Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The couple mingled until the serving girl came to tell Scarlett the meal was ready. Scarlett said, "Supper is ready. Shall we move into the dining room?"

As they walked into the dining room, Scarlett said, "Just look for your place card. Melly, you are on Rhett's right. You can talk about the latest best seller. India, you are on Rhett's left. Ashley and Mr. Townsend y'all are sitting next to me. I can't remember where I put anyone else.

As the supper started everyone talked to their neighbor and everyone was happy. By the time their entrees were served Ashley was fit to be tied. Between Rhett engaging Mr. Jones in conversation and Rhett being overly solicitous of Melly's needs. Ashley wanted to scream and if he heard Melly and India laugh one more time he was going to scream. Scarlett was flirting with him which was nice, but she was also flirting with Zachery and Mr. Townsend. She wasn't ignoring the women at the table per se. She was just treating them the way she did all women. She acted like they didn't exist. If they contributed to the conversation and if no one else acknowledged their comments she would.

Ashley wanted her undivided attention which is what he usually got from her. Which he had not gotten in an awfully long time except when she was scolding him about his lack of business sense or something equally inane. The absolutely worse part of the evening was Scarlett giving her husband shy little smiles. He could have stood the lustful looks that was just to be expected between two low-brow people like the Butlers but not the sweet shy smiles or the loving smiles Butler was giving Scarlett. Those smiles meant she was feeling something for her husband. Had she fallen out of love with him and that was why she wasn't coming out to the mills anymore. Had Butler told her about the picture? No, she would have been repulsed by that and she would not have sat him next to her. Or was it as Butler had said that he had taken over management of his mill to see if it could make a profit and if not, he was going to sell the mill. At least Scarlett's part.

As pecan pie was served for dessert Ashley demurred. Once was enough for Scarlett's pecan pie. That night Scarlett hadn't doctored the pie up so Ashley would have been safe, but he didn't know that. Ashley did what Scarlett and Rhett thought he would do. He refused the piece of pie. They decided to torture him by serving his favorite dessert and knowing he would turn it down because he believed it would taste bad. As Ashley listened to the other guest praise the dessert he wondered once again, 'What is wrong with these people?"

Zachery interrupted Ashley's thoughts when he said, "Ash, have you read the latest book on philosophy?"

"There is a new book?"

"Yes, it is titled, 'Philosophy for the Modern Age.' It is quite fascinating."

"I will have to get it from the bookstore." Ashley wouldn't buy a book because to afford a book he would have to give up his night at Belle's and he damn sure wasn't going to do that. He was so mad that he had to give up his trip this month because they had needed the money so everyone could have new clothes for India's wedding. He was so very mad at India. It was her fault he hadn't gotten to go to Belle's.

"You may borrow my copy Mr. Wilkes."

"Thank you, Captain Butler." They both knew Ashley would not borrow anything from Captain Butler. Ashley didn't want to be in debt to Captain Butler even for the loan of a book. It was bad enough he owed the brute his life.

"Listen to this, Ash. I didn't know this, but the founder of The Cynics was.."

"Antistenes not Aristotle."

"Yes, you knew that."

With more gall than Rhett or Stuart thought any man could possess, Ashley said, "Any person truly knowledgeable about philosophy knows that."

"Wow. I'm impressed."

Fortunately for Ashley, Zachery was looking at him and not the other people at the table. If Zachery had been he would have seen four astonished faces for even Melly couldn't believe her husband's nerve. Scarlett recovered first and plastered a smile on her face. She looked at Rhett and said, "Kannst du ihm glauben?"

"Dummkopf, my kluger hase"

Mr. Jones burst out laughing and everyone stared at him. He said, "I just remembered a joke someone told me earlier today."

Both Mr. Wilkes looked at him like he was an idiot and scum of the earth which didn't bother him. He had known immediately that his brother-in-law and his cousin-in-law looked down on him from their lofty heights. It didn't bother Melvin. He had never been a gentleman and he had never aspired to be a gentleman because most gentleman were men like his wife's relatives. Although Melvin did like Captain Butler and Mr. Townsend. Melvin knew they thought themselves better than him, but they didn't hold it against him.

Rhett had discovered that Mr. Jones was not as stupid as one would think upon first meeting him. No, Mr. Jones was just like his clever wife, uneducated. Like his wife, Mr. Jones didn't want to learn any more than, he already knew. Maybe someday his wife would read a book, but he wasn't holding his breath.

Scarlett stood up and said, "Ladies, shall we leave the men to their cigars and whiskey," As prearranged Scarlett looked at Rhett and said, "Be a good boy or I will have to punish you again."

Everyone laughed although both the Mr. Wilkes' cheeks were pink. Rhett wondered, 'Were they both masochist?' Rhett smiled broadly and said, "I will be a good boy. One cigar and one glass of whiskey. Promise."

Twenty minutes later as Rhett lit another cigar. Ashley said snidely, "Aren't you afraid of Scarlett punishing you?"

Rhett laughed and said, "Not in the least. In fact, sometimes I go out of my way to make my wife mad just so she will punish me. It is so much fun to get back in her good graces again."

While Rhett, Stuart and Melvin laughed the laugh of the unrepentant, Ashley and Zachery laughed the laugh of the envious.

They continued talking about politics and how much longer they thought they would be under Yankee rule until one more cigar later and several whiskeys later Rhett stood up and said, "Let us join the ladies."

As they got up to go into the parlor Melvin said, "Captain Butler, a minute."

"Yes?"

"My maternal grandmother was from Germany, and she would call my father names in German. It would make him mad. One day I asked my grandmother what those words meant. She taught me some German. Well done. I agree he is a dummkopf and full of himself also."

Rhett smiled and said, "Come along, Mr. Jones, the ladies are waiting."

Rhett walked into the parlor and sat down next to his wife. Stuart followed suit and sat down next to India. The group talked for about thirty minutes.

On the way home Zachery said, "Ash, would you consider leaving Atlanta?"

Ashley said, "Definitely."

"I may be able to get you a job teaching philosophy at VMI especially with you having been a Major in the Confederate army."

"That would be wonderful."

Melanie was fuming. She didn't want to move to Lexington. Everything was perfect here in Atlanta. Didn't Ashley have Scarlett wrapped around his little finger? If they moved to Lexington Ashley might not be able to do the job and somehow Melly knew that Scarlett would not welcome Ashley back. If Ashley left Scarlett, she would see it as desertion. Melly had seen the smiles between Scarlett and Captain Butler, and she knew that Scarlett wasn't as devoted to Ashley as she once was. She probably wouldn't fire him, but she certainly wouldn't hire him back.

After Melly put Beau to bed she went to her room. That night Ashley and Melanie were sharing a room to accommodate their guest. When she entered the room Ashley said, "You made a fool of yourself again tonight."

Melly did something she had never done before. She fought back. She said, "No more of a fool than you did over Scarlett. And how dare you commit to moving to Lexington without talking it over with me first? I thought we made all our decisions together. I'm not moving to Lexington."

He said to Melly in a tight voice, "If I get offered the position in Lexington I am going. You can go with me, or you can stay here I don't care. I'm going for a walk."

As Ashley left the room, he knew Melanie would go with him to Lexington because that is what a good wife did, followed her husband.

As Ashley walked, he thought about his options. He knew he was leaving town. Teaching philosophy at VMI was a dream come true for Ashley. He was not giving up that dream. Not to stay in Atlanta especially with Butler knowing his secret. His life in Atlanta was over once Butler found out his secret.

He could teach until he found the Confederate gold. Once he found the gold he would decide if he was going to leave Melly behind or not. With the gold he could buy a nice house and have the life he had before the war. Melly was a good hostess and companion. With the gold he could visit a brothel almost every night if he wanted to go.

He was really fed up with Scarlett. If she wouldn't give him a life on easy street and do his dirty work for him what good was she to him. Her constantly going on about making a profit was really making him mad. She hadn't been mean to Melly for him.

He decided that if she didn't ruin India's wedding reception and spoil his sister's special day, he was going to finally tell her the truth. He knew it would destroy her, but he didn't care. He would miss the adoring looks but that wasn't enough anymore. He certainly wasn't taking her with him.

He decided that he would tell Scarlett whether she ruined India's reception or not. He would tell her before he boarded the train to Virginia. He so wanted to see her expression when she realized what a fool she had been for the last ten years.

As Melly watched Ashley leave the room she wondered if she could just move back in with Aunt PittyPat. One thing for sure the older woman would welcome her with open arms. She was not moving to Lexington where the only people she knew where Ashley's cousin and his wife. She absolutely despised Zachary and Prudence.

That night Melanie slept soundly for the first time in almost a year. Ashley slept on the couch, but he slept soundly also. He was dreaming about his life in Lexington. When he had lived in Lexington when he went to school there, he had liked it. He liked the idea of living near Zachery and Prudence. He liked them.

The next day was a beautiful June day. India could not have wished for a prettier day. The weather was perfect. There was no chance of rain and it was unseasonably cool for June. Perfect weather for a wedding ceremony outside. India was up by eight she had not slept well the night before. She was excited but she was also nervous about a concern. She would talk to Melly about it.

When she went to her armoire to get her pink dress it wasn't there. She hurried to the kitchen were luckily Melly was. India said, "I can't find my pink dress."

"I took it to Scarlett's yesterday so it would have time for the wrinkles to ease out."

"You should have told me."

"I thought I did. Now eat up. We can't have you fainting on your big day."

"Yes, yes."

"As soon as we finished eating, we are going over to Scarlett's house."

"It is only eight-thirty. The ceremony is not until one."

"Yes, we will go on over and be sure everything is as you want it. If not, we will have time to fix it."

"Are we coming back here for dinner?"

"No, Scarlett said she would fix us a light meal for dinner then up the stairs you will go until your big moment. We don't want Mr. Townsend to see you before your entrance. It is bad luck."

India voiced a concern she had. She was so worried that she had not slept very well. She said, "Melly, why do you think Scarlett is being so nice? It is so out of character for her."

"I suppose but maybe she does feel guilty about stealing Stuart away from you. She does have a good heart. So does Captain Butler. Yet neither person wants anyone to know the truth. Just accept her kindness and don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Melly, this is awful to say but I'm scared this is an elaborate joke to make me look like a fool."

"India, Scarlett isn't that cunning. She is not secretive at all. She is like a battering ram. So, relax."

"But Captain Butler is."

"Stop it, right now. You're upsetting yourself for no reason. Beau, come eat your breakfast. We are going to Aunt Scarlett's.

Within twenty minutes the trio was walking to Scarlett's house. Melly was still mad at Ashley, and she didn't want him yelling at her for taking the buggy and embarrassing him in front of his cousin. Although if Ashley made more money, then they could afford two horses and two buggies. Melanie had been raised in the lap of luxury also and she was tired of doing without.