Scarlett was surprised at how clear her impressions were of that day; she wondered if it had anything to do with Melanie's presence. A handful of guests had been discreetly issued invitations to one of the elegant soiree rooms at the National Hotel. There had been a small ceremony: a priest had presided over the service, and there had been a private reception afterwards. Melanie, Ashley, Aunt Pittypat, and Uncle Henry had been among the guests in attendance, as had Grandpa Merriwether, Dr. and Mrs. Meade, Hugh Elsing, and other members of the "Old Guard". The latter group had been frigidly polite to the new couple even as they toasted to their happiness; Scarlett suspected that most of them had come, not because of the debt they owed to Rhett the ill-fated night of the Klan raid, but at Melanie's gentle insistence.
Scarlett experienced a flurry of emotions as she awaited the start of the ceremony. She felt more flushed and nervous than she had thought she would. Her heart had skipped with odd little fluttering beats when she beheld Rhett for the first time that day. She had watched him curiously as he interacted with the hotel staff and saw to all the last-minute preparations for the reception. She had heretofore been too preoccupied and irritated by his improprieties and provocations to ever give his looks a second thought. But that day she was struck by how handsome he was, how beautifully he carried himself, how well-spoken and charming he was when he wanted to be. She was suddenly proud that he had given up his long-professed bachelorhood to marry her.
Rhett had looked resplendent in an impeccably-tailored long black coat with black trousers, a spotless white pleated shirt, a full vest of grey silk, and an elegant matching grey cravat. His movements were poised and graceful, his manners gravely deferential, his expression solemn and dignified as befitting a Southern gentleman who had engaged in riotous living during his youth, but was finally settling down into the matrimonial state. Scarlett herself had worn a long-sleeved, high-necked, modestly trimmed, muted grey silk dress as befitting a Southern lady who had been twice-married, had borne two children, and was now entering into marriage for the third time.
She frowned slightly. Her honest admiration for Rhett's appearance was at the same time undercut by a very real sense of unease at the thought of her impending marriage to him. What on earth had compelled her to say yes to his proposal? Throughout their long history, he had always held the advantage over her, and she did not like it. He had the uncanny ability to read her like a book; yet she could not come close to understanding him. He did not love her by his own admission; yet strangely, he was willing to renounce his cherished freedom to marry her. She could not guess what his expectations of her were for the marriage, and she was afraid to find out. Under Rhett's veneer of mocking cynicism and good-natured insolence, she had the impression of a menacing forcefulness, a savage intensity, a sense of caged power almost violent in nature that frightened her.
Yet at the same time the thought of marrying into Rhett's enormous wealth exhilarated Scarlett, made her positively giddy. Her lips formed a barely perceptible smile. The idea of no longer having to feverishly scrape and grovel to make ends meet afforded her an almost dizzying sense of joy and relief. How she longed for the rest, for the security and safety that money would provide in these troubled times! She had already made a long list of plans as to what she would do once she had access to Rhett's fortune. She would be discreet about asking, of course; yes, she would have to be very careful about that. She would be very sweet and thoughtful and ply him with her charm, and then...Expanding her downtown lumberyard, buying a mule team for Will at Tara, engaging a private tutor for Wade's schooling—oh, she had been forced to put these things on hold for so long, but now! Her eyes sparkled in pleasurable anticipation.
Scarlett was still preoccupied with her spending plans when the ceremony started. She took her place beside Rhett as the priest greeted the assembly and gave the opening prayer, the Scripture reading, and a brief homily on marriage. Scarlett stole a glance at Rhett's face and was surprised to see that his expression, usually so suave and mocking, was grave and solemn, and he appeared to be listening intently to the priest's words. Chastened by the seriousness on Rhett's face, Scarlett tried to assume a more contemplative expression on her face.
The priest then came to the rite of marriage where the bride and groom exchanged vows.
Rhett Butler, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her, to be true to her, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
Rhett's voice was serious and subdued. "I do," he said steadily.
Scarlett O'Hara, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, to be true to him, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?
Scarlett had not been listening, but her voice was equally serious. "I do," she said.
The priest then intoned, "What God has joined together, let man not separate."
They exchanged rings, and the priest gave the nuptial blessings and the final prayer and benediction. The guests arose from their seats in recognition of the new couple. It was over. They were really husband and wife. There was a flurry of activity as Aunt Pitty suddenly swooned and had to be assisted to a chaise longue by fellow guests. Her tiny hands and feet fluttered helplessly as Dr. Meade held smelling salts under her nose.
Rhett turned to Scarlett during the commotion and met her eyes. "Mrs. Butler," he said softly. Despite the casualness of his voice, she was not prepared for the emotion on his face. For once there was not a hint of mockery in his expression. Instead his eyes were filled with joy, hope, inexpressible longing.
"Captain Butler," Scarlett responded automatically, looking down, feeling shy and confused. She took his arm, and together they went to receive their guests.
There were few genuine well-wishers among their well-wishers. A receiving line was set up so that the bride and bridegroom could greet each guest personally. Most of the guests sped through the greetings, offering as few stiff-necked words of congratulations as they could politely get away with. Scarlett fumed at the barely concealed disapproval that registered on most of the faces, and she was hard put to make a civil reply. Rhett was relaxed and composed, extending the same grave courteousness to everyone regardless of their demeanor. Scarlett steeled herself inwardly as she saw Ashley approaching.
"Congratulations, Captain Butler," she heard Melanie's soft voice say. "That was a lovely ceremony. I wish you and my dear Scarlett every happiness in the world."
"Thank you, Miss Melly, that is most kind of you," Rhett bowed. The formal tone he had assumed with the other guests changed to one of genuine warm feeling as he addressed Melanie.
Scarlett hardly felt Melanie's soft kiss and gentle embrace as she braced herself to greet Ashley.
"Congratulations, Captain Butler," was all Ashley said as he shook hands with Rhett.
Rhett's face was inscrutable. "Thank you, Mr. Wilkes," he said, resuming a formal tone.
"Congratulations, Scarlett." Ashley avoided her eyes as he bent over and kissed Scarlett's cheek with cold, pale lips.
"Thank you, Ashley," Scarlett murmured, looking straight ahead, acutely conscious of Rhett's gaze. She wished she could talk to Ashley privately and assure him that her feelings for him were what they had always been. But she was married now, and it could not be undone.
gwtwgwtw
Scarlett looked back sorrowfully at the memory. How she wished she could go back to that time when she and Rhett were just beginning their life together! How she longed to start all over, before Bonnie and her miscarriage and all the cruel, hurtful, spiteful words that had been said between them had torn them irreparably apart.
Rhett had truly loved her—this was so clear now that she had the eyes to see it. It was one thing to hear him say tonight that he had once loved her with that resigned defeated voice that bespoke of his indifference to her now; it was another thing entirely to go back in time and witness the depth of that love and devotion in person. The thought of Rhett loving her and waiting for her for years before he finally married her moved her deeply, brought tears to her eyes. She felt at that moment that if he ever changed his mind and gave her a second chance that she would take him on any terms he offered her. She would lay down her pride and humble herself. She would admit that she was wrong; she would respect him and defer to him as a proper wife should. She would not beg; she would not go after him to get him back; but oh, if he ever came back to her, she would do anything to make things right between them.
She could also see now with some bitterness how her feelings for Ashley had continued for so long simply because she had kept feeding and watering her hopes with constant daydreaming and wishful thinking. She saw now that those feelings would have gradually died a natural death if only she had left well enough alone. As her mind came back to the present, Scarlett also found herself strangely unnerved. Had she really made such solemn vows in the presence of God? At the time she had not given the slightest thought as to what she had actually promised under oath to do, but now the full import of the words hit her like a blow. She had promised to love and to cherish Rhett—whatever circumstances might befall them—until death parted them. How casually had she uttered those vows and how shamefully she had broken them! She had not often felt the fear of God since her girlhood, but at that moment, she shivered with dread, a penitent sorrow flooding her soul. Throughout the entire marriage, she had looked out only for herself; she had never concerned herself with Rhett's well-being or happiness. God would certainly punish her for breaking her vows. In fact, the axe had already fallen, for there was no crueler sentence He could have brought upon her than the one that had befallen her that night.
gwtwgwtw
The shadows in the room shifted almost imperceptibly, and the air became very still. Scarlett looked around suddenly and blinked. The room was dark and cold. Melanie was gone. Had she dreamed the whole thing? Had it all been in her imagination? She looked down and saw that her hand was clutching a soft white handkerchief.