A Dire Situation
Chapter Twelve
Elena Porter was finding it difficult to sit still, so anxious was she about the task ahead of her. Her instructions had been so precise that she was petrified she would do only the slightest thing wrong and suddenly find herself out of a home.
Belle had appeared intense to the point of threatening as she had drilled the pretty young girl on her task. She was to take Belle's own personal carriage down to the train depot and have the driver stop behind the old warehouse, which was to serve as a hiding place from public view, and wait, while she herself went into the official area to wait for the arrival of the morning train.
"A young lady will be coming off that train Elena" Belle had told her "And it is imperative that no member of the polite society of Atlanta sees her"
Elena hadn't the slightest idea what 'imperative' meant, but from Belle's tone and her previous instructions as to the whereabouts of the carriage, Elena assumed it simply meant that no body from town was to see this mystery lady.
Elena was exceptionally intrigued. Not only did she feel an extreme sense of importance at being the one chosen to complete such a mission, but she was more than excited to meet this woman whose arrival was so veiled in secrecy.
'She must be very important' Elena had thought at the time, 'for Belle Watling to go out of her way to make such complicated plans, and offer up the use of her own private carriage.'
It was not the fact that Belle wasn't kind to her girls that made Elena wonder so, it was simply the fact that such an action was completely out of character for her. Belle's usual attitude was, that if a girl wished to work at her place it was her own choice, and she made no attempts to either protect the girl's reputation or hide her identity.
Another mystifying aspect of the operation added to Elena's confusion.
"I want you to wear this" Belle had said handing the girl a dress.
Elena took it from her looking perplexed. And perhaps rightly so. All of the clothing Belle had previously given her had been of the finest quality, velvets, brocades. All the best, and all elaborately ordained with decoration. This garment was in complete contrast.
"Miss, can I…" Elena had attempted to begin, looking down at the plain brown dress made of a rough cloth complete with several patches.
"No Elena, you may not ask any questions" Belle had interjected sharply "Just do as I tell you for God's sake girl, and don't even consider making a mistake."
Belle had then gone on to describe the woman who Elena was to collect, and it was then that Elena received the greatest shock of the day.
"You will know her immediately Elena, a woman of her approach is difficult to miss."
Belle then went on to describe the woman's appearance before Elena timidly cut her off.
"Excuse me though Miss, what's her name"
"Pardon me" exclaimed Belle not used to being interrupted, much less questioned.
"Her name Miss, what's her name" Elena repeated, thinking Belle had simply misheard her.
Belle sighed, she had known the question would be coming of course, and she knew that it would be more than likely that the answer would create a stir amongst her girls. Scarlett O'Hara was a well known figure in Atlanta, and while it was true that her girls had more respect for her than most of the other ladies, which was due entirely to the stories that Rhett Butler had told them about her and her many notorious and well publicised actions, she was still, in their eyes, a lady, all of whom were looked upon with disdain in their underworld metropolis.
"Alright Elena I'll give you her name. Naturally you would have learnt it soon enough, and almost certainly you would have recognised her yourself anyway when you collect her from the station."
If it were possible Elena was now even more interested. Who could this elusive stranger be? Some one she knew quite obviously. But who did she know whose identity had to be so protected by this elaborate scheme?
"You don't know her personally Elena so stop your futile attempt to come up with her name yourself" exclaimed as exasperated Belle. She was beginning to have second thoughts about whether she had chosen the right girl for the job.
Her first instinct had of course been to go herself. But after further consideration she had realised that the situation would become twice as conspicuous if she herself had received Scarlett at the station.
Because, whether they cared to admit it or not, the entire town recognised Belle and knew who she was, and sometimes unfortunately, like now for instance, what she did for a living.
So it was with great fear and regret that Belle had resigned herself to allowing Elena to take on the task. The girl wasn't exactly the brightest star in the sky Belle knew, but she thought that she would be at least capable of performing without much trouble, especially when placed under threat Belle considered with amusement.
"The woman you are to pick up Elena" began Belle waiting with anticipation for the girl's reaction, "Is Scarlett O'Hara"
Elena was so astounded she practically reeled.
"Scarlett O'Hara, Miss? The Scarlett O'Hara?"
Elena was almost certain she must have misheard. She knew of course that Scarlett O'Hara was not the most conventional of ladies, but the insinuation that she was to come to work at Belle's was almost ridiculous.
"Yes Elena, The Scarlett O'Hara" Exclaimed Belle still very much annoyed with the girl, and also slightly angered that Scarlett herself was so well known.
"Oh, I see Miss" stuttered Elena, sensing Belle's anger, and so not wanting to press the issue any further. Luckily for her, it was not necessary.
"She will be coming to work for me for a time" continued Belle, lost in her own mind, as though Elena had not spoken at all, "to repay a debt. I must insist that you are all very kind to her, at least make her feel welcome, help her learn our customs, I will of course be speaking with the rest of the girls while you are out."
Elena nodded and turned to go, it was nearly time for her to leave and she had yet to change her gown. She turned around, faltering slightly as Belle called her back.
"Elena"
"Yes Miss Watling?" she replied politely, hoping it was not for further instruction that she was being called back, she was having enough trouble remembering everything as it was.
"Do not mess this up" Belle's tone was sharp and left no room for questions or mistakes.
"I won't Miss, I promise you I won't"
With that Elena had exited Belle's private parlour and changed into her gown looking at herself with distaste in a mirror on her way back down to the carriage.
And there she now sat, in the back seat of the plush, private carriage of Belle Watling waiting to arrive at the station and pick up this most exciting new girl. She was anxious to meet Scarlett. She had heard a lot about this most exciting woman from Mr Butler from time to time.
Scarlett sat on the train bound for Atlanta breathing steadily and she was more than surprised by her own composure. Any person who did not know her would most certainly mistake her frightened stupor for an air of calm.
As she heard the breaks squeal and felt the train begin to slow to a halt Scarlett sat up straighter and looked about her surroundings, alert.
The trains whistle blew and she knew it was time. As she made her way down the aisle she wondered who would be there to meet her and what they'd be like. Belle and she had previously discussed the fact that Belle herself could not possibly receive her at the station.
Scarlett feared that the girls who currently worked at Belle's would be horrible to her. Granted she wasn't in this to make friends but she wasn't sure she would cope with the added pressure of feminine torment right now.
She was also feeling the secrecy of the situation in full force right now. She knew she had only a few seconds to locate her guide and be off in case she was recognised by any of the town's despicable gossips.
So as she approached the door which would lead her down to the station Scarlett took a deep breath. It was time.
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