Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the many reviews and the feedback.

Chapter Twelve

The next three days were a nightmare for Scarlett. She went to Jeter's Funeral Home and picked one of the nicest caskets that Mr. Jeter had for sale. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the cheapest either. She would not cheap out on Frank's funeral.

Frank had been a good husband Scarlett guessed. He had annoyed her with always calling her Sugar and not brushing his teeth often enough. He had annoyed her by wanting her to stay home after Ella was born and she had pretended to give in when she told him she wouldn't work as much. He had annoyed her by always inviting his boring friend Bob to dinner all the time. He had definitely annoyed her by not showing Jackass the door but instead he had welcomed him into their home like Jackass was calling on him and not her. He had made her furious when he had stolen her two hundred dollars. She had been really mad at him the night he died because he had lied to her. He had been a member of the clan and his actions had threatened everything. Everything that she had worked so hard to build up. Fortunately, Jackass had thought of a plan to save everything she owned. Jackass was really smart.

No, the truth was that she wasn't sorry Frank was dead. She was just sorry she no longer had Frank's protection from Jackass.

She had the funeral three days after Frank had died. Fanny had Tommy's funeral the day before and Scarlett didn't want them to have occurred on the same day.

There was an extremely nice turn-out. Most of the gentry had liked Frank. Of course, they hadn't had to live with him and his peculiar ways. At the funeral Scarlett couldn't quit crying. Scarlett thought that Frank had been happy while they had been married. Definitely these last six months since Ella had been born. He had loved Ella so much. Everyone in society were surprised at Scarlett's tears but they all finally decided that they were tears of guilt for having been so blatantly unfaithful to him with Captain Butler for the last year.

Scarlett had clung to Melly through the service. She was so appreciative that Melly had left Ashley sick bed to attend Frank's funeral. Scarlett had needed Melly's strength so very much.

She had put out quite the spread for Frank's wake. She was not going to have anyone say she hadn't done right by Frank.

Everyone was also shocked that Rhett attended Frank's funeral. Scarlett could feel him watching her through the entire service. Since he had told her of his plans that day, she had racked her brain trying to think of a way out of marrying Rhett Butler. Except for Frank continuing to live she knew she had no other path. With Frank's death she knew in one year she would be Mrs. Rhett Butler.

Rhett joined Scarlett after the funeral and said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "I will see you tomorrow about the business that Mr. Kennedy and I were in the midst of conducting."

"Yes. Of course, Captain Butler."

The next day Rhett came to call which was highly improper, but he didn't care. PittyPat Hamilton wanted to not admit him, but Scarlett said, "Auntie, he is calling to talk business. I can't afford to lose any money right now. Captain Butler, please, step into the library."

"Thank you, my dear."

As soon as the door was closed, Scarlett said, "Did you kill Frank?"

"No, the Yankees got to him first."

"Why didn't you tell me he was in the clan."

"Because if you had known you would have made him quit the clan."

"It would have saved his life."

"Possibly but we will never know. He might have had a tragic accident one evening coming home from the store," With indifference Rhett dismissed Frank. He continued, "Let's talk about us. When do you want to get married?"

"I don't want to be your wife."

"Everyone knows that I have been driving you back from the mills. Everyone thinks we have been doing something naughty so unless you marry me your reputation will be ruined. Not that there is that much to ruin."

"If I marry you, I won't have any reputation either."

"That is true but if people were to find out that we had two children together you wouldn't have any reputation either."

"I hate you so much."

Rhett ignored her statement and said, "We could always live somewhere else but the South."

"I want to live close to Tara."

"Set the date."

"I want to wait until I am out of deep mourning."

"Why? You didn't even love Frank."

"No, but he was kind to me, and I owe him that amount of respect."

"Fine. One year from today you will be my wife."

Rhett took Scarlett in his arms and kissed her. He pulled back and said, "Have you been drinking?"

"Yes, every time I think about my future it makes me want to get drunk."

"I have news that I am sure you will think of as good news. I am going to London. I will be gone for six months. I will bring you a diamond ring back from London. A big one."

"Thank you."

"I will build you a house as big as you like."

"Thank you."

"I will set-up accounts for you all over town once we are married. You can buy all the dresses, hats and under garments you want. I will choose your nightgowns and jewelry. You will have a wonderful life."

Scarlett frowned and said, "Except for the fact I don't want to be married to you."

"Even Adam and Eve had a serpent in the Garden of Eden."

"I don't want any more children."

"We will have children. Lots of children. That is one of the perks I get from this deal. Access to your delectable body. One thing for sure, you know you will have fun in your marital bed for once."

She snapped, "Rhett Butler, please don't talk that way."

Rhett smiled and said, "Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes."

"Kiss me goodbye. I have packing to do and some business to conclude."

Rhett kissed her and deepened the kiss. After some minutes Rhett moved them to the divan. Almost as soon as Rhett had sat and pulled her on his lap, Scarlett jumped back up. She said, "We can't do that until after we are married unless you want to have a third bastard child."

Rhett stood up and adjusted himself. To Scarlett's mortification he didn't even try to hide what he was doing. He said, "No, two are enough. Bye, my dear. I will see you in six months."

Rhett went to the National Hotel and packed up his meager belongings. He had always traveled light. No point in taking anything that he could live without. After he and Scarlett were married, he would start a library. He was pleased with his conversation with Scarlett. He would have his work cut-out for him to turn her affections around. Maybe he wouldn't bother. No, he wanted her to love him. He could make it happen. Afterall didn't he have a way with women.

Scarlett would be a very entertaining wife and a delightful bed companion. She did have a passionate nature. He hoped Old Frank hadn't soured her on relations. Although Rhett was quite sure Frank was more interested in him than he had been in Scarlett. He had seen enough women give him looks of desire not to have recognized that look on Frank's face. The truth was that Frank had been more excited about his visits than Scarlett had been.

Either way Rhett was not worried he was an excellent lover. He would restore her joy of their marital bed.

While Rhett was happily planning his future with Scarlett, she was searching her brain trying to figure out a way to avoid marrying Rhett Butler. She knew Rhett was right. Everyone knew that Rhett had been driving her back from the mills. Only someone as good and pure as Melly would put a positive spin on those actions. Melly had said, "Dear, it is so kind of Captain Butler to drive back from the mills with you every day, but you should think of another way to be safe as you drive through Shantytown. It just doesn't look right."

"I certainly can't think of anything. If you think of something, let me know."

Scarlett knew she had no choice but to marry Rhett if she wanted to continue living in the South. Her thoughts were going round and round. Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks metaphorically speaking. She could marry someone else. Being married to Frank had protected her from Rhett therefore she would just have to find another man to make her husband. Scarlett knew who she was going to marry. Hugh Elsing. He was a weak man. She could get him to the altar. The hardest part would be getting around Mrs. Elsing and Fanny. What's more once she married Hugh, she could restore her reputation.

She would have an excuse to interact with Mr. Elsing every day at the store. Such a perfect plan. She would convince Hugh for them to marry in secret and then not announce it until her deep mourning period was over. Scarlett laughed and poured herself a celebratory drink.

Scarlett was so pleased with herself. She went and got her children from Melly.

After Melly let Scarlett in her house, Scarlett said, "I miss my children. I am going to take them home."

"Are you sure it won't be too much for you?"

"Of course not. My children will give me comfort in my time of need."

"Alright."

"How is Ashley doing?"

"He is recovering but he is in a lot of pain."

"Would you like me to take Beau? I can bring them all back over tomorrow morning."

"Do you mind? He doesn't mean to be, but he is so loud it makes it hard for Ashley to sleep."

"Of course not. Let's go get them."

Mammy, Scarlett and all the children returned to Hamilton House. Scarlett did feel better with her children around her.

After supper Rhett walked to The Painted Lady. He sat down at the poker table. Sam Baker was playing cards and he said, "Are you going to finally make an honest woman out of Mrs. Kennedy?"

Rhett gave a quick smile. It had been Rhett himself that had made sure everyone knew he was riding back alone from the mills with Scarlett every afternoon. Rhett had asked Belle to be sure it got around, and she had. He said, "Yes, I am. As soon as I get back from England."

"I wouldn't leave that sweet, lovely woman alone in Atlanta. She will have so many gentleman callers her head will be spinning."

"She will not be out in public. She will be in mourning."

"Are we talking about the same Mrs. Kennedy? The woman who has defied all proper convention to get her sawmills up and running," Rhett stared at Baker. Sam continued, "The woman that has moved heaven and earth all by herself to be successful. You think she is going to stay home and watch her mills become failures."

Rhett burst out laughing. He said, "You are right, Sam. I can't leave my sweet fiancé unprotected. I will have to cancel my trip to London." Rhett laughed some more.

It was an incredibly good night for Rhett. He made a lot of money at the poker table. He had a particularly good time flirting with the whores, but he didn't go upstairs. He didn't want Scarlett to hear about that. Rhett knew he would not be faithful to Scarlett. He just wasn't that kind of man. He tired of the same woman fairly quickly. When he was unfaithful to her, he would be discreet. After all she was the mother of his children. He would not want to shame her that way.

The next morning, he was up early cancelling all his plans to leave. He telegraphed his London attorney and gave him instructions on what to do with his businesses. He ended the telegram with the instructions. 'I will trust your judgement.'

Later that afternoon, he called at the Hamilton House. Uncle Peter said, "Mrs. Kennedy isn't here."

"Where is she?"

Begrudgingly Uncle Peter said, "She went to see the dress maker and then she said she was going to the store to give the employees their instructions."

"Thank you."

Rhett thought, 'Baker was right. No, my little darling is not going to stay home like a good southern woman.'

Author's Notes: The phrase 'make an honest woman out of her' was first used in print in the book Tom Jones in 1749.