"Bertie," Scarlett breathed deeply.

Lord Robert immediately released Scarlett and firmly pushed her away. He bowed to the Prince "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

"Precisely what I should ask you? Scarlett?"

Scarlett moved quickly past Lord Robert to stand with Bertie. Prince Albert looked down at her "Are you alright?"

Scarlett nodded, not trusting herself to keep her voice firm and fearless.

Prince Albert leveled his gaze on Lord Robert. "I demand to know what exactly what's been going on here?"

Lord Robert begun to lie smoothly "Scarlett and I were just having a disagreement that escalated into a heated exchange. Although, "he laughed casually, "With a woman as beautiful as Scarlett I'm sure most exchanges become…passionate."

The Prince's lips curved into a small smile. "So just now when you called Scarlett a whore, was that meant to be a complement?"

"Your Highness, surely you are taking what I said out of context. I was merely saying that…"

"You were merely saying that I allow Scarlett to pose as my mistress so that I can avoid copulating with the shrew I've been condemned to spend my life with?"

"No Your Highness, I…"

"Leave Lord Winchale, you are no longer welcome in my home. I expect you to arrange to be gone before luncheon."

"But…"

"If it would not create an even bigger scandal than the one I'm currently embroiled in with Alexandra I would thrash you within an inch of your life."

Lord Robert smirked "Your Highness with all due respect, in a fair fight odds are I would…"

"Who said anything about fair odds," the Prince turned slightly, "Gentleman?"

Almost instantly four of the Prince's Guard appeared at the bottom of the short bottom flight of stairs and the quickly climbed the stairs to form a square around the Prince and Scarlett. "Would three of you please accompany Lord Winchale to his rooms. He will regretfully be taking leave of us much sooner than he'd intended. One of you please inform my Master of the Horse to have Lord Winchale's carriage made ready to depart."

"For God sake Albert, we're friends. We've been for sometime. You're going to shut me out of your life for Madame Scarlett. All for this sweet faced whore?"

Despite his earlier stance on not causing an incident Albert now lunged forward toward Lord Robert.

"Bertie," screamed Scarlett

Two of the guards held the Prince back. "Please your Highness, he isn't worth it."

"Lord Robert, you've made an enemy. Bear that in mind if you ever contemplate coming to me for anything."

Lord Robert smirked and bowed slightly. "Good Morning Your Highness, Madame." He turned and walked up the back stairs accompanied by the Guards, leaving Scarlett and the Prince together on the landing.

"Scarlett, what on earth was that about?"

Scarlett shook her head. "I haven't a clue. He appeared out of no where to tell me you'd already left for the hunt, then he started to say how he and I should become good friends for your sake." She began to shake involuntarily.

The Prince wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her and gently he urged her up the stairs.

When they reached her suite Scarlett unfastened her jacket and nearly ripped it from her body. She flung her hunting Pinks, as her Red jacket was called, across the room. She walked over to her sitting area in front of the fire and sat down. Bending forward she began to unfasten her Lobb Riding Boots. They were fine, waterproof black calfskin that Bertie's sister Princess Helena had bought for her as a Twelfth Night Present the year before. She normally treasured them, as John Lobb was the exclusive supplier of boots to the Royal Family. Now how ever the laces wouldn't come undone and Scarlett wrenched at them franticly.

"Scarlett, stop, for the love of God let me do it." The Prince knelt before her and took her foot in his hands. Carefully he began to untangle and unlace her boot. "I'm sorry."

Scarlett shook her head. "You couldn't have known that Lord Winchale was such a buffoon."

"No excuse. I trusted him, unfortunately in hindsight I now suspect that I liked him so damned much because of his pretty manners and the occasional witty quip."

"What's done is done and he'll be gone by this afternoon."

Scarlett stretched her arms over her head, and then winced slightly. She unbuttoned the cuff on her shirt and gingerly rolled up her sleeve. "Enfer D'Oh (Oh Hell)."

"Scarlett, you're hurt."

She shook her head. "No, it certainly stings though. It's a bruise, it will go away."

"This is my fault."

"Bertie, you needn't play the martyr. This isn't the worst thing that's ever happened to me."

He sat beside her and she leaned on him. "What is the worst thing that's ever happened to you?"

Scarlett closed her eyes. "Growing any older than sixteen."

"What a morbid thing to say."

"I don't mean I wished I'd died, it's just everything was simpler. All that was expected of me was to look pretty, catch a husband, and …" She trailed off thoughtfully.

"And what?"

"And I'm being ridiculous. Even before I married Charles and the war came I was always…waiting for something or I suppose someone."

"Your Rhett Butler?"

"I suppose Rhett was a big part of what I was waiting for. I suspect I was waiting to grow up. Here I am now and I scarcely recognize myself. I'm not the Lady my mother wanted me to be. I'm not gracious; I'm often rude and callous. I tend to be selfish and but I've learned to put Bess first because she matters. I'm learning to be Wade's friend because I fear that it may be too late for me to be a real mother to him. My friend, his Aunt Melanie, was more of a mother to him than I ever was."

"You are his mother in the fullest sense of the word. I've seen you antagonize over the presents you select for him. You've sat for hours writing brilliant letters to him. You make sure his tuition is paid and he has money in his pockets. Scarlett you are a wonderful mother and so much more"

"I'm Katie Scarlett O'Hara," she smiled fondly, "Butler. Finally that's enough."