Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The couple went to see Mr. Powe. As they were walking along Rhett said, "How come I got blamed for you moving your business?"
"He already hates you so there was no damage done."
"He hates your behavior, also."
Scarlett smiled up at her husband and showed him her dimples. She said, "I know."
"Are you going to take Wade to visit his Hamilton relatives?"
"No, if they want to see him, they can come see me. I don't want them filling up his head with all that useless information about the war, honor, how great is father was, and how great our lives were before the war. So, I will have to monitor the situation closely. Furthermore, I will not let my son be snubbed because of our activities."
"Good for you."
After they were seated in Mr. Powe's office, Scarlett said, "I have income from two rental lots. It is a little bit more than twenty-five dollars a month. Put that money in one of Rhett's accounts then write a check on that account and send it to my aunts. Here is their address."
"Why? That seems kind of complicated."
"I want them to think the money is from Rhett. It will gall them so much."
Mr. Powe was in his forties. He had moved down here after the war was over. He was from Boston. He had no ties left in the North. He had been married but his wife died from cholera in sixty-three. They had not been blessed with children. He had friends and family, but he wanted something more in his life. He had come down with all the other Northerners. He had established a nice life for himself. He had found something more in an over the hill spinster who had a love of reading. Emily's parents were dead, and she had been an unwanted relative living with her cousin. He knew that was the only reason she had given him the time of day. They were happily married now with a child on the way. Joe thought she was as happy with him as he was with her.
As an experienced lawyer Joe Powe had learned to not question the peculiarities of his clients. If Mrs. Butler wanted to gall her aunts, then Joe would help her gall her aunts.
By the time Rhett and Scarlett were leaving Mr. Powe's office Scarlett was a happy lady. Rhett was happy because Scarlett was happy. Mr. Powe was happy because Mr. Butler, an especially important client, was happy.
Within the week, Rhett had signed the papers to sell his half of The Painted Lady. He said to Mr. Sawyer, "You must be managing The Painted Lady much better than Belle did. The profits for last year are quite a bit higher than Belle could ever manage."
Leslie said, "I noticed that myself. I must just be a better manager than Mrs. Watling."
Both men in male arrogance thought, 'Of course, he could run the saloon and brothel better than a woman.'
Rhett felt a pang of regret at the money he would be losing but he knew his family was more important than money. He certainly didn't want anyone telling Scarlett he was an owner of a brothel. He didn't feel anything regarding Belle. Not even that he was going to miss his friend. In fact, he had completely dismissed the woman from his mind and his life.
As they were walking out of the lawyer's office, Leslie said, "I hope you plan to continue frequenting The Painted Lady while you are in Atlanta."
"I will but not nearly as much as I did before I got married."
"Yes, I heard about your quick marriage to your wife. That you two got married less than a week after her second husband had been killed while being robbed behind the saloon."
"Yes, we did. I had to go to Europe on business and Scarlett wanted to go with me. That is what expediated our wedding plans."
"Alright. I will appreciate your business."
"Thank you. Goodbye."
Although Rhett Butler had been charming and gracious to Leslie there had been a dark undercurrent flowing through the man. As he walked away from his former partner, he decided that the man was cold enough and hard enough to murder someone just to get him out of the way so he could marry the man's wife. Especially if he knew the woman in question was alright with him doing it. For Leslie had heard the second half of that rumor. That Scarlett Butler had helped her current husband murder her second husband.
By the next week, they were on their way to Tara. Scarlett had been so excited when Rhett had informed her that he was going with her to Tara. In their previous timeline Rhett had never visited Tara not even in the early days of their marriage when they had been sort of getting along.
Scarlett showed Rhett around Tara while leaving the girls in the nursery. Suellen's baby, Susie, was there. Susie was in between Ella and Genie in age. They let Wade walk around with them. Rhett just smiled indulgently at Scarlett as she excitedly talked about the plantation. It was a pleasant visit except for the snide comments by the sisters.
A week later, the family returned to Atlanta. Rhett was at home during the day, but he frequently went out at night. This was not the Rhett of the previous timeline. Yet, he was still Rhett. When he went out at night, he still didn't feel the need to inform her of his movements, but he now would at least tell her when to expect him back. He didn't go out of his way to make her mad except his incessant teasing her. At least, now he stopped before making her extremely mad. He had stopped making statements just to make her feel stupid. Instead, he would explain his offhand comments.
When he did Scarlett paid rapt attention. She now wanted to know what those comments meant. She would often wonder if she had made him explain the dog in the manger comment could that whole disaster have been avoided. She would never know but she couldn't help herself from wondering.
Rhett had gotten some invitations to evening events, and they attended them. They had a good time at these events because everyone was laughing and talking excitedly about the future. Rhett told her the funniest yet raunchiest stories about these people. She didn't know if they were true but after Rhett had told her these stories Scarlett always blushed when she saw them again.
These people had known Rhett Butler for years and most of them wondered why he had married at all. Much less a lady who was blushing all the time. She just didn't seem to be his type. Butler had always gone for women with whom it was a business relationship.
After Scarlett had found out from Melanie that Belle Watling no longer lived in Atlanta, she felt better about hers and Rhett's relationship.
After the couple had returned from a supper party given by a Republican, Rhett said, "We will need to stay here until the Democrats come back into power."
"That is going to be decades. No, I don't want to stay here that long."
Rhett had laughed at her ignorance which she knew he would, but she had to be a little naïve and ignorant or Rhett would be extremely suspicious. She had been naïve, ignorant, and obtuse the last time they had lived this time period therefore she had to continue being at least naïve and ignorant.
"No, my love, I think it will be about five to eight years."
He walked over and undid her dress and her corset.
"That quickly. How can that be? We are a conquered people."
She sat down on the bed to take her socks and shoes off.
"Money and politics will make it happen."
"How?"
Rhett took off his cravat then unbuttoned his waistcoat and his shirt.
That was one of the things Scarlett had done in their first timeline that amazed her now. She had argued with Rhett about things she knew nothing about. Like politics and money.
He sat down on the bed to take his socks and shoes off. He said, "It takes a lot of troops to maintain martial law in the South. There are a lot of troops needed to maintain peace in the west. Thus, the government is having to pay for twice as many troops. The people in the North are not going to like paying higher taxes to maintain martial law in the South. Each year more and more people will just want to forget the war and move forward."
Scarlett put on her nightgown and Rhett said, "I don't know why you put that on. You know I am just going to take it off."
"It so pretty. My husband picked it out and bought it for me. It makes me feel more comfortable and," As Scarlett blushed, she said, "Maybe I like you taking it off me each and every night."
Rhett laughed and leered at her. He got in the bed stark naked as usual and continued, "Sooner or later the Republicans are going to need a political favor from the Democrats and the Democrats will make the end of martial law part of the deal."
Scarlett sat down at the vanity table and began to brush her hair. Rhett laid in the bed and watched her. She smiled at him in the mirror. He smiled back. He wondered how in the world he could already be so aroused when all she had done was smile at him. In truth, the sex wasn't great. It was good but certainly not as great as he had imagined it would be. Yet, the way he felt afterwards was wonderful. He would walk on broken glass in his bare feet just to get to be intimate with her again.
He still was not able to satisfy her on a regular basis, but he was going to keep trying until his dying day. At least, as long as she was willing to keep trying.
She turned to him and said, "If we are going to be staying for years, can I build a house?"
"Yes, you can have anything you want."
"I want the outside to be in a Swiss Chalet design."
"Alright."
"I'll ask you again tomorrow over breakfast. You might not be so eager to agree to anything then."
Scarlett got up and walked over to the bed. She pulled back the covers and looked at Rhett's ready member and said, "Yes, I will ask you again over breakfast."
"The answer will be the same. I just want you to be happy."
She slid into the bed and kissed her husband. Soon she wasn't thinking about Swiss Chalets. She was hoping he would do that thing she really liked. He did. She orgasmed then afterwards she cried. Fortunately, she didn't have her nightmare that night.
Scarlett asked Rhett over breakfast the next morning if she could build her house in the chalet design. He said, "You can build it any way you want, my love. I just want you to be happy."
Scarlett smiled at him and kissed him on the mouth even though their children were at the breakfast table. She wanted her children to know their parents loved each other.
Scarlett did build the house in a Swiss Chalet exterior design, but the interior design was toned down quite a bit. She wanted Rhett to be happy in their home and it would be a home. She had chosen something she thought both Rhett and she would like. Afterall it was her home too.
The interior design was not as avant garde as she had chosen before, but it wasn't as boring as a Charleston home or probably any of the matrons' homes in Atlanta. Besides, she wasn't inviting any of those people into her home and she was sure her mother-in-law would not be coming to visit any time soon. The Scallawags and Republicans would be impressed by the décor of her home. Of course, impressing them was not really a great challenge.
Scarlett did better on the master bedroom. She kept in mind that it was Rhett's room also. Although she didn't really think he hated the décor of the master bedroom as much as he claimed to in the first timeline. It had just been something to pick at her about.
The house was much smaller also. All the things she had bought to make the Peahens jealous she had not bought. She had not included the ballroom on the third floor either. She had made that the servant's quarters. There were patios and gardens and the whole house had more of a homey feel to it. She spent some time on the landscaping and had even had the gardener create a maze with the bushes. She had heard about people doing that when she was in London.
Yes, she was going to have parties, but she knew those Scallawags and Republicans would be impressed with anything she did. She could give them a piece of cheese on a cracker, and they would be impressed.