The grandfather clock was ticking on, but still minutes far far away from the time of her meeting with the business partner of George Trenholm, her father's friend.
"You may go now, Mr. Wilkerson."
"Thank you Mrs. O'Hara. I'll do it at once." His hat was in his hand, holding before himself, happy and thankful for not getting fired for his lately dalliance. Thinking about that dalliance made him sad and reminded him of sweet Emmie. The poor girl died after giving birth to a sick child, the child also died shortly after. Of course, Mrs. O'Hara wasn't aware of the dalliance or she chose to be unaware, putting her efforts on important matters, caring about her daughters and the future of them, something that Wilkerson wasn't privy to.
She nodded, but not looking at him, thinking of her letter to her father after so many years not speaking one word with him, after… after marrying Gerald, thinking of his response to her.
She still didn't like to talk to him, but she needed him for her children, especially now that it wasn't clear for how long this godforsaken war would continue.
They needed a place safer than here if everything went wrong. Men boasted how the Yankees would be licked, but they were just some men bluffing. She remembered something, the son of Marie Butler – the bosom friend of Eulalie and Pauline – said about how the South would lose to the Unions at the barbecue.
She planned everything to make sure no matter what they would come out of this war, safe and sound.
That was why she was taking necessary measures of their safety and rekindling the relationship she'd had with George.
He was happy, without any exaggeration, considering how he'd liked she would be his daughter in law. Even though she considered him as her second father, her heart was with Philippe and she wouldn't be cruel to George's son.
She asked his assistance in investing her family's money in something good, in response,he apologized fervently and wrote, would send his young co proprietor instead as he trusted him more than anybody.
Pierre would support them, there wasn't any doubt about that, but better to be on the safe side than to be sorry. He promised to take care of children if it was needed.
She looked at the clock, still not the time. She sighed, would be more happy, if he, himself, had come, but better not dwelling on the things out of her control.
"Miss Ellen, a man, said, "he's here fer a meetin'.""
"Please, Mammy, let him in."
The old woman grumbled under her breath, "dis ain' right a young gempman be here wid a lady. An' Miss Ellen got no bizness talkin' wid a man af works."
Ellen tried as always to be dismissive of her Mammy and let her talking rolled off her shoulders. She was still grumbling when the said gentleman entered the office.
"Dear Mrs. O'Hara. How I'm fortunate to see you again," said he, there was a hint of mocking in his voice.
Surprised to see Rhett Butler as George's partner. He looked not fazed one bit by seeing her, as if expecting to see Ellen there waiting for his arrival, well, he certainly knew about her. Surely, it was George's doing.
Ellen wasn't one to hide something that she knew when she did he would be the winner. He was searching for a weakness, but for what? Perhaps just for amusement or holding all the cards. The similarity between Philippe and his was enough to know him like an open book, but not as much as she wanted to.
"What a delightful surprise! Mr. Butler. How's your mother?" She smiled, her ladylike smile, a tight-lipped one.
He frowned for a second, but got back to his smooth, poker face. "Fine, and how's your dear father? George was so asking about him."
Well, they could go and go on this verbal-fighting, but she had more important matters than that. "I'm sure he knows more than I. Make yourself at home. Mr. Butler. I'm sure it'll be a long meeting."
She offered him tea and pastries.
"Ah! Indeed, Mrs. O'Hara." His eyes gleamed. "Or should I call you Mrs. Ellen Robillard, the same as your sisters?
Of course he would find out everything about her, he was the type to want to take control of every situation. And information was always power. She didn't use her maiden name for her running from that as it reminded her of Philippe, of how her father denied her the man she loved, of how all her hope was dashed, but her sisters clinging to it as it reminded everyone how they were aristocrats, how they were above them.
"Mrs. O'Hara is alright." She wasn't going to show how she loved Robillard and how she hated it.
"Then my dear madam, a long meeting, we'll have." His gleaming eyes were looking at her, waiting for a reaction.
Oh! The nerve of him to call me "my dear madam", ignoring her request.
She smiled sweetly and didn't waste time anymore. "I'd asked George to help me with some investment."
"He kept me in the loop. I'll be frank, the best way is not keeping your money in Confederate paper money and…" he paused, raised his right eyebrow, continued in his drawling voice, "and sell your cotton as soon as you can."
"Is it that bad?"
His eyebrows rose, surprised by her boldness. "Yes." The simple yes was said so casually and calmly that it almost looked as if he hadn't said it at all.
He rested his foot over the thigh of the other, took out a black cigar from the gold cigar case that was in the inner pocket of his coat and lit it with his matching gold lighter after asking her permission out of politeness. The way he'd done all of it was so casual at the same time so regal, so classy, so Philippe-like, she couldn't take her eyes off his masculine, yet slender hands.
"I trust uncle George, as he does you, so I would. I trust you'll protect our money."
He smoked his cigar for a while, puffing and blowing out and making a thick smoke in the process, then answered at last, "you have my vow as a businessman."
Not as a gentleman, She noted. Unconsciously, a bright smile graced her face, showing her dimples. Then as a rascal. The words almost came out of her mouth, but she held her tongue at the last moment.
His face changed to something less serious as if he was amused. "Congrats on your daughter's impending nuptial."
"Thank you." Wasn't sure where he was going with this.
"The Wilkes boy looked a bit uncomfortable the other day."
Ah! Trying to unlock the mystery of that day.
She didn't help him, let him elaborate further.
"As a friend, I'm saying this. That boy isn't good for your daughter."
Or you like her and want to have her to yourself, but not by marriage.
"Mother!" Both the eldest daughters burst into the room and called in unison, disturbing their conversing.
Ellen looked expectant and a glimpse at Rhett was enough to know he looked amused.
"Cade proposed to me! And I said yes!" said Suellen excitedly.
"I won't have a wedding dress."
"Girls, talk one by one." Stared at them in disappointment, though, internally felt relieved to not answer him about Scarlett.
By the time Ellen finished her admonishment, Scarlett and Sue noticed the stranger, blushing for behaving like ill-mannered young girls, both curtsied.
"This is my eldest daughter, Scarlett." Ellen gestured to Scarlett while from the corner of her eye saw him looking at Scarlett with an appraising look then her. "And this is Suellen, the middle one. Suellen, Scarlett, Mr. Butler, a family friend."
He sat up and bowed politely. "Good day ladies," said he.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," both girls said in unison. Ellen was satisfied with her advising Scarlett of being kinder to her sisters. They were more at peace with each other.
"Sweetie, does Cade ask your father's permission?"
"He said he'll go talk to him."
"We can have a double wedding," said Scarlett, unusually, was generous towards Suellen, nodding her head as if her sister's decision on her own wedding date didn't carry any weight. She pouted her rosy lips. "But, the seamstress said she couldn't make the dress for the wedding."
"Oh! How unfortunate," said Ellen, a hint of sadness coloured her voice.
"Madam," Ellen looked at Rhett, waiting to say what he had in mind. Rhett continued, his rich baritone voice was in contrast to the three women in the room, in particular, the two young girls, "if it isn't any issues with you, I can provide the wedding dresses for your daughters."
Both Scarlett and Suellen looked at their mother expectantly, happy to have their dresses ready for their tremendous event. Ellen's eyes still were on him, puzzling out his ulterior motives.
"If it isn't a problem for you."
"Not at all, my dear." He smiled and showed his pearly white teeth. Her daughters' eyes widened when hearing the endearment, and weren't used to seeing a man talking to Ellen that way, not even their father.
"There are some matters that need the attention of Mr. Butler and I," said Ellen smoothly, not showing one bit of her inside. Her heart was beating in rapid, there was the feeling of fluttering in her belly, the feeling that she long thought had she buried when Philippe died. The endearment wasn't new for her as she heard it thousands of times from Gerald, but the way he pronounced the word was so different, so persuasive, so seductive. She thought she was untouchable with these things, and so was her heart, but now…
Both understanding they were dismissed, again curtsied and left the room.
Her head turned back to the object of her troubled mind, trying to distract herself from the dangerous, treacherous thoughts, suggesting, "my husband and I would be happy if you'll attend the wedding."
With two long strides he came before her, the only distance between them was her desk, caressing the desk as if it was the delicate skin of a lover.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss the delightful double wedding, especially those two love birds that I'd had the pleasure of seeing." His mocking tone wasn't lost on her. She was holding her breath. She looked up and saw he was watching her and from the grin on his face it was obvious he saw she was eyeing his hand.
As soon as he came, he got back to his seat and casually, he continued to talk of investing and helping her to understand everything about it. She was thankful for his guidance and straightforward manner.
"What date should the cotton be ready?"
"Sooner better, but I shall leave for London a bit later, a business in Savannah needs to be taken care of before leaving."
Hearing Savannah, Ellen took the opportunity to ask for help on an important matter. Recently, after talking with her three daughters and paying more attention to them, finding out of Careen's affection for Brent, not at all happy to have Beatrice as the mother in law of her sweet Careen, deciding to send her youngest to Pierre and be educated there in a mixed sex school, it would do Careen good. "Mr. Butler, I need your assistance in another matter, if it's possible for you," she paused
He gestured with his hand to go on.
"We, Gerald and I, want our youngest daughter, Careen, to go visit her grand-père after the wedding, but with the upcoming war, I feared it's dangerous for her to go alone, I'll send one of the maid but I'm not sure she could protect Careen as she is young herself." She decided to send Prissy with her as the girl was more in her way than helping, besides Careen was more patient than the others to be kind to the girl. "I would be more at ease to know a family friend accompanying her."
His eyebrows rose high, surprised to be trusted when he wasn't received in most southern houses. "Pardon me, but I'm not a babysitter."
"Careen is a quiet girl." She hoped he agreed, because she really trusted him as a capable man to protect sweet kind Careen, besides, how could he be bad when George spoke highly of his partnerand Marie still loved her son despite his ruined reputation. A part of her was trusting him, because remembering how Philippe was the same and yet he was the best man she knew.
He puffed his cigar a few times, looking with intensity at her, said at last, "I'll do."
"Thank you."
He bowed his head slightly. "Anytime." He put out his cigar, stood up, "well then, I better leave."
"Please stay for supper, it's almost ready." Not sure what she wanted; him to leave or to stay.
He declined the offer and left her alone with her treacherous heart and mind.
Hi!
Hope you enjoy this chappie!
So Ellen's frozen heart is slowly melting! ;) (I'm almost sure this chapter is a surprise for everyone as it hadn't happened before.) What do you think about it? I'll be happy to know your opinion about it.
*George Trenholm had a very important role in the Confederate side. I just borrow his name and my story doesn't reflect anything about him, it's all fictional.
Thank you for your feedback. About Suellen, Scarlett and also Careen, it really annoys me to no end that the three sisters weren't close and didn't back eachother up. (I've got only one sister, but I wish I'd more!)