A Dire Situation

Chapter Twenty Two

All throughout the meagre dinner Scarlett could not keep her eyes from wandering in the direction of Rhett.

Just what had he meant by his last statement? Whatever she wanted to give him? It was all too confusing and she was finding it difficult to focus being so near to him again. He had that effect on her. He always had. It was unnerving.

After Melanie had called them to dinner they had walked up to the house side by side in silence.

Scarlett had tried to take this opportunity to clear her head and calm herself but when Rhett's arm had accidentally brushed against hers she had nearly jumped out of her skin at the shock of it. Of the tingling feeling of electricity his touch had bought to her skin making her feel alive down to the last nerve.

He was being attentive and respectfully polite to all the occupants of Tara. Conversing with her father, pretending he didn't notice when Gerald occasionally slipped from reality into elusiveness. He listened to Melly prattle on about the unceasing achievements of young Beau and he even managed to make conversation with her sisters even though Suellen was fixing him with a look of pure suspicion. She noticed he didn't seem to say much to Ashley but for some reason she found she could excuse this. He didn't even make reference to the pitifully scant meal placed before him that was masquerading as a worthy dinner.

He appeared on the surface to be a perfect house guest intently interested in the goings on a Tara. But every now and then Scarlett caught his eye as he chanced a glance in her direction. There was a painful waiting, an expectation in his look that she almost could not bear to witness in one who was so generally self assured.

He conversed with her little. It seemed they were both trying so hard to make it appear that there was nothing more than a simple acquaintance between them and yet Scarlett could not help but be aware that in doing so they were making their situation all the more obvious.

She could feel Suellen's suspicious glance move towards her as the meal went on and even Melly had a confused frown puckering her forehead when she chanced to look from Scarlett to Rhett. Certainly Ashley was looking at the pair with almost open contempt on his face.

But all this mattered little to Scarlett at the present. All she cared for right now was untangling the web of thoughts clouded with emotions that were drifting inside her head.

What did she feel for Rhett? What did he feel for her? What did he expect from her? What was creating that anxious look of waiting in his eyes?

The meal ended and Scarlett rose with Careen to clear the plates from the table.

The rest of the family was sitting in a pleasant silence and Scarlett was so immersed in her own thoughts that she was startled when Rhett's strong voice broke her reverie.

"If I may Mrs Hamilton I will go out to the porch now and have a cigar. I wonder if I might ask you to join me at your convenience. I have something of an important business matter to discuss with you."

Scarlett was perturbed but didn't let it show. What business matter could Rhett possibly have to discuss with her? What if he'd changed his mind and wanted her to repay him the three hundred dollars after all?

"Of course Mr Butler" she replied as calmly as she knew how "I shall be out shortly."

"Please excuse me then" said Rhett to the table in general as he stood and made his way outside.

Scarlett finished clearing the plates in a hurry. She was anxious to find out what it was that Rhett wanted to speak to her about. If it was about the money she was a little worried. She had no idea how long it would be before she had that kind of money to spare. What if her demanded immediate payment? And also, she had already told her family that the matter of the tax money had been taken care of. Surely they would notice if a few weeks or months from now three hundred dollars appeared to go astray.

After finishing her task Scarlett walked outside to see Rhett stopping first at the mirror in the hall, assessing her appearance.

She couldn't fathom why she cared what she looked like around Rhett. But she did. The sight in the mirror was not a particularly pleasing one. Her face was gaunt and brown from working under the baking sun with dark circles lining her eyes.

She felt a sudden shame and embarrassment at what she looked like. The girls at Belle's had all been so well dressed, so clean with beautiful white complexions.

She was dressed plainly, her hair was a mess with pieces falling out of her chignon and framing her darkened face.

But it would have to do she knew. She had not the time nor the money to do any better for herself right now. In fact it was highly possible that she never would again.

"Rhett?" Scarlett asked nervously stepping out onto the porch into the dimming light of nightfall, frightened of drawing him out of the thoughtful reverie which seemed to eclipse him.

He looked up. It was a careless gesture but his black eyes were bright and alert throwing waves of anticipation over Scarlett's being. He remained silent, staring at her intensely until Scarlett felt compelled to continue.

"You umm… you wanted to speak with me?" She stumbled uncertainly "About a business matter?"

"Oh that" he remarked without any urgency which Scarlett found oddly unsettling. "Please take a seat" he added indicating the spot next to him in the porch steps where he sat.

Scarlett sank down tentatively.

Rhett noticed of course. He always noticed everything.

"Don't be anxious my pet" he exclaimed his voice full of laughter. "The subject of business was somewhat of a ruse. I merely wanted to speak with you alone and knew that this would be the only possible means of bringing it about. Your sister and Mister Wilkes were glaring at me as a lion would watch it's prey. I had no hope of speaking with you as I would want under such conditions so I was forced to fabricate a legitimate excuse."

Rhett watched as Scarlett visibly relaxed. 'She probably thought I was wanting repaying' he thought amusedly.

"I see Rhett. How clever you are" she almost flirted, bestowing him with her winningly dimpled smile.

"So what is it really that you wanted to discuss?" She asked with slight trepidation knowing what his answer was likely to be.

"I think you know what Scarlett" he replied shifting slightly to look into her averted eyes. "I think we have much to discuss, wouldn't you agree?"

"No…umm Yes…I mean…I don't know Rhett." She was frightened of this conversation. Not only of what Rhett might say or do but what she herself might. She was so unsure of her feelings on the matter that she wasn't certain she could trust how she might act in the heat of the moment.

He just looked at her in that way he had and she, for some reason kept talking, knowing all the while in the back of her mind as she did so that she had been correct in the need to forewarn herself of this conversation.

"I mean…I just don't know what to say to you Rhett because I can't make sense of it myself. I have never in my life felt anything like what I did that night at Belle's with you and so I can't decide what such feelings mean. I can't tell you what I feel as I myself don't know. I'm frightened of those feelings and yet I seem to know that I want to feel them again. But I'm confused because surely it must be wrong to want them and I…"

Rhett cut her off from her verbal tirade, grabbing her firmly by both arms and turning her to face him, pulling her as closely as he dared too in such close proximity to the house.

"Let's go for a walk." He murmured softly though his tone made it clear that argument would be fruitless.

But Scarlett didn't want to argue. Dully she nodded, exhausted from her outburst and uncaring of any consequences at present. She knew that Mammy and everyone else for that matter would be indignant that she went walking alone at night with such a man as Captain Butler. But she shrugged the thought away, following Rhett quietly, allowing him to slip his arm through hers, supporting her and leading the way.

They came to a stop in a large clearing that had once been a prosperous field and they were no longer in view of the house.

Scarlett should have been frightened, apprehensive, ashamed she knew. But she wasn't. She was excited, anticipating what would come.

She wasn't disappointed. As soon as they had come to stop Rhett turned her in his arms, holding her close and looking intensely down into her eyes. A tremor of expectation surged through her veins.

"Scarlett I…" began Rhett as she gazed up at him, wanting to kiss him, wondering if she should, wondering how he'd react. She reached up slowly and cupped his face with her hand gently.

He swallowed visibly. She had no idea how hard she was making it for him to continue with her being so close to him, touching him as she was.

"Yes Rhett?" she encouraged softly.

"Scarlett I've never felt the way I felt with you before. I've been with other women; you know that my dear but when I was with you, that night, things were different. There's no other way to explain it and I'm tired of trying to hide it so I must tell you. I love you Scarlett. I've loved you and wanted you from the moment I first met you."

As usual Scarlett seemed to misunderstand his meaning. She dropped her hand from his face with a noise of disappointment.

"Oh Rhett do be serious. After everything we've been through together recently how could you insult me like this with your scandalous propositions? At such a time. How could you be so cruel?"

She went to move away from him but he held her tight.

"What are you talking about Scarlett?" asked Rhett confused and if the truth be told, a little hurt. He had finally announced to her what he felt and this indignation was the reaction he received. He had expected confusion from her, or perhaps anger but not this.

"You, asking me to be your mistress after…after…well after recent events you must know how I feel about it. And disguising your proposals with declarations of love when I know you don't love me."

Rhett chuckled softly then. Only Scarlett could be so insufferable as to read too much into his intentions when for the first time there was nothing to read into.

"I assure you my dear Scarlett that I meant nothing more than what I said. I am completely in earnest." And with that he bent and kissed her so softly and so tenderly that when the kiss was over Scarlett could do nothing but believe he had been speaking the truth.

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I am so terribly sorry at how late this update was in coming. I have been disgustingly busy but all that is over now. I believe this will be the second to last chapter, the next should be up very soon though I shall be sad to finish the story as then it will be over. Thank you so much to all those who reviewed. I appreciate it immensely. Please review this chapter with comments, advice, queries, recommendations etc. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.