Thank you, thank you for the reviews of my last chapter. Wow, I was truly blown away by the responses I received. You guys are the best! I hope this next chapter is as well received, lol.

Chapter Thirty Five

Illusions Revealed

The sun was getting low and casting shadows of color in the entrance hall from the stain glassed windows behind where Rhett stood in the doorway. Scarlett blinked a few times hoping he wasn't a figment of her imagination, but then he stepped forward and removed his hat, glancing around as he did.

"Rhett," she managed to say in an effort to compose herself. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I should hope not," he drawled. "I wasn't expecting myself to come back here, but back here I am, eh my pet? At any rate, there are a few matters of business that I need to attend to and some things I would like to retrieve from here before I go back to Charleston."

"Charleston?" she repeated stepping near him. "But, Rhett-"

"I merely came by tonight to see about Mrs. Olson. How is she doing?"

"She's fine, but Rhett-"

"I had hoped she was faring well in Atlanta," he interrupted her again.

"Yes, Rhett, she's doing very well," she replied impatiently. "But, Rhett I have some news-"

"As do I," he nodded. "However, mine does not bring good tidings."

"What is it, Rhett?" Scarlett queried, curious now as to what Rhett was going to tell her. He lowered his voice, "It concerns Mrs. Olson's husband's murder."

"Mr. Butler," Darcy's voice cut through the air as she hurried into the entrance hall.

"Mrs. Olson," Rhett straightened as he extended his hand to hers and held it warmly.

"I was on my way upstairs, I certainly wasn't expecting to see you standing here with Scarlett."

"I just only came from the depot. I've taken my wife by surprise I'm afraid."

Darcy nodded and then she looked at Scarlett. "I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed staying in your home, Mr. Butler. Scarlett has been so wonderful to me."

Rhett's brows shot up slightly at Darcy's declaration. He slid his gaze over Scarlett as if he wasn't quite believing what he was hearing.

"She's been so kind, I can't begin to repay her for all she's done for me."

Scarlett squirmed uncomfortably under Darcy's praise and Rhett's perusing look. "My goodness, Darcy, Rhett isn't interested in hearing about any of that. I'm sure he's tired."

"Oh yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Butler. I won't hold you. I'm sure you and Scarlett have some catching up to do," Darcy said and began to move away.

"Actually," Rhett started and cleared his throat. "I came here when I have because I have some information regarding your," he paused quietly, "your husband."

"Oh?" she said, but her face had suddenly lost all expression.

"The men who murdered him have been apprehended and are behind bars as we speak."

Darcy's face then drained of color. She let out an audible gasp and swayed on her feet. "I, I," She didn't finish but covered her face with her hands and burst into tears. Scarlett was immediately by her side comforting her.

"I'm sorry," she muffled tearfully into her hands. "I've been trying to be so brave and strong for James' sake but now that it's over it doesn't feel like I thought it would."

Scarlett looked at Rhett over Darcy's head. "What do you mean, dear?"

"I thought I would feel some satisfaction but I don't," she shook her head. "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter at all. It's not going to bring James back and it's not going to undo what they did to him."

Scarlett held Darcy's shuddering body close to hers and let her cry. This young woman had become very dear to her and she didn't want to her feel this kind of pain. Unfortunately, the sound of her crying brought Eli and Ashley from the parlor and into the entrance hall. They both stopped short at the scene before them and at Rhett's appearance.

Rhett's dark eyes glittered upon seeing the two men and he turned sharply to Scarlett. His lips thinned angrily and she knew he immediately thought the worst. He always did where she was concerned, but she didn't have time to explain anything to him.

"I'm so sorry for falling apart this way," Darcy sniffed sorrowfully against Scarlett's shoulder.

"Don't be silly," Scarlett softly patted her arm. "No one is judging you. You just cry all you want."

Darcy swiped at her eyes and looked over at Rhett. "Mr. Butler, thank you so much for telling me. I'm glad I know, I'm glad those men are captured. It's just hearing it brings it all back so fresh."

Rhett's grim expression never changed, but he did acknowledge Darcy's gratitude with slight nod. "I'm only sorry that you've been through this at all. You've been very brave and you have been strong. No doubt, your husband would be proud of you, Mrs. Olson."

"Thank you," she whispered gratefully. "Thank you for all that you both have done." A fresh wave a tears caught her and she began to shudder again.

"Excuse me, I'm going to take Darcy upstairs," Scarlett stated and began to lead the distraught woman away from them. She glanced behind her once as she neared the landing and was struck by the three men watching them. Rhett with his dark and angry, but oh-so handsome stature, Ashley with his soft blond features and Eli with his ruddy brown complexion and subdued golden eyes. All three men meant something to her at one time or another and while they were so different they had but one common thread… her.

It was a disconcerting thought, but not an unnecessarily bad one. It certainly helped one's ego to be sought after but the one she wanted to do the seeking was now staring at her with such bold contempt that it seared into her very soul. She would explain it all to him and he would understand then. He would know that it was him she wanted and only him.

As she helped the distraught Darcy into her room, she wondered what was happening downstairs between the three men and felt nausea grip her again. God's Nightgown! If only Rhett would hold his temper until she could talk to him private, until she could explain everything to him. Then it would be alright, everything would be alright.

The tension in the air was thick when Scarlett and Darcy disappeared upon the landing to the second floor. The three men stood looking at the other when Rhett smirked and tossed his hat to the nearby table.

"Well gentlemen, what an untimely appearance on my part. Tell me, which one of you is here to win the hand of my wife? You Ashley, with your honorable and yet, not quite respectable offering of love or you Eli Barrett, the loner, the one who wishes he could have her but chooses to remain in the shadows."

Eli cupped his hands on his hips and lowered his head and Ashley stiffened in indignation at being called out so blatantly and yet offered no denial to Rhett's accusations.

"Come gentleman, let me offer you a drink and we'll settle this matter," Rhett swept his hand toward the library where he kept his brandy and cigars.

"Don't be preposterous, I will do no such thing," Ashley visibly bristled. "To even suggest such a thing is-"

"Dishonorable?" Rhett supplied and then casually lifted a cigar from the inside of his coat pocket. "Is it anymore dishonorable then coming home to find you two panting like lap dogs after my wife?"

"You obviously are going to think the worse regardless of what is said," Ashley responded coolly.

"You're probably right about that," Rhett nodded and lit the cigar, taking a long drawl on the end. "Do you remember what you told me when you came to Charleston to visit me? I do. You said, and I quote, "If you don't do the right thing by her, then I will." Remember that?" Ashley didn't answer but his face became sterner and his breathing deepened. "I suppose you're here to do the right thing by her, if you're a man of your word that is," Rhett drawled sarcastically.

"You're despicable," Ashley's voice dripped with scorn.

"As are you, sir," Rhett nodded curtly.

"Mr. Butler," Eli finally spoke up. "I can assure you, this is not what it appears. I am not here to bring any discord between you and your wife."

"Yes, so you would have me to believe. On our last parting, you failed to mention that you were coming to Atlanta."

"No, I didn't that's true enough. It was a last minute decision, one I see now I should have considered differently."

"There are a great many things you both should have considered differently, as it is, I have no choice but to ask you both to leave and to never return to my home. Scarlett is my concern, not yours."

"Your concern?" Ashley scoffed. "You've had no concern for her since before Bonnie's death."

Rhett's whole demeanor suddenly changed. Whereas he had been cool but restrained, now he was ominous and dangerous and whipcord straight. His dark eyes glittered angrily and they were staring hard and cold at Ashley. "Were it not for the fact that I would most likely kill if I were to lay a hand on you now, I'm going to give you just two minutes to remove yourself from my sight, Wilkes."

Ashley's face paled at Rhett's threat. Realizing his mistake, he gave a short nod and gave Eli a cursory glance before stepping away. "I do apologize, Captain Butler. I had no right to say that. Please forgive my thoughtless outburst."

He quietly walked to the door and exited the house leaving Eli and Rhett alone. Rhett watched the door for a moment and then stalked to the library. He shoved the door open and let it bounce loudly off the wall. He grabbed the whiskey decanter and sloshed the liquid into a glass, throwing it down the back of his throat with a practiced hand.

Eli knew his presence wasn't necessary and although he didn't know who Bonnie was, he could only speculate that she was someone of importance in Rhett's life based on his reaction. He had no doubt that had Ashley gone further, Rhett's threat would have not been idle.

He, too, quietly left the house, shutting the door behind him. Whatever the circumstances surrounding Rhett and Scarlett's marriage, they were bound to one another whether they realized it or not. Rhett had accused him of lingering in the shadows, longing for her but never crossing the line of propriety. Perhaps Rhett was right, but Scarlett was unlike any woman he had ever known. She was brave and beautiful and certainly not afraid to speak her mind.

If he were to be honest, he fancied himself half in love with her but that was neither here nor there. He wouldn't interfere in her life, but wouldn't walk away now. He would stay in Atlanta to be near her, watching over and her and her unborn child even if nothing ever came of it. Pushing his hat down on his head, he released a deep breath and moved down the walkway. Besides, he hadn't lied when he told Ashley he other reasons for being in Atlanta.

The opportunity had risen and one to always take advantage of them when they appeared, he only looked back once at the mansion before heading toward the Red Horse Saloon, or Belle's Place, as he had heard it referred to. Wouldn't Belle be surprised to see him after all of these years?