Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Eleven

Rhett visited the shop after dinner which was fortunate because Scarlett had finished nursing Wade by the time Rhett had arrived.

Scarlett showed Rhett the entire store. He could see how proud she was of her accomplishment. He could have made a lot of mocking comments about the store, but he restrained himself. He wanted her to have good feelings about him. He did make some teasing remarks that she scowled at. He would not poo-poo her success. Although on the scale of things it wasn't that great of a success.

Rhett stopped and thought. How old was Scarlett? Seventeen at most. Maybe eighteen. No, she was seventeen. This was amazing for someone so young. She did deserve his praise. What's more he knew she wanted his praise. Why refuse it? Praising her would make her more receptive to his advances.

Rhett smiled at Scarlett and said, "This is amazing. You must be so proud of your success."

"We really are."

"Mrs. Hamilton, may I take you and your son to the park tomorrow afternoon?"

"I will say yes but if we are busy with women wanting to buy dresses, I will have to tell you no."

"If so, maybe I can take Wade to the park alone."

"We will see."

Scarlett was smiling at Rhett. Rhett was smiling back. He knew it would be a matter of days before he seduced her into his bed. Then he could set her up in a fine apartment and she could leave all of this behind. He would even hire some servants and be sure she and her son had plenty of food.

After Rhett left the establishment, Scarlett thought about when she had first bought half of the dress shop. She had been surprised at everything it took to run a business. From ordering supplies to getting the finished product out on time. Coco had even taught Scarlett how to sew. Coco had a sewing machine that one operated with a foot operated treadle mechanism. It took a lot of energy to power the treadle. Scarlett just sewed the long seams up while Coco did the more delicate work. Scarlett had also organized all the patterns, the lace, the buttons, and all the other miscellaneous items. Far too often when Coco couldn't find something she would just buy another one which was both an added expense but also a delay in getting the dresses finished.

Coco was happy she had made Scarlett her partner. Coco had been amazed at Scarlett's actions. If a manufacturer got the order wrong, Scarlett would make them fix the error. Scarlett had no problem standing up the salesman. Also, to Coco's amazement, when one of the mills sent them double what they had ordered, Scarlett made them come and pick up the extra bolts of material. This had happened several times, but Coco had just kept the stock because she knew she would use it eventually. Scarlett had explained why they wouldn't do that by saying, "All our money is then tied up in stock and we have no money to buy what we need to buy."

Coco had replied, "I never thought of that."

The most amazing thing to Coco is that Scarlett did the books every day in a matter of minutes. It had always taken Coco at least thirty minutes to do the books. Of course, after Scarlett had become a partner, she had gone back and straightened the books up for the last six months.

Scarlett had said, "There are probably mistakes from before that, but I don't have the time to go back any further."

Coco had been offended at the time, but now it was one of the things she liked about her partner. She was bluntly honest.

That evening over supper, Scarlett was telling Melly all about her afternoon with Rhett. Finally, when Scarlett stopped to take a breath. Melly said, "Scarlett, are you letting Mr. Butler call on you."

Scarlett looked startled at the question then she said, "You know I'm not. Right now, Mr. Butler and I are just friends. It has just been so long since I have had some fun. Not since we moved to New York." It was Melly's turn to look startled. Scarlett went on, "I went from going to social events and having a house full of servants to rarely getting to go out and becoming a servant myself."

"Scarlett!"

Scarlett went on like Melly hadn't said anything, she continued, "I was miserable being with child then I lost my husband then I had to go through labor and delivery then I had to nurse my own child because I couldn't afford to hire a wet nurse then I was worried to death that I wouldn't be able to find a way to support me and Wade. In these last few months, I have practically done nothing but try to make my business a success while at the same time coming home and helping you with all the chores. If I am enjoying Mr. Butler's company, then I feel like it is about time. I will always miss Charlie, but I am going to live my life. Charlie would not want me to give up on life."

Melly said, "No, he would not but you should wait at least a year after Charlie's death to allow another man to call on you."

Ashley said, "Melly, let her be. For all we know Mr. Butler will never return to New York much less continue calling on Scarlett. After all, he is a worldly, sophisticated, polished man.

"Of course, Ashley."

Scarlett scowled at Ashley. How dare he imply that Rhett was not going to continue calling on her.

The rest of the meal was a quiet one. Although several topics were discussed, neither Melly nor Scarlett fully participated.

Later that night in their bedroom, Melly said, "I wonder if Scarlett really loved Charlie."

"She loved him as much as she can love anyone. She is a selfish, self-centered, vain, dense child."

Melanie giggled then said, "She was when we boarded the train in Jonesboro, but I don't think she is as much as she once was. She certainly loves Wade."

"True, she has grown up since she married Charlie. But, Dear, remember she is still such a child. Come here and kiss me. Let's not think about Scarlett anymore."

Melly didn't want to have relations again. It was another chore she had to perform, and she didn't even have the hope of receiving a child from the coupling. Yet, as a good wife, she would do her duty.

Scarlett was nursing Wade. His oatmeal was beside her. She thought about Melly's words. Admittedly, she had not loved Charlie. She had married him because he was handsome, rich, from a good family, and she had thought she could boss him around. She had soon found out that the only part of her original belief that was correct was that he was handsome in an effeminate way. By the time they had been living in New York, Scarlett knew she had made a dreadful mistake. In truth, she knew she had made a dreadful mistake the day after her wedding night. The next six months had just hammered that point home.

Melly would never understand Scarlett's feelings for Charlie. Melly loved him and thought of him as a great big brother. Maybe he was but he was not a great husband. Maybe he had been a good husband but her lack of desire to have children and her aversion to having relations had overshadowed everything else.

How dare Ashley imply that she didn't have what it took to keep a worldly, sophisticated, polished man interested in her. She knew she did. She had been the belle of five counties after all. She could get any man she wanted. Her traitorous brain said, 'Not Ashley Wilkes.' She replied to her brain, 'Any man worth having.'

To get her mind off that thought, Scarlett started thinking about Rhett. As she switched Wade to the other breast, she thought about how handsome Rhett was. She also thought about how much fun he was. He made her laugh. She hadn't really laughed in so very long. Not since she had said 'I do.'

For a while she peacefully rocked her baby as he nursed. Soon he was finished, and he was asleep. She would let him sleep. If he woke up in the middle of the night, she would feed him the oatmeal then let him nurse.

When Rhett entered the dress shop the next afternoon, there wasn't anyone in the shop. Scarlett already had Wade in his stroller. That was where he took his naps. He took a short nap in the morning and a much longer one in the afternoon. Therefore, Wade would probably miss their entire trip to the park.

As Rhett and Scarlett walked out of the dress shop, she was pushing the stroller. He offered to push the stroller for her. She accepted just to see if he really would. Unbelievably to Scarlett, he had. What's more, he didn't look the least bit embarrassed about being seen pushing a baby buggy.

Rhett said, "How much longer do you think you are going to live with the Wilkeses?"

"A while. It is a good arrangement. I get the protection of living with a man. My sister-in-law runs the household so I can run my business. After Wade starts walking, I will probably leave him at home with Melly."

"I guess a dress shop isn't an ideal spot for a toddler."

"I really want to keep him with me but there are too many ways he could hurt himself in the shop."

"Or worse run off customers."

Scarlett laughed. She said, "There is that to consider."

"May I take you to supper tomorrow night?"

"No, that would be crossing the line. A friend would not take another friend to supper."

"Alright. Then I will have to wait for another invitation to supper from you."

With an impish smile, Scarlett said, "I don't know if another invitation will be coming."

"It will come. You find me too amusing to deny yourself the pleasure of my company."

Scarlett laughed again and said, "You aren't lacking in confidence."

"No, more than you are."

After Rhett had walked Scarlett back to her shop, he said, "It appears as if Mr. Hamilton missed the entire outing."

"Maybe he will be able to enjoy the next one."

"Is that an invitation?"

"Yes."

After Rhett had helped Scarlett get the stroller inside the shop, she saw that there were several women in the store waiting for Coco to help them. Scarlett said, "See you tomorrow."

With those words, Scarlett turned to the ladies and said, "Let me put my son in the office and I will be right back to help whoever is next."

As Rhett walked out of the shop he was smiling. He was thinking, 'What a delightful woman. She certainly has confidence in herself, but it is probably no longer over the top because of Mr. Wilkes' brutal rejection. I have to agree with Mr. Wilkes, she would not believe that any man didn't want her unless he made it painfully clear. With her not letting me take her out in the evenings, I will have to wait until December to seduce her. Damn! I won't be back until January. I've waited this long I can wait a little longer, I guess.'

Rhett came by the shop two more times to take Scarlett for a walk. On his third visit, he said, "I will be leaving New York tomorrow to return to the South."

"Will you return to New York?"

"Yes, but not right away. I will have to go to France and buy some war supplies. Maybe I will buy you a hat as a Christmas present."

"Mr. Butler, that would not be appropriate at this stage of our relationship. We are just friends."

"No, Mrs. Hamilton, we will be more than friends by then for it will be after the first of December, probably January."

"I don't want you to buy me a hat. I sell hats at my store. Buy me something else. Candy and stationery would be appropriate."

"I will certainly not be buying you candy or stationery. I will buy you something inappropriate."

Scarlett laughed. She said, "Hopefully not too inappropriate."

"Yes, something extremely inappropriate."

Scarlett just smiled. By this time, she and Rhett were back at the dress shop. Rhett kissed her hand and said, "Until I see you again."

"I will miss you."

"Of course, you will. How can you help yourself from missing me?"

"Goodbye, Mr. Conceited."

Rhett smiled and walked away. He certainly would call on Mrs. Hamilton next time he was in New York. He certainly had been lucky her husband had wanted to leave the Confederacy and died leaving her stuck in New York City.