I hope you are all enjoying my story. I love writing it. Review and show me love. C.O.A, Ava, Anon, Lady; you all rock. I am an praise whore and it doth my ego good to find sweet words of love. It's either 5 more or 10 more chapters, depends on where I decide to end this story.
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"You've missed me?"
Scarlett laughed, "Of course I've missed you." She waited for a similar admission but one wasn't immediately forthcoming. "Didn't you miss me?"
Rhett smiled "You've missed what I said, alas I've laid bare my soul and she does not hear." Rhett stood up and taking Scarlett's hands in his own he pulled her to her feet. "I love you. I would think missing you would be implied."
Scarlett stepped forward till they were nearly toe-to-toe, not touching but close. "I've done something, something that at the time was perfectly logical but now, with the truth being so neatly laid out before us I'm not sure you'll love me..."
Rhett wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He leaned forward and rested his chin on the top of her head. He inhaled the scent of her, rosewater and a faint smell of powder. "I've waited nearly two years to hold you again, to know that you were safe. I prayed, once I'd come to my senses that you weren't lost to me forever. There is nothing you'd tell me that would turn me away."
Scarlett took a deep breath; she had to tell him about Bess. If she didn't he'd find out and then what. He'd hate her so much if he learned from someone else that they had a child together. She had to take the leap of faith, faith that the love they had could hold out against the magnitude of what she'd done.
There was a gentle rap on the door. "Madame? Are you in there?"
Rhett lifted his chin from the top of her head and Called out. "There's no one here by that name." He looked down at Scarlett and brushed a lock of hair back from her face. "Who the devil is that?"
Scarlett dissolved into giggles. "That's Lord Robert."
"Isn't that splendid for him."
"Rhett, please we'll talk later. I have to go downstairs. Bertie is expecting me and they're probably holding the hunt for me." She smiled brightly "Come with me though and then we can talk later." She wriggled away from him gently brushing up against him several times. She was completely oblivious to the response she was inciting from Rhett.
He caught her around the waist and pulled her into an embrace. "I think that we should talk now." Rhett lowered his lips to her throat and whispered, "I think we should spend the rest of the morning talking."
Scarlett blushed at the implications Rhett was able to place on the word 'talk'. "I have to go." She pushed him away.
"I wish you'd stay."
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him gently. He kissed her back, gently. "I know you'll need time to adjust. I think we both will."
"I'm sorry that we've wasted so much time."
"You didn't waste it. You've grown up. The beautiful girl I've loved for so long has become a stunning woman and it will be a pleasure getting to know her." He lifted her hand to his lips. "Mon coeur appartient à vous loyalement demoiselle." (My heart belongs to you fair maiden.)
"Very pretty Monsieur Butler."
Rhett nodded. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "You are in my blood."
"I've missed you Rhett, very much."
He smiled. "Have a good ride Mrs. Butler."
Scarlett smiled "Thank you Mr. Butler."
He walked her to the bedroom door. "Will I see you today?"
Delaying the inevitable confrontation Scarlett reached into her pocket and withdrew her riding gloves. "I'll send for you once the hunt's over."
"Very well." Rhett clicked his heels together and bowed over her hand before gracing it with a light kiss.
"You'd make a wonderful courtier Mr. Butler."
Rhett just smiled and closed the door behind her.
Scarlett descended the back stairs to the stable. Her head was spinning. Rhett loved her. She loved him, and was finally willing to admit it. Her heart was so full of him she felt it would burst. She had to tell him about Bess.
Good God. He'd be furious. How could he not be? She'd kept his child from him because she hated him for not wanting her when she finally realized she loved him. She'd also been afraid of him. What if he had decided to take her child, the first of her children she'd loved from the instant she'd learned she was pregnant?
Rhett loved her, at present. That could change. Rhett loved when it was on his terms. Upon hearing of how she'd kept him from his daughter Rhett could react several ways.
He might take it well. He would of course be disappointed that he'd missed nearly the first year of her life, but love for Scarlett would cause him to forgive her. Scarlett laughed aloud. He would be furious; she knew that. No matter how many other scenarios she tried to dream up the truth remained clear. Rhett would rant and rave about how she'd cheated him out of something precious. A new chance and a second chance to be a father.
"Scarlett?"
She let out a small, involuntary scream. "Lord Robert," she gasped.
Lord Robert Winchale bowed. "Prince Albert requested me to give you his most sincere regrets. He postponed the start time for as long as he could but he assumed you might be otherwise engaged."
Scarlett nodded. "I was involved in something."
"Or with someone."
She grimaced at the directness of his statement "How much about my past has Bertie told you?"
"Not much," he smiled "He did tell me that Bess's papa was in fact alive and well. I must say Scarlett you are no end of surprises."
"Did he tell you anything else?"
"Why not confide in me Scarlett? Unburden your soul as it were. You'd find me to be a good listener."
"My soul is quite carefree, but I thank you for the offer my Lord."
Lord Robert frowned "Why won't you call me Robert?"
"It wouldn't be proper. After all you're an Earl and I'm simply a friend of the Prince."
"We're both his friends, shouldn't you and I also become friends?"
She lowered her voice trying to insure they wouldn't be overheard. "We can't be friends because quite honestly you make my skin crawl. There is something about you that is less than wholesome."
Throwing back his hear Lord Robert laughed heartily. "You are so painfully honest Scarlett. If I am so unwholesome why haven't you tried to encourage the Prince to turn his back on me?"
"Because if he turned his back on you, you'd probably plunge a knife into it." Having had more than enough of Lord Robert Scarlett curtsied and moved to continue down the stairs.
As fast as a striking cobra Lord Robert took hold of her upper arm. He thrust her against the wall. She refused to show him fear. Instead she composed her features into the most radiantly haughty French expression of ennui and simply stood there in his iron grasp waiting.
He leaned close, his breath stirring her hair. "What is it about you that stirs the Prince to such violent loyalty. He won't hear a word against you. Won't share any of your secrets, not even with me. " He reached up and stroked back some errant locks of hair from her face. The gesture was a mockery of the gentle way Rhett had performed the same task just a little while before in his rooms.
"Get your hands off of me," said Scarlett softly. There was no fear in her tone.
He ignored her. "What is it about you? You didn't answer me. It isn't your face and your body that keeps the Prince entranced, though you are very beautiful. He speaks of you constantly. He adores your daughter. Perhaps I do see the attraction that lies within you, after all you provide him with a complete family. A baby and her lovely mother. He does use you though, doesn't he. Parades you about as though to proclaim, see my pretty mistress who bore my bastard. How could I not be a dashing, handsome, virile lover? Look to my whore for proof of my manhood"
Scarlett was determined not to show this weasel any sign of the fear that was churning within her. She'd never liked Lord Robert and had vaguely suggested several times to the Prince that Lord Robert wasn't an especially nice person. The Prince unfortunately was attracted to Lord Robert and that attraction overruled his normally keen judgment.
"Take your God Damn hands off of her."