Chapter Seven

They arrived in Charleston exhausted. They got a suite at the hotel. The next day they took Careen to the convent. Rhett spent several hours in negotiations with them. Of course, he came away with a very good deal. Scarlett was so proud of him. Careen was happy and content. Scarlett was sad and morose. She just couldn't understand how Careen could have chosen this life. Rhett let her talk knowing she would never understand because Scarlett was so full of life, she could not understand the calm, contented existence of a nun.

Rhett's mother met them at the hotel and she took them to her new home. A house on The Battery. It was a nice house but too plain for Scarlett's taste. All that was needed was for Rhett to write the cheque. They went with Miss Elizabeth to shop for decor and furniture for the house. The decor was very nice and very expensive but very boring to Scarlett. After a week Scarlett decided to stay at the hotel during the morning. She was so tired and kind of nauseated each morning but felt a little better the rest of the day. She always felt like she wanted to vomit. She would hear about all their great finds but she just couldn't get excited about anything.

After about three weeks of this Rhett was embarrassed by the way Scarlett was acting around his mother. She was acting like a spoiled child who was pouting because she wasn't the center of attention. One afternoon when they were coming back after dropping off his mother.

Rhett started talking in a very icy tone. "Scarlett, I know my mother's taste is very boring and bland as far as you are concerned but I would appreciate it if you would at least pretend to care about the decor of her new home. If you would prefer, I can leave you at the hotel all day and you can lay around eating Bonbons and reading magazines. We are not forcing you to endure our company."

At that precise moment they hit a bump in the road. As Scarlett was saying, "Rhett I really am interested it is just I don't feel well." And luckily for Rhett she turned her head in time to vomit all over his legs and shoes and not his face and chest.

Rhett took out his handkerchief and handed it to her while pulling her close to him. Scarlett was mortified. Rhett smiled and said, "I believe you, my love, you don't need to demonstrate."

At this point Scarlett hid her face in his chest. When they got to the hotel and got out Rhett strolled through the hotel lobby like nothing was amiss. He stopped at the desk to have the hotel bring up a bath. Rhett dismissed the hotel maid who was staying with Wade but ask her to make sure their dinner was brought to their room. Wade had questions about Rhett's appearance but Scarlett asked him to come sit by her on the couch and tell her about his day. Before they knew it, the bath was there and Rhett was in it. Rhett had one of the staff take his clothes to be cleaned. Rhett got dress casually and came back out into the sitting room.

"My love, why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Rhett asked.

"Today is the first day I have vomited. For the last three weeks I just haven't felt good. I've been very tired and a little bit nauseous." Scarlett said defensively.

"I will send a note to my mother getting the name of a doctor and you will be seen by him tomorrow." Rhett declared.

All Scarlett said was okay. She had a good idea what was making her feel this way. She was pregnant. Rhett was going to be mad. He had clearly stated he didn't want a child for at least two years. If she suspects when she got pregnant was correct the baby would arrive three months before Rhett had even wanted to start trying. She didn't care what Rhett said she was going to have her baby. If he didn't like it, she would just go back to Tara. That would surely break her heart because she really did love him.

When the doctor came the next day, he confirmed her suspicion. She was pregnant. The doctor had left. It was now up to her to tell him.

He came in the bedroom. She thought he looks so worried. Maybe things will be okay.

Scarlett was looking out the window just like when she told him she didn't want to sleep with him anymore. Oh God. No! Not again!

Wait what was she saying. She looked worried.

"I'm sorry. What were you saying?" said Rhett.

"I said I am pregnant and I'm sorry it doesn't fit in your schedule but I'm having this baby. I didn't impregnate myself. You are the one responsible for pregnancy prevention. I'm not getting rid of it!" Scarlett said.

"Scarlett, Scarlett. I'm happy too. I would never want you to kill our child. That's all it was … a schedule. This baby is arriving ahead of schedule. I'm thrilled. Do you want to stay here to have the baby or go back to England?" Rhett asked.

"I want to have our baby in our home. We need to get busy on the nursery. Rhett are you really happy?" Scarlett asked.

"Yes. I'm thrilled. I will go out after dinner and book our passage back to England, to our home." He said.

"We can't leave until I am out of my first trimester. I should feel a lot better then. The doctor said if I get seasick it will be bad for me." She said.

"How far along are you?" Rhett asked

"Barely two months. I know the date of conception. It was the day you found out about your father and you asked me to pleasure you with my mouth. We got too excited to think about anything else and you changed your mind where you wanted to finish. I thought afterwards I hope I don't get pregnant." Scarlett said while blushing furiously.

Rhett smiled and said, "I don't remember that at all. Maybe we should re-enact it to refresh my memory."

Scarlett laughed and said, "Not with my queasy stomach. I don't want to vomit on you again."

In a sad tone of voice Scarlett said "She will be this baby's only grandparent. She is all Wade has too."

Rhett said, "Who? Honey."

Scarlett said, "Your mother. This baby and Wade will only have your mother as a grandparent."

He took Scarlett to the bed and laid down with her. She slept but Rhett's mind was a buzz. Was this baby Bonnie? Bonnie's birthday would be 18 months from now. Did the day matter? What if this baby wasn't Bonnie? Would he go insane waiting for the next pregnancy? Bonnie had said she was Scarlett's spirit child but what if she never came back. He loved his life now. Scarlett was growing up. She was softer and gentler. He was different now too. He was being a husband. He was sharing his life with her. He knew now that before he was a man living in the same house with a woman. They had just shared a last name even before she kicked him out of her bed.

Elizabeth Butler was thrilled to find out about Scarlett's pregnancy. Scarlett apologized for appearing apathetic these last three weeks. She was excited about the decorating plans so she had made herself get up and come with them to learn all the changes. Scarlett hoped most everything would be done before they left to go home.

Rhett noticed that Scarlett said that more and more when talking about England. He knew she felt safe at their home in London. Maybe it was as simple as Wade said ...the Yankees are an ocean away.

Within a month Miss Elizabeth's home was decorated and ready for her to move in. Rhett and Scarlet stayed with her their final week in Charleston. The Butlers spent Christmas and New Year's Day with Miss Elizabeth then later that week returned to London.

Five weeks on the Atlantic Ocean in January and February was usually far from pleasant but Scarlett was so happy that Rhett and Wade couldn't help be happy. Every day they got closer to England the happier she became.

When they finally dock and returned to their home Scarlett seemed to be walking on air. Rhett asked her why she was so happy and Scarlett replied, "Because we are home, silly. Our home!"

The months flew by and soon the due date was fast approaching. Scarlett was serene and relaxed the entire time. She would complain about being bloated, her back hurting, how large she was, and her trouble sleeping but in a cheerful way. Rhett would often catch her talking to the baby. She would be embarrassed but she kept doing it. Scarlett absolutely loved the fact that at nine months she could still go anywhere she wanted including her favorite place, the street market.

Scarlett went into labor one morning in July and was eating a meal by three o'clock. She loved the chloroform. It took the edge off the pain and made labor so much easier. She was not having another child without it. It was a girl who looked like Scarlett with blue eyes, eyes the same color as her Pa. Rhett came in and was so loving and kind. He said he wanted a girl and he acted like it too. When Rhett held their baby in his arms he started to cry and the baby looked at Rhett and winked. No that couldn't have happened but look at his life this couldn't have happened either so maybe she did wink.

Rhett turned to Scarlett and said, "Let's name her Bonnie Blue Butler. Her eyes are the blue of the Confederate flag."

Scarlett smiled at her silly husband and said, "Of course dear but when her eyes turned black you will have to explain to her how she got her name. Please bring Wade in. I want him to be included in the event."

As soon as Scarlett greeted Wade and told him to look at his new sister Scarlett was nodding off.

Soon after Bonnie was born Scarlett got a telegram saying that Frank Kennedy and Ashley Wilkes had been killed. Scarlett brought it to Rhett and asked him to find out anything more. Rhett found out that Frank, Ashley and some others had decided to make a raid on Shanty Town that was between Atlanta and the mills. Both Frank and Ashley had been robbed while driving down the road. They decided to teach those darkies a lesson. The Yankees had found out about it and had been waiting. Frank and another man had been killed instantly while Ashley Wilkes had bled out before anyone found him. Rhett did not suffer any guilt about Ashley's death. If he had to do it again, he would shoot Ashley himself. Scarlett was sad but not heart broken. She did wonder how Melly and Suellen were going to manage. Melly wrote a letter saying that she and Suellen had sold the mills and the store. Melly was living with Aunt Pittypat and India while Suellen had gone back to Tara. Thankfully Suellen was pregnant and would have Frank's child.

With Ashley out of the picture Rhett decided that they could return to the South. He was surprised when Scarlett wasn't happy about returning to the South. She told Rhett she was happy living in England. It was better here. Rhett knew she was referring to the chloroform and not having to be confined. If she wanted to stay here, they would stay here. He was happy here too. Although he would like to be closer to his mother.