Scarlett felt her temper scale new heights as she was rudely awoken for the second time that night. 'Scowl at you? Why I should shoot you for scaring me so! Just what sort of game are you playing at, Rhett? Waking me up, like that?'
'My pet, it was no game, I assure you,' Rhett said, an insufferable grin plastered right across his smug face. 'Bonnie mistook your slumber for a sleep of an altogether longer and less pleasant kind, and, in my despair, I could not resist launching myself at you. But it's no matter. I see now that she was mistaken and that you are as alive and bad tempered as ever!'
Scarlett frowned, her skin bristling in the way that it always did when Rhett began to speak in riddles. She was sure he only used them to mock her, to make her feel less intelligent than him. She opened her mouth to give him another piece of her mind when she felt two hands fly around her neck as Bonnie squealed in unmistakable delight, 'Mama, you're alive!'
'Alive? Of course I'm alive!' she answered, bewildered by her daughter's strange behaviour. She sat in confusion for a moment before she put Rhett's words together with Bonnie's earlier nightmare and realised her daughter's mistake.
'Honey,' she said in a softer tone as she stroked Bonnie's hair, genuinely touched by her daughter's unrestrained show of affection. 'Didn't I tell you I wasn't going anywhere? You should know you can't get rid of me that easily!'
'Isn't that the truth!' Rhett laughed, his jeering tone cutting through the tenderness of their mother-daughter moment like a carving knife. Scarlett raised her head to glare at her husband only to be surprised by the open look of remorse that filled his dark eyes. As she stared at him, she noticed how his gaze continually flittered between her and Bonnie with an almost scared expression. Scarlett puzzled over the strange look before smiling triumphantly when she recognised it for what it was: jealousy.
She was surprised she hadn't deciphered it instantly, Lord knew she'd worn it enough times when looking at Bonnie and Rhett together. Feeling vindictive, Scarlett decided to push her newfound connection with her daughter further in order to increase Rhett's obvious torment. She rose quickly from the chair, clutching Bonnie possessively against her chest as she planned to make a swift escape.
'Baby,' she purred in Bonnie's ear, careful to use only her sweetest tones that in times gone by had helped make her the Belle of Three Counties. 'How about you come and sleep in Mama's bed tonight? That way you'll know I'm safe, and I'll be there if you have another nightmare.'
The twisted look of hurt on Rhett's face would have been priceless if only Bonnie hadn't spoilt her moment of glory by squirming sharply in Scarlett's arms to face her father.
'No!' she cried. 'I want to sleep in Daddy's bed!'
Scarlett dropped her head quickly, not wanting to see the flush of victory steal across her husband's face. 'Fine,' she retorted, with poor grace. It was hard to hide her embarrassment and wounded pride in the face of Bonnie's callous rejection. She held Bonnie out for Rhett to take only for her daughter to cling on harder around her neck.
'No!' Bonnie cried again, making Scarlett's head snap back up in surprise. 'You too, Mama.'
Scarlett stiffened at Bonnie's words, her body seizing up as if she'd been dealt a physical blow. Glancing at Rhett out of the corner of her eye, she saw that he looked similarly winded by their daughter's unexpected request. For once in her life Scarlett found herself speechless, unsure of how to react for the best. The idea of sharing a bed with Rhett again was daunting. They hadn't slept together in years. Hell, they'd hardly spoke to each other in recent months! While she'd be lying if she said she didn't miss his presence at night, the idea of being that close to him after such a long separation was unnerving. After all, he was no longer the dashing, infuriating skunk of the war years. The man who'd dedicated himself tirelessly to teasing her just to see her smile. Nowadays, rather than chasing after her like a beau as he'd used to do, he seemed to stalk her like a dark, disapproving storm cloud, casting a shadow over her and everything she did.
She was well aware that the only person he truly cared for anymore was Bonnie and that this tireless devotion to their daughter would prevent him from refusing her anything, even when what she wanted was completely ridiculous. Scarlett sighed. She knew he didn't want her back in his bed, his tense body language and frowning countenance made that plain for all to see. But knowing that he didn't have the nerve to defy their daughter for fear of turning her against him, Scarlett knew that, yet again, it would be left to her to play the role of the cruel, strict parent in order to save them both from enduring an unpleasant night. And I wonder why Bonnie prefers him to me, Scarlett laughed mirthlessly to herself.
'Honey,' she said firmly, deciding she'd be better getting this over and done with quickly if she was to stand any chance of getting some much-needed sleep before dawn. 'I'd love to stay with you, but there's simply not enough room for you, me and Daddy all in one bed.' It wasn't the most convincing lie she'd ever told. In truth, Rhett's bed was so large that Mammy probably could have joined them without causing too much trouble, but Scarlett was tired and worn down by the night's events and it was the best she could come up with at that present moment.
'We can so fit, I'm only little!' Bonnie pouted, her blue eyes clouding over like a summer sky during a thunder storm.
Exhausted and unwilling to endure Bonnie's oncoming hysterics, Scarlett lost her composure and inadvertently blurted out the truth to her child, 'Bonnie there's no use crying about it, I can't sleep with you tonight as Daddy wouldn't want me to, and that's an end to it!'
Scarlett gasped when her mind caught up with her mouth and she realised what she'd said. The similar look of shock plastered across Rhett's normally stoic features told her that he too was taken aback by her words. No wonder we're both startled, she thought wryly, those were probably some of the only true words we've ever spoken throughout our entire marriage.
Rhett recovered himself in record time. Scarlett watched on, fascinated, as his blank mask was quickly refitted over his features, hiding his true self from her once more. 'My dear,' he drawled tonelessly, 'I believe it was you who decided that us sleeping together was no longer desirable.'
Scarlett flinched. They never mentioned her request for separate bedrooms out loud, it was something of an unspoken rule between the two of them. One of the few remaining vows that they both still stood by. Taken by surprise by Rhett's sudden candour, Scarlett floundered, and could only nod mutely when an ecstatic Bonnie, used to her father acquiescing to her every wish, took his words for consent and squealed her delight.
Now that they had reached this fragile accord both Scarlett and Rhett seemed at a complete loss as to how to proceed. Likely, they would have spent what little was left of the night standing gormlessly in the parlour had not Bonnie, impatient as ever, squirmed in Scarlett's arms until her mother put her down. Reaching out an arm to both of her parents, she captured their hands in her own miniature ones and pulled them determinedly towards the hallway where they ascended the staircase in an awkward silence.
Scarlett felt oddly helpless as she allowed herself to be herded up the stairs by her wilful daughter. For once, however, she found that she did not mind relinquishing control. In fact, after years of having to make difficult decisions single-handedly, she rather relished the chance to sit back and have someone else make them for her. Living with Rhett had become a battleground in recent months, she constantly felt like she had to watch her speech and her step around him for fear of evoking his contempt and setting off yet another round of sardonic jeers. Deep down, she knew that asking him for separate bedrooms had been the cause of this steep downturn in their relationship, but she also knew that her pride would never allow her to admit her mistake and ask him to come back. Thinking about it in that light, tonight might be exactly what she needed, the perfect way to reconnect with her husband without having to humble herself in front of him to achieve it.
As they reached the door of Rhett and Bonnie's room though, Scarlett couldn't help but feel that she did not belong there. This was their territory, a testament to the overwhelmingly close bond that they shared. A bond that, in tying the two of them together, had inevitably left Scarlett feeling increasingly alone and untethered.
'I'm in the middle!' Bonnie yelped as they approached Rhett's bed. The sheets were spotless and clearly hadn't been touched since Prissy had made the bed up that morning. Scarlett tried not to let jealously overwhelm her as she thought of the reasons for this, instead focussing on consoling herself with the fact that it was her and not Belle who would be sleeping with Rhett tonight. Her unpleasant musings were interrupted when Bonnie let go of her hand, jumped onto the quilt and dived quickly under the warmth of the covers. Feeling strangely vulnerable now that Bonnie had left her side, Scarlett glanced at Rhett, hoping that he would give her an indication of what to do next. She should have known better. Rather than offering her an insight into his mind, the black eyes that met hers were as distant and inscrutable as ever. Her courage waned at the sight, and she was considering fleeing to the safety of her own room when a cry of 'Mama!' reached her ears and she quickly joined her daughter in the bed before she could lose her nerve completely.
Under the safety of the covers, she removed her wrapper and dropped it onto the floor. Lying back, she shifted around restlessly, trying to find a comfortable position in an unfamiliar bed. She watched as Rhett removed his jacket and pulled off his cravat before bending to take off his shoes and socks. Once this was done, he lay down on top of the quilt, still clad in his shirt and trousers in a way that, had she not known he wouldn't leave Bonnie for a second time, would have made her think he was planning on returning to that ghastly saloon again tonight. Rhett turned suddenly onto his side, and their eyes met for a scorching second, setting Scarlett's pulse racing.
It was the closest she had felt to him in years.
'Hands!' Bonnie commanded bossily, breaking their brief connection as she reached out once again, her eyes falling shut in contentment once she had grasped her parents' hands securely in her own.
'Night,' Bonnie murmured drowsily, her breath growing shallow as sleep began to overtake her tired body.
'Night, honey,' Rhett replied, giving his daughter's hand a gentle squeeze.
Never one to be outdone, Scarlett chimed, 'Yes, good night, precious. Sleep tight.' Being sure to catch Rhett's eye, she leant across and placed a smacking kiss on Bonnie's forehead. She saw Rhett raise his eyebrows at her rare display of maternal affection, and fought to stifle her smile, pleased that her behaviour was wrong-footing him so obviously.
Soon, the sound of Bonnie's soft snores filled the dark room and Scarlett felt herself being lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of the sound. It seemed that she was destined to get no rest tonight though, as just as she was drifting off she felt Bonnie begin to toss and turn violently beside her. Groaning her displeasure at being woken once again, Scarlett turned to her daughter and, mistaking her sudden agitation for the onset of another nightmare, took Bonnie by the shoulders in an attempt to shake her awake.
To her surprise, she found that Bonnie's eyes were already open, shining brightly in the dark with an expression that seemed to Scarlett to be comprised more of irritation than fear.
'What is it?' she asked, as Bonnie huffed loudly and kicked her legs petulantly under the covers.
'I'm too hot in the middle!' Bonnie whined, letting go of Scarlett's hand and thumping the quilt in a sudden burst of temper.
'Do you want to go back to your own bed?' Scarlett asked somewhat reluctantly, surprised by how much she was enjoying sleeping beside her husband and daughter.
Before Bonnie had a chance to answer, Rhett's deep drawl broke through the gloom of the bedroom. 'It would be far easier if you and Bonnie simply swapped places, my pet.'
Scarlett tensed at his words, unsure of what to make of them. She'd thought he would leap at the chance to get rid of her, to reclaim Bonnie as his and his alone. Did this unexpected remark mean that he did not mind them sharing a bed again? That rather than being angry at her presence, he actually wished for her to come closer? Her heart soared at the thought that maybe she wasn't the only one who regretted them sleeping in separate bedrooms, that maybe she wasn't the only one who found the solitary nights cold.
She'd almost allowed herself to believe that Rhett still cared for her, when the feel of Bonnie clambering over her to get to the relative cool of the other side of the bed brought her back down to earth with a nasty bump. Of course Rhett wasn't doing this to get closer to her. Why, she'd be surprised if he'd even thought about her at all before he'd spoken up. No, his decision was based solely on the same thing it always was: Bonnie's happiness. His daughter's actions earlier tonight had been enough to convince him that she wanted to spend the night with both of her parents and, never one to let his beloved baby down, Rhett had acted to ensure that this was exactly what she got.
Oddly disappointed by the knowledge Rhett was merely tolerating her presence for Bonnie's sake, Scarlett lay back down closed her eyes. She tried desperately to ignore the shivers which were coursing through her body at the mere thought of Rhett's sudden proximity and instead focussed on trying to get some precious sleep.
'Hands!' came a cry from her right. Wearily, Scarlett turned onto her side and reached across Bonnie's torso to clutch her daughter's small hand in her own.
'You too, Daddy!' Bonnie demanded, making Scarlett's entire body go rigid.
'Err, Bonnie, I don't think…' she began to say only to feel her voice dry up in her throat when the mattress moved beneath her. She lay frozen as Rhett heaved himself from his position at the edge of the bed and came to lie directly behind her. Scarlett watched entranced as the large shadow of his arm moved across her, dipping underneath the sheets so that Rhett could take Bonnie's free hand in his. The movement brought him even closer. She could feel the entire length of his front pressing firmly up against her back, a luxurious wall of burning heat. Lying on top of the quilt as he was, the action effectively trapped Scarlett beneath the covers in a way that should have been uncomfortable, and yet wasn't. Rather than baulk at being so tightly surrounded by her husband and daughter, Scarlett felt happier than she had in a long time.
It was in this huddled position, safely cocooned between Bonnie and Rhett and filled with the warmth that seeped from their bodies into hers, that Scarlett finally found the rest that had been eluding her all night. She surrendered herself to sleep, protected by the security of her family's embrace.