Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Thirty-One

At the same time Melly was learning that everyone knew of Ashley's visits to Belle's, Ashley realized that Scarlett was not going to ruin India's big day. He had thought when Scarlett had led India away that the big letdown would happen but when they came back, they were both smiling.

Ashley was so mad he couldn't see straight. It had been a very rough time for him since Scarlett stopped coming out to his mill. Butler had made all sorts of comments alluding to the picture. Butler had kept demanding to know why he hadn't sold any lumber. And, damn it all, he hadn't gotten his monthly trip to Belle's!

Ashley saw Scarlett heading to the kitchen and he followed her. Rhett saw Wilkes following his bride and excused himself from Melanie. He followed Ashley and Scarlett. Melanie saw that Captain Butler was following Ashley and Scarlett and she followed him.

Before Scarlett got to the kitchen, Ashley stopped her. She smiled up at him and said, "Ashley, are you having a good time?"

Ashley had imbibed several whiskeys. He was mad. He was sexually frustrated. He didn't know it, but he was about to say things that would change his world almost as much as the war had. Things that he had wanted to say for quite some time now. He said, "You stupid, ignorant, Irish cunt. Can't you do anything right? I was counting on you to spoil India's wedding but the obtuse, pudden-head that you are you managed to mess that up also. I have never loved you. I would never have married you. I would never have married anyone so far beneath me on the social ladder. Before the war started, I was trying to set you up as my mistress, but you were too stupid to know it. I have only ever been interested in your body and using you. Living off of your hard work. I have been using you all this time. I tricked you into staying in Atlanta to keep Melly safe. I tricked you in to going into Atlanta to sell yourself to Captain Butler. I tricked you into giving me a job so I wouldn't go to New York. I haven't even been trying to do my job until these last six months and that was only because your husband was threatening to sell the mill.

Scarlett looked at Ashley and was stunned. How could Ashley call her that name? If this had happened a year ago, she would have been devastated. She would have crawled into a ball and would never have recovered. She now knew that Rhett was her anchor. She knew this man in front of her was nothing. She looked over Ashley's shoulder and she saw Rhett. Rhett was furious and she knew that he had heard what Ashley had called her. She hadn't seen Rhett that mad since that night in New Orleans.

Melanie was beside Rhett. Scarlett knew Melanie had heard Ashley's words also. Melanie looked stunned and in a state of shock that her husband could say something like that to Scarlett.

Scarlett knew she would be alright because Rhett was beside her. She felt sorry for Melly because she was seeing what a horrible man she was married to.

Scarlett brought herself up to her full height and she said, "I had always thought you were wonderful but now I know that you are a small, petty, cruel, lazy, hypocrite of a pervert. I will start the process to sell the mill tomorrow before you completely run it into the ground."

Rhett knew what had happened last summer. Scarlett had somehow found out that Mr. Wilkes had never loved her. That he had been using her. That was why she had gotten in his bed. At that time, he was the only friend she had in the world. Rhett didn't need to know all the details. He knew why she had never told him. She had rightly been afraid that he would have rubbed her face in it. To his mortification he knew he would have at that time. Now she was his beloved wife who loved him and who he wanted to protect. He would never say anything about it. He would definitely let her keep that secret. He moved forward and stood beside Scarlett. He said, "Mr. Wilkes, I have spent time with the dregs of society. Whores, thieves, even a few murderers but nobody has disgusted me as much as you have right now. Nobody calls my wife a cunt and gets away with it. I would call you out for that but the ensuing scandal would ruin my children's chances to be accepted into society so I will have to just be satisfied with this," Rhett punched Ashley in the gut as hard as he could. He turned to Scarlett and linked her arm in his. He said, "Come along, my clever bunny." Both persons looked down at the man on the ground. He was not important to them.

Melanie had always felt Ashley was wrong for using Scarlett, but she had justified it to herself by saying Ashley just needed time to get back on his feet after he was devastated by the war and Rock Island. She had been just as obtuse as Scarlett because she had not wanted to see what kind of man she was married to. She knew now that Ashley wasn't just a weak man but a petty man. A man that had no honor. A man that had used a woman to further himself. A man that had harmed a woman so he wouldn't have to take care of himself. A man that was willing to ruin his sister's life twice. A man that had shamed her because he couldn't control his baser instincts. With the knowledge that he had planned to have a mistress even before they had married, she had lost all her feelings for him. She also knew that she hadn't felt anything for him but feelings one would have for a brother for a long time if ever. As Melanie saw Ashley doubled over in pain, she didn't feel an ounce of sympathy. All she felt was disgust.

Ashley saw Melanie looking at him with revulsion. He knew that Melanie no longer loved him. Melanie turned her back and returned to the reception. Ashley didn't know what had happened, but he knew that Scarlett had not been devastated by his announcement that he didn't love her. When had she stopped loving him? Probably when Butler had told her about the picture. Butler had already seduced her with his sexual skills and his money. Then to find out he wasn't as honorable as he had pretended to be would have horrified her. Someone as naïve as Scarlett would have been revolted with his perversion. He was disgusted himself, but he couldn't help himself.

Ashley finally got himself together and walked out onto the lawn. He looked around the reception. He saw Butler with his arm around Scarlett and everyone was speaking to them. He saw Melly talking with Dr. and Mrs. Mead. He went over and joined Zachary and Prudence. As he was walking toward them, he suddenly realized that the matrons were avoiding making eye contact with him. He realized that very few men had spoken to him that afternoon except to tell him congratulations on India's wedding. Ashley suddenly knew that everyone knew he had been using whores. He also knew that because everyone loved and adored Melly they would despise him even more. He joined his cousin and said, "How much has Lexington changed since the war?"

Zachary and Prudence talked about the changes that had occurred in Lexington. Zachary worked for VMI so Ashley knew he could get him a job.

Within thirty minutes both couples had returned to the little house on Ivy Street. Melanie hadn't joined in the conversation. As soon as she had gotten home, she went to her room. As she laid in her bed she wondered, 'I wonder what Scarlett had meant about Ashley being a pervert. Probably because he used whores.

Beau had spent the night with Wade, so Ashley slept in his room.

Two days later when Ashley said he was going to Lexington to interview for a job, Melly had smiled and said, "Good luck." That was all the conversation the couple had since the reception. His cousin was lending him the money for the train ticket. Ashley briefly hugged his son and kissed Melly on the cheek. He told his wife and child goodbye. As Ashley got on the train he knew even if he didn't get the job in Lexington, he was never returning to Atlanta. He was ruined here because of being unfaithful to Melly with whores even if Butler never told anyone about his perversion except Scarlett.

Melly could keep his share of the profits from the mills. Scarlett had given it to him, so he wasn't losing anything. He was going to have the Confederate gold after all. After the money from the sale of the mill ran out Ashley knew Butler would support Melly whether Scarlett liked it or not.

Melanie notice that Ashley had packed all his clothes. Melanie hoped Ashley got a job in Lexington, but she would not be going with him. No, she would stay here in Atlanta. She would tell everyone that Ashley was moving first then she would follow when Ashley found some place for them to live. Then she would tell everyone that before they moved Ashley wanted to be sure he was going to like the job. If anyone ever asked after that, she would think of something to say. She briefly wondered if Beau would miss him. She decided no. Beau hadn't even asked when his father was returning. Ashley had little to no interaction with his son.

Once Scarlett found out that Ashley had left town to interview for a job in Virginia, she changed her mind about selling the mill. Scarlett promoted the foreman to run the mill. It had worked out so well with Mr. Jackson maybe Sebastian Franklin would work out also.

She bought Ashley's share of the mills. She knew Ashley would never be back because of the fear that Rhett would tell everyone his secret. Ashley had left his power of attorney with Henry Hamilton. Scarlett gave Ashley a fair price for his half of the mill even though it galled her to have to buy Ashley's half back. She did it because she would finally be free of that incompetent man.

Henry wired Ashley. He said, "Scarlett bought your share of the mill. What do you want me to do with the money?"

Ashley wired back. He said, "Put it into our bank account for Melly to live off of."

Henry set up another bank account under his name. He set it up so Melanie could withdraw funds from that account. They transferred all the money from Ashley and Melanie's bank account into the other account. Henry did this so Ashley could not acquire the money. Melanie sold the little house on Ivy Street and put the proceeds in Henry's fake bank account. She moved in with Aunt PittyPat. The older woman did welcome her and Beau with open arms. With the proceeds from the sale of the mill and the house Melly had a nice little nest egg. If she was careful with the money, it would last her several years.

Ashley wrote and told Melanie that he had gotten a job as a teaching assistant at VMI. It was not in Philosophy but in English which Ashley was happy about. In the letter Ashley never mentioned Melanie joining him in Lexington.

Nobody asked about Ashley. Not even India. After living with Stuart for only a month India knew how unkind her brother had truly been to her. Maybe she had been a sour puss but Ashley at times had been downright cruel to her. India had decided that her brother had ruined her relationship with Stuart Tarleton. India forgave Scarlett because of everything Scarlett had done for her but also because Scarlett had been a young foolish girl. Also, because in the end it didn't really matter for Stuart Tarleton had died at Gettysburg. They would never have had a life together.

Scarlett did go see Dr. Meade. She was pregnant. That was why she was so tired. When she told Rhett, they were both happy. Both of them thought how much different this time was than the last time. They held each other close. They went out to supper to celebrate and neither one had any alcohol. Rhett had decided that he probably drank too much, and he was going to start cutting back. He was going to quit smoking also. That couldn't be good for his lungs.