Chapter 2: Good Company

Rhett had left Twelve Oaks quickly after the news of Lincoln calling volunteers had put a sudden end to the festivities. Men had fled the plantation, choosing to dance off to the enlistment office rather than dance the night away with lovely girls in hoop skirts.

He sat in his Atlanta hotel room that evening sipping on a glass of whisky, his feet perched on the windowsill and the chaotic, celebratory scenery below lost on him. Instead, he saw a dark-haired beauty in his mind's eye, her face flushed with anger and outrage and her kissable lips throwing insults at him. In all his years of flirting and womanizing, he had never met anyone like Scarlett O'Hara. She had startled him when he first saw her climbing the stairs of Twelve Oaks giggling with her friend, trying to glance at him discreetly. Then, when he'd witnessed her passionate argument with her brother, his blood had run hot through his veins. He was utterly lost.

This was a very new situation for him, however. It had been many years since he had courted a virtuous Southern bell, and his charms, while well honed, were better suited to widows and whores. Yes, Scarlett O'Hara would pose a challenge to him. Not only because she seemed to have no interest in him but because everyone she knew would oppose his every move toward her. He would have to plan his attack carefully and play the part of an honorable beau in front of her family. The act did not appeal to him, but he had no doubt all the polite chit-chat would be well worth it once he had seduced the young and vibrant vixen into his bed.

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Scarlett's ambitious plans of laughing and having gay times were sorely obstructed by the war. Every boy in the county over fifteen and under fifty had rushed to enlist. She was left with no one to keep her company except Melanie, who had retreated even more into her shell after Ashley had left only a few days after their wedding. Melanie had left for Atlanta altogether after receiving news that her brother, Charles, had died before ever even seeing battle.

Scarlett was sitting in the parlor with her mother and sisters in the late afternoon, knitting socks to send Ashley, when Pork came in.

"Miz Scarlett, youz gotta caller."

She sat bolt up from her slump in the chair. She had no idea who would be calling on her; everyone had left weeks ago.

Mother seemed just as confused, "Who is it, Pork?"

"He says his name is Cap'n Rhett Butler, ma'am."

Ellen's gaze flew to her oldest daughter, but she paused, and when she spoke, her voice revealed no emotion. "Scarlett darling…" she said in a calm, collected tone. "How ever do you know Captain Butler?"

Scarlett looked at her mother blankly, "I have no idea who he is, mother."

"Well…" her mother hesitated for only a moment. "I'll go with you to greet him." Ellen stood, and Scarlett followed her to the receiving room.

When Ellen walked into the room, she no longer showed any hint of her apprehension. She walked calmly and directly toward Rhett, smiling properly. Scarlett stopped joltingly in the doorway, recognizing Rhett.

"Captain Butler! How good it is to see you again." Ellen said, offering her hand.

"Hello, Mrs. O'Hara, I had no idea you and the charming Miss Ellen Robillard were one and the same," Rhett said, taking Ellen's hand and kissing it kindly. Scarlett's mouth dropped slightly agape at his practiced impersonation of a gentleman.

"Yes, Captain Butler. Mr. O'Hara and I married not two years after we last saw each other. It has been a long time," she crooned reminiscently.

"That it has, Mrs. O'Hara, but I must say you look just as lovely as I remember."

Scarlett remained unnoticed in the doorway, mystified by the acting on both their parts.

"You speak too sweetly, Captain Butler. I'll have to write to your mother and tell her how well you are." Ellen said as a knowingness exchanged between them.

"I would very much appreciate that, Mrs. O'Hara. It has been quite some time since I have had the pleasure of visiting my mother."

Ellen nodded her head, and Scarlett felt like screaming. Had they completely forgotten she was in the room? They seemed to be speaking in tongs because she certainly had no idea how this vile man knew her sweet mother.

"Well, you've come to visit my Scarlett, so I won't keep you chatting about old times all day. But please, dinner will be before long, do stay and dine with us, captain," Ellen said, stepping out from between Rhett and Scarlett.

Rhett smiled under his closely clipped mustache, "I would appreciate that very much, Mrs. O'Hara. Thank you for the invitation."

"Good, good. I'll tell Cook to set another plate." Ellen smiled at Scarlett before she left, once again seeming to know something Scarlett did not.

Once Ellen had left, Rhett walked up to Scarlett, took her hand, and kissed it gently, tickling the back of her hand with his mustache. "Miss O'Hara…"

It was a routine gesture, and all he had said was her name, but she felt a sudden warmth like when she snuck a sip of Pa's whiskey. It startled her, and she pulled her hand away roughly. "What are you doing here?" Scarlett demanded.

Rhett's laugh reverberated through her, bringing up her ire, but before she could say anything more, Rhett spoke, "I simply couldn't get you out of my head, my dear. Ever since we met, you've inhabited my every waking moment."

She rolled her eyes, "If you came here to tease me, captain, you can just leave!" she snapped.

Rhett smiled at her ire, reveling in it, "I apologize, Miss O'Hara. Please, let us start again. It is a lovely day out. Would you care to go for a walk?"

"I think you're horrible!" she exclaimed, stamping her foot.

Rhett leaned in close to her, too close for propriety, and whispered, "Come now, I'm here to save you from the boredom of country life. I'm sure you miss having a line of beaux outside your door."

"Well, it has been painfully quiet here since the boys marched off." She said hesitantly.

"Thata girl, shall we then?" He offered his arm.

"Just let me get my parasol. I'll only be a minute." She smiled flirtatiously, then hurried out of the room.

She ran up the stairs, catching the eye of her Mammy. "Miz Scarlett! Miz Scarlett! You slow down now before you fall down those stairs and break yo neck!" She yelled, lumbering up the stairs behind her lamb.

"Oh Mammy, hush up! Do you want our guest to hear you hollering at me?" Scarlett said as Mammy reached the top of the stairs.

"I donz care whos hears me, you gotta act a lady. Now youz cover-up!" she demanded, hiking up the bosom of Scarlett's day dress.

Scarlett walked past Mammy and pulled her dress down farther than it had been. When she looked up, she noticed Rhett standing at the bottom of the stairs, his grin shining white under his closely clipped mustache. Oh, how she hated that man!

Rhett offered his arm again, "Miss O'Hara?"

Scarlett took his arm without saying a word. They were barely outside before she demanded, "How do you know my mother?"

"I grew up in Charleston, and your mother would often visit her sisters, who are good friends of my mother's." He chuckled to himself, "If I remember correctly, my mother suggested I court her."

Scarlett stopped and looked up at the man in front of her, horrified, "How old are you?"

Rhett laughed again, "Not old enough for your beauty and charms to be lost on me, my dear."

She smiled coyly and batted her eyelashes, "Mother said she would write to your mother. Do you not see her often?"

Rhett paused a moment deciding how much to tell this young girl. He decided that if he didn't tell her, she would hear it from another source. "My father has forbid my mother from seeing me."

Scarlett gasped, "Why did he do that?"

"It would seem he did not appreciate my obstinate behavior and impropriety. I did not fit into proper society very well."

Scarlett was scandalized and asked, fascinated, "What did you do?"

"My, my Miss O'Hara, you sound quite the gossip."

Scarlett looked down quickly, horrified at her behavior and thankful only Rhett had heard her.

Rhett laughed at her demure response, completely out of character for her, "Come now, I won't hold such behavior against you. There are many things I did that culminated in my father throwing me out of his home and forbidding my mother from seeing me. I have a sister about your age whom I've only ever seen a handful of times."

Scarlett was unsure what to say after learning such intimate details about a man she'd just met, "Well, Captain Butler, I guess it's only fair that I know your family's misdeeds after you witnessed mine firsthand."

Rhett had to agree with her. It was rare he opened up so much to anyone about his family, and certainly never someone he'd only met twice. "I would have to agree, and in that case, I think it would be appropriate if you call me Rhett."

"Alright, Rhett. And you may call me Scarlett."

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Scarlett decided she enjoyed Rhett's company, and he was a nice distraction from how mundane her country life had suddenly become. Despite his tendency to tease her about things she didn't quite understand, he was charming. She enjoyed listening to his stories about the exotic places he had visited. He drew a colorful picture in her minds-eye. She was also startled by his gentlemanly behavior at dinner. With his reputation, she had half expected him to shovel food with his hands and make lewd comments toward her mother and sisters, but he was absolutely charming and a pleasant guest at their dinner table.

After dinner, Scarlett walked out with him to his horse. "Are you sure you don't want Mammy to make you up a room for the night? It's late to be riding back to Atlanta."

"No, I am leaving in the morning on business."

"Oh, where are you going, Rhett?" she asked excitedly, tilting her head up to him in a way she knew made her look fetching.

"New York for more blockade running."

Scarlett pouted, "You're just going to Yankee territory…I thought you were going somewhere exciting," she pouted.

"Would you like to go somewhere exciting, Scarlett?" Rhett asked, stepping too close.

"Very much so! I want excitement, Rhett! I want to laugh and enjoy life while I'm young!"

"Well, you're certainly not doing that here in Jonesboro. You should be in Atlanta, where the war has stirred everyone up. Didn't you say your sister-in-law lives in Atlanta? I'm sure she would be happy for your company while she's in mourning for her brother."

Scarlett's eyes began to twinkle with mischief, and she smiled slyly, "Yes…that does sound like a wonderful idea!" she smiled up at him in the glow of the late evening sunlight. "Perhaps the next time you come to call on me, it will be in Atlanta," Scarlett said, making herself available for him to kiss.

Rhett stepped closer, leaning over her, and dropped his voice, "Is that an invitation for me to call on you again, Scarlett?" he asked, his lips a hair's breadth away from hers.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she tilted her head up, "I wouldn't turn you away if you came to my door."

"Until then, Scarlett," Rhett whispered before mounting his horse.

It took a moment for Scarlett to realize that Rhett wasn't going to kiss her, and when she opened her eyes, he had already mounted his horse. Her mouth almost fell open, but instead, she stepped back, stunned, then gritted her teeth. Her face turned red, all the way to the roots of her black hair.

"Good evening, Scarlett." He said, tipping his white Panama hat, then riding down the drive.