A Dire Situation

Chapter Nineteen

Rhett Butler sat alone in his comfortable suite at the Atlanta Hotel.

In one hand he held a cigar, its end ablaze creating a startlingly bright contrast to the enveloping darkness of the early morning.

In the other hand he held a tumbler of whiskey. Although it was more than half full of the amber liquid it was obvious from his stature that the glass was not his first.

After departing Belle's Saloon Rhett had gone directly to the Atlanta Hotel and booked himself in to his usual suite.

That was where he was now, where he had been for the past uncountable hours and where he intended to remain for some time yet. Drunk and planning to get even drunker.

He reasoned he deserved it after the night he'd had. And as he leaned further back into his chair he began to laugh. It was a low, rumbling laugh deep inside his chest.

'What a coward I am' he thought to himself and laughed again.

He couldn't believe what had transpired only a few hours earlier.

He'd arrived at Belles in a foul mood. And although talking to Belle had done nothing to ease the pain in his heart, it had felt good to at least talk about some of what he was feeling. But his relief had been short lived.

"So I have to find her now Belle. God knows what she's done to herself in order to get that money. If only I knew where to start looking." Rhett had said, pacing the floor of Belle's parlour like a caged animal.

If Rhett had cared to look up he would have noticed a look of pure discomfit cloud Belle's face, followed closely by the appearance of guilt which was wiped away even quicker by a look of complete resolve and determination.

"Well Rhett" Belle had begun, the tremor of fear in her voice masterfully counterfeit.

"I don't know quite how to tell you this, but umm, well you see, Scarlett is here."

She'd blinked up at Rhett then, with large, innocent eyes, bitterly aware she now, after mentioning the name Scarlett, had his full attention.

Rhett stopped mid-step and looked at Belle quizzically, unwilling to believe the implications of her statement. "Here Belle? I'm sure I don't quite understand you."

"Oh Rhett." Belle exclaimed and let out a well timed nervous giggle "I'm so sorry perhaps I should have been more blunt, it's just I know that this will be quite hard for you to take."

Rhett had strode up to Belle at this point and taken her by the shoulders giving her a sharp shake.

"Dammit Belle out with it will you, stop playing around with these precocious mind games. I want the truth you hear me, in all its bare faced glory."

"Alright Rhett, calm down. If you want the truth I'll give it to you. But remember, once you have it you can't give it back, and I'm not entirely sure you're going to like what I have to say."

Belle was stalling now and she knew it. She was more afraid than she cared to admit for it now seemed very likely that Rhett was going to be angry and that his anger would be directed towards herself.

"What I'm trying to tell you Rhett is that Scarlett is working here now."

Rhett's eyes had flashed with unmistakable anger and Belle could see that he was physically restraining himself from striking out at something.

"Belle" Rhett had begun, and his voice was deathly calm.

"I won't stand for your lies or you perverted jokes. Now tell me the truth. What did you mean by what you said?"

If Belle had had any doubt left in her mind as to what she was doing was wrong what Rhett had just said had dissolved it.

She knew Scarlett O'Hara was no saint. She had proof of the matter. And here she was, Rhett's oldest friend, telling him the truth and he wouldn't believe her. All because he was so caught up on perfect Mrs Hamilton.

"Hell Rhett I ain't lying to you. Why would I bother making something like that up? I told you the truth and it's up to you what you want to believe of it. Scarlett is here and she's here because she's working here. It seems after you oh so sweetly rejected her plea at the jailhouse she somehow found her way to my establishment."

Belle was the one pacing now, throwing her hands in the air every now and then to accentuate what she was saying and Rhett was hypnotized by her movements and her voice, hearing what she was saying, in a daze, refusing to believe there was any truth in it. The mention of his name and his part in this sorry tale struck a cord in him and he felt the cords of guilt that had been winding around his heart these past few days pull a little tighter.

But Belle continued talking. "She told me she needed money, she told me what she needed it for, and she told me what she was willing to do to get it. She's a beautiful woman Rhett, and I'd have been a fool to refuse her. So I gave her my money and she gave me herself. And while she hasn't done any real work to repay her debt as of yet, she had proven herself tonight, her first night, to be a valuable and attractive asset.

Belle felt more than heard Rhett's obvious relief when she had mentioned that Scarlett had not yet begun working and this only served to irritate her further. What a hypocrite Rhett Butler was. And what irritated her was that despite everything she found that she still couldn't hate him.

Rhett was shaking his head. "I don't believe it." He was muttering over and over under his breath.

"For God's sake Rhett if you don't believe it go and see for yourself. She's staying up in Molly's old room." Belle had made this comment in a practised sarcastic tone as though she thought it was a ridiculous idea for Rhett to go up and check on Scarlett, even though she knew that he would.

Rhett looked up at Belle then with a curious glint in his eye and Belle was disturbed. She felt that she just might be witnessing some of that famous, unbridled Butler emotion finally about to break surface.

But as soon as it had come it was gone again.

"No thank you Belle." Rhett had said finally.

"I believe you. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. But it's of no consequence to me. I think I might just head back to my hotel now. I bid you goodnight."

And with a sharp bow he was gone, and Belle had been left alone to her thoughts.

It pained her to know that Rhett cared so much about Scarlett. That he respected her so much.

Why should he care that Scarlett was doing only exactly what she, Belle did? Didn't he respect her as well?

Belle knew that Rhett had gone to see Scarlett now. He didn't know it, but sometimes, to someone who knew him well enough, Rhett Butler was as easy to read as an open book.

So Belle sat back prepared to wait. She was secure in the knowledge that by the time Rhett had seen Scarlett his anger towards herself would have been replaced by his anger towards Scarlett that was just waiting for provocation before it surfaced. And if Belle could rely on one thing, it was that the fiery Irish temper of Miss O'Hara would provoke him.

Belle wasn't sure how much time had passed. Although it seemed much longer than she anticipated it would be. But eventually Rhett had returned.

He had knocked on her door, this was unexpected, usually the two old friends did not bother with foolishness like formalities.

"Come in" Belle had said feeling slightly mystified.

Rhett walked into the room purposefully and removed from his pocket a crisp piece of paper and threw it carelessly onto the table.

Belle looked down at it; it was a check, made out to her.

Belle's heart leapt with delight.

"Why Rhett." She fairly stammered looking up at him, confused that his stance could appear in such contrast to his actions.

"You don't have to do this."

Rhett's face remained immobile, unresponsive, indifferent. "I assure you Miss Watling, I do."

'Miss Watling?' What on earth was he calling her that for. How odd he was acting.

"Come now Rhett, don't bother with the formalities honey, you're with me now." She smiled sweetly "And besides" she continued gesturing towards the check, "you know I've never asked you to pay for my favours before. We're the oldest of friends. Nothing's changed honey."

"I assure you Belle, something has changed. And I apologise but I believe you have misunderstood me. That money," and now it was his turn to gesture towards the check lying on the table "is not for your services."

And Belle could have sworn she saw the closest thing possible to a blush creep across Rhett Butler's face at that moment.

"It's not? Then what the devil is it for?" Belle had a sinking feeling as to where this conversation was about to head.

"It's for Scarlett."

Belle felt her heart sink as the weight of his words came into their full force.

"Oh?" she replied feigning innocence, wishing to get as much information out of him as she could.

"That is to say, it is to be used to pay off Scarlett's debt to you."

Rhett looked Belle in the eye then. It was hard for him to do. He was furious with her. But more importantly, he was furious with himself and he just wanted to try to sort this mess out with as little fuss as possible. However he could see from the way this conversation was going so far that that was not to be the case.

"I see" Belle had said, and more to stall more time to think than anything else, she walked over and picked up the check and looked at it.

She was surprised at what she saw.

"I don't know what Scarlett's told you Rhett." Belle began in a tone that implied little else but the fact that she thought Scarlett to be a liar.

"But she only borrowed three hundred dollars off of me. This here check is made out for a thousand. Don't tell me she's played you for a fool honey." Belle smirked slightly, just what had Scarlett said to him?

She didn't want to think about it. Nor did she want to consider what it was that had transpired between the two of them only a few hours previously that had caused Rhett to feel as though he should pay off Scarlett's debt.

"No Belle. I am well aware of the agreement you two had." Rhett's voice was steady but Belle could tell he was losing his patience. Rhett Butler did not like to be thought of as a fool, and that was exactly what Belle had just implied.

"This check is for one thousand dollars Rhett. That's not the agreement we made."

"No." Rhett began and it seemed as though he was trying to decide how best to word what he was to say next.

"No it's not. The rest of the money is for you. For your trouble."

Belle had never felt so insulted in her life.

"Hush money Rhett! Is that what this is?" She yelled at him and Rhett took a step backwards, taken off guard. Whatever reaction he had been expecting this was not it.

"How dare you?" She continued her voice gaining hysteria as she went.

"Belle please, you're being irrational. It's not hush money. It's just to cover costs. Clothing, food, anything really. Do with it what you want."

With a dangerous gleam in her eye Belle lifted the check and tore it straight down the middle.

"There Rhett. That's what I want to do with it. That's what I think of you and your filthy money. Now get out of here. Go back to your perfect southern belle with all her innocence and charm. I hope you get what you paid for Rhett because by God you're not welcome back here any longer."

Belle was frenzied with anger and sadness. She was beside herself but in the moment she didn't seem to care. Rhett was merely staring at her. It was a cold, calculating stare, one full of anger and one could see that he was using all of his physical strength not to lash out at Belle.

Seeing he wasn't moving Belle tried again, she wanted nothing more than this hellish experience to be over. "Just leave I said"

"Yes Miss Watling I am leaving." Rhett begun his voice harsh "nothing would give me more pleasure than to leave I assure you, but not before I tell you a thing or two."

Belle wanted nothing less than to hear what Rhett had to say but she knew there would be no way out so she waited, knowing she wouldn't like what she was about to hear.

"Firstly, although it is none of your business I will inform you that Scarlett has in no way compromised herself to me this evening."

Belle scoffed but Rhett ignored it and continued.

"She is obligated to me no more than she is obligated to you now. I have paid her debt as is my pleasured duty to do so as a friend. So I will not have you talking about her in such derogatory fashion again. And secondly as to my being welcome in your establishment I believe you will find my dear that it is yours in public only."

Belle gasped and for the first time that night was really and truly afraid.

He wouldn't dare take her saloon from her would he? It was all she had, she had noting without it. No means of support.

"But you need not fear for I wouldn't set foot in here again if it were you that was paying me to do so. In fact I want nothing more to do with this place. Ever."

He said it and Belle knew his words were final. Rhett Butler meant this. And even if he came to regret it later she knew there was no way he would ever go back on his word. His pride was worth much more to him than she was.

"Tomorrow morning I will be signing the ownership over to yourself and you will in no way contact me after tonight unless you want to see the whole place sold and you and your lovely entourage kicked out onto the streets."

Rhett looked about the room swiftly as though taking a final note.

"I have nothing more to say to you. Good night Miss Watling."

Belle was at a complete loss as to what to do. She watched him leave, her face showing no emotion. But as soon as the door shut, she crumpled to the floor, so uncertain of where everything ad suddenly gone so wrong.

Rhett took another puff on his cigar as he allowed himself to think of Belle.

It's not that he regretted his actions. On the contrary, he knew it was what he had had to do. He had been so mad at Belle when she'd told him what she'd done, allowing Scarlett to work for her like that. Even if she herself didn't care about the girl's reputation she should have known, after all Rhett himself had told her about him, that he would mind that she'd done it. And that only created the even more unwelcome thought that Belle had never really cared for Rhett. Not that it mattered now. It was all over between them.

So Rhett took another deep drink of his whisky and continued to think of the nights events.

He knew now that he'd done the right thing in leaving Scarlett. It had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his life. But he had attempted to find her in order to make things rights between them, and so help him that's what he'd done.

He'd given her the money she had asked him for as a friend.

If only she hadn't been so beautiful so captivating, so passionate.

Everything about her had called out to Rhett and when she'd said that she was over Ashley he had been pushed beyond his tolerance level.

Her body had responded to him better than he could have ever imagined.

It was as though she wanted him almost as much as he wanted her. Hell she'd even said that she wanted it. And in those words she had sent Rhett to the moon.

She had been so soft and warm and inviting and innocent. And that was why Rhett had known he had to stop.

She really was innocent. More innocent than she appeared for all her outward displays of strength. And he couldn't take advantage of that.

But he knew now, and the knowledge was eating away at him, that now that he had had a taste of her, of her passion and beauty, that he had to have more. More of her, all of her.

Striking a match and lighting another cigar, Rhett sat back to decide what it was he had to do.

Scarlett was on the train again. This time bound for Tara.

What an eventful few days she had had.

Her head was spinning from it so fast she wasn't sure she could make sense of it.

Her scandalous proposition to Rhett. Him humiliating her and turning her away. Making the same proposal to Belle. Going back to Tara with the money. Discovering she no longer loved Ashley. Her first night working at Belles. Which effectively was her last and it ended in the most surprising of manners.

Scarlett would never admit it to anyone. But she had almost considered staying in Atlanta. For the only reason of seeing Rhett again.

She didn't know why, but she felt she had to see him again.

No gentleman should be able to do those things to a lady. And no lady should enjoy them.

But she knew Rhett was no gentleman, and he had no qualms repeatedly telling her she was no lady.

And maybe she wasn't. For she had enjoyed them. And enjoyed them in her bed at a brothel no less. Perhaps she wasn't a lady. And while that thought bought a deep sadness to her breast she for the life of her could not stop thinking about Rhett's soothing caresses long enough to take the thought particularly seriously.

She had no idea as of yet what she was going to tell her family about why she was returning so soon but she had no fear that she would come up with something. Really she had become quite a master of deception.

Rain began to fall hard against the window of the train and, exhausted from the past days events, Scarlett sat back and allowed her mind to wander over the later events of the previous night as she smiled mischievously to herself about the slight negligee hiding at the bottom of her trunk.

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Hello again everyone thank you for reading. I think this chapter was a little slower and more boring than some of the last but I really needed to put these flashbacks in to make everything make more sense and it was becoming too long to add more events in, but I assure you, more are to come. Thank you so much to all those who reviewed and thank you especially to ScarlettHokie and rhettrocksmyworld for their empathy on the life decision front I really appreciated it…update I am still terrifyingly undecided! Please review and the next part, with I promise a lot more action will be up soon.