Chapter Six

Rhett checked into the National Hotel. Funny he thought now that Scarlett is not around, I behave the way I should have when she was here. Rhett went to see Belle. She told him, "Nobody knows where she is. If they do, they are keeping the information to themselves. I thought you weren't ever coming back."
Rhett drank several more drinks and finally said, "This is the last place Scarlett was. There has to be a clue here somewhere."
Belle hoped he found a clue. She had never seen a more unhappy man.
The next week he visited everyone again. Henry Hamilton, Melanie Wilkes, the ticket sellers, Joey was no longer at the train station, even Suellen Benteen. Rhett thought he would get a clue or a lead from Suellen because of the hostility between the two sisters. Suellen didn't give him anything. She wouldn't hardly talk to him. What Rhett didn't know was Suellen liked Scarlett being gone then Suellen could pretend she was dead. Rhett went back to Atlanta. Rhett stopped by the Wilkes to let them know he was leaving the next day. Ashley said, "Rhett you may not know this but Scarlett speaks French fluently. Her grandfather made her learn."
Rhett was amazed that Scarlett spoke French. Could she be in France but where? He would be visiting her Grandfather in Savannah soon.
Before Rhett left town, he dropped by Henry Hamilton's office again. Rhett gave Henry the letter and said, "If you have a way to get in touch with Scarlett give this to her."
Rhett walked away wondering where Scarlett was. He would go to France.

Henry Hamilton wondered if he should just throw the envelope in the fire and save his niece a lot of heartache. He threw it in the box with all the other letters for Scarlett.

Rhett went to Savannah to visit with Scarlett's Grandpere. Pierre Robillard was an old bitter man and he lied to Rhett and told him he had relatives in Paris.

Rhett went back to Charleston long enough to tell his mother he had a lead on his wife. It was the first time Elizabeth Butler had seen her son happy in a number of months.

Rhett sailed out of Charleston on his way to Paris, France. He just wanted her back. No questions asked.

Before Scarlett knew it, James was three months old. He was a beautiful baby. His eyes had stayed green. It made Scarlett sad to know she didn't know if James looked like Bonnie at three months or not. She didn't know any of these markers of her other children because she hadn't cared when they gave their first smile, or rolled over, or sat up for the first time. She was watching all of James's first and was sorry that Rhett couldn't be here to enjoy these moments but she was more afraid of him now than she was when she left him. He will feel like she robbed him of precious time with his son. She knew he would cut her out of her children's lives; all of her children.

She had received a box from Uncle Henry yesterday and there were several letters from Suellen and Melly and one from Rhett. She would read Melly's first. When she had finished all of Melly's letters the only thing she was thinking was 'we have to leave. Now!' but she sat down and read Rhett's letter before she did anything.

February 1, 1872

Today three years ago was one of the happiest days of my life because the woman I love had just given me a baby girl. The baby was beautiful. My wife was alive and healthy. I was on cloud nine. It seemed my wife was actually beginning to care for me. I had hope. Then six weeks later the worst day of my life. My wife told me she no longer wanted to sleep with me. I didn't need to be told that the man she loved had asked her to stop sleeping with me. I could tell by her body language. I got mad and said things I probably shouldn't have said.

Scarlett, I have loved you since I first heard that vase crash to the floor in the library. I thought about you often the first year after we met and when I saw you at the bazaar, I knew we were fated to be together. Unfortunately, you didn't share my conviction of our destiny. I courted you all through the war but I wasn't ready to commit to marriage. I often wonder that night if I had asked you to marry me instead of asking you to be my mistress what you would have said. I behaved badly at the Firehouse. As well as I know you, I should have known you would do anything to save your Tara. I probably could have gotten the money but I was so hurt that you tried to play me for a fool I behaved rather badly. Frank took you up on your offer. I could have killed Frank if the Yankees hadn't gotten him first.

We had fun in New Orleans. Unfortunately, my vanity got in the way again. I thought that once you were my wife you would realize that you didn't love Ashley. You would realize you loved me instead. That was simply my arrogance. For the last three years I have been making you pay for my mistakes. You didn't love me so I punished you. You didn't want to sleep with me so I punished you. You had a horrible reputation thanks a lot to me so I punished you.

That night we were together after Ashley's party was the best sexual experience in my life also. I ran away to Belle's because I was a coward. I ran away to Charleston because I was embarrassed about the gossip even though I knew you would never physically cheat on me. I ran away to New Orleans because I wanted to punish you for Bonnie asking for you every day. I had done everything in my power to cut you out of her life but she still wanted you desperately.

I am no longer living in Atlanta. If you want to get in touch with me you can reach me through my mother. She will always know where I am.

I love you. Please come back to me.

Rhett.

Scarlett didn't know what to do. Rhett sounded so sincere but was he being truthful. Was this just an elaborate hoax to get her to return to him? If I ever return, I will never be able to leave again. Or worse he will divorce me and separate me from all of my children. She showed Andi the letter and asked her what she thought. Andi said, "I believe he misses you today but I also believe that he is a cruel and a vengeful man. Send him a letter back. You can send it to your Uncle Henry and ask him to give it to him."

Scarlett said, "He no longer lives in Atlanta but I can contact him through his mother. But Andi the worst part is for some reason Ashley told him I speak fluent French. Melly thinks he is already here in France looking for me."

Andi said, "Then we can go back to the United States or England or Australia.

Scarlett said, "I don't know where we should go."

Andi said, "How fast do you want him to find you?"

Scarlett said, "I would like at least another year with my children."

Andi said, "If we go to Australia, I bet you could get another four to five years."

Scarlett said, "The most is three years because when Wade is fourteen, I will enroll him in a preparatory school in Boston. I have to let him go to Harvard. That has been his dream for years. He is such a good boy and he has been very helpful all these months since we left Atlanta."

Andi said, "I would suggest Australia because it is highly unlikely, he would find you there but you could always return to the United States before Wade is fourteen. We lasted here almost nine months."

Scarlett said, "Let me think about it."

A few hours later Scarlett said, "Let's go to New York. Then we can work our way across America looking for some place to hide."

Andi said, "Let's get packing."

Scarlett said, "Go find out when the next ship is leaving Nice."

Andi came back in an hour and said to Scarlett, "There is one leaving for Boston in two days and one leaving for New York in a week."

Scarlett went to her hiding place and withdrew some money and gave it to Andi and said, "Buy us tickets for the ship leaving for Boston. If you can get a suite that would be best. We can travel as sisters but I will wear my wart."

Within two days the women had packed up their clothes and toys. Scarlett wrote Rhett a letter and Andi sent her attorney a telegram that said, "Leaving." As before Scarlett and her children shared one room and Andi had the other room. Andi chose to dress as a man after all since Scarlett was wearing her maternity dresses with the money belts underneath them. Her jewelry was still sewed into her clothing as before. Scarlett had never gotten any of her jewelry out because she had no place to wear it. The only jewelry she wore was her wedding ring and a locket that had Rhett's picture in it. As before Andi did most of the interacting with other people. Scarlett wore a hat that hid most of her features but her wart did the most to disguise her.

After the ship set sail Scarlett gave a sigh of relief. She didn't know how close Rhett had been to finding them but she felt like he was close. Once again Scarlett and her children formed a tight little group. Everyone loved Andi but to the children she was their teacher and their mother's companion. Andi got along well with the children but like Scarlett she didn't have any natural maternal expertise. Andi told the children that school was not dismissed just because they were moving back to America.

So, every day they had lessons in the morning and were able to explore the ship in the afternoon. Scarlett would almost always escort the children around the ship. Wade was always looking for Rhett. After two weeks on the ship Scarlett told him to relax and enjoy being aboard the ship. Surprisingly Wade did relax and started acting like an eleven-year-old little boy again. The next three weeks were a good time for everyone. Occasionally Ella or Bonnie would say something about Rhett and Scarlett would respond but not encourage the conversation.

As they sailed into Boston harbor Andi took the opportunity to teach about the Boston Tea Party. Ella and Bonnie did not understand and were very confused because to them a tea party was something you had in your room with your dolls. Wade understood and he and Andi had a long conversation about the incident. Scarlett decided that they would move to New York as soon as they were off the ship with their trunks they were whisk away to the train. This was a common practice therefore the porters knew how to accomplish everything. Scarlett gave both men a nice tip. Andi had inquired about a private car but there were none available so they had settled for sleeping bunks together.

Andi had asked several of the railroad porters where to stay in New York. They chose the Mayfair Hotel. They were able to get a suite. Within a week the women had found a nice townhouse that was reasonably priced to rent. The townhouse came furnish so they were able to move in that week. The only thing they had to buy was a crib. They fell into the same routine as in Nice. Scarlett cooked, Andi taught and everybody cleaned. They were able to get a wash woman to come in once a week. In the last year Scarlett had modified her wardrobe so that she no longer needed someone to help her get in and out of her clothing. She had decided she was never wearing a corset again. She was not going to torture herself again for the sake of vanity. Again, Andi contacted her attorney with their address and the entire story of why they had left France. When Henry received the letter, he wondered at why Ashley would give Rhett any information. At least this time he was the only person who could reveal any clues. And he still hated Rhett Butler with a passion.