Chapter Two
Rhett had convinced Scarlett to return to America. She had protested, she had nothing
left there, she could not go home to Tara, and she had sold the house in Atlanta. With a sigh, she
had agreed to follow Rhett home to Charleston. Now, on the deck of the steamer that was
headed home-yes, Charleston was now home-Scarlett fought down the fear that was clouding
her vision. It had been a week since Rhett had found her, yet he had yet to make any mention of
remarrying. She had sent a telegram to Fenton, calling off the marriage, and she was worried of
what society would say of this, and how Rhett would react when he found out. She smiled,
imagining Luke's reaction to her short message. She had received an equally short, yet polite
reply, but Scarlett's eyes lit up as she imagined Fenton storming around his lavish study, cursing
her, and himself for letting her slip through his clutches.
was smeared with dirt, and her green eyes danced and sparkled in the bright sunlight."Mother! Rhett showed me how the boat works, and I met the Capitan, and he said thatCat came running up Scarlett, forcing her out of this pleasant reverie. Her daughter's face
we could eat dinner with him one day, and Rhett gave me a doll that he got at the market before
we left and..." Scarlett laughed, both at her usually silent daughter, and at Rhett, who was
already spoiling his daughter terribly. Rhett appeared at the top of the stairs, and Cat ran
towardshim, grabbing his large hand with her small one and pulling him towards Scarlett. Rhett
smiled his half smile, and said wryly to Scarlett, "This child has all of your spunk and then some,
my dear."
Scarlett laughed, and the three walked along the deck. Scarlett looked out over the
water,enjoying the fresh breeze that lifted the small wisps of hair that framed her face. Rhett
stopped to study her, and he could see how motherhood had softened her face. The fine lines in
between her eyebrows added maturity to her face, and there was a look of serenity on her face.
The flirtatious look had disappeared, and was replaced by a look of gentle assurance, the face
of a lady. Scarlett had always wanted to be a lady, and now she finally looks like one mused
Rhett.
The ocean breeze tasted salty in her mouth, and Scarlett passed her hand over the soft
hair of her daughter's hair before Cat wriggled away, farther down the deck, where she knelt,
peering out a the ocean. Scarlett could feel Rhett's eyes on her, yet she was afraid to look at
him. Though listed in the ships' books as Mrs. Scarlett O'Hara Butler, she was worried that this
was yet another of Rhett's ways of teasing her; she would not look at him, for if he was looking
at her with that teasing glint in his eyes, she would fall apart.
dinner. Cat, along with a steward, disappeared into Cat's room, where she would be fed andSome minutes later, Scarlett, Rhett, and Cat returned to their cabin to freshen up for
tucked in for the night. Scarlett stepped into her room-it was Rhett's too she reminded herself-to
dress for dinner. It had been a while since she had really wanted to dress up, and as she looked
at the dresses in front of her, she realized that she was looking forward to dressing prettily. Erin,
an Irish ladies' maid headed for Boston, helped Scarlett into her petticoats. Scarlett sighed
impatiently, she was unused to wearing a corset, and the tight restriction on her breathing was
tiresome and annoying. Erin lifted up a forest green gown, low cut to show off her creamy white
neck, which Scarlett stepped into. The bodice of the gown clung to Scarlett, emphasizing the
smallness of her waist, and the skirts flowed out softly around her. The trim was gold, and it
sparkled in the lamplight, accentuating the smooth whiteness of her skin. Erin arranged Scarlett's
dark locks into elegant twists and curls piled atop her head, her hair brushed unto it shone and
reflected the light like black glass. Scarlett dismissed Erin, and lightly powdered her face, adding
a touch of rogue to her lips and cheeks. Finally, she slipped her almost invisible white gold chain
around her neck, centering the large diamond and emerald pendant just below her collarbone.
Ready, she swept out of her bedroom, and smiled at Rhett, who was dressed in a dark fitted
suit. He offered his arm to her, and together they swept out of the suite to the dining hall.
eyes looked up to met hers, she could see confusion and a hint of anger swirling in his dark eyes.Rhett leaned across the table to peer at the pendant around Scarlett's neck, and when his
Setting her chin defiantly Scarlett challenged him with her eyes to comment, and when he asked
why she had taken the jewels of her engagement ring to use as a necklace, she replied, "Why
Rhett, you didn't honestly expect me to keep the ring of the man who had divorced me, and left
me to pretend to be a widow did you? So I had it made into a necklace, and I do believe that it
is just as good this way as before."
trembled inside. This was it she thought; he was going to ask to marry her again. She took aRhett laughed in defeat, but he took a serious air as he leaned in once more. Scarlett
deep breath and inclined her head towards him expectantly, when he asked softly, "Scarlett, did
you really believe that no one would find out the truth of you, er, situation the entire time you
were in Ireland?"
Like a pricked balloon, her insides deflated. He was not going to ask her after all. The
rest of the meal passed quietly, as Scarlett ate the ship's fare with downcast eyes. She wanted
the ship to turn around and bring her back to Ireland; she should have never come with Rhett on
the ship, headed back to America and some of her worst memories. She could see her return
now, Rhett would deposit her politely with Miss Eleanor, and disappear to Dunmore Landing,
just as before. She wondered if she had imagined the night in the Tower. No! She shook herself,
she knew Rhett loved her, he was just being difficult, he had to be, he couldn't already be
regretting coming to find her.
As they walked slowly back towards their suite, the moonlight reflected of the calm
water, and Rhett stopped, Scarlett with him. He looked down at her, and his eyes were
unreadable, Scarlett stood, arrested by his gaze.
done?" She nodded mutely, her mind numbing."Scarlett," he murmured softly, "Scarlett, darling, can you ever forgive me for what I have
"Scarlett, I want to make it up to you, but I am afraid that is not possible," Her heart
sank.
dumbly, her voice had forgotten how to work, and she accepted his quick kiss without a word,"Instead, I want to start over. Scarlett O'Hara, will you marry me?" Scarlett nodded
surprised that her feet carried her the remaining distance to the suite.
