Chapter Eleven
Rhett strolled up to Aunt Pitty's front door intently, yet with an obvious air of calm and nonchalance, as though he was trying to appear as though he didn't mind whether he was here or not, or what was happening in the lives of the people within. Rhett himself knew this was not the case, and that he did in fact care quite a lot. But he saw no reason to let on the truth of the matter to anybody, Scarlett in particular.
He knocked twice on the front door casually and waited to be admitted.
After a time the door was opened by Uncle Peter. Upon seeing it was none other than Rhett Butler at the door he closed in again slightly, and addressed the man without the usual politeness he reserved for white folks.
"Whats you doing ere Mista Rhett?" He questioned him without any pretence of a formal greeting
Rhett could sense the man's hostility but didn't let it affect him. He was here for a purpose and he didn't intend to let anything or anyone stand in the way of that. Least of all, an uppity servant.
"I'm here to pay a call on Mrs Hamilton if you please Peter" he replied keeping his frustration in check.
"Would you kindly inform her I am here?"
Peter knew of course that Rhett was here to see Scarlett. Although what his young Charles' widow had to do with a scoundrel like Rhett Butler was beyond him.
"Miz Scarlett ain't here no more Mista Rhett. She done gone home this morning."
'Gone home' thought Rhett feeling slightly worried. He'd thought Scarlett would be around for a few days more at least. He knew she loved Atlanta and all it's excitement, so it was beyond him why she would want to return to the toils at Tara when she could have taken a few days leave from the place.
Figuring he would develop a new plan of attack when he had booked himself into a comfortable hotel he decided to take his leave from Peachtree St.
"I see," he replied "Well thankyou Peter" he said while turning his back and he walked down the few steps and continued down the road.
Peter shut the door muttering to himself. 'Low-life characters' he thought 'Had no business imposing themselves upon decent folks'
Rhett considered what he had just learnt on his way to the Atlanta Hotel.
It was too late to journey to Tara tonight he knew, and besides what would Scarlett think of him then. That he came running to her as soon as he could? That he cared about her?
No, he could not have her thinking these things, for that would leave him in a most vulnerable position.
Although he couldn't help but wonder what she was going to do about the money for Tara. Just how desperate was she?
He knew she was indeed very desperate, only intense desperation would have driven her to make such a scandalous proposition to somebody like himself.
So just how much further would she be willing to go? And with whom?
These thoughts plagued him as he checked into the hotel and indeed all night as he sat in his comfortable room with visions of Scarlett starving and homeless playing out in his mind.
As he lay down to a restless sleep he resolved to take the morning train to Tara the very next day.
He was confident he could pass off his interest as friendly concern and not more as it so obviously seemed.
Scarlett woke up the next morning feeling very much rested after a sleep in her own bed, in her own home which was now safe due to her won actions.
She felt a great sense of independence and pride, which she refused to allow diminish by thinking of the way in which she came about getting the money.
'What's done is done' she thought. 'And by God it's done now.'
It was early yet, but she knew she would have to be leaving early if she intended to catch the morning train back into Atlanta.
She dressed herself simply in clothes that would be comfortable to travel in, and then she made her way down to the kitchen.
At first inspection it appeared no body was about but the loud crash of a door being flung open, and a cry of "Mother!" soon told her differently.
Wade leapt upon Scarlett from behind and encircled her legs with his tiny arms.
For some reason this didn't bother Scarlett at all, she was glad in fact to have someone to share her breakfast with who would be unlikely to discuss anything she'd rather not talk about.
"Good morning Wade Hampton," exclaimed Scarlett, turning round to give her little boy a hug. "Would you like to have your breakfast with mother this morning?"
The excitement of the invitation rendered poor Wade speechless for a moment but he soon found his voice again.
"I would love to Mother. I'll go tell Prissy that we are ready and that it's just you and me for now ok" He babbled while running through the door to find Prissy.
So excited was the child at the prospect of breakfast with his mother that he never noticed the tears that had crept into Scarlett's eyes at the display of happiness and emotion the boy had shown at something so simple as sharing her breakfast.
She couldn't comprehend the boy's elation. It was such a simple matter of breakfast. Never the less however, it filled her with warmth and she vowed to be kinder to the boy she had so long ignored from now on.
Prissy came into the room the followed by a bouncing Wade and the two sat down to a, it must be admitted, meagre breakfast. Although nothing had ever tasted so good before, in both of their opinions.
After the rest of the household had consumed their breakfast Ashley went outside to begin setting up the rig.
At this Scarlett was startled. It had not occurred to her that of course it would have to be Ashley who would take her in to catch the train. No one else in the house could do it and she scolded herself inwardly for not developing an alternative solution.
As she went upstairs to check she had remembered everything she was practically quivering with fear. Now that the two were alone there was no telling what even Ashley might say to her. She knew he hadn't believed her story and he had been looking at her with suspicion ever since her arrival the day before.
With no other excuses left now, Scarlett went back down stairs and bade her goodbyes.
Wade was crying and Melanie was tearful, so all agreed it was best to make it quick. Suellen was no where to be seen however. She was upstairs sulking in her room.
With tears in her eyes Scarlett kissed Wade and hugged Melanie, Careen and her father, then stepped unaided into the buggy.
Ashley climbed into the driver's side elegantly, and with a final backwards glance that was filled with dread and apprehension form Scarlett's behalf, they were off.
For a long time the ride was a silent one. Ashley appeared to be brooding and Scarlett was more than happy to not be holding any sort of conversation.
But finally, or inevitably, he began.
"Why are you really going back to Atlanta Scarlett?' he accused with anger and sadness in his eyes as though he already knew the truth, although Scarlett herself knew that would be next to impossible.
"I told you Ashley' replied Scarlett levelly, determined to keep up her charade. 'I feel it's my duty to the cause'
Ashley sighed but continued pressing.
Scarlett was by now not so much scared as annoyed. What business of Ashley's was it what she got herself into? She wasn't his wife or his sister. He couldn't tell her what to do, and he had no right to accuse her either, when he himself had not been willing to do anything about the desperate situation but to lie down and lose without a fight.
"Scarlett I know that's not true as well as you do. Please tell me what sort of mess you have made for yourself this time. It's nothing to do with that Butler character is it?"
"No" replied Scarlett sullenly, thankful that that, at least, was true.
"Then what?"
"Ashley" began Scarlett with no attempt to hide her anger, which was enough to make Ashley cower visibly.
"I am going to tell you this once only. What I do is none of your business. You have made it perfectly clear several times in the past that you and I are only friends and a friend Ashley cannot and will not interrogate me about my actions and attempt to pry into my life. Is that understood?"
Ashley was nearly as shocked as Scarlett herself was by her outburst. Scarlett was proud and disbelieving to know she had it in her to yell at Ashley, and Ashley was a little hurt and very taken aback.
The rest of the ride was a silent one until Scarlett was just about to step down from the carriage at the station when Ashley tried again.
"Scarlett I.."
"Ashley" said Scarlett curtly "Don't even try."
With that she turned her back and walked towards her train leaving her bags to be loaded on by one of the workers.
At that same moment, Rhett Butler stepped aboard his train at the station in Atlanta and sat himself down prepared for his journey to Tara.
Hey, here's the next chapter hope you all enjoy reading it and review afterwards. I now only have one exam left, they have been dragging on for weeks but I can go home soon so I'm not dwelling on it. Stay tuned for the next part up soon.