Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It was true that Rhett wanted to take the girls to the park, but Scarlett was tired of Melly's company and her wanting to constantly be talking about babies and Ashley. Furthermore, although Scarlett didn't understand it, but she was beginning to be uncomfortable around Melly when Rhett was around. Like Melly was judging Scarlett for being unfaithful to Ashley with Rhett which Scarlett knew was silly. Melly didn't even know about her relationship with Ashley. Or that Melly would think she was being unfaithful to Ashley instead of Melly thinking she was being unfaithful to Rhett.
That night when Ashley got home from work, Melly asked him, "How was your day?"
"It was good. Scarlett came out to look at the books. It seems she has changed her mind about selling her mills. At least for a little while."
"I wonder why."
"She didn't say. What is for supper?"
"Chicken and dumplings. Let me go check on it."
As Melly walked to the kitchen, she decided to shelve her plans to cause problems between Scarlett and Captain Butler.
The next Wednesday Scarlett went out to check on her businesses. When she got to Ashley's mills the books were in bad shape but after Scarlett had gotten them straighten out it appeared that Ashley had made a profit. When she had gotten there, there had been a couple of other men in the office. They soon got prepared to leave and Scarlett said, "Gus, please stay in the office until I leave. It would be improper for me and Mr. Wilkes to be alone in the office."
There was a questioning look on Ashley's and Gus's faces. Gus didn't ask any questions and neither did Ashley. Gus just said, "Yes ma'am."
When Scarlett was finished checking the books, she said, "You need to sell more lumber. Come along Gus, you can help me into my buggy."
"Yes ma'am."
As Scarlett drove home, she wondered why she had done that. She had always looked for ways for her and Ashley to be alone. She decided that if they weren't alone the temptation would not be as great. She decided that she didn't want anyone gossiping about her that would get back to Rhett. Even if they weren't true people gossiping about his wife would make him very mad. No, she didn't want to see any more of Rhett's anger. The tip of the pitchfork was enough for her. She knew she couldn't trust anyone but Rhett.
Scarlett never even realized that by thinking that she had admitted to herself that she couldn't trust Ashley or Melly.
On April twentieth Rhett and Scarlett got their picture taken because it was their first anniversary. They got all dressed up and he took her to her favorite restaurant in Atlanta. It was called Main St. Bistro. Scarlett was happily chatting away about the Scallawag and the Republican wives and the stupid things they had said. She made some unkind comments about the matrons, India, Aunt PittyPat, and even Melly. Rhett laughed at all of her comments. He even added a few mocking comments of his own even about Melly which Scarlett thought were hilarious.
Rhett couldn't help but marvel at how different this anniversary was from their first one in the other timeline. In the other timeline, neither person had even acknowledged that it was their first anniversary. They had not even exchanged gifts. As Rhett recalled he had spent the night at The Painted Lady. He had even been intimate with Belle that night. Of course, he had fantasized that Belle was Scarlett. He wondered what Scarlett had done. Probably spent the entire night thinking about Mr. Wilkes.
Rhett ordered them a dozen fried oysters as an appetizer. After the waiter had walked off, Rhett said, "Oysters are considered an aphrodisiac."
"What is an aphrodisiac?"
"It is a food that increases your sexual desire."
"Then you can't have any. Your sexual desire is strong enough."
Rhett burst out laughing. When he sobered, he said, "Please, let me have one or two. You would be too much for me if you ate all twelve oysters by yourself," With a lustful smile, he said, "You are almost too much for me without an aphrodisiac."
Scarlett laughed and blushed, but Rhett could see she was pleased by his statement.
Scarlett had blackened red fish and Rhett had a steak. They had a bottle of champagne, and they shared a dessert of peach cobbler.
Scarlett said, "I didn't know there was so much good food in the world until you took me to London."
"As trite as this sounds, there is a whole world out there to see."
"True. I do want to go to Paris again."
"Say the word and we will go."
"Thank you, Rhett. Thank you for taking such good care of me."
"You take good care of me too."
When Rhett leered at Scarlett, she blushed but she still smiled. As they were leaving the restaurant, Rhett said, "Now let's go home so you can take good care of me."
Scarlett giggled but she certainly didn't object. When they were intimate was another way that Rhett took such good care of her.
After they were finished, Rhett missed his cigars. That had been a perfect time to him. He had just finished making love to Scarlett, he was smoking his cigar, and he was telling her stories about his life. Her being pressed up against him had added to the perfectness. He knew he would never go back to smoking. He didn't want to die from lung cancer. It had been awful. The only bright spot to the whole thing was Scarlett and the children being there.
For the next several months Rhett and Scarlett were a terribly busy couple. They were attending soirees, supper parties, and even a ball at the governor's mansion. Which Scarlett was happy to note that the governor's mansion was smaller than her mansion.
Scarlett guessed that Rhett was making lots of money at these events for he would often say, "I will be right back, my dear."
Scarlett would then see him and another man leaving the main room.
At these events Rhett was often rude, mocking, and sarcastic to the other guests, but Scarlett knew they would be invited to the next event. They were treated like royalty at these events.
Rhett had explained it to Scarlett. He said, "We are quality people. They believe that we are a lady and a gentleman. They would be right about you. Therefore, they want to act just like us."
"Rhett, they can never be like us. They are just white trash with fine clothes."
"Aw, yes, my dear, but we won't tell them any different."
Scarlett smiled and linked her arm in Rhett's arm, and he smiled back.
Scarlett had been invited to teas and to play whist by the ladies. Scarlett found the ladies low class or as Rhett had said gutter trash, but they were fun, lively, and none of these ladies were sitting in judgement of her. None of them wanted to talk about the past. Rhett had explained that to her. He had said, "Their past is very sordid. For example, Mamie Bart was once a madame of a brothel in New Orleans."
When Scarlett had opened her mouth to ask Rhett how he knew that Mamie had once been a madame, she quickly shut her mouth. She knew how he knew that. Rhett had smiled and said, "I don't need to do that anymore. I have you to take care of my needs so delightfully."
Scarlett had blushed but she had been pleased none the less.
Rhett was kind, attentive, funny, and very generous in and out of the bed. The only thing she could do to make him extremely unhappy was think about Ashley when he was around. Or let there be even a hint of impropriety in regard to hers and Ashley's relationship. In truth, it wasn't a lot that Rhett was asking of her. He just wanted her to treat him with respect. He certainly did deserve to be treated with respect and what was the other word he had used … loyalty. She could do that. After all, she had to live with Rhett for the rest of his life or hers depending on who died first. Rhett didn't even care if she behaved improperly just as long as her name wasn't linked with Ashley's name which Scarlett didn't want those kinds of rumors being circulated about her either.
One day while Scarlett had been entertaining the Scallawag and Republican wives, she had left the parlor to go check on the refreshments. On her way to the kitchen, she had run into Mammy. Scarlett knew it had not been an accidental meeting. She also knew that Mammy was once again going to lecture her on her behavior.
Mammy said, "Miss Scarlett, how can you let that white trash in your house?"
"Because they are fun."
"Miss Scarlett, your mother is rolling over in her grave at you letting them into your house much less into your parlor."
"You are probably right, Mammy, but things are not like they were before the war. Mother would be appalled at all the things I did to survive those years after the war was over. Mother would be appalled that I married Frank Kennedy for his money, but I had to in order to save Tara. Mother would be appalled that I ran a sawmill like a man well enough to be able to afford to buy a second sawmill. Mother would be appalled that I married Rhett a man that wasn't received. In truth, Mammy, Rhett's own mother is appalled that I married an unreceived man despite the fact that the man is her own son."
"If you keep this up your children won't be received into any proper home in the South."
"They already aren't received therefore someday Rhett and I will move to New York or even London or maybe San Francisco. Just as soon as I know Tara is on a solid footing. Now go along, I need to check on the refreshments for the ladies."
"They sure ain't ladies."
Scarlett laughed and said, "You are right, Mammy, and that is what makes them so fun."
It was not the first time Scarlett and Mammy had that conversation. In fact, they had that conversation every time Scarlett entertained the Scallawag wives. Scarlett had stopped caring what Mammy said to her. Mammy disapproved of her actions just as the matrons disapproved of her actions and she was tired of people always finding fault with her. Rhett thought she was wonderful, her children thought she was wonderful, and the Scallawag wives thought she was wonderful. She was going to enjoy her life in the present. She would worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
When Scarlett came back to the parlor, she stopped just outside the parlor door which was wide open. She stood where no one could see her to listen to the ladies' conversation. It made her laugh how earthy the ladies would talk while she was out of the room. She heard one woman who she thought was Bridget say, "I never thought Rhett Butler would ever marry and especially not to someone so innocent."
This was not the first time the ladies had talked about Rhett marrying Scarlett. She decided they couldn't figure out why Rhett had married her. Scarlett thought, 'For my body.' Then she thought, 'No, that isn't right. I don't know why Rhett married me, but it wasn't for my body. Well, only for my body. He is rather fond of my body, which is only right because I am fond of his body.' That thought made Scarlett blush, so to distract herself she started listening to the conversation again.
Polly said, "And a lady to boot. Although I have learned how to behave in public by watching her."
Jenny said, "You made a fine living by knowing how to behave in private."
By the way all the other ladies laughed, Scarlett knew Jenny had meant something nasty.
Another woman who Scarlett didn't recognized her voice said, "We all know that Butler always preferred the pay as you go relationships."
Nothing these women had said had surprised Scarlett. She had not found out anything new. She was about to make her entrance when she heard Mamie say, "I have heard that Belle is in quite the snit because Butler sold his half of their brothel and has basically cut her dead."
"Did she think Butler honestly cared for her? An old whore?"
"There is no fool like an old fool."
Which made all the ladies laugh. Scarlett used their laughter to make her entrance. She had found out so much about her husband and about sex from listening to these women. Fortunately, it appeared that none of these women had been intimate with her husband which she was grateful for. She had been shocked when she had first found out that Rhett had once been a half owner of a brothel, but she had finally decided that there was probably good money in the sex trade, so all was good.
