Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Chapter Four

They continued walking around the town until it was time for supper. They ate in the dining room of the hotel, finished packing and made their way to the railway station. As they were waiting for the train Rhett asked Scarlett, "Are you going to miss Atlanta?"
Scarlett smiled and said, "No. The only person who was any fun was you. Everybody else was busy sticking their nose in my business. I will miss Melly. She really is a kind person." Rhett was surprised by her comment about Miss Melly. Scarlett went on to say, "She was a big help while we were at Tara. She was the only person at Tara who was happy for us. At least Will and Careen congratulated me and thanked me for saving Tara." Scarlett smiled coquettishly at Rhett and said, "Not that marrying you is a sacrifice. So far it has been a lot of fun, especially last night." With that Scarlett looked at the floor and blushed crimson.
Rhett smiled and said, "For me too, my love. There's our train. Are you ready?" And Scarlett nodded. Rhett didn't know who was more excited Wade or Scarlett. She looked just like Bonnie at that moment so full of excitement. It broke his heart but in a good way. He hoped he would see Bonnie again in three years.

By the time Rhett got them situated on the private car Wade was asleep. Rhett laid him down in a berth not bothering to undress him. Scarlett covered him up with a blanket.
Scarlett changed into a nightgown while Rhett chose to sleep in his underwear. This disconcerted Scarlett. She had never seen that much of any man's body and his body was making her feel warm all over. Rhett smiled at her, "Not tonight, my love. These beds are not very comfortable." Scarlett almost wanted to pout. What was wrong with her she thought.

Rhett asked her what she meant by judgmental people. Scarlett looked at him and took a deep breath and said, "Ashley thinks I shamed myself by marrying you. He told me I could have the marriage annulled. That made me mad and I said I had made a deal and I would stick with the deal. He said that I made the deal with a man who wasn't honorable so it didn't matter. After all I already had the money what could you do about it. I asked about my honor and he said women don't have honor. That really made me mad. I said to him that to me a deal is a deal. I was lucky that you were willing to marry me. He said that he was sure a lady like me did not want to stay married to a varmint like you. I told him I guess I'm not such a lady because I consummated my marriage right there in the captain's office. At that he looked horrified.

Rhett burst out laughing and pulled Scarlett close and said, "I thank you for having honor, my dear."

Scarlett said," He made me so mad! With all his talk of honor but I am not an honorable person because I am a woman. I bet he wouldn't say that about Melly." Scarlett added in a tiny voice, "Thank you for marrying me and not making me your mistress."

Rhett turned over and kissed her.

The next morning Scarlett asked if they were going to stay with her Aunt Eulalie. Rhett smiled and told her that her aunt would not receive him. Rhett shared that he hoped he could get a message to his mother that he was in Charleston. Maybe they could all meet at her aunt's house. Scarlett said, "No. My aunt is such a proper lady that she would probably tell your father. Don't involve my aunt."

They arrived in Charleston in the afternoon and immediately went to one of the best hotels in the city. He had reserved a suite and when they were shown to it Scarlett was impressed. It had two nice size rooms, a sitting room and a pizazz.
That day they sent notes to their respective relatives. They had dinner in their suite. Scarlett played games with Wade and read him bedtime stories. She then joined Rhett in the sitting room. Rhett offered her his hand and led her to their room. Scarlett again was amazed at how relations could be so much fun. They slept soundly together. They only woke when Wade climbed into the bed with them.
After four days of waiting Rhett finally had a time and place to meet his mother arranged by Scarlett. Scarlett had called on her aunt the second day they were in Charleston. Scarlett told her Aunt Eulalie about her marriage to Rhett, her friend's son and how much she would like to meet her mother in law. Of course, Rhett couldn't call on the Butlers but even she was not allowed into the townhouse. Aunt Eulalie said that Elizabeth Butler would call on her on Thursday. She thanked her aunt and promised to return on Thursday. Rhett had Scarlett arranged for his mother to come to the hotel on Friday in the afternoon. Scarlett was able to visit with Miss Elizabeth at her aunt's house so when she arrived Scarlett took Wade to the park. She wanted Rhett and his mother to be able to speak freely during their visit. When they got to the stairs Scarlett realized she had left Wade's sweater in the suite. They returned. The sweater was on the couch in the sitting room Rhett and his mother were on the pizazz. Scarlett stopped dead in her tracks when she heard Miss Elizabeth say, "She is very pretty and very nice but she is so young. Do you know what you are doing?"
Rhett replied, "I hope so. Yes, she is very beautiful but that is not the reason that I love her. I love her because she's intelligent, courageous, stubborn, proud, loyal, she doesn't give up on things she believes in, if she gives you a promise, she will keep it no matter what happens. And she has such a lust for living.
Scarlett quickly grabbed the sweater and hurried Wade out of the room. When she got to the park she was frazzled. She sat on a bench and watched Wade play. The only thing she could think about was ... he loves me? He loves me! He loves me? At first, she thought how she could finally punish him for all his teasing remarks. She would take this knowledge and hold it over his head. She would finally win an argument... no. He still wouldn't let her win. She could make him buy her lots of stuff... no. He is already willing to do that. She now knew he would always take care of her. If he lost all his money he would go back out and amass another fortune. He would not sit back and cry about the past. Her father had said, "Like marries like." They were both southern, prideful, practical, stubborn and reliable. They would not just survive they would succeed. She thought about when Ashley was at Rock Island. They had offered him an escape. All he would need to do is serve in the army out west. Both she and Rhett would had taken the chance to leave that prison. Whether they would have served their entire time was questionable but at least they would have been warm, well fed and away from disease. Melanie and Ashley were appalled by the mere suggestion but honor can't feed them. No! No! Her future was with Rhett. Maybe she could learn to love him. She laughed. What's not to love? He is rich, handsome, caring, progressive, great fun and he had been so sweet and caring since they got married. He still teased but in a playful way. She knew she would never be able to bully Rhett. She would hitch her star to Rhett. She would keep him happy and she would be happy. Then she thought about Ashley and was sad. Ashley had been such a disappointment to her since he had arrived back from the war. He had been no help while they had been starving. In the orchard he had made it clear he would never leave Melanie. He had acted disgusted with himself for kissing her. It was time to let all her dreams of him go.

After another hour she and Wade went back to the hotel. When they entered the lobby there was a man who looked like an older version of Rhett causing a commotion. She knew immediately this was Rhett's father. He was demanding he be given the room number to Rhett Butler's room. Scarlett didn't know exactly what was going on but she knew it was bad. She and Wade ran up the stairs. When they got to their room she collapsed on the settee. In between gasps she said, "Mr. Butler in the lobby." Pant, pant, pant "What are you waiting for? Get out of here!" Pant, pant, pant.
With that Rhett hurried his mother out of the room and down the back stairs.
Five minutes later there was a pounding on the door. Scarlett had recovered her breath and went to the door prepared to play the southern belle. Mr. Langston Butler was a very rude man and instead of getting southern belle he got Irish peasant. As soon as he started attacking Rhett the southern belle was no longer available. Scarlett started yelling at Langston Butler and called him every name she could think of and ordering him out of the room. She was creating a scene on purpose to give Miss Elizabeth more time to get away. Rhett walked into the middle of this scene. Rhett paused for a moment enjoying watching his hellcat go after his worst enemy.
Rhett walked into the room. He ordered his father out of their rooms. But instead of leaving Mr. Butler started verbally attacking Rhett. Scarlett was intrigued. The madder Mr. Butler got the colder and more polite Rhett got. Rhett was incredibly mocking but he never raised his voice. Rhett's face got stonier and stonier. Scarlett had learned something about Rhett during this encounter. Finally, Mr. Butler stormed out of their suite. After he left Scarlett threw herself into Rhett's arms. Rhett held her close and Wade joined them. Rhett was not sure which of the three of them needed the hugs most.

In two days they were on a ship heading to London. Rhett enjoyed showing Scarlett and Wade the ship. Both of them were excited about being on the ocean and heading to London. Rhett marveled at how happy Scarlett was away from Ashley. In fact, she seemed to miss Tara more than Ashley. He never detected any of those dreamy far away looks that meant she was thinking of Ashley. Since leaving Charleston he would often catch her looking at him with fondness written on her face. He was happy with that for now. He wanted more but for now fondness was good. It was better than the hatred she'd worn on her face for most of their married life.
When they got to London, they checked into the Savoy Hotel. They were given a very nice suite. Rhett told her they were going to buy a house and they would choose it together. To which Scarlett giggled and said, "Of course, silly! I have no idea about your taste except you always brought me the most beautiful gifts, especially my green hat. I still have it. It's in my room at Tara. I left it at Aunt Pittypat's house when you wouldn't let me take it the night, we escaped Atlanta."
Rhett smiled and said, "I thought it was better to take Prissy than your hat."
Scarlett smiled at him and said, "It is just as well the hat was safe in Atlanta. I probably would have destroyed it every time I thought about your behavior at Rough and Ready. "
Rhett replied, "Was it the kiss or the desertion that made you so mad?" She threw a pillow at him and said, "The desertion, of course. The kiss wasn't even worth remembering." She said simply.
"Let me give you a kiss worth remembering." Rhett smiled and said. Scarlett didn't protest.