Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Thirty-Four

That night after Ashley had gotten home, he told Melly, "Scarlett has sold her part of the sawmills."

"Why?"

"She never said why except to say that she and Captain Butler are going to Europe."

"Why?"

"I guess to see the sights."

"Let me check on supper."

Once Melanie was in the kitchen, she started trying to think of a plan to cause trouble between Scarlett and Captain Butler. She had to get Scarlett to run back to Ashley. She knew Ashley would get fired from his job as a manager. She had to have Scarlett give him a job at her store. Maybe make him the manager of the store. Yes. Perfect.

Melanie thought the rest of the evening about how to ruin Scarlett and Captain Butler's relationship. She had been sure Scarlett would have been appalled and disgusted that Captain Butler was using whores. Melly had been sure that vain Scarlett would not be able to tolerate Captain Butler preferring another woman in anyway.

Melly remembered what Scarlett had said about not enjoying having to perform her wifely duties and not wanting children. Scarlett in truth probably doesn't mind Captain Butler using whores. She got jewelry and the promise that he would be more discreet in the future. Melly stopped her thoughts. Captain Butler must actually be using whores at the bordello she had named, or he would not have bought Scarlett anything or apologized. He would have still been declaring his innocence.

Melly said to herself, "That was a shot in the dark that hit home. Of course, I'm not surprised. I never expected Captain Butler to be faithful. Afterall he is not an honorable man."

Ashley said, "What Dear?"

"Nothing."

As Melly looked at Ashley, one of the good things about her condition was that she didn't have to endure Ashley using her body. That had been awful. Yet, she would go through it again to get with child again.

At the end of the evening, Melly had not thought of any way to cause problems between the Butlers. As she and Ashley got up to leave the parlor and retire to their bedrooms, Melly said, "Did Scarlett say when they were leaving? We will have to have them to supper before they leave."

"We won't have time. She said they were leaving the day after tomorrow."

"That is certainly fast."

"I guess they have been planning this for a while."

"I guess."

"Scarlett hasn't said a word to me about their plans."

"Maybe she doesn't want to go. Maybe Butler is making her go."

"Maybe. I will go over there tomorrow to say goodbye."

"Alright. Good night."

"Good night."

Over the last month Scarlett and Rhett had been preparing to leave Atlanta so they would be ready to leave as soon as the papers were signed selling the sawmills. She had even been working with Mr. Elsing preparing him to be completely in charge. Their trunks were almost completely packed. During that time when their staff found out they were traveling to Europe soon, a lot of the people quit after finding another job. Scarlett had told Pork, Dilcey, Prissy, the cook, the housekeeper, and the stablemaster that they would continue to be employed even after the family had left to go to Europe.

Melanie, indeed, did go see Scarlett the next morning. She didn't even send a note requesting to be allowed to call because she was afraid Scarlett would say no. She had Beau with her so Melanie knew she would be allowed to enter the home.

Scarlett had gotten up early to finish getting everything ready for them to leave early the next morning. Prissy and Scarlett were finishing the last of the packing for Scarlett and Rhett. Susie, one of the maids, knocked on Scarlett's bedroom door.

Once Susie had opened the door, she said, "Mrs. Wilkes is here."

"Is her son with her?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Susie, go tell Mrs. Wilkes I will be right with her."

"Yes ma'am."

"Prissy, go tell Wade to go get Beau but to return to his room and finish packing."

"Yes ma'am."

Scarlett wished Rhett was home, but he had gone to the bank to get some money for their trip. She looked at her watch. It was only nine o'clock. Rhett wouldn't be home for at least an hour or so. He would talk with the president of the bank while he was down there. No, she would have to face Melly alone. She just knew that Melly was going to tell her some more lies about Rhett. Scarlett took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She then left her room to go downstairs.

As Scarlett reached the top of the stairs, she slipped but she was able to grab the handrail in time to stop her descent. As she stood there trying to calm her nerves from that scare, she looked at how incredibly steep the stairs were. If she had fallen, she would have been hurt badly, maybe even killed. When they got back from Europe, she would rip out these stairs and have some others installed. Maybe some with a landing in them so the fall wasn't so long.

As Scarlett entered the parlor, she put a smile on her face and said, "Melly, how good of you to call on my last day. I assume that Ashley told you that Rhett and I are going to Europe. We had such a good time there when I was carrying Genie."

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to Europe?"

"I had hoped Rhett would change his mind, but no. He is bound and determined that we will get away from Atlanta for the summer. He doesn't like the heat."

Melly whispered, "Is it just the heat he is concerned about?"

With a stone-cold face Scarlett said, "Melly, I have already told you that I don't want to talk about that or Rhett for that matter."

"Darling, did he make you sell your mills?"

"No," Scarlett then looked away quickly and Melly knew Scarlett was lying. Scarlett continued, "It was just time to sell them. The building boom is over, and I suspect that we will be gone for at least six months. If I am indeed with child, even longer. I will be keeping the store just in case I need financial support."

"That is good, Dear," Melly put a look of pity on her face and said, "I am so sorry this is happening to you."

"Melly, I don't really want to talk about it, but I can't expect any better out of Rhett. Afterall he isn't a gentleman like Ashley." Here Scarlett looked away again. Finally, she put a stiff smile on her face and said, "I married him for his money, so I am going to enjoy his money and the lifestyle he can provide me until he dies."

"Oh, Dear."

"Don't despair, Melly. We all can't be married to the love of our lives like you and Ashley. Nonetheless, I will have a good life for the rest of my life. Even in the Garden of Eden there was a serpent. Rhett using whores is just the serpent in my garden."

"Of course, Darling. If I can be of any help, let me or Ashley know."

"Of course. Now you and Beau must leave because we have a lot of packing to do."

"Of course."

Scarlett rang the bell and when Susie appeared Scarlett said, "Will you go get Beau from Wade's room?"

"Yes ma'am."

Wade came back with Beau. The cousins hugged at the door and said goodbye. It was plain to see that both of the boys were close to tears. Scarlett quickly hugged Melanie. As way of goodbye, Scarlett said, "I will write you. You can't write me because we will not have a permanent address."

After the Wilkes were out the door, Scarlett put her arm around Wade's shoulders and said, "I know you are going to miss Beau, but we will have fun in Europe. We will also miss all that summer heat. You will be happy to know that Dad has decided that you don't have to have a tutor until September at the earliest."

"That is good news. I'm glad we will be away from Atlanta in the summertime. I am looking forward to our trip. Nonetheless, I am going to miss Beau."

"Me too."

On the drive back to her home Melly decided that went rather well. If Scarlett had thought herself in love with Captain Butler, she didn't now. Captain Butler will make his situation worse by being unrepentant. As far as Captain Butler is concerned the matter has been dealt with. He bought her a parure. He never even made the promise to not do it anymore. But Melanie was going to do one more thing to seal Captain Butler's fate.

When Rhett got back from the bank, Scarlett told him of her conversation with Melanie. He said, "After he gets fired at the sawmill, Miss Melly will expect you to give Mr. Wilkes the job as the manager of the store."

"What can I do?"

"Sell the store to Mr. Elsing."

"Mr. Elsing can't afford to buy the store."

"He can if you let him make payments."

"Get your hat. Let's go talk to Mr. Elsing right now."

Hugh Elsing could not believe what Mrs. Butler was saying. She was offering to sell him the store. Better than that she was willing to let him pay for it over time. Just twenty-five dollars a month for the next twelve months. She had said, "I am making you this offer because of your loyalty over the years."

A stunned Hugh had said, "I would be a fool not to take that offer."

Scarlett said, "Phil, please man the store. Mr. Elsing and I need to go take care of some business."

Rhett said, "Come along, Mr. Elsing. Our carriage is outside. We will go see our attorney right now. Scarlett and I are leaving town tomorrow morning, so we need to get this taken care of today."

"Of course."

When Rhett walked into Mr. Powe's office, he said to the secretary, "Tell Mr. Powe that I will need his time for the next several hours. We have a contract that needs to be completed today."

After the trio was in Mr. Powe's office, Rhett told the lawyer what he needed and ended his statement by saying we need this to be complete before we leave. If there is a premium rate, I understand."

"Not for you, Mr. Butler."

"Thank you."

By dinner time, Hugh was the owner of Kennedy's. He would make his payments to Mr. Powe who would put the money in Scarlett's children's trust fund.

The first thing Hugh was going to do was change the name to Elsing's General Store. The second thing he was going to do was make Fanny keep the books and order stock. She had a better head for figures than he did.

That evening, Scarlett sent notes to some of her friends telling them that she and the family were going to Europe for the summer. She would contact them when the family returned to Atlanta.

As the Butlers left Atlanta, Rhett and Scarlett were happy with their activities over the last few days. Melanie Wilkes believed that when Scarlett got back from Europe, she would be needing a lot of love and comfort from Ashley. Hugh was thrilled with owning the general store. After the war was over, he never thought a prospect of a bright future for him would ever be true again.

Even Ashley Wilkes was optimistic about the future. The more he thought about the chances of keeping his job once Scarlett was no longer his boss, the more he decided he was going to have to do something. He went to the bank and asked them if they were hiring. They were. They needed another teller. By a stroke of luck Mark Lowry, the man responsible for hiring the new teller, was someone Ashley knew from the Democratic Party meetings. By another stroke of luck, Mark just wanted to get the position filled and to be done with it. Therefore, by the end of the day Ashley Wilkes was the newest teller at 1st Atlanta Bank. Ashley planned to keep his part of the sawmills and just collect half the profits.

Unbeknownst to Ashley, Rhett Butler was a part owner of that bank. Rhett would never learn about the bank hiring Ashley for a while because Rhett was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the bank. Besides that, he was going to Europe for at least nine months. Maybe more if he could convince Scarlett to live there permanently.