Chapter 107
When the waltz was finally over, Rhett suddenly turned his heel and abruptly began to walk away. Scarlett stared after him in shock and then called out, "Aren't you going to walk me back to my place? You don't really mean to leave me here like this in the middle of a ballroom?!"
Rhett looked back at her with such a steely eyed glare that Scarlett's voice died away in fright. He made his way back and Scarlett was half-scared that he might drag her back by the crook of her arm. Rhett looked so wild-eyed that she looked around for support. She found the anxious eyes of Rosemary and Rhett's brother's wife upon her. And in an attempt to placate Rhett's anger, she tried to smile.
"You better leave for Atlanta or Tara or whatever town you want to go to- I don't want you here anymore" said Rhett, in a soft yet deadly tone.
Tears sprang to Scarlett's eyes at this unexpected hurt. "Rhett, surely you don't mean it-"
"Can it be that you hear me but you don't understand me? I never wanted you, Scarlett. You forced yourself upon me and I have endured it as long as I possibly could- now, I-"
Suddenly Scarlett realized that Rhett's younger brother was making his way towards them. "Rhett, you might take it easy there-" he began. Whether he wanted to lighten the mood or was simply curious to know what was going on, Scarlett could not discern. But she tried to wipe her eyes and bring back some of her charm.
"You mind your own business- and go back to your own wife. You don't have to play the saint here!" snapped Rhett, instantly.
Rhett's brother stopped in his tracks as if struck by a blow. His eyes narrowed.
Scarlett looked around and saw that a small group had formed around them and the ladies had stopped fanning themselves and were watching keenly. Then she saw one of the men near the door run out quickly and she knew that someone was going to fetch pistols.
"Were they going to duel over something as silly as this?!" she thought, wildly.
Her mind worked at a feverish pace. But instead of approaching either Rhett or his brother, she walked quickly to the opposite side where the orchestra stood and she was calling gaily to the conductor of the orchestra.
A hush fell over the ballroom and suddenly an old gentleman who had been presiding over the event rushed over to Scarlett's side and she breathlessly asked him if their late appearance at the dance was allright and it wasn't anything out of place.
The gentleman looked bemused and Scarlett explained in a loud voice that everyone could hear,
"Back where I come from, we never give out these little books with the waltzes and reels in them. And my husband made me tick those waltzes that I wanted to dance and I just thought if we didn't appear for them, someone may think ill of us and call us out from the crowd!"
The old gentleman drew a sharp breath and swiftly patted her hand. Then he walked over to Rhett and his brother and said, "It's all just a little misunderstanding, gentleman. I understand, Mrs. Butler simply wasn't accustomed to Charlestonian traditions and found herself amiss."
Rhett threw a sour glance in Scarlett's direction and some young gentleman dressed like dandys quickly fell between the two brothers and tried to lead the younger one away. Scarlett came towards the group with a humble nod of her head.
"You know, my father was a big plantation man down in Georgia and I was raised as the County belle. And it always gave me a thrill to see if I could ever have two gentlemen dueling over me. But now after the war, I couldn't care for it. You see, I am partly Irish and if you all had been so politely courteous as you are being just now, I would have worked twice as hard to earn all your approval. But it all just seems dull and lifeless now. After the war, if the people of Charleston are still going to be polite and courteous to me, it just seems to me like snobbery. After all there is nothing left after the war. Nothing to be stuck up about. I thought everyone here would know that. And I am just like you all-"
Rosemary and Rhett's brother's wife were instantly beside her. "Why of course you feel aliented, poor thing!" cried Rosemary. "It was an innocent mistake. We should have told you- Oh Scarlett, we have been so neglectful!"
And the ladies led Scarlett away and soon only Rhett was left, glowering to himself until he too decided to light a cigar and walk down the corridor alone.