad."
"I promise you. I will get her to come."
Scarlett so wanted to smirk so much. She wanted to scream. Whose stupid now? She kept the smirk off her face and looked warily at Melanie. She said, "If you promise to make sure India shows up."
"Yes, yes."
Scarlett smiled an innocent smile and thought, 'This is going to make the letdown that much greater.' As they pulled up to Aunt PittyPat's house.
Scarlett was sweet the rest of the afternoon. At times she made have laughed a little much at one of the jokes but for the most part she was sweet, polite and deferential.
That night in the family parlor after the children were in bed, Scarlett told Rhett the latest development in their plan. Rhett said, "You mean I have to ask my friend to court Miss Wilkes?"
"Yes, but through India he will attend all the social events for the next couple of weeks. He will meet lots of eligible women."
"That sounds like a fair trade."
Scarlett smiled her wicked smile and Rhett smiled a matching one.
Scarlett stood up and walked over to her husband. She pulled his head down and kissed him passionately. Rhett said, "Let's go to our office."
"Yes."
As they were kissing Rhett put her on her desk and then he said, "It's too low." He moved them to his desk. He said, "That is just right."
She said, "Yes, it is. Right there."
When it came time to do what he had to do Rhett sprayed his seed on the desk. He bent forward and kissed his wife several times. He straightened up and help his wife sit up. He looked at the desk and said with an evil grin, "We should do this on Mr. Wilkes desk and leave the remains for him to find."
Scarlett said, "Yes we should but let's clean it up here. I don't want the servants to know."
Rhett laughed and said, "For sure." Scarlett scowled. Rhett took off his ascot that was almost falling off anyway and cleaned up the mess.
As he reached for her hand, he said, "That's good enough. The maid will clean it better in the morning while I am at breakfast."
Scarlett hopped off the desk and they walked up the stairs arm and arm.
Everything was arranged for the supper party. Scarlett had invited the Smiths also. Rhett had saved Mr. Smith's life also.
When Ashley and Melanie arrived with India in tow it was clear to Scarlett that India had been threatened with dire consequences if she didn't come to the supper party. The ugly dress and the scowl on India's face were dead giveaways. It was all Scarlett could do to not start laughing. Rhett's friend was already here. He and Rhett were having a glass of whiskey and a cigar on the back terrace. They were going to have appetizers and drinks before dining. India was going to be sorry she hadn't worn a pretty dress but then again Scarlett thought that might be her prettiest dress.
Because Scarlett was basically a witch she said, "Why India how lovely you look? I don't think I've ever seen you look prettier. Mr. Townsend won't be able to keep his eyes off of you."
India said, "Mr. Townsend?"
"Yes, Rhett's friend from Charleston. Don't worry, India, Mr. Townsend is still received. He is very handsome too. You are so lucky to be paired with him."
Scarlett saw three hopeful expressions then she saw India look at her dress and sigh. Scarlett knew then that India had deliberately picked her ugliest dress to wear to attend Scarlett supper party. She was getting warm all ready. She wanted to rub her legs together, but she refrained.
Ashley asked, "What trade is Mr. Townsend in?" As they walked across the house to the terrace.
Scarlett said, "He runs the school the Wade and Beau go to. That is how Rhett found out about it. It was why we insisted on you letting us send Beau there. Rhett knew how smart the man was." Scarlett wondered if that shamed the couple at all that she had done so much for even their son. She decided it didn't. To them she was just someone to take advantage of. She didn't care. Now that she and Rhett were working on the project together, when the Wilkes finally get to hell, they will find it an improvement over the life they had been living.
Scarlett gave Rhett a mischievous look that no one but him and Stuart could see. Rhett smiled his solicitous smile at Miss Melly and his mocking smile at Mr. Wilkes. When Scarlett heard the knocker she said, "Rhett darling, please do the introductions while I welcome our other guests."
As Scarlett left the terrace, India was cursing herself for not trying harder to look pretty tonight. She had not wanted to come to supper at Scarlett's tonight, but Ashley had threatened to ask her to move out if she didn't come. She had deliberately picked out her ugliest dress because she was sure anyone who Scarlett partnered her with would be a Yankee or ugly or both. Scarlett was right. Mr. Townsend was a handsome man. He had all his body parts. He was from the South. She wanted to rush home and fix her hair and change her clothes. Even put on some lip gloss.
Stuart Townsend thought, "Egad, Butler, it is going to be hard to romance this woman. She looks like a dried-up prune with that pinched face. That must be the ugliest dress on the earth."
Rhett introduced the Wilkes to Stuart and for the first time Rhett saw India Wilkes truly smile a happy smile. For that moment she was beautiful. By the way, his friend was staring at the transformation of India he must have agreed.
Scarlett came back to the terrace with the Smiths and the Bakers. Introductions were made all around. Scarlett saw India smile a happy smile at Mr. Townsend. In that moment Scarlett felt compassion for India. Ashley had broken up her romance with Stuart because he had found the man a caveman. Ashley had callously disregarded India's feelings. Not only had he broken up India's romance with Stuart, but he had instigated it be done in the most humiliating manner. Maybe she could help India salvage this evening.
Scarlett joined the group that India was a part of then Scarlett spilled her red wine on the bodice of the dress. The white bodice. Scarlett said, "India, I am so sorry. You must take it off right away so we can soak the bodice, so it doesn't stain. I'm sure I have something that will fit you."
India was beet red which was the most color Scarlett had seen in her face in a long time. India was also shooting her looks of hate. Before India could protest. Scarlett handed her wine glass to Melly who had come over to help and had grabbed India's arm and was dragging her to the staircase. When Melly joined them, Scarlett said, "Melly please go tell the cook supper will be delayed."
"Of course, darling."
The ladies heard Rhett say, "Everyone might as well get another drink. It will be a while before Miss Wilkes and my wife return."
Everyone had laughed.
As Scarlett was dragging India up the stairs and down the hallway, India hissed, "You did that on purpose."
"Yes, I did. I am trying to help you salvage this evening."
They were in Scarlett's bedroom by then. Scarlett was pleased to see that Rhett's belongings were everywhere.
India said, "What?"
"Maybe I feel a little bit of guilt at having stolen Stuart away from you. So, I am going to help you snag another Stuart. I'm trading you one Stuart for another Stuart."
India opened her mouth to say something vile about her not wanting Scarlett's help or make an ugly comment about Scarlett's comment about trading a Stuart for a Stuart then she shut it. India decided it didn't matter why Scarlett was helping her. Scarlett was right. She needed to salvage this evening.
"Do you have anything in a blue or yellow or pink? Those are my best colors."
Scarlett was already in her changing room looking at the dresses she had. She saw one that was yellow with pink flowers on it. It was a bit low cut, but it wasn't too low. When Scarlett came out of the changing room India had taken off her dress. Scarlett saw that India had more bosom than she had ever known. Scarlett said, "If you had ever let Stuart get a peek at your bosom. I would never have been able to steal him away." Scarlett gave her the dress and hoped it fit.
"A lady doesn't show off her bosom."
Melly walked in at that moment and heard Scarlett say, "And that's why I have been married three times and you haven't been married once."
India blushed but didn't respond. When India put on the bright colorful dress, Scarlett marveled at how it transformed India's overall look. Scarlett said, "You look …. Beautiful."
"How much did that hurt?"
Scarlett smiled and said, "Melanie, brush out her hair. We don't have time to style it, but you can put it in a much softer chignon."
Melanie nodded while Scarlett buttoned the dress up. As Melanie fixed India's hair, Scarlett quickly brushed her cheeks with rouge. Before India could protest, she looked in the mirror, she looked like a belle again. Not an old maid. Scarlett said, "You can admire yourself later let's go. Hurry and put on some lip gloss. I don't want the meal ruined."
India put on the lip gloss and when she tried to pull the neckline up, Scarlett slapped her hand. Scarlett said, "It doesn't show anything, it just hints at everything you got, and you have a lot. Trust me, I know how to get a man."
India and Melanie both thought, 'Yes, Scarlett does know how to get a man."
As they left the room Scarlett said, "You can keep the dress," She stunned both the other women by giving India a true compliment. She said, "You look too good in it not to own it."
When they entered the room, Scarlett did something uncharacteristic she let India have all the attention. All the attention but Rhett's that is. Scarlett could tell Mr. Townsend liked the new and improved version of India. Rhett looked down at Scarlett and raised his eyebrow in that mocking way he had. She smiled and whispered, "I will explain later" To everyone else she said, "Shall we go into supper before the meal is completely ruined."
As they entered the dining room, Scarlett said, "Melly would you sit on Rhett's right and India would you sit on his left. Mr. Smith would you sit next to India. Mrs. Baker next to him and Ashley you will sit on my right. Mr. Baker, please sit on my left. Mr. Townsend, please, sit next to Melly. Mrs. Smith, please sit in between Mr. Baker and Mr. Townsend.