Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

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

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Over supper when the Butlers had come to the Wilkeses for their biweekly visit the first week in February, Ashley said, "In January Congress passed the thirteenth amendment. The thirteenth amendment abolishes slavery as an institution in all the states. It still has to be ratified by three fourths of the states but that is a mere technicality. Once the Confederacy surrenders slavery of any kind will be outlawed."

Rhett said, "It is for the best."

"Yes, it is. Slavery was an inhumane system."

"I agree, Ashley, but unfortunately all the Southern states' economies were built on the system."

"Yes, they were. The Southerners had to continue the system to keep their lives as they were."

"Despite the horridness of the system."

"It is far too easy to turn away from other people's pain.

"Far too easy for most people."

Scarlett started talking about something that had happened at the dress shop that morning and everyone was glad about the change of subject.

On Valentine's Day Rhett and Scarlett went out to eat for supper. They had invited Coco and Pierre to go with them and the couple had accepted. It would be the first time Scarlett had ever met Coco's husband. Of course, Scarlett knew a lot about Pierre because she and Coco spent a lot of time together. Scarlett also knew a lot about Coco's children and mother-in-law. Coco had stopped talking about her mother-in-law since Gabrielle had started working at the shop except when the two women were in the office and the door was shut. Coco really didn't like her mother-in-law.

Coco knew a lot about Rhett, Wade, Melly, and Ashley also. Occasionally, Scarlett would talk about her family back in Georgia, but Coco didn't like it when Scarlett did because for a least the next hour, Scarlett would be sad. Therefore, Coco never asked about her family in Georgia. It had broken Coco's heart when Scarlett had said one time, 'I don't even know if they are alive or dead.' Within fifteen minutes Scarlett had gotten her coat and purse and left the shop claiming she didn't feel good.

The couples went to a steak restaurant, and everyone had a steak. The evening was nice for everyone. The women had been looking forward to their night out together for several days. Although they were very tired from their day at the dress shop, their excitement was carrying them through the evening.

Rhett and Pierre found several different topics to discuss. Pierre was a telegraph operator, which was a good job to have.

Scarlett and Coco studied the other women at the restaurant and talked about their dresses. They talked about what they liked and what they didn't like. Scarlett said, "You know what I like best about the dresses you design is that I can get in and out of them by myself."

"That is what I like about them also."

By that time, everyone on the staff, even Thelma and Louise, at Chanel's Dress Shop only wore Chanel Originals to work. Everyone had to sew up their dresses themselves, but they were allowed to do so while they were working. They were also allowed to just pay the cost of all the fabric and other items they used to make their dresses.

Chanel only sewed up the first dress made from a pattern and that was so she could find any mistakes and eliminate them. Of course, Coco sewed up her own dresses most of the time. If she got busy creating another style, she would delegate the creation of her dress to one of her assistants which were always happy to assist her.

Coco and Scarlett's employees were extremely grateful for their jobs. Despite the fact that neither woman liked to part with their money they paid good wages. The women knew they were buying loyalty with those salaries.

It would be simple enough for one of the employees to sell her dress to one of the competition, and then suddenly a Chanel Original would not be original anymore.

Coco said to Rhett, "Scarlett said it was your idea to give Gabrielle a salary." Here Coco smiled and said, "I didn't want to do that anymore than Scarlett did, but we did see the logic of your argument. When I talked it over with Pierre, he too thought it was a good idea. Her attitude about coming to work has gotten a lot better since we started paying her."

Scarlett said, "We actually decided to give her seven dollars a week because she can sew as fast as Edith or Helen can."

"Maybe even faster."

Both women laughed and Scarlett said, "True. With her young legs she can power the sewing machine faster than anyone else in the shop. Amazing to me, she happily sits there all day just sewing up long seams."

Pierre said, "Coco and I talked about making Gabrielle pitch in for food and the cost of the house, but we decided not to make her pay for living with us."

Coco said, "Afterall, we let his mother live there free."

Pierre went on like Coco hadn't even spoken, "We agreed we would house and feed her but everything else she had to pay for. It has worked out well. She now values the cost of things."

"She is also so proud when she can afford to purchase an item for herself."

Scarlett said, "Like that horrid hat she had Thelma make her."

Coco laughed and said, "It is hideous, but Gabrielle is so proud of it."

Pierre said, "I think it looks nice on her."

That made the women laugh. The husbands had been happy to take their wives out for supper that night because the last two weeks had been a hectic time for the dress shop with every woman in New York wanting a new red dress to wear for Valentine's Day but not nearly as bad as New Year's Eve. Both Scarlett and Coco had worn the red dress to supper that they had made the year before.

Towards the end of the evening, Pierre said, "Mrs. Butler, all this time I never knew you were so young. I always thought you were more Coco's age or even older. Although I guess I should have with Coco having mentioned you have a young son. But with the way you turned Coco's shop around I just imagined you to be older."

Rhett said, "My wife is a genius when it comes to running a business."

"And mine is a genius when it comes to making dresses."

"I am certainly glad they found each other."

At the same time, the women both said, "Thank you."

On March twelfth Jacob Marley had boarded a ship heading towards New York. It was the first time he had ever left London. He and his wife, Eliza, were going to have a vacation mostly at Mr. Butler's expense. All Jacob had to pay for was Eliza's expenses. Jacob had not told Eliza why they were going to New York just that they were going. He had not told her about Mr. Butler's money because Eliza couldn't keep a secret. She would tell everyone then they would have got robbed.

Jacob had not told Mr. Butler that he was bringing his wife. In fact, he hoped to keep that fact secret from Mr. Butler. There was no reason for Mr. Butler to find out. Jacob would meet the man in the lobby, give him the case of jewelry, and then leave. He would return to London after his week's stay.

Mr. Butler had netted almost half a million pounds off his cotton and his business interest in London and Paris. Mr. Butler had given Jacob two percent of his earnings from the cotton. Jacob knew why Mr. Butler did that, so Jacob would sell it for the most money which Jacob had done. When Jacob had read Mr. Butler's letter instructing Jacob to bring him his money to New York. Jacob had thought the man was crazy but at the end of the letter Mr. Butler had stated that he couldn't leave New York at this time. In fact, Mr. Butler didn't know when he would be able to leave New York. Mr. Butler had agreed to not only pay all of Jacob's expenses, but also give him one hundred pounds to make the trip. The hundred pounds was the reason he had agreed to make the trip. Jacob had taken all Mr. Butler's money and bought loose gems and gold with it. It all fit in a medium size carpet bag that he could carry with him. He had put some of his clothes on top of the jewelry, in case, Eliza decided to look inside the bag.

When Scarlett came home from work on March seventeenth, her husband took her hand and led her into her music room. There in her music room, which honestly hadn't been much of a music room until that moment, was a piano. She looked at him and Rhett said, "Happy Birthday."

Scarlett squealed and threw her arms around his neck. She said, "Thank you. Thank you. How did you know?"

"Melly told me."

Scarlett sat down on the piano bench and said, "Did you get me some sheet music?"

"Of course. I got you a lot."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"If you want, we can sing songs together in the evenings."

"I would like that. This is wonderful."

"Wonderful enough for you to try something else tonight."

"Like what?"

"Like doing to me what I am always doing to you."

Coyly Scarlett said, "Maybe. It depends on what else you have bought me."

Rhett laughed. He said, "I have bought you a few more presents that will probably make you willing to try giving me oral stimulation."

"We will see."

Rhett laughed. He knew Scarlett would because she liked to make him happy. Also, because he knew that she liked to give him pleasure also. Maybe not as much as she liked receiving pleasure, she was a selfish, self-centered woman. Yet, she wanted him to have as much fun as she did.

One time after Rhett and Scarlett had finished making love, she said, "It is a shame you can't feel that feeling many times in one love making session."

"True but if we could men might never get out of the bed."

Scarlett had laughed and Rhett had joined her.

The Wilkeses came to supper to celebrate Scarlett's birthday as did Coco and Pierre. They had Irish stew with mutton. Rachael had served it with corn bread. Everyone had enjoyed it.

Now when Scarlett looked at Wade sitting in his own chair, she was proud. She knew she was with child. She would send Ina May a note tomorrow asking her to come over next Thursday and confirm her suspicions. She would tell Rhett tomorrow morning. Tonight was all about her and maybe a little bit about Rhett. She would pleasure him orally because in truth he was a great husband and he always made sure she had a great time when they had relations. She wondered what else he had bought her. She hoped one of the gifts was jewelry. She knew it would be. He was always giving her jewelry. She knew it was for two reasons. To adorn her body and it was a way of hiding their money.

For a moment, Scarlett wondered what Charlie had thought about her obviously not enjoying their intimate time together. Or had he thought of her discomfort at all. Or had Charlie been so brainwashed by Southern society that he would have thought her receiving pleasure in her marital bed a scandalous thing. She decided that yes, he would have. That was sad. She brushed off any thoughts of Charlie. He was dead and he didn't matter anymore. Charlie had done two good things for her. Get her out of the Confederacy and gave her Wade. Scarlett giggled. Maybe three. Dying. She chastened herself as being a horrible person for being happy that Charlie had died but she didn't stop giggling, nonetheless.