Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
A few days later Scarlett had a small birthday party for Ella's second birthday with just family, Melanie, and Beau. They had it in the afternoon. Scarlett nonetheless served an entire meal. Those Scallawags and Republicans weren't any better about serving supper at a reasonable hour.
A week later, the Butlers had the Wilkes over for supper. All night Ashley kept trying to engage Scarlett in conversation. He said, "Scarlett, do you remember all the balls we attended before the war?"
"Let's not talk about the past. It is just too sad to remember everything we lost by going to war over an issue that may or may not have been in jeopardy."
Haughtily Ashley said, "It was in jeopardy, Scarlett"
"No, Mr. Wilkes, it was not. We left because we were afraid of what Mr. Lincoln was going to do. We should have at least waited for him to make the first move."
"We had to get ourselves prepared."
"I prefer to disagree with you but let us not talk politics and ruin the evening for the ladies."
Later in the conversation Ashley said, "It is sad how many of the county boys died at Gettysburg."
"Ashley, it is sad how many young men died in the war at all."
Much later in the conversation Ashley said, "Uncle Henry said it was your idea, Scarlett, for me to get a job as a law clerk. I have enjoyed the work so much more than being a manager of a sawmill. How did you know?"
"You told me that day in the orchard when I went to ask you about the taxes which you were unable to help figure out a solution for. You said you were a coward and wanted to live your life in a shadow puppet world. You also said Melly was the only dream that had ever come true," Here Scarlett smiled at Melanie. Ashley was staring at Scarlett. Although there was nothing wrong with the words she had used or the tone in which she had said the words Ashley felt that Scarlett was feeling contempt for him. Scarlett smiled at Rhett. She continued, "Let's not talk about those awful days anymore. Darling, tell the Wilkes about Florence. You are so much better at it than me. You remember the names of all the artists and their works of art. I can only remember two names - Da Vinci and Michelangel.
Rhett smiled at Scarlett. He knew she had deliberately mispronounced the sculptor's name. It was hard for her to ever stop playing the part of a Southern Belle. He said, "Michelangelo."
"Silly me."
The rest of the supper was spent with Rhett and Scarlett talking about their travels all over Europe. Ashley talked about the landmarks he saw while on his Grand Tour.
Scarlett saw the wistful look on Melanie's face and had compassion for her. The other woman knew she would never be able to afford to travel to Europe and see all the historical attractions in person. The woman had just recently started getting enough to eat and the ability to afford new clothes.
After the Wilkes had left Rhett was certain of two things. His wife was definitely no longer enthralled with Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Wilkes had been stringing Scarlett along their entire relationship.
The couple went out for supper and dancing to celebrate Rhett's birthday in November. Scarlett gave him a pair of cuff lings as her present to him. After Rhett had opened the gift, he said, "This is lovely, but it wasn't the gift I was hoping for."
"What did you want? I'll get it for you tomorrow."
"You."
Even though she was as red as a tomato, Scarlett said, "You are going to get that later tonight."
"Let us go dancing."
After an hour of dancing, the couple did go home. Rhett coaxed Scarlett out into the gardens and though she pretended to be reluctant she really wasn't. It was as good for both of them as it had been the first time, they had relations in the bushes.
In December, the family was on the train towards New Orleans. They were going to celebrate Christmas in that Louisianian city.
On the train trip to the city, Rhett said, "I know that I said the next time we came back it would just be the two of us but…."
"I couldn't have left them behind either especially not at Christmas."
Rhett had smiled and kissed his wife.
Scarlett had weaned Genie from the breast and the child was completely on table food now. Therefore, the couple were no longer teetotalers anymore. Yet neither person drank as much alcohol as they had before they conceived Genie. As before the family went out together during the day but Rhett and Scarlett went out alone at night. Rhett had some acquaintances in New Orleans and managed to get them invitations to evening events.
One night on the way back to the hotel, Scarlett said, "They are such trashy people but they sure are fun."
"Just like the people we socialize with in Atlanta."
"We need to get a better class of friends.
"I agree but all those people live up North."
By this time, they were back at the hotel. As Rhett was helping Scarlett out of the coach, he whispered, "You look lovely in your new dress, but you are going to look even better when it is on our bedroom floor."
Scarlett smiled but she didn't say anything.
The next afternoon, Scarlett said, "Will you buy me a praline?"
"Of course, my love. But if you get as fat as the Cuban women, I will divorce you."
Scarlett laughed and said, "You will never divorce me."
Although Rhett wasn't saying it his expression was – "No, my love, I will never divorce you."
Before they left the city to return to Atlanta, David, Rhett's ward, came to the hotel and had dinner with them. Once Scarlett met the boy, she was in no doubt the boy was not Rhett's son. He had brown hair and brown eyes and he looked absolutely nothing like Rhett. In fact, he looked more like Wade than Rhett. Her husband had been right. The boy was attractive and very charming. He even had the audacity to flirt with Scarlett while Rhett was sitting at the table. Scarlett for her part did not flirt back but she was flattered by the attention.
Even though Rhett was feeding Genie, Scarlett knew he was very muchly aware of what she was doing. She smiled. He may be proud that every man in the room envied him his choice of wives. Yet he was also possessive of her also.
Scarlett kept bringing Rhett and Wade into her conversation with David. She was not going to have a tete a tete with the young man. She knew that if this had happened on their honeymoon, she would have flirted outrageously with the young man and would not have given Rhett a passing thought. In fact, she knew she had at all those parties he had taken her to.
The family celebrated Wade's birthday with a party with his classmates which he knew now were all Yankees. A good time was had by everyone. What surprised Scarlett was not only did the mothers accompany their sons but so did the fathers. Scarlett wondered how much money Rhett had made at the party.
Scarlett had another supper at the Hamilton House so Wade's Hamilton relatives could celebrate his birthday with him. Again, Scarlett sat as far away from Ashley as possible with Rhett by her side. This time Ashley did not try to engage Scarlett in conversation, but the man did stare at Scarlett the entire meal. That annoyed Rhett a great deal. Rhett again restrained himself and didn't make any mocking comments. This time India actually spoke to both Scarlett and Rhett.
After the family celebrated Genie's first birthday, Scarlett was wondering if Rhett was going to try to redeem his reputation for his daughter's sake again.
The afternoon arrived that had made Rhett realize his daughter would not be included in Southern society. This time Scarlett was attuned to her son and his moods. She was not fixated on trying to manage her businesses. She was not consumed with having fun. She was not mooning over Ashley.
This time she had never let her son play with any of the proper people's children except Beau. And Beau always had to come to their house. This time Wade didn't know he was being excluded. This time she didn't snap at the boy.
It was raining outside, and Wade had been wandering around the room. Scarlett had been reading a book that Rhett had recommended. When Wade sighed, Scarlett said, "Wade, come sit beside me and tell me what is bothering you."
The boy did come sit by his mother and said, "All my friends are Yankees."
"Do you not like them, Dear?"
"I like them, but they say mean things about the South. Mama, they say that the Southerners were fools for going to war," Scarlett looked at Rhett. He had been sitting on the floor playing with Genie. He had been swinging his watch back and forth over her head. He turned his head and met Scarlett's eyes. He turned his watch over to Genie. He then stood up. Wade continued, "My friends in London made fun of me for being an American and for talking funny but I never thought they were being mean."
"Do you feel these boys are being mean?"
"No, not to me but I feel…."
Rhett said, "You feel they despise things that you are proud of."
"Yes, sir."
Rhett sat down in one of the chairs in the room. He said, "Come here and sit on my lap," Once the boy was settled, Rhett went on, "This is a tricky issue. I want you to understand this. You can love something but not think the thing is perfect. I love your mother, but I know she isn't perfect."
Scarlett interrupted to say, "Just as I love your dad, but I know he isn't perfect."
Rhett flashed her a smile and continued with Wade. He said, "Your mother and I believe that the South going to war over the issue of slavery was foolish. I have always said that even during the war. Yet I joined the Confederate army in the last hour because of my love for the South. It was a damn fool stupid thing that I did. What I am telling you is that it is alright to be proud of the South but admit that the South isn't perfect."
"Alright, Dad."
"Now, come on. Let's play some checkers."
At that moment everyone in the room heard the sound of metal tearing. Genie had pushed the parts of Rhett's watch apart and now it was broken.
Scarlett smiled and said, "I will buy you another watch tomorrow. Let's have another portrait taken so the picture inside will be up to date."
Rhett smiled and said, "Of course, my love."
That night as they were lying in bed Scarlett said, "How much longer?"
"I don't know. The money is so easy. It is like picking it up off the ground."
"I think I would like to live in London. I liked living there. Or maybe San Francisco. I have heard good things about the city."
"How about New York or Boston?"
"Live in the North?"
"I think you would like to live in New York. People aren't talking about the past and the women there know as much about Paris fashion as you do."
"I don't know, Rhett."
"I'm sorry we can't live in the South."
"No, we can't. What's more I don't want to. I refuse to let you or me humble ourselves to get received by the society that we rejected because of their hypocritical, rigid rules."
"Thank you, Baby."
"I want to live where we are freely accepted. Not some place where we are just one misdeed away from being kicked out of society. Not some place where people act like they are doing us a favor by receiving us. No!"
Rhett smiled into the darkness. He again thanked whoever allowed this woman to become his wife. He said, "I have a lot of business acquaintances in New York. One of them Cornelius Vanderbilt is actually married to a woman from Mobile. I bet you two would get along famously."
"Why did she move to New York?"
"I don't know. You will have to ask her when you are introduced to her.
"Sounds wonderful."
"I have some business I must attend to in the next several months in New York. You must come with me."
"Yes, I must. I do want to travel with you."