Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-One
The next day Scarlett noticed that the picture was no longer stuck in the book where Rhett had put it the night before.
Scarlett asked Rhett, "Where is the picture?"
"I put it some place safe so none of the children or the staff would see it."
"Why did you just not destroy it?"
"I know a way to torment Mr. Wilkes with it."
After Rhett told Scarlett his plan she said, "You are so brilliant and so evil."
Rhett preened. He did so like Scarlett to give him a true compliment.
Rhett laid a book on Scarlett's nightside table. He said, "You might find this interesting reading."
Scarlett looked at the title. She said, "A story about a woman named Fanny Hill. I don't think so."
"Just read one chapter and you might change your mind."
Scarlett sighed.
Later that day after dinner, Scarlett went out to Ashley's mill to see how he was faring without his reading material or his picture. When Scarlett sashayed through the door Ashley looked so happy to see her. He said, "Scarlett it is so good to see you. I made a couple of sales calls this morning and made some sales."
"Wonderful. Did Mr. Jackson help you?"
Belligerently Ashley said, "No Mr. Jackson didn't help me. I did it all on my own."
"That's very nice, Ashley but I still want you to go on some sales calls with Mr. Jackson."
"I will do it, but it will be a waste of time."
"Until the mill is at full capacity then nothing is a waste of time except maybe reading."
When Scarlett looked at Ashley, he had a startled guilty look about him.
"Why do you say that?"
"You know I hate to read therefore it is a total waste of time. Although it is so cute when Wade is telling me about the adventure stories he is reading."
Ashley knew that Scarlett had taken his reading material. After all she was the only other person with a key to the office and he knew why she had taken it. To get him to sell more and stop wasting time reading. To judge her reaction he asked, "What did you and Captain Butler do last night?"
This was a strange question. Ashley never asked about her activities with Rhett. She kept her face neutral and smiled. She said, "The usual. We talked some, I did some mending, Rhett read a book. Why?"
"I spent the whole evening listening to India and Melly go on and on about how wonderful Captain Butler was for giving India and Stuart the reception as a wedding present. Did you really offer to let India have the ceremony in your back yard?"
"I didn't want to, but Rhett made me. You know I wouldn't do anything nice for India."
"That's what I thought. It was sickening to listen to Melly gush over your husband. I honestly do think she is too fond of your husband."
"Ashley, you don't need to worry. Melanie is not Rhett's type. She isn't pretty enough and ….. well, she isn't Rhett's type."
"I don't know. Every time he is around her, he fawns over her."
"Yes, that is annoying. He has always done that, and I don't know why."
"I don't like it."
"Let's not talk about Rhett and Melly."
"Listen to this, dear, I got three more letters from universities thanking me for submitting my resume, but they don't have any openings."
"Ashley, maybe they will make you president of a college or university like they did General Lee. After all he wasn't qualified for that position either."
Ashley felt like Scarlett was mocking him, but the sweet, empty-headed creature would never mock him.
Ashley smiled at Scarlett. Now a days she was the only sunshine in his world. Despite what Scarlett said about Melly not being Captain Butler's type, Ashley thought the man was overly fond of Melly. Ashley gave a bitter laugh when he thought, 'I wonder if Melly would help Captain Butler with his needs since she thinks he is so wonderful. Captain Butler manage to turn spirited, stubborn, proud Scarlett into his sexual toy. Captain Butler probably bullied her into doing all those nasty yet terribly erotic things they are doing. For him, Melly would probably do it willingly while she absolutely refused to help him with his needs.'
Scarlett said, "What is the matter, Ashley? Your expression is one of pure anger. Did I say something wrong?"
"No, my sweet nymph. You could never say anything wrong. You are too sweet and good despite everything that has happened to you. You are still that sweet, spirited girl that you were at the barbecue."
"Thank you, Ashley." Scarlett thought, 'He was probably thinking about Melly. I wonder what Melly did to make him so mad.'
"I believe you have a kind heart no matter what India and Mell… You have a kind heart."
"Did Melly and India say I didn't have a kind heart?"
"Not exactly. They just both agreed that the generosity in regard to the wedding is Captain Butler's doing not yours. Melly said something about you being tight-fisted and hard-hearted. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you all that."
"I never. After everything I have done for both those women. I will show them tight-fisted and hard-hearted," As Scarlett pulled on her gloves. She said, "I have to go. I'm no longer in a good mood."
"Dear, I'm sorry I ruined your good mood, but I thought you would want to know what they really thought of you."
"Of course, I did. Goodbye, Ashley. I really have to go. I can't take Rhett yelling at me after all this."
Scarlett stormed out of the office. As soon as the door was shut Ashley burst out laughing. Scarlett will manage to rain on India's wedding plans, and she will be rude and short with Melly. Ashley was a mean, petty man and he wanted Scarlett to be mean to India just because he didn't like India and India was just too damn happy. He wanted Scarlett to be mean to Melly because Melly wouldn't help him with his needs. Ashley was so mean and petty that he didn't see that he was just hurting Melly for no reason. Melly didn't know that he was mad at her for not helping him with his needs and after Scarlett was mean to her, she still wouldn't know.
Scarlett was singing on her way back to the mansion. Rhett had been right. The happier India got the unhappier Ashley got. Scarlett thought, 'Maybe I will buy her another dress to be her wedding dress.' Scarlett wondered if Ashley was really that jealous of Rhett. Probably so. Afterall both the women that Ashley believed belonged to him were very much involved with Rhett. Her on a physical level and Melly on an emotional level. If Ashley was able to make two sales today because he was bored, then she and Rhett would have to visit Ashley's mill at night to be sure he didn't leave any reading material in his desk. She did still want the mill to make a large profit she had just accepted that it wasn't very likely with Ashley in charge. Yes, Scarlett was in an incredibly good mood. A good enough mood to stop by the bank and ask Rhett to come home with her. Rhett was happy to accommodate his wife. Rhett looked at the clock and decided that if they left right then they would have time to be intimate before supper.
The next day when Scarlett pick Melly up, Melly said, "Can you and Captain Butler come to supper Saturday?"
"I think so. Let me check with Rhett to be sure."
"India and I want to thank you and Captain Butler for everything you are doing."
"Melly, I told Rhett about India not getting a new dress to wear to her wedding. Rhett said, 'That just isn't right.' He also said, 'Every bride should have a special dress for her special day.' He can be so sappy sentimental sometimes. Don't tell anyone. He doesn't think it goes with his intimidating reputation."
"You don't need to tell me how sentimental and kind Captain Butler is. Isn't that how we became acquainted with the good man. When he bought our wedding rings back?"
"Yes, it is." Scarlett would never tell sweet, kind Melly that Rhett had just done that to get an invitation to Sunday dinner and thus get himself received by the Hamiltons. Scarlett had decided that Melly was not the one who had used her. It was Ashley that had used her and her affections against her. Melly had just gone along with her husband.
Scarlett smiled and said, "I know India will refuse if I offer to buy her a dress. She will say we are already spending too much money on the wedding, etc. You find out what her dream wedding dress would be, and I will get it made for her."
"Alright. Scarlett you are as kind-hearted and generous as Captain Butler."
Scarlett smiled and blushed. Melly giving her actions noble motives for once didn't annoy Scarlett but actually made her feel proud of herself.
"Thank you. That means so much coming from someone as kind as you."
Melly smiled at Scarlett. It was the first time Scarlett had ever paid her a compliment.
The ladies talked about other things the rest of the trip to the meeting. At the committee meeting, Mrs. Anderson asked Scarlett if she would buy tickets to the fund raiser the Monument Committee was having. It was going to be a Valentine's Day event on February 14th. They were having a supper and dance. Scarlett said, "You will have to go ask Rhett at the bank. Anything that is a donation, he insists on taking care of."
Scarlett had the money, but she wanted Mrs. Anderson to have to speak to Rhett. Scarlett knew that if the ladies would start talking to Rhett, he would be able to charm them into accepting him back into polite society.
Joe Jackson had done what Mrs. Butler had told him to do. He had taken Mr. Wilkes with him on a sales call. Joe had known beforehand that what Mr. Wilkes's problem was. He thought he was too good for this work. Joe thought, 'Any work if the truth was known.' Joe had tried to engage the man in conversation and Joe had been met with 'yeses', 'noes' and 'maybes.' Joe laughed again at the off-colored joke the foreman at the job site had told them. Yes, it wasn't proper to talk that way but most of these men wouldn't know proper if it hit them in the face. It had been obvious to everyone that Mr. Wilkes looked down on everyone they had called on today. Joe laughed when he remembered Mr. Wilkes's expression when that Irish man, O'Sullivan, had cussed a blue streak because someone had dropped a load of lumber. Mr. Wilkes had looked just like his maiden aunt. All prissy. As Joe got off his horse and took it into his barn. He thought, 'I did what Mrs. Butler told me to do. She can't complain.'
Scarlett wouldn't complain to Mr. Jackson. The whole point of Mr. Jackson taking Ashley on a sales call with him was to humiliate Ashley. She knew Mr. Jackson was a little rough around the edges but he was a good manager and a good person. He was making her a nice profit. He was her star employee.
Rhett and Scarlett arrived late at the Wilkes. When Rhett saw that Wilkes was in the room he said, "Sorry we are late. Scarlett had me tied up in our bedroom."
Both people were watching Ashley's face to see if the missive hit home. It had. A very puzzled look crossed Ashley's face. He couldn't believe that a man as powerful and dominating as Captain Butler would let himself be tied up.
Melly said, "With what?"
"He was hanging a picture for me but that isn't why we are late.
"Why were you then?"
"Rhett had to do his punishment," Scarlett waited for Ashley's eyes to get big then continued, "Not really. He was giving our daughter a bath."
Rhett said, "I am the only one that is allowed to bathe her. I don't' want there to be an accident in the water. She is irreplaceable."
Ashley was appalled that any man would insist on bathing his child, Melly thought it was so sweet of Captain Butler, India thought Bonnie was lucky that her father loved her that much, Stuart thought it unusual, but Butler normally was unusual.
The food was sparse, but the Wilkes were on a limited budget. Rhett wanted to make a comment about there not being enough food, but he knew that would embarrass Miss Melly, so he restrained himself. The conversation was good.
As prearranged at the end of the meal Stuart said, "Wade and Beau are two of the smartest boys at the school.
Scarlett cheerfully said, "They get their smarts from the Hamiltons not Ashley and me."
Ashley said tightly, "I'm just as smart as Charlie was."
Scarlett said with just a touch of condescension, "Of course, you are, Ashley."
Suddenly Melly and India felt the need to wipe their mouths with their napkins. Scarlett smiled. She thought it was probably to hide their smiles. Melly announced that the ladies would move to the parlor and leave the men to their cigars and whiskey.
Ashley didn't have very much whiskey and he didn't have any cigars. Rhett produced his own flask and his own cigar case and passed them both around. Ashley was humiliated. He hated Rhett Butler with a passion.
Rhett didn't care. In fact, he enjoyed Mr. Wilkes being uncomfortable. Rhett didn't despise anyone as much as he despise Mr. Wilkes including his father. The conversation was stilted between the men.
Stuart was trying to be polite to his soon brother-in-law, but it was difficult because he hated the man. He knew he was pretending to be a gentleman, but he wasn't. No, Stuart had not like the way the man talked to India, and he was boorish and rude to his sweet wife.