Scarlett crept out of the room full of sleeping ladies as silently as possible. She just had to speak with Ashley. He loves me, so he can't really be marrying Melanie. As she descended the stairs, she heard a ruckus coming from the men's congregation room. She froze and watched as a man with dark skin and hair the color of midnight rushed out of the room. What is his name again? Ah yes, Rhett Butler. But her attention was soon diverted to a second man. Ashley. Ashley Wilkes followed Mr. Butler's exit from the room. When she saw him, she immediately forgot all about anything except talking to Ashley.
"Ashley!" she whispered as she quickly followed him. "Ashley, wait!"
Ashley paused his brisk walk down the hall and approached Scarlett. "Scarlett dear, why aren't you resting with the other ladies?" he said with traces of affection in his words.
"Why, I wasn't tired. And besides, I need to talk to you." She said as she suggestively batted her eyelashes and led him to the door to the library. She took his hand and led him in, and then she bolted the door behind them.
She turned to face Ashley, who was watching her with a bewildered smile on his face. "Now what is it you needed to talk to me about?" he asked as he took her hand in his own.
Scarlett of course took this as a sign and stepped closer to him. "Oh Ashley, I love you, really I do. Tell me you love me too, tell me!" She pleaded frantically. This was very unlike Scarlett O'Hara, begging for a man's heart.
"Scarlett…I…." Ashley faltered and turned away from her. He walked to the window and stared out at the home he had loved his entire life: Twelve Oaks. He did love Scarlett, he always had. From the time they were children running freely over that very land, to their early teens when Scarlett still rebelled against being a lady, to that very moment where Scarlett, the belle of the county stood merely paces behind him, professing her own love for him. Me? She can't love me. Out of all of the strong, courageous men that she has on a string, what could she possibly want with me? He wondered as he struggled to find his voice again.
But Scarlett was soon standing right beside him, searching his face desperately. "Ashley, I know you love me….. why can't you just…"
Ashley looked into her eyes that were wet with the newly formed tears. Tears because of me. He thought. He took her hands once again and concentrated on them. He didn't want her to see the wild emotions in his eyes, so diverting his attention anywhere but directly to hers seemed like a good plan. But this only worsened the situation because he couldn't help but notice how perfectly their hands fit together. "Scarlett, I'm marrying Melanie. It is to be announced this evening." He said meekly.
Scarlett couldn't stand it anymore. "You know you don't love her, you love me! We've always loved each other, why are you doing this?" she raised her voice shrilly.
"Why can't you understand? Melanie is perfect for me. She is like me in every way. You could never be happy with me, I would bore you and you would soon grow tired of my lifestyle. And….and…."
"And what Ashley?" Scarlett whispered. She slipped her arms around his waist.
And I don't love you. His mind finished the sentence. But he knew that it was a lie. What would happen if he admitted he loved Scarlett, what then? He was about to turn away again, but her tiny hand caught his face and forced him to look her squarely in the eyes again. Those eyes, deep emerald pools of tears that bore into his very soul caught him off guard. They made him want to be strong; they made him want to be courageous for once in his life.
He took a deep breath. "And I love you more then life itself, Scarlett." And with that he pulled her close for a passionate kiss. A kiss in which they both let their pent up feelings for each other fly. When they pulled apart, Scarlett grinned widely and Ashley did too, momentarily. Then his logical mind went back to Melanie.
"My dear, what are we going to do now?" he asked.
Scarlett looked at him blankly as if the answer were the most obvious one in the world. "Why, you're going to talk to Melanie and explain to her that the marriage cannot go on. Then you and I will be married and have many, many children who will grow to love Twelve Oaks and Tara as much as we do. I'm sure our fathers would agree to give us each shares of land that adjoin each other, so we could set up our own home plantation! It's just perfect, and we'll live happily ever after!" she beamed. Then she stood up on her toes and quickly kissed Ashley again, this time lightly and tenderly.
Ashley sighed. "Of course. I'll go speak with Melanie right now."
"Oh now don't be silly. She's asleep right now, and we have at least thirty more minutes alone before we need to make our appearances again. Now if you still want to leave and go sit with all of those huffy men then go right ahead….." she let the sentence dangle with a faint pout on her lips, causing Ashley to cave in.
"Alright, alright. We'll stay in here, love." He walked towards the couch and started to sit down.
"Woah now, don't smother me here." Rhett laughed as he sat up. "Not that I usually oppose if a woman tries to sit in my lap, but under the given circumstances…." Ashley's face possessed only shock, while Scarlett's was full first of shock, then of anguish.
"How dare you sit here and listen to such a private conversation sir!" she cried furiously.
"Well if you want to be technical, I was laying here, not sitting." He smirked.
"OH.. you!…" Nobody ever back-talked Scarlett O'Hara. "Ashley, say something to this man!"
Ashley paused momentarily, but it seemed so important to Scarlett for him to speak, so he did. "Captain Butler, I know that I have your word to keep whatever you heard in here private."
"You have my very word as a gentleman." He said whole-heartedly.
"May we then have your word as a scoundrel as well? I know it would make me feel better." Scarlett retorted.
"Scarlett, that wasn't neces…"
"Oh it's quite alright Mr. Wilkes." Rhett interrupted. He was staring at Scarlett bemusedly. "Miss O'Hara, if your trust in me to keep quiet will lay more comfortably in my offering my word as a scoundrel, then by all means you have it." He stood and extended a hand in her direction. She ignored it and continued to glower at him.
Ashley took his hand, however. He was, after all, the host; there was no need to make any enemies or create any unnecessary tension between acquaintances, however mild. "We thank you sir. Now if you will excuse us, we will be on our way. I do hope we will see you tonight?"
"Of course you will Mr. Wilkes. Until then, have a good evening. I do hope your confrontation with your cousin will be as pleasant as possible in the given situation." He then turned to Scarlett. "As for you Miss O'Hara, I hope your confrontation will all of your beaux will be…. interesting ones. Hopefully there won't be too many broken hearts at your hands this evening." He said in a serious voice, but his dark eyes were dancing with silent laughter.
She merely raised an eyebrow in his direction. Ashley guided her out of the room and out the front doors of Twelve Oaks to enjoy the last few minutes they had together before the plans had to be set into action.
Rhett stood glued to his spot in the library thinking about the past 20 minutes. He shook his head with a slight smile on his face. They'll never last. Such a conniving woman, full of spirit and wit. He will never really satisfy her. And when it ends, I will be there to sweep her off of her feet.