Chapter 13
The blistering heat of August started to cool as September approached. Scarlett was still on bed rest since she had only awoken from her comatose state a few weeks before. In the time since her recovery the family members had departed back to their respectable residences except for Eleanor Butler. Eleanor stayed behind to give the support Rhett needed and to see Scarlett's recovery herself.
A talent that was passed down the line of Eleanor's family was the ability to read people. This talent, as she referred to it as, was normally passed down through the women in the family, but Rhett somehow managed to have some of this within his make-up. The reading talent was used fully when women had possession of it, but a man like Rhett used it for his own good.
When it came to reading people for business purposes it did Rhett a world of good and made him a lot of money. But when love came into the picture, his skills were drastically hindered. When Rhett did not see what he wanted he took his aggression out on that person, which was Scarlett. He could not comprehend to its full extent why Scarlett refused to love him when he loved her. It never occurred to him she could not read him. But once it did, Rhett used it against her further and closed himself off to her.
Eleanor being the master of the reading knew this is exactly what Rhett had done and why there was so much tension between her son and daughter-in-law. She could also see the trust Scarlett had was lacking. The only person the young woman trusted was her old mammy. Scarlett was relaxed when Rhett was near in her sleep but awake she was tense. Both of them seemed to be in the midst of a dance of avoidance even though they were practically locked in the same room.
Each day the elderly woman could see the cracking in the hard shells built up around the two, but by the end of the day parts of the shells fused back in place. This sort of inner battle with themselves and each other would ultimately cause them to break away from each other.
Never in the history of the Butler family had a marriage fallen apart even through the most trying times. Her own marriage was proof of that. Butlers stay together through it all until death. Rhett had the loyalty that all Butler men have to their wives, though he was still set in his ways of bachelorhood.
Something had to be done to prevent the marriage from unraveling on itself since it was on that course. Eleanor knew she had to interfere in her son's personal affairs with his wife to insure a happy home for her granddaughter.
Eleanor knew the best way to handle this was to go to the ones that knew everything. Growing up on the rice fields in South Carolina, the people who knew everything were the ones closest to the family. She could remember her mother finding out everything she did because of her own mammy. Even Rhett had many of his devilish plots spoiled by his mammy.
"Do you need something Miss Eleanor?" Mammy questioned as the older Missus Butler entered kitchen.
She smiled. "Yes, Mammy, would you talk with me?" Eleanor sat at the table and poured Mammy and herself glasses of water.
"What do you want to talk about Miss Eleanor?" Mammy eyed the woman suspiciously while cautiously taking a seat at the table as well.
"Rhett and Scarlett…" She began before being interrupted.
"Them be two mules in horse harnesses if you ask me. You can't tell them anything, you can try but they will do what they want." Mammy stuck her bottom lip out in disapproval and gave a huff.
"Has their relationship always been so…uncomfortable?"
"I can't say what happened before they married since I was at Tara during the war. After they were engaged, Captain Butler left for nearly a year. When they returned from their honeymoon they lived in the hotel before the house was built they seemed happy. Miss Scarlett was always in a good mood I those days. I hadn't seen Miss Scarlett so happy since before the war. Then they moved into this here house and everything changed. They fought every chance they got. Little Miss's arrival didn't smooth things over any, it actually made their marriage worse."
"That is ridiculous, children are supposed to make a home a very happy place."
"Miss Scarlett had Captain Butler rem….I'm sorry but I shouldn't be telling you their problems. It is not right for Miss Scarlett."
"Please continue. I want to help them but I cannot do so if I do not know where they stand exactly. What did Scarlett have Rhett do?" Eleanor persisted, urging Mammy to continue.
"Miss Scarlett banished Captain Butler out of her room after Miss Bonnie came. She was afraid of getting fat and she had gone to the mills that day. Since then Captain Butler's world became Miss Bonnie. The arguments got worse and they would go months without talking to one another. Captain Butler started spending his nights out and returning in time for Miss Bonnie to wake up. The last few weeks has been the most Captain Butler has allowed Miss Scarlett to be with the child."
"Oh Mammy, we will have to help them repair the damage. It would do a world of good for everyone."
"If you can get them to see the light, then you deserve a metal of the highest achievements." Mammy joked knowing how difficult her charge was. "If you want to know the on goings during the war Miss Melly would be able to help you, Miss Scarlett lived with her then." She added knowing it would be more acceptable for another white lady to discuss her mistress's problems.
"It might be wise to call upon Miss Melly soon then."
"No need, she'll be here shortly to visit Miss Scarlett. I sure you can talk to her before the visit since Miss Scarlett can only handle Miss Melly in small doses at the moment."
Melanie arrived for her scheduled visit on time as she always did. Today she brought Beau with her to keep Bonnie entertained, or at least try to. If Melanie had her way she would at Scarlett's side every day to repay her sister-in-law for staying with her through the duration of her pregnancy during the war.
"Miss Melly, Missus Butler would like to see you in the parlor before seeing Miss Scarlett." Lou informed Melanie as she entered the house.
"Thank you Lou." Melanie walked passed Lou after handing the servant her hat and gloves before making her way to the parlor. "Missus Butler, how are you today? It was so good of you to stay for a while longer."
"Good afternoon Missus Wilkes'. Yes, I thought it would be best for Bonnie if I stayed longer since Rhett can't seem to leave Scarlett's side." Eleanor stated hoping it would lead into the other woman's talk of the pair.
"It is not much of a surprise really. Why when Bonnie was born, Captain Butler was so worried that something went wrong because of how long it was taking. If he had his way he would have stayed during the entire birth to make sure Doctor Meade was doing his job properly." Melanie explained reflected on that happy time and longing for another child.
"That is how it always is with first time fathers. The reality is they want to know if they had a son or daughter." The older woman clarified. "Please forgive my frankness, but could you tell me about my son's relationship with Scarlett during the war?"
Melanie sat still for a few moments before speaking. "Well, I am not sure what to say. Captain Butler was always a gentleman towards my aunt and me, but Scarlett argued that he was anything but a gentleman. There were many occasions where she would come in the house fuming over something Captain Butler said to her and Scarlett would declare to never receive his calls again. But after a few days Captain Butler would return and Scarlett was more than delighted for his distraction."
"What did Scarlett need a distraction for?"
"We were assigned to nursing during the war. It was hard on her to see the condition of the men. Scarlett hated the work but she only did it for me. Captain Butler's calls always relaxed her in the evenings. They are so perfect for one another really, but they are both so stubborn to see what fate has for them."
"Rhett has always been stubborn and would refuse to go with society standards. At times I thought he wanted to make things difficult for himself which is why the rumors of his scandalous life started as a boy."
Melanie smiled with a light blush hitting her cheeks. "The old families always talked about how inappropriate it was for Scarlett to carry on with Captain Butler. Something about the way they were together told me they would marry and they needed the encouragement. It was a shock it took as long as it did. I was expecting them to marry during the war and was saddened not see it happen or even a proposal. I guess when Scarlett married Mister Kennedy is when Captain Butler knew he had to do something especially after Mister Kennedy passed away."
"It seems as though these two have danced an awful lot and now it is time to pay the fiddler." Eleanor knew what Melanie had said was kinder than what really happened. She could also tell there was a piece to the puzzle missing that Melanie did not know. "Do you know when they first met?"
The younger woman gave a perplexed look. "Honestly that has always baffled me. Scarlett said at some point they had met at Twelve Oaks, that was my husband's home in the country. In my memory I do not recall seeing their introduction since everyone was appalled with Captain Butler's presence at the party. The guests were too focused on his scandals and not being received, so they just avoided him as much as possible. It was a year or so after the bar-b-Que that Scarlett and I met Captain Butler again here in Atlanta. Frankly he seemed quite smitten with Scarlett from then on."
"Thank you for talking with me, Missus Wilkes'. I do apologize for keeping you from your visit; it is just that I would like to see my son and daughter-in-law happy." Eleanor took Melanie's hands in her own and gave a slight pat to them while a smile formed on her lips.
"It was my pleasure to talk with you Missus Butler. I too would like for them to be happy, they both deserve it." Melanie smiled. "If you will excuse me, I think I should see Scarlett for a few minutes." Eleanor gave a nod to dismiss Melanie.
Though the conversations Eleanor had today with Mammy and Melanie was quite informative, there was something missing. She did not know if it was something kept secret from the two women or if they did not want to inform her of the missing information. At some point Eleanor would find that information to find out to help her family.
Thank you Cornorama!