Chapter 3

The Atlanta hotel's restaurant was were the two couple decided to lunch.
Rhett was surprised by Scarlett who was deep in conversation with Melanie. Scarlett's green eyes never leaving Melly's.

Ashley who Rhett always tried to be nice to for Melly's sake found the man was lost in his own world. So Rhett either could set next to Scarlett looking out the window like Mr. Wilkes or he could invite himself into the women's conversation. Not being the type of person who liked to be bored Rhett decided the latter would be best. So when the ladies were quiet for a second Rhett jumped in with a question.

"So who's idea was our lunch date?" Scarlett turned and smiled at Rhett she was wondering how much longer he could take the cold shoulder from Ashley. Something which made no sense to her what so ever. Why would Ashley treat Rhett this badly? Rhett hadn't done a single thing to him when he had every right to. "Well it was your dear wife's Captain Butler. It seems she thought if we all were seen together that, that false rumor would be proved wrong." Melanie said puzzled by Ashley behavior. He was acting rude to Captain Butler. Rhett looked at Scarlett it seemed she realized why he had sent her to Ashley party after all. "Well I felt we shouldn't let lies get in the way of our friendship." Scarlett stated then smiled at Rhett. Ashley who heard Scarlett voice turned his head and saw this making him all the more sick. Rhett saw this from the corner of his eye. His angry at the honorable Mr. Wilkes grew ten fold. He was acting like he had the right to be upset over a wife and husband getting along.

"I think before we get to the hotel I should explain what happened at the Mill yesterday." Scarlett said looking from Melly to Rhett. Ashley felt himself turn red at Scarlett's words. "There isn't a need to my pet, I know I can trust you. After all if a man can't trust his wife who can he trust?" Rhett asked looking Mr. Wilkes in the eyes. The man had a guilty look about him.

Melanie was about to agree with Captain Butler when Scarlett said firmly. "Rhett of course you can trust me and you to Melly. It's just that I would feel so much better if I could tell you how silly this whole thing is." Rhett had listened to her words Scarlett sounded honest. Could perhaps this once she be innocent? Rhett who was setting across from Ashley noticed the man tensed up at Scarlett's words. This trouble Rhett greatly Ashley acted guilty Scarlett didn't who to believe that was the question?

"What India and Archie walked in on was Ashley comforted Me." looking from Melly to Rhett, Scarlett stated. "Ashley got to talking about the past before the war. And stupid as it was I allowed myself to look back. Before I knew it I was crying and Ashley ever the gentleman gave me a hug to comfort me nothing more." Scarlett said the latter looking into Rhett's eyes hoping he could see she was telling the truth.

Ashley had listened to Scarlett's words and was at a lost. Was that how she really saw what had happened between them at the Mill? Had Scarlett really believed his hug was out of nothing but friendship?

Rhett who turned away from Scarlett was trying to make sense out of his troubled mind. Of course it was so obvious Scarlett had been lied upon. That's why Scarlett was so hurt last night when he had accursed her of wanting to cheat on him with Ashley. From the look on Mr. Wilkes face He was guilty; yesterday to him had been more then just a friend giving a friend a hug. Hearing Scarlett declaring it only as something she saw as friendship must be hard to the fine gentleman.

"Of course darling I knew it was something like that. That's why I was so mad at India." Melly said smiling at Scarlett.

"I tried to explain but they just ran off." Scarlett said feeling much better now that the true was out in the open.

"Well were make them listen Scarlett. Or they won't step foot in my house again." Melanie said Scarlett was the sister she never had she would defend her till the end. As the carriage stopped in front of the hotel Rhett climbed out then helped Melanie and Scarlett out, turning his back to Ashley as he got out. If what he thought was true Mr. Wilkes was someone he didn't want to be around or have his wife around either.

Once inside the restaurant and seated at their table, Rhett held Scarlett, and Melanie in conversation but for once showed his contempt for Mr. Wilkes by pretended the man wasn't there.

Scarlett noticed this right away. If Rhett had dare tried this any other day she would be beyond anger. Today she didn't know if was having spent last night and this morning in his arms or just the way Ashley had treated Rhett earlier, Scarlett found she agree with Rhett's behavior towards Mr. Wilkes.

"It was a shame you couldn't be at Ashley party last night Captain Butler." Melanie said. She felt that if they were ever to move past what had happened it needed to be clear up between the foursome.

Rhett who now felt ashamed of having desert Scarlett last night decided to have a little fun at Mr. Wilkes expense. "Of course I wanted to go after having helped Scarlett pick out her dress. But I felt that if I were to make a appear the whole of Atlanta would have been waiting for me to call Ashley out. Trusting Scarlett as I do I knew it was a lie." Rhett said those last words looking into his wife's eyes letting her know he believed her. Then turned just in time to see Ashley face turn blood red.

Melanie smiled sweetly why hadn't she thought of that. She had been afraid poor Scarlett had been in trouble with Rhett now looking at the two they looked like newlyweds.

Scarlett was lost in Rhett's eyes he believed her how wonderful that felt. As his eyes left her's she followed his to see Ashley looking like a beet. That's when she also noticed Rhett's laughing eyes, he was up to something. What she wasn't sure of but something just the same.

"Well Mr. Butler your not being there made it look as if you believed the Rumor" Ashley stated forgetting his gentlemanly ways.

Melanie turned to look at her beloved Ashley. How dare he say such a thing? She expected Captain Butler to say things like that for as good as he was to her. He wasn't a gentleman but Ashley was.

Scarlett found her mouth dropped open never in a million years had she thought her perfect gentleman Ashley Wilkes would utter those words. Turning to Rhett she found his eyes had turned hard.

Rhett couldn't believe he had once thought Mr. Wilkes had been honorable. The man had all but tried to put the moves on his wife yesterday. If India hadn't caught him how far would he have taken it? Because from what Scarlett had said about the day before at the mill she had only thought of Ashley as a friend. Learning that Ashley Wilkes wasn't the perfect gentleman she had made up as a child. Having that childish dream crushed before her eyes would have hurt her deeply.

"That's just plain silly Ashley why do you think Rhett came to lunch with us? So he could show he didn't believe that lie. And Ashley, please don't call it a rumor again it's should be called what it plainly is a lie." Scarlett said a little hotly Ashley had painted Rhett into a corner. Hadn't Rhett already explained why he wasn't at the party. What could Rhett do about what the 'old cats' thought?

Rhett smiled as he set back and let his wife defended him to the look on Ashley face went from satisfied to one of injured.

"Of course I must apology for my comments in the first places." Ashley said putting on now what Rhett saw to be his gentleman face.

"Apology accepted Mr. Wilkes we all forget ourselves now and then." Rhett stated as he took Scarlett's hand that laded on the table into his own.

"I say let's forget this ever happened." Melanie said smiling at the Butlers'.

Both Scarlett and Rhett smiled sweetly at Melanie and nodded there heads in agreement with there friend. Ashley felt out of place setting at this table across from Scarlett who seemed pleased that Rhett's hand was intertwined with her's. Had the vile man finally done what Ashley had always feared? Had he turned his dear sweet Scarlett into another such as himself?

Scarlett found Ashley's intense stare uncomfortable. At one time she loved if he would only look her way now she wished he would pay attention to his wife. With him staring it was getting hard to take quick glances at Rhett. Who seemed just as upset by Ashley behavior as she was.

Oh how she wished this lunch would end so Rhett and her could go home and back to bed. Scarlett face turned white as what she just thought took hold of her.

Rhett noticed immediacy Scarlett's color change and asked "Are you alright darling?"

Scarlett thankful for Rhett's presence smiled weakly and faked weakness in her voice as she answered. "I'm not feeling to well Rhett. I think perhaps would should head home."

Rhett hid his smile as he turned to apology for his and Scarlett having to leave early. Melanie was so nice and worried about Scarlett's health. Ashley just nodded his head. Saying he hoped Scarlett felt better soon.