Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

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

Chapter Fifteen

Rhett and Scarlett stayed less than a week at Middleton Acres. Upon their arrival back in Charleston they went to Claiborne's and picked out fabric and a style for Scarlett's dress. When she couldn't make up her mind on which style to get, Rhett said, "Get them both."

Scarlett flashed him a smile and said, "After all your father is paying for it."

Rhett grinned back and said, "Indeed he is. After we are done here let's go down to the harbor. I need to check on my shipping line."

After the couple were in the cab, Scarlett said, "How is Mr. du Pont doing?"

"Much better now that he has Rudy and my guidance."

"How do you keep tabs on him?"

"He writes us, but one of us will go visit him twice a year. Rudy is going next week. While he is gone, I will take care of the day-to-day operations of the shipping line."

"You didn't want to go?"

"It doesn't matter. Rudy and I have an agreement. Twice a year we trade roles in the management of the company. It has two perks. It helps us understand more easily what the other person is talking about, and the second reason is let the other person know the trials the first person goes through on a daily basis."

"That is smart. Did you think of that?"

"No, that was Rudy's idea. He is better at seeing how all the parts work together. I can see it too, just not as easily as Rudy can."

As the couple got out of the cab, Scarlett said, "Why don't we have a buggy?"

"We have a buggy. It just has a broken wheel and no horse. I never thought about getting it fixed. I guess my father hasn't either. I don't need one because I have a horse." With a smile Rhett added, "And I am not taking young ladies on buggy rides anymore."

"You could take me on a buggy ride."

"Yes, I could. Would you like me to get it fixed?"

"Yes, every time I want to go somewhere when you aren't there, I have to ask your mother if I can use the carriage. If she says that she is going to be using it, then I must ask her for money to pay for the cab."

Rhett stared down at Scarlett, he said, "I will buy you a buggy of your very own with my money, so you don't have to share it with anyone. If someone else wants to use a buggy they can get the broken buggy wheel fixed. I am also going to start giving you an allowance. It will be out of my money, also. It won't be very much, but I don't want you to have to ask anyone, but me for money ever again."

"Thank you, Rhett."

"Now come on. Let's go talk to Rudy."

When Rhett and Scarlett got to the door of the building, she said, "I am going to stay out here where it is cooler."

"It may be cooler, but it is definitely not safer. Come along, Baby."

"Alright."

By the time the family returned to Charleston, Scarlett had a new buggy and a new horse. The buggy was an eyesore to Rhett, but she loved it so that was all that mattered. Although he would not let her get fringe or brass accessories.

Starting the very next day, Rhett gave Scarlett a dollar a week. She really hadn't needed money except to pay for cabs up until that point. Rhett had told her all the stores they had accounts at. Percy was fine with her charging small items like a box of chocolates or a piece of ribbon. Yet, it was nice to have money in her purse.

When Rudy got back from New Orleans, he told Rhett, "I am never going to that city again. It was hot and humid."

"It is hot and humid here."

"The food was awful."

"I lent you my guidebook. Why didn't you go to the restaurants listed in the book?"

"I did. The hotel was alright, but I couldn't sleep on the train either coming or going."

"I will be happy to go back next time."

"Wonderful."

"In fact, I think Scarlett and I will go back in November. We can celebrate my birthday in New Orleans."

"Fine. Mr. du Pont is doing very well now with our guidance. He wants to buy another ship."

"Has he got one in mind?"

"No, I told him to wait until things settled down in the nation. If the country goes to war, the north will blockade us, and there goes the business."

"True, but our ships can run the blockade thus we can make a killing that way."

"Good idea. I'm glad you thought of that."

Rhett had no problem taking credit for Scarlett's idea. He said, "Yes, it is a great idea."

Rudy was used to Rhett bragging on himself, so he continued discussing the business with his partner.

Soon Scarlett and Rhett were celebrating their first anniversary. They had exchanged small gifts. Rhett had given Scarlett a new dress. It had a red skirt with a pink bodice. It had a red jacket with it. The jacket was trimmed with the pink fabric of the bodice. Because the red color was not next to Scarlett's face, she looked very attractive in it. She wore it when they went out that night. Scarlett gave Rhett a framed map of Charleston Harbor. They had supper at Vern's. It was a steak house. Because they were having red meat Rhett got them a bottle of red wine.

As Rhett and Scarlett got into a cab, he remembered thinking he would get her out of his system in a year if not before. If anything, she was even more in his system.

A friend of Rhett's was having a ball that night, so they attended. What better way for them to celebrate their anniversary than dancing together all night long, then going home and being intimate.

Rhett's friend Hugh was at the event. He was escorting a young woman. Scarlett didn't like Hugh. She didn't like the way he was always looking at her. She knew he was lusting after her, and it made her uncomfortable for a man to look at her that way especially in front of her husband.

Despite Rhett having told Hugh on more than one occasion for the other man to not look at his wife that way, Hugh continued to look at Scarlett disrespectfully. What annoyed Rhett even more was he knew his friend was having sexual fantasies about his wife probably while he was fucking one of the whores.

Scarlett would have been happy to know that she was becoming a bone of contention between the two men. Rhett was fed up with Hugh looking at his wife like she was just a body. Sad thing to Rhett was that was what Hugh thought of all women as – just a body. Rhett knew he was being a hypocrite for being mad at Hugh for the way the man was lusting after his wife, but damn it all she was his wife and the woman he loved, and he would not allow her to be treated that way. Even if he himself had treated all women that way before Scarlett. Furthermore, she was his and his alone. He was not going to share her even in some other man's fantasy.

Soon the year rolled into September. All through the month all the men could speak about was if there was going to be another compromise or war. The only articles in any paper across the nation were all about what was happening in Washington. Soon it was announced that California had been admitted into the union as a free state. Then it was announced that Texas had agreed to give up any claim on the territories north-west of the state and new borders were drawn up. It was rumored that Texas had agreed to do it in exchange for the government settling their ten-million-dollar debt. From the land that Texas gave up the territory of New Mexico and the territory of Utah were established with no restriction of whether it could be a free state or a slave state. It was announced that slave trade was banned in Washington, D.C.

Scarlett was doing her best to understand the articles in the papers and what these bills would do to settle the growing tension in the country over the issue of slavery. Rhett did his best to dummy it down enough for her to understand, but in truth he wasn't understanding it completely either. The last bill to pass of the package that would become known as The Compromise of 1850 was the Fugitive Slave Act.

One night while listening to Rhett and Percy discuss the compromise, Scarlett said, "Does this mean there isn't going to be war?"

Despite Elizabeth scowling at Scarlett for asking a question about a political matter, Rhett answered his wife, he said, "It means that war has been averted for a little while. As long as there are two vastly different views on whether slavery should be legal then there is going to be a possibility of war. The problem is, Sweetheart, that the Southern states' economies cannot survive the loss of cheap labor. A lot of people in the North will not rest until it is illegal to own another human being."

"So, you are saying sooner or later the country will go to war."

"Most likely."

Percy said, "All the compromise did was make the issue of slavery someone else's problem."

Abruptly, Elizabeth said, "Enough of that talk. Everyone finish your meal."

After everyone's meal was completed, the ladies left the men to their whiskey. Nobody in the Butler household smoked. Rhett and Percy started talking about the compromise again with Robert mostly listening but adding a comment now and then.

In the parlor after the ladies were seated, Elizabeth said, "Scarlett, you will never offer your opinion on a political discussion again."

"I didn't offer my opinion. I asked a question."

"You will never ask a question during a political discussion again."

Before Scarlett could answer Elizabeth, Mabel said, "It is so unladylike."

"Yes, I will if I want to know something. Besides, it was just family."

"No, you won't. Rhett will tell you everything you need to know."

"Rhett likes me asking questions. He likes me being informed."

"I am sure that isn't true."

"It is true. He brings me the newspapers. Not just the Charleston Gazette, but also The New York Times."

"Do you want people to think you are a blue stocking?"

"I don't think I would mind."

Elizabeth gasped and said, "The shame."

Scarlett went on like Elizabeth hadn't spoken, "A blue stocking is supposedly a woman that is not good marriage material. First, I am already married so it doesn't matter if I am good marriage material or not. Second, my husband is the one that wants me to be more knowledgeable. Third, I don't care what other people think and I don't think my husband does either. I'm going upstairs." Scarlett turned to Rosemary and said, "Would you tell Rhett I went to our room?"

"Of course, Scarlett."

With those words, Scarlett left the parlor and went up to her room. All the way up the stairs, she kept thinking, 'Don't cry. Don't cry.'

When Rhett, Robert, and Percy entered the parlor, Rhett said, "Where is Scarlett?"

Rosemary said, "She went to your room."

Elizabeth said, "Rhett, you are going to have to talk to Scarlett about her behavior."

While trying to figure out what Scarlett could have done wrong, Rhett said, "What behavior?"

"Offering her opinion during a political discussion."

"She didn't offer her opinion. She asked a question. She wanted to know something, so she asked a question. I am not going to discourage that behavior. In fact, I will reward that behavior."

"Rhett, it is so unseemly for a lady to behave that way."

Mabel said, "It is so unladylike."

"I don't care. I will not be married to a ninny who hides her head in the sand like…."

Percy sharply said, "Rhett!"

"Yes, sir. I'm going to my room where my very intelligent wife waits for me, but before I leave, Mother, don't ever speak to Scarlett about her behavior again. If I think she needs correcting, I will do it."

With that Rhett left the room.

Author's Notes: The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was one of the factors that led to the Civil War.