Authors Note: Thank you to all of my reviewers, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 13- Mercy
As the carriage pulled up in front of Eleanor Butler's home, Ella caught a glimpse of two small faces peering out the entry way window. Some of the sadness she had been feeling all day lifted from her heart as she recognized her brother and sister. She hopped down from the carriage and hurried up the steps just as James rushed out the door and wrapped his arms around her legs. She laughed as she picked him up and embraced him.
"Did you get the picture I sent you?" he asked as she carried him into the house.
"Yes I did, I hung it in my room. I sent you a note, it will probably be waiting for you when you get home."
"Did you like it?" he wanted to know.
"Of course I did," she answered as she kissed his cheek and sat him down. "It was a very nice train you drew."
She turned to Joy who was hovering in the background. "Hello, Joy," she said as she held her arms open for a hug.
Joy smiled widely and rushed into her sister's arms. "Happy Birthday" she whispered.
"Thank you."
"I sent you a letter," Joy told her.
"I got it," Ella answered. "I sent you one back."
Joy fidgeted for a moment as she stepped away but after a moment her face took on an expression of excitement. "We brought you presents!"
Ella grinned, "I'm glad, there isn't any point in having a birthday if you don't get presents."
"Grandma has cake!" James exclaimed as he moved back to her side.
"How many pieces are you going to eat?" Ella asked teasingly as she reached out to tickle his belly making him giggle.
"I want three pieces!" he declared.
"Three!" Ella said with pretend shock. "Why there won't be any left for me and Joy."
"You'll have one piece and that's all young man," an amused voice stated from behind her.
Ella turned and found herself face to face with her mother.
"Happy Birthday darling," Scarlett said softly as she pulled her into her arms.
Despite herself, Ella found herself returning the embrace, clinging to her mother as if she were a child and breathing in the comforting scent of her floral perfume.
Scarlett pulled back to kiss her forehead but her eyes caught sight of the fading bruise on her cheek instead.
"What happened to your face?" she demanded to know as she ran her fingers across Ella's cheek bone.
"I fell and hit my face on the corner of a desk," she replied, leaving out certain details.
Scarlett's green eyes studied her for a moment and Ella forced herself to quell the panic in her stomach. Her mother couldn't find out about her troubles with Margo. She just couldn't allow that.
"It's not like you to be clumsy, Ella."
Ella pulled away from her and focused her gaze everywhere but on her mother's face. "That doesn't mean I can't trip and fall, Mother."
Scarlett felt a sinking feeling in her stomach that something was wrong but she allowed the feeling to pass. She didn't want to spend Ella's birthday fighting with her especially with the way things had been left the last time they saw each other.
"Did you see a doctor?" she asked quietly trying to keep her tone from sounding suspicious.
"The nurse at school checked it, she said it was fine. Aunt Carreen stayed with me for a few hours to be sure I was fine but really it isn't anything to fuss over," Ella replied.
Scarlett pushed her concerns aside upon hearing Carreen's name. Surely if something was wrong Carreen would've sent for her. She smiled, "Is Carreen taking good care of you?"
"I can take care of myself," Ella stated; a stubborn look on her face.
Scarlett sighed, "Of course you can, I meant are you getting to know her? Do you like her?"
Ella nodded, "I like her, she's very nice. She says that she misses you."
"Really?" Scarlett asked a tinge of surprise in her voice.
"Yes," she answered. "You sound surprised."
"I just always figured that she must have been grateful to get away from me, especially after how bad things were at Tara. I wasn't the easiest person to live with back then."
"You still have moments of not being easy to live with," Ella muttered without thinking.
"So do you, Miss Kennedy," her mother shot back.
Ella shuddered, "Good god, don't call me that! I hear that all day long, I swear I've never been so sick of hearing my last name."
Scarlett laughed which caused Ella to giggle.
"I've missed you," Scarlett said as she pulled her daughter back into her embrace.
"I miss you too," Ella whispered although a part of herself wished she hadn't admitted it.
"Do you miss me?" Rhett asked as he came down the stairs, his usual sardonic grin in place.
"No, not at all," Ella stated pulling away from her mother and turning her back on Rhett.
Rhett laughed, "Well at least your honest about it, the church must be having a good influence on you after all."
Scarlett shot him an annoyed look and he dropped the line of conversation he had delved into.
"Why are we all congregating in the entry way?" he asked instead
"Because that's where Ella is, Daddy," Joy stated with a look on her face that clearly stated how stupid she felt her father's question was.
He grinned at her, "Forgive me, my dear, I should have realized that. However I think it's time to move to the dining room, your grandmother is serving dinner early this evening. Apparently she is of the belief that Ella is famished when she comes home from school."
A knot formed in Ella's stomach. Her grandmother hadn't betrayed her had she? Her mind reeled for a moment. No, it wasn't possible. Eleanor had promised and if she had broken that promise she was sure her mother would've pounced on the subject the second she walked through the door. She took a steadying breath beginning to feel confident that her secrets were still safe.
"Ella, are you alright?" her mother asked as she laid a hand on her arm.
"Yes, Mother; I'm fine. I was just thinking that I would like to change my clothes before dinner if that is alright."
"Of course it's alright, dear" Eleanor said from the doorway of the parlor. "We can wait a few minutes for you to get settled."
She looked to her mother for consent out of habit. Scarlett nodded and she whispered her thanks to both women as she hurried up the stairs. She threw her school books on her desk and quickly changed her clothes. When she made her way into the dining room everyone was already seated and waiting for her. She took her place next to Joy and allowed herself to relax.
Eleanor's cook had prepared a lovely meal and the conversation flowed lightly allowing her to feel a measure of happiness that had been missing from her life for the last several weeks. Finally a round heavily frosted birthday cake was set in front of her. Seventeen candles were aglow on top of it and she gazed into the shimmering flames for a second, letting the moment set in, taking a second to say goodbye to the tumultuous year she had been through. Now she was seventeen, a new age, a new day, another chance to find whatever it was she was looking for, a new hope took root within her. Sixteen had obviously crashed and burned but maybe, just maybe this would be her year.
"Make a wish, Ella!" James yelled with excitement and she laughed before taking a deep breath and blowing out all of the candles at once. She smiled brightly as her family clapped. Eleanor handed her a knife and pushed a stack of desert plates toward her before plucking the candles from the white frosting. Cutting into the rich cake she served herself first and then with a wink to James she cut him a large slice and placed it on his plate.
He grinned at her before lifting his fork to dig into the chocolate masterpiece before him.
"Do you think you can handle that big piece of cake?" Rhett asked as he watched his son with amusement.
The little boy nodded, "I can do it."
Ella continued to slice the cake handing a piece to Joy and then to Eleanor before serving Scarlett and lastly Rhett.
"Saved the best for last," he quipped as she passed his plate down the table to him.
"Hardly," she murmured before pushing the remains of the cake to the center of the table and then placing her plate in front of her.
"When do we get to give Ella her presents?" Joy asked between bites.
"When we are finished with our cake," Scarlett told her.
"Mama got you a real pretty gown, Ella," Joy told her.
"Joy!" Scarlett exclaimed. "That was supposed to be a surprise! You're not supposed to tell someone what their gift is before you give it to them," she scolded.
Joy lowered her eyes to the table, "Sorry, Mama."
"It's alright, Joy," Ella told her, feeling as though she needed to be extra careful with her sister's feelings after the letter she had sent her. "I probably would've guessed anyway."
After eating their cake, they all moved to the parlor where Ella's gifts awaited. Ella sat down on the sofa between Eleanor and Scarlett while Rhett took the chair and Joy and James plopped down on the rug. Scarlett reached for a large box that sat to the side of the sofa.
"You may as well open this one first since Joy already told you what it was," she told her.
Ella untied the ribbon and lifted the lid from the box and then unfolded the layers of tissue paper inside revealing an emerald green evening gown. She fingered the satin material before carefully lifting it from the box. She admired the white lace that adorned the neckline and hung from the cuffs of the long sleeves. The skirt was decorated with shimmering floral designs made of silver threads.
"Oh Mama, it's beautiful," she sighed as her eyes continued to gaze at the gown.
"I'm so glad you like it," Scarlett replied as she helped her place it back into the box. "It will be gorgeous on you."
"It's perfect but I don't know when I'll get a chance to wear it," Ella replied.
"You'll soon have a chance, dear," Eleanor spoke. "There's to be a ball in two weeks."
Ella's eyes lit up, "Really, Grandmother? A ball? Oh I would love to go to a ball. I want to go dancing so badly!" she exclaimed before turning to Scarlett. "May I go, Mother?"
"Of course you can, darling," she replied but Rhett interrupted her before she could say more.
"We'll discuss it later," he said with a stern look on his face.
The light dimmed in Ella's eyes and her smile faded from her lips.
"Oh Rhett, stop being so hard on the girl," Eleanor admonished.
"Yes, Rhett; stop it. Eleanor told me about the ball that's why I bought her the gown," Scarlett stated with annoyance.
"I said we'll discuss it later," he told her.
Tension filled the air as Ella pushed the box aside, her hopes of having fun shattered. Scarlett handed her another package which contained a pair of dancing slippers to match her gown. She thanked her mother, trying hard to keep the disappointment from her features.
Joy came forward and handed her a box that contained the gifts she had chosen for her sister. There was a new fan, white in color decorated with the same silver threads that would just match her dress she thought ruefully. She then lifted out a silver hair comb that was shaped like a rose and beneath that laid a new diary. Running her hands over the blue velvet covers she found herself thinking about how the pages would most likely hold the nightmares that occurred at school.
She smiled and kissed Joy's cheek, "Thank you, I love everything you chose."
Joy smiled, "I thought you'd need another diary since you left your other one at home."
"How do you know that?" Ella asked her eyes suspicious.
Joy fumbled with a ribbon on her dress and avoided eye contact with her sister. "I think I saw it when I looked in your desk drawer to see if you had a piece of paper I could draw on," she explained.
The little girl before her was obviously lying; she knew Joy's habit of snooping well enough not to believe such an excuse but she merely nodded as if she accepted the explanation. Joy already felt as though she hated her and she didn't want to do anything to make her believe that anymore than she already did.
"It was very thoughtful of you to bring me a new one, I have been missing mine," she said.
"I would've brought it to you but I know you don't like me to touch it," Joy told her with an innocent expression on her face.
Ella smiled, "Thank you for respecting my wishes, Joy."
Joy turned and went back to her spot and James eagerly rushed forward to hand her his gift.
"He insisted on that when we went shopping," Scarlett stated as she gestured to the package that Ella was unwrapping.
Inside the box was a glass figurine of a young woman with red hair holding the hand of a dark haired little boy.
"It looks like you and me!" James told her with excitement.
"Yes it does," she replied with a laugh as she kissed his cheek.
The figurine although beautiful was most likely intended for a mother instead of a sister but she would cherish the object anyway.
"I'll think of you every time I look at it," she told her little brother.
Next came a heart shaped locket and a bottle of perfume from Eleanor and a new bonnet that Rosemary had sent over earlier as she was unable to attend the gathering. When all the gifts were opened Scarlett turned to her. "I'm sure Wade sent you a gift, it was probably delayed."
"I know Wade wouldn't forget me," she answered.
They all made small talk through out the evening, the tension still hanging over the room. Ella found her thoughts focused on her new gown and the ball Rhett was obviously going to keep her from attending. How terrible it felt to have that small glimmer of excitement for a brief moment and then having it torn away. It just wasn't fair but then again nothing was ever fair when it came to her. She was always being shoved down where her step-father was concerned. It hurt her to realize that she'd never measure up in his eyes but she should be used to it, after all she had never been as loved as Bonnie had been and then when he came home after his long absence she thought that perhaps she was gaining ground but after a few months they all settled into routine and it seemed that he favored Wade and she was second best again. Then Joy and James had been born and she had moved further down the list. It seemed he always found fault with her, it seemed as though none of her mistakes could be forgiven as easily as everyone else's.
Her mother's voice broke through her thoughts announcing that it was time for James and Joy to get ready for bed.
"I'll take them up, Scarlett; why don't the three of you have that discussion while we're upstairs," Eleanor stated.
Scarlett nodded in agreement. Once they were out of the room and on their way up the stairs, Rhett lit his cigar and faced his wife and step-daughter.
"The two of you don't seem to understand that this stay in Charleston is a punishment, not a fun vacation."
"I hardly consider the Sister's of Mercy Convent School a place of fun," Ella stated.
"Good you're not supposed to. The point of this discussion is why do you think you are entitled to go to a ball?" he asked as he stared at her with those cold black eyes of his.
Ella stared back at him for a moment before answering, "I don't see what's so wrong with wanting to go to a ball. I'm doing well in my classes, you haven't been sent any bad reports about me and I haven't been any trouble to Grandmother. I think I should be allowed at least one night of happiness, it isn't like I went out and killed someone!" she exclaimed.
He smirked at her defense and Scarlett hurriedly injected herself into the conversation.
"I agree with, Ella," she stated. "There's no harm in allowing her to attend this function."
"After all the trouble she's caused, after everything that she has done the past year I don't believe she is entitled to go anywhere but to school. She's lucky I allow her to come here for the weekends," Rhett replied.
Before Scarlett could speak he continued on with his tirade. "Barely a month ago we caught her attempting to climb out a window so she could elope with a good for nothing scoundrel and you think she should traipse off to some party because you bought her a dress for it?"
"That's not the reason I feel she should be allowed to go!" she exclaimed. "Besides I think your taking this punishment entirely too far Rhett! I think she is being punished enough by being sent away from home and going to a new school. I am sure that the girls she attends school with will be going to this ball and I don't think it would be fair to Ella if she were excluded, not to mention the embarrassment it would cause her!"
"I don't give a damn what the other girls are doing, Scarlett; we are discussing Ella and how you want to let her off the hook because she's been forced to behave herself for a few weeks."
"I'm not letting her off the hook; I'm just saying she should be allowed to go to a damn party! I don't think it will hinder her punishment in any way, your just being ridiculous. She's seventeen, Rhett; we can't just lock her away at school and not allow her to socialize at all! How she is supposed to know the difference between good people and bad if she isn't allowed out to socialize and see who exactly acceptable people are?"
They continued their argument as Ella watched them intently. It felt good knowing her mother was on her side this time but it also hurt the way Rhett kept throwing her mistakes in her face. Did he really hate her that much? It wasn't as if he hadn't made mistakes in his lifetime, in fact she had bore witness to several of his mistakes during the course of her childhood but did she throw them in his face? No she didn't, except for of course the night of her downfall. Was this going to be what her life would be from now? Being ridiculed and haunted by the fact that she had fallen in love and had wanted to marry that person? She didn't know if she could bear it. How could she stand to return home at the end of the semester if this was what she was going to have to face.
She sighed deeply and began to gather up the boxes that contained her gifts so that she could carry them upstairs. She hadn't realized that the arguing around her had stopped until the sound of her name being spoken dragged her from her thoughts.
"Ella," Rhett had stated.
"Yes?"
"The answer is no," he said firmly.
She closed her eyes tightly for a second feeling the hurt burrowing into her. "I figured as much," she whispered when she finally opened her eyes and turned her sharp gaze upon him.
Turning to her mother who still looked furious she asked, "May I be excused? I'd like to go to bed."
"You may go," Scarlett said softly.
Ella picked up her packages and left the room. Scarlett could hear her light footsteps on the stairs and she felt a pang of sadness. She knew the things Ella had done, knew that her stay in Charleston was necessary but she didn't think a one night reprieve was too much to ask. Her eyes turned toward her husband who continued to smoke his cigar while his eyes searched her face. She hoped he saw the anger that she felt because she wouldn't speak one more word to him tonight.
Scarlett had spent two hours in the parlor ignoring Rhett and his attempts at conversation. Finally she left him in the parlor with his brandy and his newspaper that he had taken to hiding behind for the last twenty minutes. She climbed the stairs and entered their room and got ready for bed. As she sat before the mirror of the small wooden vanity she felt restless as she brushed out her long black hair. She was still to wound up to sleep and she found her feet carrying her towards the hallway.
A shaft of light shone beneath Ella's door and she knocked on it gently.
A quiet "Come in," sounded from inside the room and she slipped inside quietly and closed the door behind her.
Turning towards the bed she found Ella leaning back against the pillows, and the latest copy of Godey's Ladies Book in her hands. Next to her Joy was sound asleep, he black curls fanned out against the white pillowcase.
With a nod towards her sleeping child, Scarlett asked, "How did this come about?"
"She came in and said she couldn't sleep and that she wanted me to read her a story," Ella answered as she gestured towards a book of fairy tales lying on the night table.
"How long did it take to get her to sleep?"
"About three pages," Ella answered.
Scarlett laughed softly, "I think she just wanted to be near you."
Ella shrugged and continued reading her magazine.
"Do you want me to move her back to her own bed?"
Ella shook her head, "She's fine, I don't mind if she stays."
Scarlett sat down on the edge of the bed, "Find anything interesting in Godey's?"
"Isn't everything interesting in Godey's Ladies Book?" Ella teased.
Scarlett grinned, "Shall we run out to the dress shops tomorrow and order one of everything they're showing in there?"
"Of course," her daughter replied. "These day dresses would be perfect for us," she stated holding out the book so her mother could view the illustration.
Scarlett scanned the page and the one opposite it. "These evening gowns are beautiful," she commented.
"Yes they are," Ella said with a sigh. "I guess you may as well take my gown back to Atlanta with you."
"I'll do no such thing," Scarlett stated.
"I'd rather you did mother, Uncle Rhett said I couldn't go and it will just drive me crazy if I have to look at it hanging in the closet knowing I can't wear it," she said with a sorrowful gaze at her closet door where she had hung the gown earlier.
Scarlett reached out and cupped her chin, turning her face back towards her so that she could have her complete attention. "I don't care what Rhett said, you have my permission to go and I'm going to make sure your grandmother is aware of it."
"He'll be mad," Ella replied.
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Scarlett answered with an arrogant tilt of her chin.
Ella smiled, "Do you really mean it, Mama? I may go to the ball?"
She nodded, "Of course I mean it; I want you to go and have a good time. I have confidence that you've learned from your mistakes and I trust you, Ella. I have no qualms about you attending."
"Thank you, Mama," she said happily as she leaned forward to embrace her mother.
Scarlett smiled with contentment as she kissed Ella's forehead. "It's getting late, you should get some sleep."
"Alright," Ella replied as she flipped the magazine closed and handed it to her mother. "You may as well read it before you go to bed."
"I believe I will," she replied as she took the magazine and then walked around the bed and dropped a kiss on Joy's cheek as she tucked the blankets around her.
"Are you sure you don't mind her staying?"
"I'm sure," Ella answered as she turned down the lamp.
"Goodnight," Scarlett whispered as she moved to the door.
"Goodnight," Ella called as she snuggled down beneath the covers being mindful of her little sister next to her. Happiness welled inside her once more. She was getting her wish to wear a pretty gown and to go to a party. She fell asleep dreaming of dancing all night.
The weekend flew by and Sunday was soon upon them. Ella had enjoyed the company of her mother and siblings and she had been kept busy with their presence. Much to her chagrin however, Sunday afternoon found her in the parlor in the company of her step-father.
"I believe you've had a kind word for everyone but me this weekend," Rhett stated breaking the silence between them.
"Why should I?" Ella asked.
"How about out of respect," he told her.
"You once told me that respect was something people earned, not something they were entitled to upon the basis of age or wealth."
He smirked, "And you don't feel I've earned your respect?"
"No," she answered. "You obviously don't have much respect for me."
"Why do say that Ella?"
"I should think it would be obvious," she replied.
"Because I ended your relationship with Johnny Reid?"
"No, it's more than that," she answered.
"Then what is it?" he asked.
"It's everything," she declared. "It's the way you act like I'm some kind of criminal. It's how I am never good enough for you."
He looked at her harshly, "What do you mean you aren't good enough?"
"I've always been second best," she told him as her voice shook, betraying her when she was trying so hard to be strong. "First it was Wade you favored and then Bonnie came along and neither one of us stood a chance after that. We were pretty much out of the picture once she was up walking and talking."
"You know that's not true," he replied his voice low and laced with anger.
"Yes it is! Bonnie was the princess, she got everything, she got to go everywhere with you, she got to do whatever she wanted. If I misbehaved I was punished but if Bonnie did something wrong you just laughed and told Mother to leave her alone. You know it's all true, you know I never compared to her, that's why I was always left behind."
Rhett's jaw tightened, "Your sister has been gone for ten years, don't you think it's time you stopped being jealous of her?"
"I'm not jealous! I'm just telling you how it was. You never loved me the same."
"Bonnie was my first child, Ella; of course I loved her differently, but loving someone differently doesn't mean that you love someone else any less."
"It always felt like I was loved less," she replied.
"Why now, Ella? If you've been harboring these feelings for so long why didn't you say something long ago?"
She shrugged, "I didn't know how to say the things I felt and I figured you would just tell me I was being ridiculous."
"You are being ridiculous!" Rhett stated firmly.
Her hands clenched the fabric of her skirt as she tried to stay calm so that she could speak her piece.
"All those years ago when you decided to come home you told me that I was your little girl just like Bonnie had been and for awhile I believed you but then after awhile it seemed Wade took over precedence of your time and Joy was born and then James and I was back at the bottom again."
"You're a little old for all of this jealousy towards your siblings, Ella. I thought you were better than that."
"It's not jealousy! I love my siblings this is about how you never treat me the same."
"I don't know what more I could've done for you, Ella."
She gave a short bitter laugh, "All I ever wanted was for you to love me like you do the others."
"I do!" he all but yelled.
"Then why don't I feel it!" she exclaimed.
"Because you're like your mother! She didn't know what love was and neither do you. It took her twelve years to pull her head out of the sand and at the rate you're going it'll take you twice as long."
"You didn't want me because you hated my father!" she yelled.
"What are you talking about? I never said that."
"Yes, you did, I heard you tell mother that you hated him."
"When pray tell did you hear this?"
"Years ago."
"It wasn't what it sounded like, Ella."
"How can it not be what it sounded like? Hate is hate and if hated him than it's easy to figure that you would hold it against me that I am his daughter."
"It's not like that at all" Rhett tried to explain. "I meant that I hated that he married your mother."
She gave a short laugh, "That's even better; if they hadn't married, I wouldn't be here!"
"You're missing the point, Ella! I hated that Frank married Scarlett because I was in love with her! She only latched onto him because she needed three hundred dollars and I wasn't able to get it to her in time. It wasn't some grand love affair between them and you know it."
The words stung her although she had learned long ago the truth of her parent's marriage.
"I guess you were glad then when he was killed," she spat.
"I tried to keep it from happening," he stated angrily.
"I just bet you tried real hard," she replied. "Why would you if you wanted mother so badly? His dying made her available."
"I tried to save him for you!" he thundered. "I didn't want you to lose a parent, Ella; but I was too late, there wasn't anything I could do for him."
Ella was well aware of the circumstances surrounding her father's death and she couldn't help but feel like he hadn't given her a thought when he had went out the ill fated night.
"He loved you," Rhett told her as if he had read her thoughts.
"How would I know," she whispered.
"Have you seriously gone through your whole life so far feeling as if no one loved you?" he asked.
"No," she answered.
"Who is lucky enough to be excluded from that doubt?"
"Mother," she said quietly; "and Wade."
"You would think that you would doubt your mother," he said more to himself than her.
"She never left me," she replied.
Rhett sighed deeply, "I love you, Ella; you've always been in my heart, and you are my daughter."
"Why didn't you ever adopt me?" she asked softly.
He was taken aback by the question and he stared at her silently for a long moment.
"I suppose I never saw a reason for it," he answered.
"Because you didn't want me," she replied.
"Ella, I really don't understand where all of this is coming from. I've always loved you; I've taken care of you since you were a baby. I didn't need a piece of paper from a court telling me you were my child. You became mine the moment I slipped the ring on your mother's finger."
"Maybe I would've liked a piece of paper saying you were my father," she cried.
"You had a father, Ella; and I never considered changing your name out of respect to him. You are his child and you should bear his name. I wouldn't want another man changing my children's names and besides I have been a father to you and you know it! You're just angry because you didn't get your own and you want to spin it into some sob story."
"That's not true!"
"Isn't it? You sitting there acting like you were abused and denied affection. Poor little Ella Kennedy living in a big house being handed everything her little heart desires, she has a full bank account and a little money in her reticule for trips to the store. She has an older brother to protect her, a little sister that idolizes her, another brother who adores her and a mother who coddles her and thinks the sun rises and sets upon her and let's not forget she has a step-father who would do anything he could for her. It really sounds like you have a horrible life doesn't it!" he bellowed.
"This is why I don't tell you anything!" she yelled. "You always have to mock everyone. You raised me because you had to!"
"You think I had to raise you? I didn't have to do anything. I could've shipped you off to boarding school in London. I could've made your mother hand you over to a relative, and believe me I wouldn't have had to try hard to convince her of that back then or better yet I could have just not married her if I didn't want a ready made family."
Tears were pouring down her face and she knew it was useless to say anything else. Rhett fished a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out to her but she swiped at her cheeks with her hands instead.
"Let me ask you something, Ella; do you love me like you love your mother?"
She shook her head, "Not anymore. I don't know why I even bother to care that you're not really my father."
He studied her as she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. There was nothing he could say to her last statement and he couldn't help but feel a pang of failure deep inside him. He allowed the feeling to be washed away with anger however, anger that she felt the way she did when he had always tried hard to do right by Scarlett's children.
"Go upstairs and wash your face," he said gently. "It will be time for dinner soon."
She hurried away and he was left alone with his thoughts. He refused to believe that Ella really felt the way she claimed and that she still held a grudge that had formed during her early childhood. She couldn't possibly have felt that way and not found some way of saying it or showing it in all of this time. No, it just didn't make sense. As he continued to think it over he was able to convince himself that these were the mere tactics of a spoiled southern belle who had learned from her Mother's tricks all too well. Ella obviously thought that she could escape her punishment by putting on this act, well she'd just have to learn that Rhett Butler wasn't fooled by crocodile tears, just like he had never been fooled by Scarlett's and when the time came he'd make damn sure he didn't fall for Joy's and then Ella would see that all of his children were treated equally.
From the bottom of the staircase Scarlett had overheard the last portion of Rhett and Ella's conversation. She had quickly hurried back up the steps and into her room before Ella bounded from the parlor. A slow burn of anger was rising inside of her as she recalled the harsh words Rhett had been throwing at Ella, who had obviously been serious about what she was saying. She was beginning to wonder if perhaps her daughter was right, maybe Rhett was harder or her than he was the other children. It seemed that she was always at odds with him when it concerned Ella and she knew that it was only going to get worse when she forced him to divulge the full extent of the conversation to her, but that would have to wait for she wouldn't argue with him while staying under his Mother's roof. It would have to wait until they returned to Atlanta.
Ella ignored Rhett for the rest of the day and the next morning she didn't show any measure of caring when he said nothing to her before she left for school. She had kissed her Mother and her sibling's goodbye before climbing into the carriage with a sigh of relief. For the first time she was glad to be going back to the confines of The Sister's of Mercy Convent School. She didn't want to spend another moment in the company of her step-father and she was relieved that he wouldn't be there when she returned at the end of the week.
When the carriage returned from dropping Ella off at school, Rhett, Scarlett and the children said their goodbyes to Eleanor and then climbed inside for the journey to the train station. Rhett was aware of Scarlett's suddenly cool demeanor towards him and he knew that it had to do with his decision of not allowing Ella to attend the ball. He allowed her to stew in whatever snit she was in, not saying anything about it which he was sure would only make things worse later but he was frustrated with her almost as much as he was with Ella. Boarding the train Scarlett took a seat on one side of the aisle and he took the aisle seat on the opposite side. James climber into the seat next to him and Joy settled in next to her Mother. Scarlett turned her head towards the window, watching as the first drops of rain splattered against the glass. The sky suddenly looked dark and ominous. A storm was brewing and not just the kind with thunder and lighting she thought to herself. There was another storm brewing between her and Rhett and she had a feeling it was going to be much larger than the petty disagreements they usually had. It had been a long time since they had a major argument which most likely meant that they were long overdue. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the velvet upholstery. She hated storms, rather they be the type of nature or the type between husband and wife.