Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Three
Scarlett hadn't seen Rhett again before he left Atlanta to return to France, but a month later she got another confirmation that Mr. Butler was definitely interested in her.
One night in September, as Scarlett and Melanie were leaving the hospital a woman with unnaturally red hair approached them. She said, "Mrs. Wilkes."
"Yes."
Scarlett just knew this woman was a harlot. Nobody else would dye their hair that color except a harlot. Judging by the wrinkles on her face, she was an old harlot. Maybe even a madame.
Scarlett moved closer to Melly as the woman moved closer to them. The woman said, "I have some money for the hospital. Those other women wouldn't take my money, but my money is as good as anyone else's."
"Of course, it is, Mrs. …"
"Don't Miz me. Just call me Belle like everyone else does. Here."
Melanie took the handkerchief and said, "Thank you for your generosity."
"Of course."
The woman turned and fled back into the shadows. Scarlett and Melanie got into their carriage and rode back to the Hamilton House. When they got there the ladies sat at the kitchen table and Melanie untied the handkerchief. Scarlett saw the initials immediately. She put her hand over the initials and pulled the handkerchief to her. She picked up the money with her other hand and said, "There must be at least two hundred dollars here," She placed the money on the table in front of Melanie while balling up the handkerchief in her other hand. She said to Melanie, "Count it."
While Melanie was counting the money Scarlett slipped the cloth in her pocket. If Melly saw that the handkerchief was Mr. Butler's she might ban him from the house. Afterall, it wasn't proper for a gentleman to use a harlot. Although the man didn't claim to be a gentleman and Scarlett was sure lots of gentlemen used harlots.
Scarlett had been warned off by enough women to know when she was being warned off. That meant two things. Mr. Butler had talked about her with Belle and the way Mr. Butler had talked about her was enough to make the woman insecure. Scarlett wanted to giggle but she stopped herself.
Melanie said, "It is three hundred dollars."
Scarlett did giggle over that. Melanie giggled also. Melanie was giggling over the happiness of the hospital getting that much money. Scarlett was giggling because she had actually raised six hundred dollars for the hospital.
Scarlett knew what Belle's ploy was. She wanted Scarlett to know that Rhett Butler used whores. Or maybe she wanted Scarlett to know that Rhett Butler had paid gold for her also. Yes, he had. Yet it was like comparing apples to oranges. Rhett had paid for her time; he had paid for access to Belle's nether regions. Just as he had paid for access to other women's nether regions. She knew in truth all women's nether regions were the same. Not all women were the same. She knew she was an incredibly unique woman. Scarlett giggled again over that thought. Melanie giggled again too.
Melanie started to put the money in her reticule when she said, "Where is the handkerchief?"
Scarlett handed Melanie a handkerchief of her own and said, "Here."
Scarlett had been lucky she had one of her plain handkerchiefs in her pocket. Normally she didn't carry one. Melanie looked at the handkerchief like she was trying to decide if it was the same one. She smiled a little self-consciously. She said, "For some reason I thought it was a man's handkerchief."
"You silly goose. It was Belle's handkerchief."
Melanie smiled and said, "Of course, it was."
"I'm going to heat up some water and take a sponge bath."
"Alright."
"After that I am going to bed."
"Alright."
Prissy helped Scarlett get undressed then Scarlett dismissed her. She knew she was going to be giggling the rest of the night. She giggled through her sponge bath. She giggled through her putting her nightgown on. She giggled through her getting into the bed. She giggled into the night until she finally went to sleep. Rhett Butler wasn't hooked yet, but he was certainly interested in her.
In early December, Rhett returned to Atlanta. He had a Christmas present for Mrs. Hamilton. Rhett still wondered why he was courting Mrs. Hamilton. He told himself it was because he was planning on seducing her into being his mistress.
Rhett was received at the Hamilton House. He gave Miss Hamilton a box of chocolates and he gave Mrs. Wilkes five yards of pretty pink fabric with tiny flowers on it and some pink thread. He presented Mrs. Hamilton with a hat box.
Scarlett said, "Mr. Butler, this is too generous."
"Nonsense. Go ahead and open it."
"Alright."
Scarlett lifted the lid off the hat box and saw the Paris creation. It was the most gorgeous green hat that Scarlett had ever seen. She wished she could keep it. Then Scarlett decided that if Melly kept the fabric, she could keep the hat. She heard the awful words come out of Melly's mouth. She said, "Captain Butler, I cannot accept the fabric. It is much too personal of a gift."
Scarlett sighed and said, "I cannot accept this hat. As Melly said it is too personal of a gift."
"If you will not accept them as gifts then you can pay me for them."
"Yes, that would be appropriate. Wouldn't it Melly?"
"I guess. How much?"
"Ten cents."
"No, Captain Butler, really how much?"
"Ten cents each."
"Captain Butler these items are worth much more than ten cents."
"Mrs. Wilkes, Mrs. Hamilton I don't believe either one of you were with me when I purchased the items. I got a really good deal. In fact, now that I think about it. The deal was that if I bought the hat, they would give me the fabric and thread for free. So, each one of you owes me five cents."
Scarlett laughed and said, "Melly, let's give him the money. If anyone asked us about it, we could tell them we bought the items."
Melly laughed too and said, "I would so like a new dress."
Aunt PittyPat had already opened her box of chocolates and had eaten two pieces. She knew her gift was appropriate. Rhett stayed the rest of the evening. He amused the ladies with stories of his travels. At nine he took his leave. He went to Belle's and told her about his travels. He then played poker and won some money. He then took himself to the National Hotel to dream of the alluring Mrs. Hamilton.
Rhett had stopped by the Hamilton House two more times that week. The night of his third visit, Scarlett said, "I'm so glad you stopped by tonight. I wanted to tell you goodbye."
Rhett said very nonchalantly, "Where are you going?"
"To Tara for Christmas."
"Christmas is two weeks away."
"True but I want some time to visit with my family and the other people of Clayton County."
"Captain Butler, you must help me convince our Scarlett to at least stay for another week before going to Tara."
"Yes, Mrs. Wilkes, we must convince Mrs. Hamilton to stay at least another week. I will be leaving next week myself to return to Charleston and my ship. We all three could go to the fundraiser they are having for the other hospital."
"No, Captain Butler, it would not be right for me to attend a dance at this point in my mourning. I only attended the Hospital Bazaar because the McCray sisters had to go and get their brother's body. Melly and I only attended so we could man one of the booths so the hospital would not lose any money."
"We are in luck. I understand from Mrs. Armstrong it will just be a potluck dinner. There will be no dancing."
"What do you think Melly? Would you like to get out of the house for one evening? I will go so you can have a fun filled evening although I doubt if I will have any fun."
Scarlett had quickly figured out that Melanie Hamilton Wilkes was a matron darling. She just about could do no wrong. If Melanie approved of something Scarlett was doing the matrons would not criticize Scarlett. Scarlett also knew that she had to be extremely hard for Mr. Butler to obtain.
Melanie said, "It would be fun to get out of the house. Although I will always miss Charlie it has been so long since we have had any fun."
"It is settled. I will not go to Tara until next Sunday after church. We will attend the fundraiser with you Captain Butler. Please get a ticket for Aunt PittyPat also. I'm sure she would like to attend also."
"Of course, she would. If you don't mind, Captain Butler."
"Of course not."
When Rhett left that night, he felt like he had won a major victory in getting Scarlett to stay another week. He didn't know when he would be able to come back to Atlanta and he didn't want to lose a week of her company. Although he knew she had manipulated him into taking all the ladies to the fundraiser.
Over the next six months, Rhett was able to make it to Atlanta two more times. Once in April and once at the beginning of July.
In April Rhett had brought the household some more gifts. In particular, hair pins which were in short supply in the South. They had again gone through the charade of purchasing the gifts.
Scarlett allowed Rhett to escort her, Melly, and Aunt PittyPat to one of the fund raisers. At the event Rhett had made a bunch of comments regarding the war being stupid and ill-conceived. That the war was a tribute to the South's arrogance and stubbornness. Everyone had gotten so angry at Rhett that he had left the event. The ladies had to find their own way home. Dolly Merriwether had given them a ride home.
Once they were in the carriage, Mrs. Merriwether had said, "That man will not be allowed into anyone's home in the future."
Scarlett was aghast. She didn't want to ban Rhett from the house. He was so much fun. She enjoyed the gifts. Yes, she was playing hard to get but she didn't want Rhett to think she would be impossible to get. She still hadn't figured out how she could use him, but she knew she would be able to in the future. Then she heard Melly speaking.
Melly said, "We will continue to receive him. He did nothing more than speak the thoughts a lot of Southerners believe."
"No, true Southerner would believe that way."
"Ashley does."
Scarlett thought, 'Wasn't that just like Wimp. To not believe in the cause but to risk his life fighting in the war anyway.' She was disgusted.
"Melanie, Dear, you have misunderstood what Ashley meant."
"No, Mrs. Merriwether, I never misunderstand Ashley."
By this time, they were back at the Hamilton House. As the ladies were getting out of the carriage, Dolly said, "Melly, if you continue to receive him you might not be receive."
"So be it. Good day, Mrs. Merriwether."
Scarlett was gleeful. Melanie had solved her problem for her. What's more nobody would not receive Melanie. Afterall, she was the matron's darling. They didn't see Rhett again that April. Scarlett later found out he had immediately returned to Charleston.
When he returned to Atlanta at the end of June, he called on the Hamilton House. He was smugly pleased when he was admitted into the house. He believed it was Scarlett's doing. He believed he was winning her heart thus she would soon give him her body. He gave the ladies gifts, and they once again went through the charade of purchasing the gifts for a nickel. He gave Scarlett a beautiful gold shawl with a lovely parrot embroidered on the back of it. Rhett said, "I purchased it for you in Nassau."
"Thank you, Mr. Butler."
"Here are your hair pins."
"Thank you."
The evening was a delightful one. The ladies laughed at all of Rhett's amusing stories. It was the last delightful evening they would have for quite some time. If ever.
