Her head was aching from effort to withhold the scene she had just been part of. She pretended to consent to Wade's request putting him at the front with Rhett. Steamy tears were pouring from her eyes.

Nothing the Old-Guard would say could hurt her. She knew that it was wrong and that she was expected to care, but she didn't. Yet, the thought of Rhett's father taking the trouble to try and prevent her from marrying his son was inconceivable to her.
/How was their life going to look like, she puzzled?

A look at Careen put her hesitations to rest. Her sister's eyes were glowing with light, her cheeks red and a thrilled smile was written all over her delicate features.

"I thought you'd be shocked from my words back there" she whispered smiling, while brushing the tears to the sides of her cheeks.

"No, you were amazing. What do you think though, of our aunts' behavior?"

"I reckon I understand why Pa called them Bodalach Óinsí and Baithiseachán when Ma wasn't within hearing range" Scarlett answered laughing

"What's that?" Asked Rhett who apparently was listening "I never thought you knew Gaelic."

"The first one means stupid woman, and the second fat-head. Don't ask me who's what, I was not supposed to listen, let alone repeat it! And no, I only know some bad words" She kept laughing "It's a shame mother never taught us to swear in French, it probably
/sounds more refined and gives just the same relief."

He laughed and started showing Wade the scenery.

"Thank Goodness we didn't…" uttered Scarlett,

"You sounded so like Pa, when he spoke of you to Ma, coming from Atlanta two or three years ago."

"What? Suellen mentioned it just before we left, I thought that he told her, well, I thought he eased her mind with some excuse for my conduct." She was truly curious. Rhett had left her father drunk and penniless in the thresh hold of Ms. Hamilton's
/making him quite an easy target to conspire with.

"He sure tried, but she didn't believe him. They had a loud row in the study and I heard Pa stating that you were still 'A young lassie', and there was no sense in not letting you dance at eighteen, even if he was an Orangeman. He said that in the Old
/Land young women were not expected to wear black more than a year and that it made no sense why they should be treated otherwise here, stating that he couldn't care less what those old ladies wrote or thought so long as you were having fun."

Scarlett's eyes grew moist again –

"Ma gave him a thorough scold and when she realized he was persistent, a cold cheek over ten days or so after that."

"What eased her mind?"

"The supplies arrived from Atlanta after ten days or so, and she was very happy with the amount of supplies he had bought, that she let it slide."

"How could that be?! Why he had no money!" before thinking the words came out of her mouth. Then she looked at the wide shoulders in front of her.

The trouble that Rhett had gone through to keep her there and pull her out of her mourning weeds made her happy beyond words. 'It doesn't matter if a single soul in the whole South doesn't accept me after today' she thought.

"Poor Pa!" she exclaimed "And how on earth you came to know of that?"

"Oh, " Careen lowered her eyes "I was just under the window at the time"

"Eavesdropping?! You?!"

Careen was speechless. Scarlett patted Rhett on his shoulder – "Darling, I do believe that you and my sister share some traits."

"Is that so?" He smiled "What has she caught you with, Careen? If she compares you to me, it can't be good."

However, before Careen could think of a way out they arrived a crossing of two streets in which stood the prominent elegant featured two-story stuccoed brick church painted in white. Scarlett and Careen gazed at the giant classical portico and 186-foot
/high massively proportioned steeple.

"It's magnificent!" exclaimed Careen softly "this building looks like a bride!"

The splendor of the building gave Scarlett a pause – she was going to marry in rags! This thought was aching her heart. She brushed her skirt disapprovingly as she stood to disembark the carriage. The gesture was noticed by Rhett who pressed her to him
/for a brief second as he helped her down. At the sight of his eyes and the gentle smile on his features Scarlett felt some consolation.

*****Milady*****

She was at the back room of the church. The younger priest, John Woodward, was a man at his late twenties who did not know of Rhett's history, or had the courtesy not to mention it if he knew, and merely mentioned that the parish include one Butler family.
/Scarlett smiled at him politely as she volunteered no information in the matter. The firmness had not left her features since she had met with her aunts.

"From his accent, I gather Mr. Butler's origins are from around." He talked to Careen pleasantly, "But where are you from?"

"Oh, Captain Butler has spent the war blockade running and around Atlanta, my late brother-in-law's city, we are from Clayton County" smiled Careen, the brightness had not left her cheeks, and for once she did not seem as shy as she'd be around strangers.

"Oh, I know the reverend of your congregation than" He smiled happily.

"I doubt it, my sister and I were brought up as Catholics. In fact, I was sure that my sister would wed at the St. Mary's, but here we are." And she looked around appreciating the fine surroundings.

'It was the original plan' thought Scarlett yet the mess of her plans seemed to be quite satisfying looking at Careen's interest in the young man in front of her.

He turned to Scarlett all serious "Mrs. Hamilton, I appreciate you taking the choice of coming in sacred matrimony with our church. There are a few differences you should be aware of."

"Reverend, there is no way I shall allow her to be free of me once I set the ring on her finger. However, if you are referring to the part of obedience, I do believe there is much considering to be done" said Rhett not attempting to hide the amusement
/from his eyes.

Scarlett started laughing, resigning the aloof appearance "Reverend Woodward, am I really supposed to vow to be obedient to this rascal?"

Both Careen and the young reverend seemed embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Careen, Reverend, it's just that there must be some exceptions? No? Lord help us!" and she rolled her eyes up in a comical expression of distress.

"We will just practice the matter a bit" continued Rhett lightly "Scarlett dear, care to accompany me for a short while?"

The undertone was clear, it was not a request nor a question, he was ordering her to come with him. 'now what?'

"Wade is hungry " She saw his frown and added quickly "Careen, would you be a dear and handle the matter?" She stood and smiled at Rhett straightening her eyes toward him.

"Sure".

And the two left the room leaving Careen with Wade and Reverend Woodward.

"May I invite your nephew, with you of course, to the kitchen for some hot coco?" He asked as he saw her a small paper bag with some buns.

"That would be so kind of you" she replied and the two took the little boy with them to the next room behind the chapel.

The typical shyness that she had, had somehow been left behind and she found herself talking to the young reverend quite freely of her home, the sickness she had surpassed during the war and the death of her mother.

He was brought up there in Charleston and fought along-side General Lee up until the very end. And as she asked him how it was that he became a clergy-man he smiled at her with a distant look in his eyes –

"I had a wife and a child. When I came back they were dead. Died from typhoid two years ago, and I didn't know. That, and the sorrows of the war brought me to a resolution that I should devote my life to the children of God."

"My fiancée died at Gettysburg. I came to Charleston with my sister since I was contemplating on joining the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy" She confessed "Scarlett is against it though, she thinks I'm running away from life."

The young man gave Careen a long sad look making her lower her eyes "Is that why your sister chose our church?"

"No, or at least I don't think so. I think it has more to do with her husband, I think she is doing this for his sake. Besides, ever since I told her of this doubts are coming to my heart, and I am so confused. Without my prayers, I don't know what I
/would do, these past two years, but somehow… " She paused and sighed softly

"Pray continue" he asked with a quiet tone.

"Somehow, and it's more than her words, my sister's absolute love for The Captain, gives me such hope."

"She's aninspiration"

"You can say that again" She laughed as she served Wade with the coco and another cup to the surprised man beside her.

*****Milady******

He was holding her arm nonchalantly but as they left the room the grip became harder.

"Will you now tell me what really happened at your aunts, and why you didn't tell the good reverend that I belong to the Butlers of this city?"

"I just don't want anything to go wrong" she answered trying to look innocent.

"What happened Scarlett? Don't give me that look. It's written all over your face, you are not telling me something."

"Well," She moved uneased "The obedience part is supposed to come after the ceremony and confession-wise, I thought this wasn't a Catholic church!"

He did not let her hand go and kept staring at her with a dark gaze.

"Don't you trust me, Rhett? I don't want to talk of what happened at my aunts, it's of no relevance to us. Please…" She pleaded.

"I'm not here to please" he began retorting.

"You should " it was a feminine voice with a familiar drawl.

Rhett turned very slowly – "Mother?"

"I haven't grown so old that you fail to recognize me, now, have I?" half laughing half crying a short grey haired woman took Rhett in her arms "You should, Rhett darling."

"Should I what?"

"Trust her and do your best to please her." She turned to face Scarlett – " You made my husband quite furious sweet child – well done! I would have my doubts regardingwedlock for my son, but the scandal you have made earlier proves that you are

just the match I had dreamed of for him. I'm afraid I will not be able to stay long, so if you please call the minister."

"I'll just go prepare a bit" said Scarlett crimson to the roots of her hair, "I won't be long."

Rhett was about to let her go, when he took hold of her right arm again – "Thank you"

"What on earth for?"

"For giving my father a fit, for trying not to upset me. Who would have thought you'd turn to be such a sweet person?"

"My aunts would disagree" She murmured.

He handed her a parcel wrapped with brown paper. Her brows rose quizzically. He pecked at her cheek and whispered "You didn't think I'd let you marry me in rags, now did you?"

Excitement overtook her and through her arms around his neck "You are good to me!" she exclaimed.

"Young lady, why you are forgetting yourself!" He laughed.

And happy she was when she opened the parcel. She found a soft chiffon dress with little pearls decorating the neckline and the shoulders. The dress was meant to be worn without the wide petticoat which was perfect since she did not possess one anymore.

Careen was happy as a fiddle. She admired the beautiful embroidery and gave Scarlett some roses that Reverend Woodward encouraged her to pick. Scarlett took two roses from the bundle and handed the rest back to her excited sister. Careen was playful with
/Wade singing and dancing with him around the room.

"Why you are still a baby yourself, Careen" she said softly towards her. At the bottom of the parcel she found a soft chemise that made her shiver from expectation. Looking at herself she said "Lord, I don't think Rhett will ever let me forget I married
/him in a dressed to my shimmy with an attire he chose."

His eyes were lit as he saw her walk towards him. She walked through the aislelooking at him confidently. The dress surrounded her like a while cloud and she seemed gliding. She was too thin, too pale and tired. Yet, the light in her emerald eyes

and her dimples were dazzling fading the dark signs under her eyes.

She amazed him as she paused by him to attach to his front pocket the red rose she held.

He'll never remember his vows, her voice repeating her vows while her eyes watched him with intensity erased every thought. As the reverend pronounced them Husband and Wife he gave her an indecent too long a kiss on her lips leaving her breathless.

I always loved Gerald O'Hara's character, so here was another tribute for his fatherhood.

The Catholic institution I refer to as the possible convent was founded in 1829 as the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. In 1949 the word "Charity" was added to the congregation's name.

As for the vows, until the 20th century, part of the Anglican matrimonial vow included "obedience" on the woman's side (it's intriguing that it was finally taken out a few decades after that) –however, this word is absent from the Catholic ceremony. I figured that Rhett would joke about it.

I am still debating between Will and this new reverend for our Young Careen. Let me know what you think.