Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Note: Rhett's behavior in New Orleans after he determined that Scarlett was lying in his arms thinking of Ashley was to me extremely scary. This story is based on Scarlett becoming scared of Rhett after the incident.
When they got back from New Orleans Scarlett tried to return to her normal life but one event from her honeymoon kept coming back to her. The night Rhett had said, "May God damn your cheating little soul to hell for all eternity!" The way he said it was so cold and hateful. Then he had left. She had been so worried when he left the hotel room. She was worried he had abandoned her in New Orleans. She had no money to get home. She was worried that something would happen to him while he was out in the middle of the night. When he came back it wasn't much better. His face was stone cold and she could feel the hate radiating off of him. Then he left her again for the entire day. She had looked through his luggage to see if he had left their train tickets or any money. He had not. She didn't know who this man was but he was dangerous. All the shady stories she had heard about Rhett she knew were true. That is why she was going to see Uncle Henry. She had to know if she could annul her marriage.
As she walked into Uncle Henry's office, she felt everything was going to be alright. After a few minutes Uncle Henry saw her in his office.
Uncle Henry said, "How was your trip to New Orleans?"
Scarlett said, "We had great fun but Uncle Henry I saw a side of Rhett that scared me. Is there any way I can annul my marriage?
Uncle Henry looked at the floor and said, "Did you have relations?"
Scarlett blushed and said, "Yes."
Uncle Henry said, "Then no. The only way to dissolve the union would be a divorce. 'He scared me' would not be grounds to divorce him. Also, upon your marriage he legally owns everything that you once owned; your mills, your store, your children, even yourself."
Scarlett paled and said, "So if I tried to divorce him, I could end up with nothing at all?"
Uncle Henry said, "Yes."
Scarlett said in a very sad voice, "Then I will just have to live with him."
She got up to leave and gave Uncle Henry a hug and a kiss. Uncle Henry watched her walk away and gave his head a sad little shake.
Scarlett went back to the hotel. She hoped Rhett wasn't there. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now. She just wanted to think. How had she gotten herself in this mess? She hadn't listened to anyone when they told her not to marry Rhett. She had been blinded by how much money he had. She needed to start listening to people and not thinking she knew everything. She was too damn stubborn. When she made up her mind, she stopped listening to what people had to say. What was she going to do? He had been so angry. He knew she had been thinking about Ashley. She wouldn't let herself think about Ashley when Rhett was around. No matter what. She couldn't defend him to Rhett. No matter what Rhett said. She didn't understand the change in Rhett. He knew she loved Ashley. She had discussed Ashley with him since the bazaar. Why had he reacted so violently? Her head hurt from her thoughts going around and round. As she walked up the stairs, she again hoped Rhett wasn't in the suite.
She was in luck. Nobody was in the suite. She was going to lay down. Why had Rhett been so mad? How did he know she had been thinking about Ashley by just a sigh? Oh! She hoped she wasn't that easy to read but she knew for Rhett she was. Her thoughts went around and round in her head. She wished she had someone to talk to about what had happened but the only person she could really talk to was Rhett. She certainly couldn't talk to him about this. She wished she could go to Tara but she was still straightening out the mess Ashley had made of her mills. It was sad that her golden knight was such a bad business man. Finally, she decided she would go over the ledgers she had picked up this morning. That always calmed her down. It calmed her down about Rhett but it frustrated her in regard to Ashley. How can such a smart man not add better than he did. Why did he always make mistakes in the customers favor? She had cleared seven days' worth of activity when she heard Rhett return with the children. She was at a good stopping point so she went out into the sitting room. She really had to try to be a better mother.
She put a smile on her face and said, "Good afternoon. Did you go to the park?"
Wade who had been very happy a second ago turned a scared face to his mother. Ella just smiled at her. At that moment Scarlett realized Ella had her smile and her dimples and she smiled back happy for the first time all day. It was the first time she had seen any of herself in her children. Scarlett walked over and gave Rhett a kiss on the cheek. He looked surprised for a second then no emotion.
Rhett said, "Yes we have been to the park. It is becoming our daily routine."
Scarlett said, "I will have to go with y'all one day to see the attraction of this park."
Rhett was wondering what she was up to. He still loved her, of course, but he was hurt by her dreaming of Ashley while in his arms.
Rhett said, "You are welcome to come anytime."
Scarlett said, "Thanks."
Rhett asked her, "What have you been doing all day?"
Scarlett said while making eye contact, "I visited the mills and the store. I brought the ledgers back with me. I was going over one of them when I heard you come in. Do you want to eat in the dining room or have something sent up?
Rhett said, "I would prefer to have something sent up."
Scarlett said, "Let me go downstairs and arrange for supper to be sent up at 6." And left the suite.
Rhett wondered what was different about her. There was something different but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Life fell into a routine. Lots of the Old Guard called on them and Scarlett played the role of hostess. She tried to enjoy their visits but she didn't.