Rhett rose early the next day, freshening up and retrieving a cup of coffee from the kitchen. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching Scarlett sleep. He hadn't told her his plans about the good doctor but thought he should talk to the man. Will could be a part of it also, but with Will's past feelings for the woman involved and the new found peace in the Benteen marriage, Rhett felt Will was better out of it. Besides, Rhett mused ruefully, he was closer in age to Careen's father; it was his place to speak up.

He drained his cup and started down the stairs when he heard a knock at the door. Pork answered, admitting the doctor in question. Rhett greeted him and asked him into the parlor.

"I wanted a moment to speak with you about Careen," Rhett told him.

Peter Gilbert's face changed from benign to anxious. "Has something happened?"

"What? Oh…no. She continues to improve according to Mammy. What I want to talk about has nothing to do with her medical condition."

Gilbert's inquisitive eyes focused on Rhett, the clear blue seeming to pierce him. "Doctor, as the elder male in this household, I find myself in the awkward position of having to ask your intentions where my sister-in-law is concerned."

Peter Gilbert's face went white as his eyes widened. "My...my …intentions?"

"Yes, it is obvious to everyone here that you have developed feelings for Carreen. Now, we have yet to understand why she left the convent and has come here, but she is a nun. Not to mention the many years that separate you. My god, man…how can you even think in such a way?"

Gilbert straightened. "I might remind you, sir, of the difference in age between you and your wife. But, it is not my intention to pursue her. As you say, she is a nun. I have enough respect for the Church left to honor that. And more, I have enough regard for her to respect her wishes. I cannot, however, deny my feelings. I barely know the young lady and yet, I admit to having very strong feelings for her. I came this morning to check on her condition and leave further instructions for her recovery. As long as she remains under this roof, you may be assured that my visits will be infrequent. I do not wish to cause her discomfort."

Rhett's eyes narrowed as a small frown formed on his brow. Looking into the man's face, Rhett saw the depth of his feelings. "You give up too easily, Dr. Gilbert. Why?"

"I believe I have explained my reasoning. Now, if you'll excuse me…" he turned to leave the room, "I'll attend my patient."

Peter Gilbert stood inside the door of Carreen's room, watching her breathing with the mind of a doctor but the heart of a man. Her eyes fluttered open and found him, a small smile lighting her face. "You have been away," she said hoarsely.

"And you've improved significantly," he smiled back.

Her smile widened. "I like your smile," she said simply, honestly. The effect on him was extraordinary. He felt his heart fill his chest as breathing became difficult. How could he do it? How could he leave and not look back? How could he not pursue his feelings? For the first time since his wife's death, he felt hope, wanted a future, thought about a family. But of course, she was a nun. There was no reason to feel hope, no future…not with her, and so, no family. His heart sank to his stomach.

He saw the concern in her expression. "Dr.?" Her face held such innocence, such simplicity, and so many questions.

"I have only a few minutes. I want to be sure you are progressing and leave instructions for your recovery. But I do have other patients to take care of, more needy ones than you."

The pain of his heart constricting heart was almost too much as he watched the disappointment form in her eyes. "Oh, I see." He tried to keep his voice neutral as he completed his examination. "So, are you on leave from the convent or did you just run away?"

Contrition clouded her expression as her eyes fell. "I…they told you that I am a nun?"

"Yes. No one seems to know why you are here?"

She sat very still for a minute. Then sighing deeply she began to speak. "If…if I tell you…will you promise not to tell…them?"

He dipped his head, trying to see her eyes, get her to look at him. "Okay. I won't tell, I promise."

She fidgeted with her fingers, her head bowed. "I…left without leave. I won't go back."

"Without leave? Did something happen? Do you no longer…have faith?"

Her head shot up, a stunned look on her face. "Oh no, you mustn't think that…but, I can't go back…there."

"Perhaps they would let you move to another convent, then?"

"No…I…would have to explain." Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

"Explain?"

"You promised not to tell…and I shall need your help eventually anyway. But I hesitate to explain because…your opinion of me is significant to me and… I fear you will not care much for me after I tell…"

"Please, Sis…Miss O'Hara, believe that nothing you can say will lower my esteem for you. Meeting you has been…well, a very bright spot in a very dull life."

"Oh," she flushed again. "You must have a very interesting life, travelling and all…not to mention helping so many people. I…well, at the convent, I often dreamed of returning to Clayton County and caring for those who might need nursing. I think…at least I hope that I will be able to do so. I feel it is my calling now."

"Nursing? Really?" His heart was swelling again. "I admire your…plan. But what of your vows?"

"As I said, I will not go back. They would make me…" her eyes fell again. "They would make me…get rid of it." She was turning redder and Peter thought he detected shame in her manner.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand…"

"I…am in the family way, Doctor. Even though I have no…husband."

"What? How? I mean…I know how but…you were in a convent…"

"There was a priest. He came weekly to hear our confession and say mass. We struck up a friendship…at least I believed it to be so. Others tried to warn me about him…his intentions, but…I believed in him," she whispered.

Peter felt anger boiling in his gut. "He…made advances?"

"He…um, …one afternoon we were talking. I had questions about the Scripture from the morning Mass. It seemed to apply to my conflict about my true calling and we were talking in the garden. He became forward and when I tried to protest, he… well, he…" she began to cry, tears streaming down her checks as her body shook.

Incredulous, Peter gathered her into his arms. "He …forced himself on you?" His anger was in his throat now.

"Ye…yes," she sobbed, sinking into his embrace. "And…then I discovered that I am with his child and I knew I must leave. In spite of the conditions of the conception, I will not…get rid of it."

Peter's mind was spinning. "How do you know…that you are… with child," he managed to choke out.

"I..um…have missed my…monthly flow twice now. Surely that is why."

"Miss O'Hara, would you permit me to examine you with that condition in mind? There are other explanations for your…condition."

She looked up at him, hopefully. "There are?"

"Yes, but I can't be sure until I examine you. Will you permit it?"

She bit her lower lip. "I find myself in an awkward place, Doctor. You see, I find that…well, in spite of everything, I am developing feelings for you and for you to …"

He smiled reassuringly. "I will be looking with a doctor's eyes only." He swallowed, remembering his conversation with Rhett, but decided to continue. "But I should tell you that once this is all settled, if you still intend to remain here, I will pursue you fully, with marriage as my objective. You see, I have developed feelings for you as well."

Her eyes grew huge with surprise and then excitement. "But…" her face fell suddenly, "I can't expect you to…I mean if I have a child…"

"Then your child shall be my child…" he said confidently.

Once he finished the exam, he smiled at Carreen. "I have both good news and bad news, Miss O'Hara." She looked frightened. "You are not with child; that's the good news. The bad news is that from this moment on, you shall have to tolerate me as a suitor."

She grinned and launched herself into his arms just as Suellen opened the door. "Carreen!" Suellen cried out.

Down the hall, Scarlett heard the cry and reaching for her wrapper, headed for Carreen's room. Downstairs, Rhett heard the cry also. He bolted up the steps, taking two at a time. Scarlett arrived at the room first, pushing past Suellen and into the room, shocked to see Carreen securely settled in Dr. Gilbert's arms. Rhett came in just behind her and when he saw the scene, bolted past both of the older sisters to get to the younger. He caught the guilty expression on the doctor's face and grabbed the coat lapels of Peter Gilbert's suit. Rhett yanked at him, pulling him away from Carreen. Fury was fueling Rhett's strength as he pulled the doctor across the room.

"Stop," yelled Carreen. "Please, he didn't do anything….Stop!"

Scarlett looked from Rhett to Carreen, noting the fear in her face. Stepping towards Rhett, she put her hand on his arm. Turning his head to look at her, his eyes boiling, Rhett loosened his grip on Peter. "Rhett…please, Carreen….she says he didn't so anything. Let him go…"

"He was hugging you," snapped Suellen at her younger sister. "What do you mean he didn't do anything. It wasn't…appropriate. You are a nun."

Scarlett began to stroke Rhett's arm. "Let him go…let's hear what Carreen had to say. Remember the misunderstanding the night of the party? Please Rhett…"

Rhett's fury was beginning to dissipate. His hands dropped, releasing Peter. His dark eyes bore into Scarlett's green ones, the memory of that night passing between them. "Perhaps you and your sisters should talk," he said gruffly. "Dr. Gilbert and I will be in the parlor."

He turned, fixing his eyes on Peter, "Doctor?" Peter headed for the door with Rhett closely behind him.

Downstairs, he offered refreshment to Peter, who declined. The two men sat in silence. Peter was obviously worried about the conversation above them. Rhett's mind was on other things, having been drawn back to that fateful night that had in many ways been the high and the low point in their marriage.

Upstairs, the sisters sat on the bed. "Well," Suellen growled. "What happened?"

Carreen looked from her difficult older sister to Scarlett, who had always had a soft spot for her. "It was me…I was the one who…made advances to him."

"Carreen!" Scarlett exclaimed, surprised. "Why would you do such a thing? Why…you're a nun and he's…he's a Yankee," she said disgustedly.

Carreen blinked. "Scarlett, there are worse things than his being a Yankee…"

"I can't imagine many, Carreen. You know how they are, what they've done to us."

"Oh Scarlett, you are so…so confusing at times," Suellen joined in. "Why, even out here, we have heard that you do business with them…"

"Doing business and…and …doing what Carreen did, that's different," declared Scarlett.

Carreen watched her two sisters and knew she had to tell them the whole story. Otherwise, they would never let Peter near her again. And she wanted him close. He made her feel…comfortable with herself again. "He…I told him something and he …comforted me. That was all." Carreen said meekly.

Suellen opened her mouth to comment but Scarlett's glare quieted her. Scarlett, having been the center of a similar misunderstanding, was willing to listen to Carreen's explanation. "Go on," she instructed her youngest sister.

"I left the convent. I'm not going back…ever."

"But, why?" Asked Sue.

"I had to, I couldn't stay. It…was wonderful for a very long time. I was dedicated to the work we did and found peace among the sisters. But recently, I began to have dreams….dreams of home, of all of our neighbors and how poor everyone is, how there is no one to care for them. And I began to believe that perhaps I was being called to come home and care for those who might need it, like mother did."

Scarlett frowned. There was more but she was willing to wait and let Carreen tell it in her own way.

"A priest came to the convent once a week to hear confession and say mass. I confessed my conflict and later, we sat in the garden as I explained it all to him. He became…familiar. I…tried to …discourage him but he…was insistent. As time passed, I began to fear that I was with child. I was positive that it was the case and left the convent, fearing they would make me…destroy the child."

"You wanted the child?" Suellen asked incredulously.

"Well, no. But to destroy it would have been wrong. So I ran away. Then I got sick and I suppose in my fever, I decided to come home. Peter…Dr. Gilbert listened to my story and determined that I am not with child. I was so relieved that I…I'm afraid I was much too forward."

Scarlett sighed with relief. That the priest had done what he had done was unforgivable. Carreen's reaction to the news that she didn't have to bear the animal's baby was understandable. But there was still more. "Carreen, do you have feelings for the doctor?"

Her baby sister's innocence was gone now, taken by the disreputable priest. If she cared for Peter Gilbert, it would be fully as a woman, not a naive child. Scarlett needed to know Carreen's feelings before deciding what to do about the doctor.

"I…I think that I …love him," she confessed shyly.

"And how does he feel about you…or do you know?"

"He… seems to return my feelings, although he has done nothing. But just before I…hugged him, he stated his intention to … court me."

Scarlett looked across to Suellen, who was deep in thought. "Careen," she began, "if he is…agreeable, would you consider…marriage?" the middle sister asked.

Carreen's face lit up. "Oh yes, it think…it would be …oh it would be wonderful. But I have to get my release from the convent. Otherwise, we could not be married in the Church."

"Oh god's nightgown Carreen, after what has happened to you, the Church be da…"

Scarlett!" Carreen cried out. "Do not blaspheme."

Scarlett fell silent. "Well, Scarlett's right," declared Sue. "If you want to marry this man, then you should. After all, if we can look past his being a…a Yankee, then the Church can overlook you being a nun. And if they won't, then you will marry outside the Church."

Carreen relaxed, smiling. "He is ... quite handsome, don't you think?" Scarlett noticed the flush to her cheeks. In some ways, she was still a young girl.

"He's so much older, Careen…and he lost his wife last year. It was very hard on him from what I have seen. It will not be easy."

"I could point out the age difference between you and Rhett, Scarlett. And he has mentioned his wife. But I am willing to …to do whatever is required to have a life with him. He is very kind…and gentle. And his temperament…suits me."

Scarlett had to acknowledge that the two were well suited. Careen's sweet nature would need someone who was tender, but strong. She glanced across at Sue again, who nodded.

"All right then, I'll have a word with him. As the eldest, I believe it is my place. But Careen, you really must observe the rules of propriety…"

"Yes, of course," she said, her head lowered to hide the tears that flooded her eyes. She couldn't hide the tint of pink or the huge smile that covered her face.

GWTWTWTWGWTWGWTWGWTW

Well this one wasn't R/S centered but they certainly played their part. I hope you are still enjoying. My writing has slowed a bit for several reasons but I intend to finish. Please keep me energized though, use the little button