Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
I am adding more to my guest reviewer's comments. I have always thought Melly was too nice, too naïve, too loyal to Scarlett for it to be real. We are led to believe she was that way because Scarlett was her sister-in-law but even that is unbelievable. Melly would have known that Scarlett had not loved her brother. She would have known that Scarlett and Charlie did not have a relationship. India would have made sure that Melly knew about Ashley and Scarlett's relationship. Also, as my guest reviewer said, '…Melly is portrayed as smart therefore how could she not know about A and S's relationship.' I might add Melly is portrayed as very insightful therefore how could she not see that A and S had feelings for each other.
Of course, Rhett is portrayed as so wise and insightful also and as far as Scarlett was concerned, he did the wrong thing every time.
Chapter Sixteen
Over supper, Rhett said, "We will be sailing from Charleston to New York then to Dublin. We will spend a week there then move on to London. How do you feel about having your baby in a hotel?"
"I will not be having my baby in a hotel. You must rent a house. We are used to all the space of a house."
"Although we have only been in the house for a month, I agree we have already gotten used to the extra space."
"I will have to find a doctor as soon as we get there although I do have Mammy to help me bring my baby into the world."
"I will ask my London solicitor?"
"Your what?"
Rhett laughed and said, "Lawyers are called solicitors in England."
"Don't laugh at me. How would I know that? I have never been out of Georgia."
"Aw, Baby, if you would just read a book every now and then."
Scarlett glared at Rhett and changed the subject. She said, "What do you want to do for your birthday?"
"We will probably still be on the ship on my birthday so nothing special. I can take you to one of my favorite restaurants in London to celebrate my birthday once we get there. I will take you to Wilton's Restaurant. It began as an oyster shop sometime around seventeen forty."
"What is an oyster?"
"It is hard to explain. You will understand when you see it. Wilton's has just recently become an actual restaurant. They serve seafood. Do you like seafood?"
"Yes, although I have never really tried anything, but fish caught in the river on the plantation."
"Trust me you are going to enjoy all the fine food we are going to eat on this trip. When we are in Charleston, I will take the family to a restaurant to have She-crab soup. It is a specialty of the city.
"It sounds delicious to me."
While in Charleston, Scarlett met Rhett's mother, Elizabeth Butler. She was a prig like Scarlett's aunts. She wouldn't let them stay at the townhouse because it would be frowned upon by Charleston society although she had invited the family to supper. She was cold, polite, and proper. Everything one would expect from a Charleston woman. Rosemary had another commitment and could not join them. From Rhett's expression when his mother had made Rosemary's excuses, Scarlett knew it had not been the first time Rosemary had missed one of their suppers. Scarlett was a little annoyed at Rhett's mother. After Rhett had said, "As you can see, Mother, my progeny will soon be entering the world."
Elizabeth had sniffed and said in a flat voice, "Yes, I can see. Congratulations."
Scarlett was mad because the older woman could have at least faked a little enthusiasm. Scarlett thought, 'Why are all Charleston women such stuck-up, emotionless, proper women. Even Mother was.'
Scarlett felt some momentary guilt for having a negative thought about her mother, but she consoled herself by thinking, 'Well, she was.'
After the family had said goodbye to Mrs. Butler, Scarlett said, "You didn't make plans to see her again. We are going to be here for another two days."
"We will not see my mother again. She would not want to meet again on this trip.
"Why doesn't she want to see us again before we leave?"
"She has done her duty by having us in her home and sharing a meal with us."
"Why didn't she like me? She disliked me before she had even met me. I bet my aunts told her all the things I had done in Atlanta."
"Yes, they did tell her all the things you did to survive but that is not why she didn't like you. She didn't like you because you were uncouth enough to marry a man that wasn't received."
"I married her son."
"So, I am still unreceived."
"Maybe when we come back with the baby, she will want to spend more time with us."
"No, she is not an on hands mother or grandmother. Growing up the only time I got to see my parents was at mealtimes."
"Maybe it will be different with a grandchild."
"Maybe." Although Rhett knew it wouldn't make any difference. In their earlier timeline when they went to visit his mother then on to Europe. His mother had hardly spared Bonnie a glance. It had made Rhett so incredibly mad that his mother could not have pretended an interest in his only child. Bonnie had not gotten a chance to work her charm on her grandmother for his mother had not given her the time of day. Elizabeth Butler had not given Scarlett much more attention than her granddaughter. She had been cordial to Scarlett but there was definitely no warmth in her interaction with her daughter-in-law. His future self had said that neither his mother nor his sister had taken him in. When he had threatened to cut off her funds, she called his bluff and still refused to take him in. Her social position was more important than her taking care of her dying son. Of course, she would not have been taking care of him. One of her servants would have been. Rhett looked across the room at Scarlett and smiled. No, it had been his selfish, self-centered wife who had done the right thing.
Scarlett sent a note to her aunts asking for permission to call on them. Aunt Pauline sent a note back telling Scarlett when they could receive her.
When Scarlett showed up with Rhett, Wade, and Ella, Aunt Eulalie tried to refuse Rhett entry into the home. Scarlett said, "If you don't receive Rhett, I will stop sending you a check."
After that statement, the entire family was received into the home. Scarlett's actions had made Rhett so immensely proud of her. He knew now that she was loyal to him.
It was plain to see that the older women were extremely uncomfortable for Rhett Butler to be sitting in their parlor but neither Rhett nor Scarlett cared. After the aunts had made a big to-do over Wade and Ella, they made small talk for a short amount of time. Soon Aunt Eulalie said, "Dear, now that you are married to Captain Butler have you sold your businesses?"
"No, I enjoy running my businesses and Rhett is fine with me running them."
Aunt Pauline said, "But, Dear, it is so mannish."
Rhett said, "Mrs. Boykin have you not heard the saying – Don't bite the hand that feeds you. I believe that you just bit my wife's hand. Apologize to Scarlett right now for your thoughtless comment," All the women in the room stared at Rhett but nobody said anything. Rhett said, "We are waiting. If you choose not to apologize, then I am going to choose to tell my wife to never send you another check. Although the money she sends you is her money, she has to obey me."
Both the aunts blanched. Aunt Pauline quietly said, "Scarlett, I shouldn't have said that. It was thoughtless of me."
"You will never criticize your niece again in any manner. She is not obligated to send you money and she certainly doesn't need to support any ungrateful people."
Aunt Eulalie said, "Scarlett, we are grateful for everything you can afford to give us."
"Scarlett arranged it with her attorney to send you a monthly support check as long as we are out of the country. I am going to start monitoring your correspondence to Scarlett to make sure you do not criticize her ever again. As loyal as Scarlett is she won't tell me if you criticize her because she knows you need the money even if you are unthankful parasites. Have I made my point?"
Without looking at Rhett, both the older women said, "Yes, Captain Butler."
Rhett stood up and picked Ella up. He said, "Scarlett, Wade come along."
When the family got in the cab, Scarlett said, "You are not reading my correspondence!"
"Of course not, but those old hags don't know that."
A few minutes later, Scarlett said, "Thank you for putting them in their places."
"You still have too much proper breeding to tell your aunts to go to hell which is what you should do."
"Rhett, don't use that word in front of Wade."
"He knows not to use that word. Don't you, Wade?"
"Yes, sir."
Later when Rhett and Scarlett were alone, he said, "Scarlett, now that you are my wife. I will do whatever I have to do to protect you and take care of you up to and including murder."
Scarlett was not appalled by Rhett's declaration that he would murder someone to protect her. She thought he was exaggerating to make his point.
Rhett started talking about the landmarks of Charleston. Rhett knew that was a mistake he had made in his first lifetime. When old women tried to take a bite out of Scarlett, he had not prevented them from doing it. As his future self had said – Even if Scarlett wasn't the love of his life, she was his wife, and nobody was going to disrespect her. Not even him this time. The sad part to Rhett was that he had disrespected Scarlett more than anyone else. He had done better after his future self had visited him. He would do even better this time.
Soon the Butler family was on the ship to New York. Scarlett asked, "Why didn't we just sail directly to Dublin from Charleston?"
"There are no ships that go from Charleston to Dublin, so we had to do it this way. I am trying to get the majority of our traveling done in the first month we are there because the larger the baby gets the more miserable you are going to be."
"That is true."
"I know going to Ireland was important to you so that is why we are doing it first."
"Thank you, Rhett. That is so kind of you."
Scarlett was marveling at how kind and considerate Rhett was being. She guessed this was heaven. She guessed she would only get hell if she continued to disrespect Rhett. She decided that it was disrespectful to Rhett for her to fawn over Ashley in front of him or to give Ashley adoring looks when other people were around. She told herself, 'There is no telling if Ashley and I will ever be able to be together. For all I know Ashley might die before Rhett. I am going to do what Rhett suggested and put my feelings for Ashley away in a closed room in my mind. If Ashley and I are ever both widowed, then I can pull them out.
Of course, even the Garden of Eden had a serpent in it and Scarlett decided that was what Rhett's mocking and teasing comments were. The serpent in her garden.
The Butlers had a few days in New York before their ship to Dublin set sail. Rhett enjoyed showing everyone the sites. Rhett made Mammy come with them when they were sightseeing. Mammy wasn't any warmer toward Rhett than she had been on his wedding day, but he knew he could wear her down. He had last time.
In three days, the Butlers were on the ship to Ireland. Rhett enjoyed showing Wade and Scarlett around the ship. One evening as they were coming back from that night's entertainment, Scarlett thought, 'It certainly is more fun to be on this ship than to be trapped in the house in Atlanta. That was such a good idea Rhett had. Ashley definitely wouldn't have been able to afford to take me to Europe so I wouldn't have to go into a confinement. Even if the war hadn't come, Ashley would not have taken me to Europe just so I wouldn't have to go into a confinement. He would have had to run the plantation.' When Scarlett realized she was thinking about Ashley she put a smile on her face and looked at Rhett. Luckily, he had not been looking at her, so he didn't know.
Scarlett didn't know but Rhett would not have guessed she had been thinking about Ashley because she had not gotten that dreamy look on her face. She had not gotten that dreamy look on her face because she had not been thinking of Ashley as her perfect knight in shining armor.
Rhett didn't know it, but something had already happened that would enable Scarlett to grow up. She had finally seen that neither Ashley nor her mother were perfect.
