leafs: That was the catalyst in the YA novel, Heaven. Lol. It is a good one, definitely not in this.
AN: Guys thank you sooooo much for the reviews. Btw for those that are new -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- means that at least a day has passed, o-o-o means that it is the same day from the last scene.
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Part Five
August 1871
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She sat in the parlor repairing the lace cuff for the dress she was going to wear out to the opera on Saturday. Rhett and the children had sat in the room with her for nearly an hour earlier that evening as he read to the children. It had been nice. It reminded her of her own childhood. Her parents and their three children.
Her hand suddenly went to her stomach as she recalled all the times her mother had been with child after them. She had been 12 when the last one had died. You didn't forget things like that at 12. She hadn't forgotten the one at 6 or 8 either. There had been others of course, others that hadn't made it far enough along to be buried with their father's name on their gravestone.
Her baby would be fine. All of her babies had been fine. Scarlett suddenly recalled that her mother's first three children had all been fine and then it had been never ending losses.
She shook away the thought. No, next year there would be 4 children in the parlor with them, she looked to the corner where Bonnie's cradle had once resided. Oh, there had been such pride every time she looked into that cradle to see her perfect child.
Rhett had been so happy, she recalled him that first month with Wade, Ella and Bonnie. He'd been so involved with the children then. She could almost still see him across from her with Wade and Ella each on one of his legs as he galloped them along for rides as they played horsey. Most men would have struggled with Wade being nearly seven, but not her husband, he was as tall as he was strong.
With a reassuring breath she decided that next year Rhett would be back in his chair with Bonnie and Ella each on a leg, squealing and laughing, Wade would be on the floor next to his beloved dog, the baby in its cradle
She wondered if Rhett would rejoin her in the parlor after he put Bonnie to bed. They had taken the afternoon train the day before when Bonnie had demanded to see the barn kittens that morning. Scarlett had been more than a little concerned that they were going to end up with a litter of kittens. As it was, the one orange kitten they had taken to join the tabby that Bonnie had been gifted by her grandmother had kept Ella in a frightful state the entire wagon ride to the station and then the train ride, to such a point that Rhett had hired a hackney to return he and Bonnie to the house.
Everyone had been more than ready to retire to their rooms after supper, exhausted by the long day. Scarlett had expected to be awoken by her husband in the middle of the night, but Rhett never joined her in bed.
Today though, everyone was rested, she imagined she would last several hours longer than the children. The weariness of the first few months of pregnancy had passed, she was more than ready to return to adult companionship. Even if that companionship was her often unpleasant husband. They had a nice day yesterday and a pleasant evening today with the children. He hadn't spoken a single harsh or nasty word, although he hadn't actually spoken to her much. Still though, it was better than it had been. There was that at least. He'd also agreed to accompany her to DeGive's this weekend.
She smiled as she heard him coming down the stairs and returned her focus to the lace so she would look occupied when he returned. Then she heard the front door close.
Her eyes closed realizing that Tara had simply been because her husband was without his usual diversions. After a few minutes realizing she was about to do more damage than repair to the lace, she gave up on her task. She would at least be more comfortable up in her room and out of her dress. She passed Pork in the hall and said goodnight to the family's long time servant, but did not ask after her husband. Her husband didn't give her a second thought, why should she.
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He found himself agreeing more to activities with his wife and her carpetbagger friends. Oh he didn't agree to events with any of the truly terrible ones just the ones who would likely accidentally blend into southern society after a few decades and he imagined in 2 generations they would have forgotten their family had ever been from the north.
He had always done just enough to keep the gossips at bay regarding their marriage or at least that was what he had told himself. In truth, he'd still enjoyed seeing her joy at getting dressed up and doing the finer things. He had still wanted her, so he had never truly been able to walk away.
He went now for a different purpose. He went now to see if anyone aside from the honorable Ashley Wilkes could have fathered her child.
He had been sure he would be able to tell the difference of those who lustfully longed for Scarlett and those who had intimate knowledge of the breathtaking body showcased by her glorious gowns.
Her body was truly luscious now, she was ripe with child. The cut of her dresses and the ornate pageantry of them masked the swell of her waist. However, she practically spilled out of the tops of them, no matter how modestly cut some of them should have been. She was a beacon of womanhood. A veritable lighthouse between the glow of her skin and the shine of her hair.
A significant amount of men looked at Scarlett as if they were intimately acquainted with her, the imagination was a powerful thing.
He found himself having to watch his wife's reaction to those around her. There was never anything more than a slight tease from her. The reason why most women hated Scarlett immensely. The easy way she affected men around her.
He knew that better than most. Wished he could erase it from his mind.
He could turn on the charm while they were out and slip into the easy manner they had communicated in for so many years. While they were out it was a show. When they were home it was cold and stunted.
He longed for the days of tea in Miss Pittypat's parlor. Of nights spend at their dining room table. Longed for the ease between them. When he could enjoy spending time with her when he was too caught up in their dynamic to be thinking about the other things at play.
Such as his wife's child.
Such as his overwhelming desire for it to be his.
For her to be his.
He wondered if this was enough. He wondered if he could survive this polite and cold world they lived in.
Perhaps it would be easier if he had two of Scarlett's children to spoil and adore.
Who would never question if their world was safe, if they were safe. Attention never lacking, food never lacking, things never lacking.
He would have to find some type of peace with his wife. They would have to learn to exist in the house better than they had done in the past. If she had truly given him another child. If she had made that attempt in their marriage, he could try to fit into her cold and superficial world. Play the jovial and charming husband. Play her games.
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"You alright Rhett?" Belle asked coming up to him at the table he had settled into alone. He could be an expressive man when he chose to be. The tone of his body let people know if they should approach for a hearty debate or give him a wide berth.
She had noticed more and more of the latter since his return, even when he was with people, he seemed to be alone.
"Quite well, yourself?" Rhett deflected the question as if he had been a casual greeting.
"The girls have started to notice that you haven't quite been yourself since you returned to town."
His brows lifted.
"You haven't been here as much," she pointed out.
"Bonnie is older now; she requires more attention." He lifted his glass, "And thinks I smell nasty if I partake too much."
Belle laughed slightly.
"The girls miss your company."
"My wife is expecting, how would it look if I were-"
Her head cocked, "Exactly how it looked before your wife were expecting?"
He knocked his glass towards her for her comment.
"Scarlett let you back in her bed?"
"We are expecting."
"Not the question I asked."
"She has," or at least she had twice. He'd at least filled those two nights with likely as much intimacy as most of the other men in the room received from their wives across the span of a year.
"Not enough or you wouldn't be sitting over here like a bear."
"She is halfway along," he commented. It was highly inappropriate for anyone from their class to partake during such a time. Of course, they had with Bonnie.
"Which is when most men come here," Belle pointed out.
"As lovely as your girls are, they would not satisfy my particular desire." The act had been perfunctory the times he'd gotten it in his head to accomplish it. It was near impossible without being drunk. He'd likely never truly enjoy it as he once had with anyone, but Scarlett.
"Lusting after your wife, hardly seems like something a civilized man would do."
"Belle for as many years as you have known me, have I ever been civilized?"
"You've been a right gentleman the entire time, Rhett. Your wife gonna let you back in her bed after this baby?"
"The topic has not come up yet."
"You're a good lay Rhett, your wife would be a fool not to have you."
"Thank you, Belle," he said lifting his glass once more, not sure how else to respond.
"My girls are real good at avoiding babies. I could get a few of them to give you some instructions for your wife. Your house seems nice and all, but being locked up in it for months at a time," she shrugged. "I don't understand rich folk."
"They're hardly hard to understand Belle, they simply want to remove all fun and enjoyment out of life."
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Rhett hadn't anticipated encountering Dr. Meade as he entered the house as he returned home from the bank. Caught off guard, he hadn't been able to hide his immediate reaction, "Is Scarlett alright?"
"Scarlett and the baby are both progressing wonderfully. I wish all of my patients carried as well as Scarlett."
Rhett felt the tension leave his body, "Wonderful," he repeated Dr. Meade's word as he waited for his brain to fully return from the panic it had entered seeing him.
"A new baby for the new year. I can't imagine a better start to 1872."
"Everything's proceeding on schedule?" He found himself awkwardly asking. Wondering how he could get the doctor to tell him if he or Scarlett had made that determination of her due date.
"Perfectly. If you'll excuse me, Mrs. Meade is expecting me home for dinner."
"Of course, thank you doctor."
He took the stairs up to their rooms as soon as he saw the older man out. He turned first to her room. He was drawn to her room. It was worse than it had ever been before. He wanted her body underneath him constantly. No one at Belle's could fill the void that Scarlett left. Especially not that his daughter demanded he be sober. It had been easier before Bonnie had demanded his time and attention. Back when he could hide.
He pivoted two doors away from hers, controlling the urge to run down the hall towards the playroom.
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