Chapter 2

'A week had gone by and there was no sign of Rhett, no word from him at all, Scarlett started to wonder if she should leave and come back when she received word of his return. But how would she get such information, surly Rosemary wouldn't give it to her, and her Aunts were mad at her for not accompanying them to see her Grandfather. I think I'll stay until after April and then I'll leave. I don't want Miss Eleanor to worry and Rhett staying away is worrying her.' In the meantime Scarlett had not been feeling all to well, but she assured herself that it was because of the ship incident that was making her ill, it had only been a week after all.

It wasn't until late March that Scarlett started to think that her illness was caused by something else but what she could not put her finger on for some reason. There was still no word from Rhett and it seemed to her as if Rosemary was trying to get Scarlett to leave. The girl had asked when she was going to go see her children and then would send taunting words at her that she was an awful mother to leave them for so long. But she'd never do this in front or in the earshot of her mother. She would also keep reminding Scarlett that Rhett didn't want her. Rosemary's constant nagging started to get on Scarlett's nervous. And for this reason Scarlett decided to stay until Rhett did return because she was not going to let Rosemary think that she was the reason she had left.

It was on one afternoon before they went to attend that a lent mass that Mrs. Butler asked, "Scarlett darling, are you feeling all right, you're looking rather pale?" There was true concern written on her face

"Yes, I'm feeling all right, just little tried is all, and I'm so worried about Rhett. We haven't received any word from him in almost a month."

"I'm worried too, honey. But I'm sure he's fine. After dinner you're going straight to bed, I don't want you taking ill this close to Easter."

Rhett sat in his hotel room is Boston, wondering when Scarlett would leave his mother's house so that he could return home. 'I wonder at she's playing at, staying when I told her I wouldn't come back until after I received word that she had left.' Rhett gave a heavy sigh, he didn't know if he was doing the right thing, his mother may ask questions as to why he returned only after Scarlett had left, maybe he should go back and make sure that Scarlett left and then maybe he could talk to her into a divorce.

'She'd never give into that, she'd never let me know that I won.' But Rhett began to wonder, had he won or was he giving up too easily, could he risk his heart again to be with the women whom he thought he loved. 'No, I won't kill myself over her, I won't risk getting hurt again.'

When they got home from church the Butler's cook was working fish in the kitchen and when the smell reached Scarlett's nose she had a sudden feeling of nausea rush over her. She ran to the water basin that was kept in the parlor and empty her stomach. "Scarlett is you alright dear?" Miss Eleanor asked as she ran to Scarlett's side. Scarlett looked up at Mrs. Butler with a pale face but before she could answer she once again vomited into the basin. Scarlett thought of water to risen out her mouth but that only made her vomit once more.

"Rosemary, go and tell someone to fetch the doctor. Come Scarlett, let's get you up stairs and in bed before you get sick again." Scarlett nodded and let Mrs. Butler help her up to her feet and then up the stairs. Just the claim up them caused Scarlett to suddenly feel every tired. 'I'm dying, that's all there is to it. Had must have been feed something rotten and it's making me ill. Well, Mr. Butler you get your wish you no longer have any reason to put up with me. I'm leaving this world forever to join my mother and father. I hope it'll make you happy.'

It seemed like hours before the doctor came and when he did Scarlett, Mrs. Butler and Rosemary were all in a state of shock when he told them that Scarlett was with a child. Mrs. Butler was overjoyed at the news and she couldn't wait until Rhett came home. Rosemary on the other hand was wondering if the child was Rhett's and she planed to ask Scarlett as soon as her mother left the room.

Scarlett was happy beyond belief, 'I've got him now, and he won't leave me now. But how will I tell him if he's not here. Well, Mrs. Butler won't let me leave, so Rhett will come home wondering why I haven't left yet. Oh, what a surprise he'll come home to!' Another wave of nausea washed over her. 'I've never been so sick when I was going to have a baby, it may have something to do with the miscarriage. Oh, dear God, what if it kills me to have another baby, the doctor had told me that my insides had been all messed up. Well, maybe the baby will live and Rhett will have something to remember me by.' Scarlett fell asleep with those thoughts.

The next morning Scarlett went down stairs to find Mrs. Butler sitting with a man that she didn't know. "Good morning Scarlett dear, feeling better I hope. This is Mt. Handferd, he's one of Rhett's lawyers and he's going to go and see Rhett up and Boston. He agreed to take the news of your pregnancy to him." Mrs. Butler looked happy to finally know where her son had been for so long.

"Rhett's in Boston, what's he doing in Boston?" Scarlett asked in confusion, she wasn't feeling very well, she almost felt faint.

"Well ma'am, he's seeing to his shipments and making sure that he's getting everything that he ordered and that it's all intact before sending it to the plantation. For whatever reason he doesn't seem to trust anyone at the moment."

"Oh..." Scarlett's voice trilled off and she fainted on the floor near the chair by the fire.

Scarlett awoke in her bed not remembering what had happened. Mrs. Butler was at one side and Rosemary on the other. "Scarlett, are you all right?"

Scarlett looked around the room trying to figure out where she was, and then she remembered, she was at Rhett's mother's home and that she was going to have a baby. "Where's Rhett? What happened? Did I faint? The baby! Is the baby's all right?" Scarlett was frantic; if anything happened to this baby she didn't know what she'd do.

"Scarlett, clam down, it's not good for you do get worked up like this. Rhett's in Boston, his lawyer went to go get him. I'm sure he'll be home as soon as he hears the new. But you need to rest; you're not doing so well. The doctor was here and he wants you to stay in bed for while. We brought you some soup to eat."

Scarlett looked at the bowl and nodded her head. She realized that she was very hungry, that she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon. She ate the soup and fell back asleep