Letters

In typical Rhett Butler style, Rhett had waited long enough to say good-bye to his mother and sister and had left, to resume blockade running, Scarlett assumed. She fumed as she remember how he had taken off after Ashley's birthday party so that he wouldn't have to face her, then again after her miscarriage, and finally after Melly died. He had a history of running out when things got tough. Scarlett was livid with the fact that he would rather run off than face her and she wondered idly if he was with people like…Belle Watling. Even if Scarlett did confront Belle, another 'Belle' would replace that one. Scarlett had to tend to her problems, and she would not run away. She opened the letters sitting on her dresser that her aunts had left for her to open. They had been stacking up for weeks, since Scarlett wasn't a very good correspondent.

Scarlett opened up a letter from Charlie, wondering if this was the letter that would announce his death.

My Dearest Scarlett,

It seems an eternity since I have last seen your beautiful face and heard the melody of your beautiful voice. Truly, my dear, before you came into my life I had thought such feelings and desires confined to the pages of books, but seeing you, holding your hand, and knowing that you will soon become my wife gives me hope and courage that I never realized I possessed, it gives me the strength to face the Yankees, knowing that I will soon come back to you, and that we will soon be together. I do not wish to worry your pretty little mind with talk of war, but suffice it to say that even though it's tough General Hampton believes as we all believe that this war will be short and victorious, and I will come back to you. I wait eagerly for the day when I will make you my wife. Keep me forever in your heart and your prayers,

Your beloved soon to be husband,

Charlie Hamilton

Scarlett couldn't believe he was so naïve and yet she could, she had seen the same naiveté in his sister. He actually believed this war, would be short lived. Had she by making him wait extended his life? She should be knee-deep in wedding preparations, but she hadn't even thought of a wedding dress, and every day her aunts pestered her about wedding preparations. They wanted her to marry in Charleston. It was a relief when she was able to escape to the Butler household and talk to Rosemary.

"I swear men are all the same, every last one of them, Rosemary!" she said showing Rosemary the letter from Charlie.

"He loves you, Scarlett," Rosemary said softly.

"Did you see what he wrote, don't worry my pretty litte head…I hate that sentiment as if I can't think as well as he can…" Scarlett huffed.

"I know what you mean, Father is the same way. He doesn't like me to read, 'Books put ideas in my head' " Rosemary intoned in her father's voice. "Books are no place for a lady's nose." Rosemary rolled her eyes.

"And he believes that the war will be over soon, he's no better than Frank!" Scarlett snapped, irritated, forgetting that she wasn't supposed to know about Frank.

"Who is Frank?" Rosemary asakd.

"My sister's beau, he's always telling her how to think, and what to do," Scarlett lied easily. "At least your brother appreciates a woman's mind, even if he does have a habit of running off."

Rosemary's eyes narrowed. "You seem to know my brother well, Scarlett, just what is between you?" Scarlett wasn't sure how to answer that.

"He's not courting me if that's what youre asking or he would have stuck around."

"Rhett's honorable, no matter what you may have heard. He always spoiled me as a child, being so much older than me, and he's always brought me gifts from his travels," Rosemary said.

"I can believe that," Scarlett said, thinking of Bonnie. She had the urge to tell Rosemary about Bonnie, but knew she shouldn't. "I bet once he has a child, that child will have him wrapped around her little finger," Scarlett said, instead.

"Do you often think about children?" Rosemary asked her.

"Not often, but sometimes. I always thought I would have a little girl with hair the same color as my own and eyes as blue as my father's," Scarlett told her. Rosemary had been Bonnie's aunt, would be her aunt, Scarlett thought.

"Not green like your own," Rosemary asked her. "I love children," she told Scarlett, "I always wanted to be a teacher, I still do, but Father's dead set against it," Rosemary told her.

"Someday, Rosemary," Scarlett said, "Perhaps you will take a page out of Rhett's book and do what makes you happy," she said softly. "Rhett seems to do what makes him happy."

"It's so much easier for a man," Rosemary told her, and Scarlett nodded and agreed.

"I've always been very good with figures, I know I'd make a wonderful businesswoman but I know, Rosemary, that society would believe I had unsexed myself especially if I was successful where men had failed," Scarlett stated, speaking from experience.

"You mustn't do such things, I would hate to lose your friendship, you have become most dear to me," she said, and she really did remind Scarlett of a cross between her baby Bonnie and Rhett, Bonnie had had the same way of talking so openly about what she thought and felt, but Scarlett had thought that was just the way of four-year olds even though neither Wade or Ella had been that way.

"I will do whatever I can to remain friends, you must come visit me sometime in Atlanta."

"I will, Scarlett, please be patient with Rhett, he's had a lot to deal with in his life."

"Who hasn't?" Scarlett retorted. "I must be going, I do have a wedding to plan afterall. My aunts wish for me to marry here, but we shall see." Scarlett squeezed her hand as she walked through the door, even though Charlie annoyed her, she knew she had to make plans for their upcoming wedding or else she would begin to look suspicious, and part of her wanted to get Rhett back for all the hateful things he had done, or would do to her over the years. She couldn't believe she had forgotten that he h ad asked her to be his mistress! Of all the low-down things Rhett had ever done! She was still a lady afterall!