Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Ten

Melly came back into the room. She said, "Supper is ready to serve. Mr. Butler, go ahead and go into the dining room with Ashley. Scarlett and I will bring the food in. Ashley, would you carry Wade into the dining room?"

Rhett said, "Let me get him."

"Sure."

Rhett sat down at the dining room table with Wade in his arms. The boy seemed content to stay there. Rhett turned to Ashley, who had also sat down, and said, "Did your friend get you a job? I have forgotten doing what."

"Yes. John got me a job as a Teller, but I found I didn't like being a teller, so I got myself a job as a reporter for the New York Times. I like my job very much. I have already gotten one pay raise and I will get another one soon. I am going to be assigned to the political beat in a couple of weeks and with that assignment I will be paid more money."

"I was in Atlanta a couple of months ago. I was there to sell my goods and I was asked to attend a hospital bazaar to raise money for the cause. I was the guest of honor being a war hero and all."

Both men laughed. While they were laughing Melly, Scarlett, and Fay, the scullery maid, walked into the dining room. Melly was carrying a tray with two plates of food and two glasses of water, Scarlett was carrying a tray with two plates of food and two glasses of water although one of them was only halfway full, Fay was carrying one plate of food and one glass of water which she set down in front of Rhett.

Rhett could see that there was not an abundance of food on his plate. Actually, on anyone's plate. He supposed there would be no second helpings. That was alright. If he was still hungry when he left later, he would get himself something else at the hotel.

Melly set one plate of food in front of Ashley and the other in front of an empty seat then she sat down in that seat. Scarlett set her two plates on the other side of the table. She then took her son from Rhett. She said, "How did you come to be holding Wade?"

"I like children."

"That's nice."

Scarlett sat down in her chair with Wade in her lap. When everyone was settled, Ashley said, "Let us pray."

After Ashley finished praying, he said, "How did you find Atlanta?"

"Atlanta looks pretty much the same, but the war is taking its toll on the inhabitants of the city."

Melly asked, "Do you go that far inland often, Mr. Butler?"

"No, not usually but I have some business interest in the city that I have to check up on. I am also buying cotton since I can get it to England."

Melly said, "That is so nice of you."

Ashley remembered that he had heard rumors of Mr. Butler having stockpiled a large amount of cotton in a warehouse in Lancashire, England. He had sold it after General Lee had surrendered. It was said that he got three times what he had paid for the cotton.

For a moment, Ashley thought of all the less than honorable things it was rumored that Mr. Butler did during the war to make money. Stealing the confederate gold – although Ashley didn't think there was any gold to steal at that time. It was rumored that Mr. Butler had inflated his prices on his goods that he had brought into the Confederacy, Ashley was sure he had done that. Yet the worst thing Mr. Butler did during the war was mock and make fun of the cause. After the end of the war, Ashley didn't know if Mr. Butler had done anything illegal but probably. He certainly profited during the time when the Republicans were in office.

The rest of the supper conversation was pleasant. The group talked about the war and the hardships facing the Confederacy. Rhett and Ashley talked about the political landscape. They talked about how unpopular the war was in the North.

At one point, Ashley said, "Mr. Butler, at the barbecue you said that the South was not prepared for war. Are you surprised they have lasted this long?"

"No, I attribute that to Southern stubbornness."

"I suspect it will grind on for several more years before the generals finally realize it is a lost cause."

"You know it isn't honorable to surrender."

"No, it isn't."

"Mrs. Hamilton, I like this décor."

"I didn't decorate the house. Most of the furniture we are renting. All the extra touches are thanks to Melly."

Rhett turned and looked at Melanie. He said, "As I said I do like the décor." Rhett turned back to look at Scarlett and said, "Do you take your son to the park every day?"

"No, I took the afternoon off from work to take Wade to the park because it was such a beautiful day. The first one we have had in a while."

"True. You work?"

Defensively Scarlett said, "I have to. I don't have anyone to take care of me." Rhett gave Ashley a quick look which Scarlett didn't miss. With some bite in her voice, she said, "I am not Ashley's responsibility. I am able to support myself and pay my fair share of the household expenses. I live with Melly because my late husband asked her to keep an eye on me and Wade. Charlie was Melly's brother."

"It is nice you have family to live with."

Scarlett smiled at Melly and said, "It is nice to have family in this foreign land I find myself in. I would have returned home except my parents told me it wasn't safe for me to return to Tara. Especially, considering I would have to cross a war zone."

"Yes, you would have to change trains. You would have to get off the train in Washington and somehow get you and your son to Baltimore. All without a male escort."

"After the war is over, Pa will be able to come and escort me home."

"Let's make the best of you being forced to stay in New York. While I am in town, I can show you some of the sights."

With the vanity of having been the belle of five counties, Scarlett said, "Mr. Butler, I cannot allow you to call on me yet. Not until the first of December."

"How about if I show you the sights as your friend?"

"As a friend, yes."

"Where do you work?"

"I own a dress and hat shop over on Beaver Street by Hanover Square."

"This sounds interesting."

"Come by tomorrow and I will be happy to show it to you. It is called Chanel's." After seeing Rhett's cocked eyebrow, Scarlett added, "My partner's last name."

Melly stood up and said, "Mr. Butler, you can go sit in the parlor with Ashley while Scarlett and I clear the table."

"Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Wilkes, but I have an appointment in about thirty minutes that I must get to."

"Let me walk you out, Mr. Butler."

Rhett smiled at Scarlett, and she smiled back. He said, "Certainly."

"Let me put Wade down in the parlor."

"Of course."

When Rhett and Scarlett got to the door, he said, "Until tomorrow."

"Good night."

Scarlett went back to the dining room to help Melly clear the table. It seemed Melly had gotten everything but two water glasses on one of the trays. Scarlett grabbed the other tray and carried the water glasses back to the kitchen. She didn't need the tray to carry the water glasses, but the tray had to be taken back to the kitchen anyway for it to be ready to use the next night.

Once in the kitchen, Scarlett said, "Melly would you watch Wade while I make his oatmeal."

"Of course. Let me put the dishes in the sink to be washed."

"Thanks."

Thirty minutes later with Wade's bowl of oatmeal Scarlett went to the parlor and picked up her son. They then went upstairs for the night. She wanted to think about Rhett. She found him funny and maybe a little irreverent but she kind of liked that. Once again, she was glad, they were in New York and not stuffy Atlanta or boring Tara. If they were in Atlanta, it would be improper for her to receive him because he wasn't received.

As Rhett had left Scarlett's home, he thought, 'It seems Scarlett is not above fabricating a story to make herself or her loved one look better. I darn well know she didn't love her late husband and it was probably Mr. Wilkes who had suggested they moved to the North. After all that's what he told me in the library. No, that's not right. He had said he and his wife were going to move to New York. I'm not sure but I bet Charlie Hamilton was that momma's boy that was following Scarlett around all day. I'll bet Ashley told his cousin what he was going to do and convinced his cousin to move with him. No, that's not quite right. Mr. Wilkes would know that Charlie was going to marry Scarlett and he wouldn't want her moving to New York with him. I'm also wondering why Scarlett would marry Mr. Wilkes's cousin. I would have thought she would want to stay as far away from Mr. Wilkes as she could. I'll bet that Mr. Hamilton tried to talk Mr. Wilkes out of moving to New York and somehow instead Mr. Wilkes had convinced Mr. Hamilton to move to New York instead. I would have thought Scarlett would have shown her displeasure at that idea. I am surprised Mr. Hamilton didn't back down. Maybe he was a stronger person than he had appeared to be at that barbecue. I wonder how Scarlett had ended up living with the Wilkeses. That one is easy. The cousins decided to live together to save money then after Mr. Hamilton died, Scarlett didn't have anywhere else to go.

Rhett smiled. He could tell by the fact that Scarlett never once looked at Mr. Wilkes that she hated the man.

The next day, Scarlett told Coco all about Rhett. Coco was happy for the young girl and a little bit jealous. She remembered when she had been that excited about Pierre. That was almost sixteen years ago. She and Pierre had been married for almost fifteen years. She loved Pierre and he was a good man and a good husband. It was just that his mother could bring out the stuffiness in him and she had been living with them since they had emigrated to the United States. She was also happy for Scarlett because the young girl had so little happiness in her life.

It had been a wonderful day when Scarlett had offer to become her partner. When the young girl had offered to buy her shop, she had wanted to tell her to go home and play with her dolls. This was an adult world. But when Coco had looked into the girl's eyes, she knew this woman was not a girl. There was a hardness in the girl's eyes. Coco had accepted Scarlett's offer to be partners because she thought she would be able to boss Scarlett around. Coco had quickly learned that to be untrue.

Scarlett instinctively knew how to run a profitable business. Just like her refusing to offer credit. Scarlett had been right those women were never going to pay her back. Coco had been dressing those women for free and neglecting her paying customers. Just like bringing in Louise to make hats. If Scarlett hadn't been there, she would have probably given the hatmaker fifty percent of the profits. The best part was that while Scarlett would offer suggestions on styles and choices of fabric if Coco didn't agree, Scarlett never got mad.

Coco hoped that Scarlett would find love again although it was too soon for Scarlett to be entertaining a gentleman caller again. Maybe Scarlett figured life was too short to waste time on properness. Coco had never been an extremely proper woman. If she was, she would not own a dress shop.