The next day Scarlett had woken with sore limbs and a resolution to refrain from showing her hurt to Rhett. She'd charm him to death and never let him know that she had cried so the night before, she told herself as she left the warm bed, not without sorrow, living Rhett behind her. She was halfway toward the stairs when she heard him call her. Bracing herself she put the most charming smile in her repertoire and looked back

"Why good morning, Captain Butler, take your time this morning, us country folk wake way early for a city person like you. I am going for a walk down by the sea side."

"Captain Butler?"

"Well, my Ma would call my pa Mr. O'Hara. Since Mr. Butler is for your amiable father, Captain would be just as well."

He was half amused at her attempt to seem aloof and respectable. When he kept to his silence, disappointed she resumed to retrieving the room. She put her shawl as fast as she could, knowing she really wished to find a way to get back to her bed, and left.

She was not prepared for the glory that nature entailed in the early hours of the morning. It was a windy morning, and huge waves clashed against the sand. Seagulls were screeching above in the cloudy skies. She felt lost watching the waves, her nostrils widening with the salty air of the sea. The power of the sea was mesmerizing. The wind was deafening her ears. One wave after the next clashed in the sand, sending the drizzle up, creating a haze that surrounded the sea line like a cloud of mist.

Her curiosity got the best of her. She entered the cloud and surrendered to the sounds, the moist and the power of the wind. She drew her arms to her sides, enjoying the recklessness of the moment. Her eyes were caught at a huge wave mounting seven feet above her head. She heard a shout from afar, or was it near? The wave towered. At the right moment she dived inside and under it, and pooled herself out unscratched and laughing loudly a few feet away. She rose with some effort given the amount of soaked cloth weighing on her and with the stream of the wave reached lower ground. She ran to the shore laughing loudly; She bent her head down as soon as she reached the part of the sand that was dry, and shook her head, sending drops all around her; yes, the sea had connived with her captain of a husband, she thought amused. With that thought her face showed no surprised when she saw that on the sand hillock her husband was standing.

"That was damn stupid, Scarlett" he said quietly "That wave could have washed you with him and drowned you."

"Well, it didn't, now did it? I dived perfectly well inside it. It was utterly amazing!"

"You are a fool. You have no idea what force these waters have. They are not a river or a lake."

"Don't be so dramatic, darling. Please. I simply got caught up with the beauty and the power of it all." She tried soothing him but he kept a stern appearance.

"Well, even if you are no gentlemen aren't you going to help me out?" She asked batting her long eyelashes, this time to remove the salty drops of water that hazed her eyesight.

"I probably shouldn't."

"Great balls of fire, why, I never thought Rhett Butler would be as fussy as an old maid! First last night, and now this?!"

"An old maid?!"

"Going all sulky and full of resentment. Besides, you should be happy. I just got an educational experience regarding sea and sea-captains as to their powers to literally sweep me off my feet or drown me if I get too close."

This last sentence disarmed him completely. He started laughing– "Drown you, do I?"

"Well, you certainly have the power to do just that, and don't you go thinking that I haven't figured out that it was all a plot between you and this ocean of yours. Serves me right, though, leaving all my guard down, doesn't it?" She did not move her eyes from his. Despite the fact that her lips were blue, by this time, he saw that her smile was genuine.

"So, you think that I and Neptune, the God of the sea, plotted to drown you this morning? Is that your claim?"

"Not to drown, well, at least not this morning. Only to demonstrate your overbearing power to a poor country-girl. And here I was, planning to act all lady-like today, instead, I'm drenched" she smiled wearily. With blue fingers she took the hand he stretched out for her.

***MILADY***

Later that morning they were left alone. Careen had gone to town with Wade and The Reverend. They seemed happy enough in the coziness of the cottage. Scarlett was dozing off in front of the fire-place.

"Has that wave tired you so?"

"Oh. I just had a bit of a rough night."

He kept a stern gaze at the fire. Thinking he was still upset with her she lowered her eyes with defeat, not too soon had he sat by her taking her into his arms.

"You were right, though" he said.

"Right?"

"About Rosemary. She is not cut out for these times, especially with our father around her, terrifying the life out of her"

"Would you like to invite her to live with us?" She asked quietly.

He pulled her even closer, stroking her wet hair with his lips" No, she would never agree. For no apparent reason, she loves our father. She won't upset him. Nor will she put herself in jeopardy of becoming an outcast due to her associating with me. Besides it would kill my mother. No, I couldn't."

Scarlett was reflecting on his last words. She realized that she was about to become an outcast. But she did not care.

"Why would she be an outcast, Rhett?"

"Well, as we are going back to Atlanta. And since the businesses I intend to conduct are way too profitable to be considered decent, that would be the case for me and you."

"Are you really going to make that much money?"

He laughed as she hadn't commented about the moral issues regarding this planned venture.

"Yes my love, solely for you and Wade."

After a long silence he asked – "Would you really have agreed to host her?"

"Well, I have had Melly under my roof, and your sister loves you. That's more than enough for me. Moreover, it may put an end to that sulk of yours and put you indebted to me, for once!"

He laughed "It would take much more than that to put me indebted, honey, you forget that I'm no gentleman. Nevertheless, what would you like from me if you had, let's say, a deed"

She knew that he was toying with her, and she didn't mind. In fact, she appreciated it. With much intent she moved so as to face him, sitting on his lap embracing his waist with her legs, looking at him intently she slowly answered "Well, that would be your heart."