Chapter 2: Scarlet Prepares to go to England
While the carriage drove away back towards Atlanta, Scarlet contemplated her future. What would she do, what could she do, would she get Rhett back? Only God and Scarlet knew how Rhett was when he wanted things-he always got them, and if he wanted her to stay away, he would make her stay away.
Scarlet sighed and thought, "How on earth could I let him go away, chasing after Ashley like that and never looking reality in the eye! He and I were meant for each other.we are the same!"
Scarlet's musing came to an as the carriage stopped in front of her prodigious house. And just as she turned the knob of her home, Abigail Williams, one of the richest Yankees in town, walked up the steps. "Oh, Scarlet, you're home. John came and told me the most wonderful news!"
"Great balls of fire, Abigail! Are you in some kind of race? You're moving your lips so fast, I can't understand a word you're saying. Come inside and talk slower," cried Scarlet as she walked into her mansion and sat down on her davenport, decorated with inordinate frills and velvet.
"Now Abigail, are you going to tell me why you came running down the street in that house dress to visit me?" Scarlet said icily; Abigail was never at the top of her list.
"Why, Scarlet, this isn't a house dress, it's the most fashionable thing nowadays. But I suppose you wouldn't know, now that Rhett isn't here to supervise your wardrobe," Abigail rebutted with an air of satisfaction that drove Scarlet mad.
"I mustn't let them know that I'm hurt. I have to keep my head up as if I don't care," thought Scarlet as she slowly pronounced her next few words. "Rhett, Rhett supervised my wardrobe? Oh, that is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! That man doesn't have one ounce of fashion sense. A good thing.getting rid of him."
With those words, a silence fell upon the room, filling the hollowness of the house and of Scarlet's soul.
Sitting there, Scarlet lapsed into a reminiscence of the past: oh how she had boasted that she could be a great lady by wearing the best dresses and jewels, how she had thought that it took everything but a kind heart to be a great lady. Scarlet was wrong, and she knew it-a considerably astonishing victory for a mindless belle like her.
Abigail broke the silence: "Well, Scarlet, I came here to tell you that John and I are going to England. John wants to see that horse derby everyone's been talking about these days. I just thought that you might want to come with me as a traveling partner. We'll see everything, and you know, London IS the fashion center of the world.besides, Rhett will be there and no doubt you'll want to talk to him about who gets what for the divorce."
"Rhett, oh Rhett will be there! Maybe I can get him back after all," thought Scarlet.
Ignoring the last bit of commentary, Scarlet cried, "Why, Abigail, that's exactly what I wanted to do. You are so kind, letting me be your traveling partner. I'll make the arrangements right away. Oh, and I do believe that my uncle lives in London-I'll send him a message, asking if I could stay there. Oh this will be the most fun I've had in years!"
While the carriage drove away back towards Atlanta, Scarlet contemplated her future. What would she do, what could she do, would she get Rhett back? Only God and Scarlet knew how Rhett was when he wanted things-he always got them, and if he wanted her to stay away, he would make her stay away.
Scarlet sighed and thought, "How on earth could I let him go away, chasing after Ashley like that and never looking reality in the eye! He and I were meant for each other.we are the same!"
Scarlet's musing came to an as the carriage stopped in front of her prodigious house. And just as she turned the knob of her home, Abigail Williams, one of the richest Yankees in town, walked up the steps. "Oh, Scarlet, you're home. John came and told me the most wonderful news!"
"Great balls of fire, Abigail! Are you in some kind of race? You're moving your lips so fast, I can't understand a word you're saying. Come inside and talk slower," cried Scarlet as she walked into her mansion and sat down on her davenport, decorated with inordinate frills and velvet.
"Now Abigail, are you going to tell me why you came running down the street in that house dress to visit me?" Scarlet said icily; Abigail was never at the top of her list.
"Why, Scarlet, this isn't a house dress, it's the most fashionable thing nowadays. But I suppose you wouldn't know, now that Rhett isn't here to supervise your wardrobe," Abigail rebutted with an air of satisfaction that drove Scarlet mad.
"I mustn't let them know that I'm hurt. I have to keep my head up as if I don't care," thought Scarlet as she slowly pronounced her next few words. "Rhett, Rhett supervised my wardrobe? Oh, that is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! That man doesn't have one ounce of fashion sense. A good thing.getting rid of him."
With those words, a silence fell upon the room, filling the hollowness of the house and of Scarlet's soul.
Sitting there, Scarlet lapsed into a reminiscence of the past: oh how she had boasted that she could be a great lady by wearing the best dresses and jewels, how she had thought that it took everything but a kind heart to be a great lady. Scarlet was wrong, and she knew it-a considerably astonishing victory for a mindless belle like her.
Abigail broke the silence: "Well, Scarlet, I came here to tell you that John and I are going to England. John wants to see that horse derby everyone's been talking about these days. I just thought that you might want to come with me as a traveling partner. We'll see everything, and you know, London IS the fashion center of the world.besides, Rhett will be there and no doubt you'll want to talk to him about who gets what for the divorce."
"Rhett, oh Rhett will be there! Maybe I can get him back after all," thought Scarlet.
Ignoring the last bit of commentary, Scarlet cried, "Why, Abigail, that's exactly what I wanted to do. You are so kind, letting me be your traveling partner. I'll make the arrangements right away. Oh, and I do believe that my uncle lives in London-I'll send him a message, asking if I could stay there. Oh this will be the most fun I've had in years!"