Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Forty-Six

Rhett's conversation with Beau had not gone well. In fact, it went worse than their conversation with Wade. Once he had told the story that he and Scarlett had made up, Beau said, "You and Aunt Scarlett made a baby without being married? How could you?"

"We lost control."

The look Beau gave Rhett was pure Wilkes' haughtiness. He said, "How could you? That is not the proper thing to do."

"We lost control because of our emotions and the alcohol."

"Maybe you shouldn't drink. You were the man you were responsible for making sure it didn't go too far."

Rhett looked at Beau. Admittedly he was almost thirteen, but his haughtiness didn't have anything to do with his age. It had to do with who his parents were, stick in the muds, proper people.

Rhett said, "You are right. I should have had more control. But what is done is done. I just wanted you to know why your mother and I got married so fast."

"She is not my mother. She is my Aunt Scarlett just as you as her husband are my Uncle Rhett."

Beau walked out of the room. The boy reminded him so much of Ashley Wilkes and all his properness. Yet, the man had been emotionally unfaithful to his wife for years. The man had led Scarlett on for his own purposes. Which proved to Rhett that Mr. Wilkes had been one of the biggest hypocrites in the world. His wife also.

In that moment, Rhett had despised Melanie Wilkes. She had to have known what was going on between her husband and her sister-in-law. Yet, she had turned a blind eye to it because her husband and her had needed Scarlett so much. Both of them had used Scarlett in different ways but the last burden they had placed on her was the responsibility of raising their son as they scurried off to heaven. Rhett was still on the fence about God and heaven but if there was an afterlife, he hoped the Wilkeses were roasting in hell.

Supper was a tense affair that night. Wade was being polite when spoken to directly. In Scarlett's opinion Wade was more annoyed that she had married Rhett again than she had created a baby out of wedlock. Beau was out and out angry at Rhett and Scarlett. Incredible to Scarlett the boy was looking down his nose at her and Rhett. Ella was happy about the baby but worried for her mother's health. And PittyPat was continually saying, "Oh my."

At one point PittyPat said, "What is everyone going to say?"

Wade replied, "Don't tell anyone. We will be gone by the first of June. Mother is going to hide her abdomen until then."

"That is a relief."

Beau said, "Everyone will know once we return from London."

Rhett said to Scarlett, "I did tell them to speak freely inside the house."

"And they are."

PittyPat wailed, "I had forgotten you said you were moving to London. Who is going to live with me?"

Beau said, "I would be glad to stay and live with you, Aunt PittyPat."

"No, Beau Wilkes, you are going with us to London. Your parents wanted me to raise you and I will be in charge of you and your life until you reach your majority."

"If they had known how irresponsibly you were going to behave, they probably would have left my care to someone else."

Rhett said, "They left your care to Scarlett because she was the only person who could afford to take you in. I trust you will remember that as you attempt to lecture us on our irresponsible behavior."

There was a long silence until finally PittyPat said, "How are you going to hide the baby?"

"I can wear dresses with a higher waist. Until this summer the baby won't be that big."

Wade said, "That's a relief."

Beau didn't speak for the rest of the evening. He had asked to be excused as soon as he was finished with his meal. He went to his room. He started thinking about how to get himself out of this situation. Now he knew why his father had always spoken so harshly about Uncle Rhett. He certainly wasn't a gentleman. He now knew that his Aunt Scarlett was just white trash.

Beau knew what he would do, he would behave extremely properly therefore making Aunt Scarlett and Uncle Rhett so uncomfortable in his presence that they would send him away.

That night was everything that Rhett had always dreamed his wedding night with Scarlett would be. She was much more openly demonstrative of wanting him than she had ever been before. When it was over Rhett had remained inside her as long as he could. When they had no longer been one, she had sighed with disappointment. He had sighed also. He then whispered, "We can do it again in the morning."

"I know how much you like doing it in the morning."

Rhett laughed. He rolled over with Scarlett in his arms. He said, "Yes, I do. Wait right here while I get my cigars."

"You will have to go down to the parlor and get and ashtray."

"No, I think not. I will do without tonight. Neither one of us is leaving this room."

"Alright, Dear."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

The next morning Rhett and Scarlett's intimate time was even better than the night before, which Rhett had not thought was possible. When she turned over to go back to sleep, he said, "Come on, we have lots to do today."

"What?"

"Tell the servants they no longer have jobs, go see Mr. Darrow to put the blue house on the market and get him to create the waivers, find you another attorney, tell the Brutons and the Cavaliers we are married, and decide which furniture we are keeping from the blue house."

"Which can all be done in another hour. Come back to bed. I have missed you far too much to rush out of the bed this morning."

Rhett smiled. He got back in the bed and wrapped Scarlett up in his arms. After about fifteen minutes, she said, "I'm not going back to sleep. So, let's talk."

"Alright."

"What are we going to do about Beau?"

"Nothing for now. Let's see if he adjust to the fact that we are improper people."

"If not?"

"When he reaches his majority, he can be on his own."

"That makes me sad. I didn't think that he would react the way he has. Wade, Ella, and Aunt PittyPat all reacted the way I thought they would. I thought Beau would be somewhere in between Wade and Ella. Certainly not all judgmental."

"I guess Mr. Wilkes and Miss Melly were more judgmental than they ever let anyone see."

"Probably. I guess Melly continued to receive me because she needed me so."

"They both needed you very much."

"They would have starved in the streets without me. Them and their proper ways."

"Yes, they would have. When we get to London, do you want to buy a house or just stay at a hotel?"

Scarlett sat up in the bed. She excitedly said, "That is what we can do. We can take Pork, Dilcey, and Prissy with us. We will need someone to manage our house in London. When we return to Atlanta, they can stay there and be the caretakers."

"I guess that means you want to buy a house in London."

"Yes, wonderful idea, Rhett."

Rhett knew that had not been his idea and he also knew there wasn't any point to try to talk her out of taking Pork, Dilcey, and Prissy with them. He also knew that they would not be leaving Pork and Dilcey in London. He simply said, "Thank you, Dear."

As Scarlett got out of the bed, she said, "Let us get up and tell everyone the good news."

"Of course, Dear."

After Rhett and Scarlett were dressed, they went down to the dining room to have breakfast. After they had eaten, they went through the hedges to the blue house. When they walked into the kitchen, they found it deserted. It was plain to see that nothing had been prepared for breakfast that morning.

The couple went in search of anyone. They found Dilcey. Scarlett said, "Where is everyone?"

"When the other servants saw Pork moving Mr. Rhett's clothes, they asked him why he was doing it. He said 'Mr. Rhett and Miss Scarlett have gotten married again. He is moving in with her.' By supper time all the servants had left except Earnest."

"Who?"

"The stableboy."

"Why did they all leave so quickly?"

"Mrs. Child went to the employment agency. She found out they had a position she could fill that very day. She came back and got her clothing. She also told Ida and Mary to go see if the Keatons needed their services. It seems they did. I guess nobody told Earnest about the Keatons."

Rhett said, "Let me go talk to Earnest while you talk to Dilcey and Pork."

"Alright, Dear."

Rhett walked to the barn where he found Earnest sitting on a bale of hay. Rhett said, "Thank you for staying until I got back. Did nobody tell you about the Keatons?"

"They told me but I wasn't going to abandon my employer. I didn't know. You might have wanted me to work in Mrs. Butler's house."

Rhett took out his wallet. He said, "I'm sorry but no. I will not need your services anymore."

"Very well, Sir."

"Take my horse around to the Hamilton House. It is at 412 Jackson Street. It is a yellow house.

"Yes, sir."

"After you do that, you are free to go."

"Of course, sir."

Rhett took out a ten-dollar bill. What amounted to a month's wages for the young man. As Rhett handed him the money, he said, "Thank you for staying until I got back."

"Yes, sir. It has been a pleasure working for you, Mr. Butler. Let me get my clothes and then I will be off."

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

Rhett walked back into the house.

Scarlett and Dilcey had found Pork in the servants' quarters. He had been packing his clothes. Scarlett said, "Let's go sit down in the kitchen."

"Yes ma'am."

Once the group was seated, Scarlett said, "I have good news."

"We heard congratulations."

"That is good news, but the good news is that Rhett and I are going to London for a while. We are going to buy a house there and you two and Prissy must come with me to run my household."

Pork and Dilcey looked at each other. Finally, Pork said, "Miss Scarlett, me and Dilc have talked about it, and we would like to move back to Tara."

"Oh."

"It is nothing against you Miss Scarlett, but I'm just getting too old for all this work. And to be honest, I don't want to go to London. I just want to return to the only home I have ever known."

Dilcey said, "We feel bad because you have done so much for us but…."

In a cold voice Scarlett said, "I understand. When do you want to leave for Tara? Tomorrow? You certainly aren't needed here anymore."

Pork and Dilcey looked at each other. They knew they had hurt Miss Scarlett, but it couldn't be helped. They were tired of working and they certainly didn't want to move to London all the way across the ocean. Finally, Pork said, "That will be fine."

"Wonderful. I will get Rhett to give you the money for the train fare along with your wages. I will send Suellen a telegram. I hope you enjoy working for her. It won't be easy." Scarlett saw Rhett walk into the kitchen from the stables. She stood up and said, "Pork and Dilcey have chosen to return to Tara. Will you give them money for the train fare and their wages?"

"Yes, of course."

After Rhett had given Pork the money, Scarlett coldly said, "Which train do you want to take to Jonesboro?"

"The nine o'clock train, please."

"At eight-thirty come to the house and Uncle Peter will drive you to the train station. Shall we go Rhett?"

Pork said, "Would you like me to send the telegram, Miss Scarlett?"

"No, thank you. I will get Uncle Peter to send it. You no longer work here. Goodbye and good luck."

Rhett stuck out his hand and said, "Good luck."

After Rhett and Scarlett had left the blue house, Dilcey said, "That went as well as it could have gone."

"Do you think she will ever forgive us for choosing not to move to London with her?"

"No, neither one of us are as charming as Mr. Rhett."

Pork laughed. He said, "That man is slicker than possum grease."

Dilcey laughed and said, "That he is but at least now I truly think he loves her."

"He has always loved her. He was just too proud to tell her so."

"Especially with her pining after Mr. Ashley."

"True. So true."

On the way back to Hamilton House, Scarlett said, "Let's go see Mr. Darrow and get the blue house on the market."

"Alright, Dear."

When Rhett and Scarlett were finally in the buggy, he said, "What happened with Pork and Dilcey?"

"They didn't want to move to London, so I sent them to live at Tara with sweet Suellen."

"Suellen isn't sweet."

Scarlett laughed and said, "I know but that is what they chose."

Scarlett would have been happy to learn that after a month of living at Tara with Suellen, Pork and Dilcey certainly did regret their decision to move back to Tara. It certainly wasn't the same place they had left when they moved to Atlanta to work for Miss Scarlett.