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This chapter is very eventful, enjoy reading!:)

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Chapter 6.

Belle Watling was a cunning and shrewd woman. Because of these qualities, as well as her skill with money, she kept the best brothel and bar in Atlanta, and was a partner in New Orleans.

Left without family support at a young age, with her ruining reputation, she didn't give up or break down. She was almost 30 and about 4 years ago she met Rhett Butler, a confident man whose reputation also left much to be desired.

They quickly became friends and then lovers. He was always away on business or travelling, but always if he was in town, he came to see her.

Deep down, she saw him as more than a friend, but she would never admit it, not only to him, but to herself as well.

Her feminine intuition was also well-developed, so she immediately sensed something was wrong when Rhett, who had been coming to her saloon for months, was telling her "just poker, Darling," "I've come in for a drink," "let's go over the reports quickly," and again, "poker, poker, poker..."

They hadn't slept together in months, and he hadn't been choosing either girl. As soon as Belle realized this, she began to ponder further and look for reasons.

Nor did it become a mystery for her. Rhett often dined at the home of Pittypat Hamilton, an elderly matron who lived with her two young nieces. And while the well-bred Mrs Wilkes did not arouse Belle's suspicions, the 'little widow' Hamilton quickly attracted her attention. And when Rhett mentioned her several times in conversation, Belle realized that she was not "just another girl."

After he had returned from his trip at the end of March, and then visited her a couple of days later and, as was his habit, referred to the reports, Belle was angry.

She was still beautiful, though her beauty could be called fading. Lack of a good night's sleep, alcohol and occasional smoking did not add to her beauty. She was always beautifully dressed, with her hair done, and anyone who came to her saloon would have been happy to spend time with her, but she didn't need it. She needed Rhett, both as a lover and as a friend.

The thought of losing him in those qualities to herself drove her crazy.

She had no illusions he would marry her, but the idea that he could marry anyone at all was not in her mind.

And here was this young widow Hamilton, who was not only very young, but beautiful. She was a Southerner, she was considered a lady. "Does Rhett really think of her as his future wife?" whirled the thought in Belle's mind.

"Well," she thought, "we can play a little joke on this 'little widow'. Let's see what kind of lady she is..." then Belle grinned and the plan formed itself in her mind.

In April, when spring had finally sprung and pleasant warm weather had set in, flowers bloomed in the fields near the town.

One afternoon, free from their work at the hospital, Melanie and Scarlett were going to ask Uncle Peter to take them and Wade out of town to walk, breathe, and pick some flowers.

Uncle Peter was already preparing the carriage, but, Rhett Butler appearing out of nowhere, took over that duty, to Melanie's quiet joy and Scarlett's mild indignation. Their relationship with Rhett hadn't changed much since the winter. She could also tell him anything, and he could even listen without joking or mocking. But if Roy was mentioned in the conversation, Rhett would suddenly turn into a jovial but mocking joker. So Scarlett tried to avoid Roy in their conversations.

They went to the field to pick flowers, and after picking small bunches of buttercups and daisies, Melanie and Scarlett came up to Rhett, who was playing with Wade on a blanket under a tree. He seemed to be trying to make him something with sticks, but Wade was breaking them and laughing merrily.

Melanie, catching Captain Butler's eye on Scarlett, who sat down next to him and began absent-mindedly picking through the flowers to make a couple of bouquets, decided to help him once again.

"Scarlett, Darling, I'm going for a walk with Wade, he'll be interested to see the beetles, I remember Charlie loved them so much watching them as a child..." spoke Melanie softly and Scarlett lifted her head from the flowers and smiled at her.

"Sure, Melly, if you feel like it..." she only said.

Melanie took Wade's hand, he was already walking well round the house, but outside he was clumsy and looked like a bear cub.

Rhett, as always, mentally thanked Melanie and turned his attention to Scarlett. She sat beside him, seeming thoughtful. He loved to watch her at these moments, her gaze was so soft and kind, and there was usually a smile on her lips.

"What are you thinking about, Scarlett?" he asked softly. Today he hoped they wouldn't have a fight.

She suddenly looked at him with a merry twinkle in her eyes and confessed, "I wasn't a quiet little miss when I was a child, you know, Rhett," he grinned, and she went on, "I look at Wade and realize how quiet he's growing up, like Charles. That's probably a good thing, Rhett, isn't it?" she asked with a smile, looking into his eyes and continued, "at least, I believe, under Mellie's influence, I'll be easier on him. Imagine if I had more children?" she finished with a laugh.

And he imagined. A girl like her. Small, boisterous, with curly black hair.

He was extremely thoughtful and didn't hear what she was talking about, giggling merrily until he heard her call out to him, "Rhett, Rhett?"

He looked into her eyes and said, "I'm sorry Scarlett, I was thinking, will you repeat your question?"

"I was going to ask you for a handkerchief, Rhett, for the flowers," here she laughed again and added, "let me 'steal' a handkerchief from you."

He grinned, pulled a snow-white handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded it, noticed the initials R.K.B. embroidered in blue thread, quietly ran her finger over them, and then began to attend to the flowers. Suddenly another question came into her mind and she turned to him, looked at him slyly and said, "What's the best thing you've ever stolen, Rhett, as a child or as a guy?"

He looked at her carefully and then grinned and replied, "I'm beginning to think I haven't stolen such a thing yet."

"Oh, Rhett Butler, you're incorrigible! Why can't you answer me straight!" she frowned feignedly, and rising, walked quickly to Melly.

A couple of days later Melanie and Scarlett were leaving the hospital, both of them exhausted, there were so many wounded soldiers and so few free hands available. As they walked towards the house, they were accosted by a dark-skinned coachman from a closed carriage.

They looked at each other and came closer.

"Miss," he addressed them, "there's a lady to see you, would you mind getting into the carriage for a minute?"

Melanie and Scarlett looked at each other again and hesitantly approached the carriage.

"Let me help you, miss," the coachman said and jumped down to help them into the carriage.

Once inside, Melanie and Scarlett saw a middle-aged red-haired woman. Yes, they knew about her, knew she was Belle Watling, that she ran a bar and some other place. They had always been girlishly curious to see 'such' a woman with such hair.

They sat in the carriage for the first few moments looking at each other in silence and surprise.

Melanie looked at the woman carefully and thought about the reason for their meeting.

Scarlett eyed the woman with curiosity, not even thinking about why they were now sitting next to each other.

Belle was also frankly scrutinising the 'little widow'.

"Yes, she's sweet, young and you could even say she's beautiful, but overall, nothing special," was Belle's thought as she looked at Scarlett.

"Mrs Wilkes, Mrs Hamilton," she began politely, "please forgive me for calling you so abruptly to come here. I assure you no one will see us, my coachman will see to that."

Melanie and Scarlett looked at each other again.

"Miss...mmm...Watling," Melanie tried to start politely, "what can we do for you?"

Without taking her eyes off Scarlett, Belle smiled politely and began to speak, "You see Mrs Wilkes, I really want to donate money for the hospital, but no matron wants to take the money. They call them 'dirty'," here Scarlett shuddered and Melanie discreetly took her hand.

"But," Belle continued, "I'm a Southerner too, I want victory for our soldiers. Can you take money from me?"

Scarlett stared at the woman, but didn't know what to say. Melanie was also silent.

Finally, Mellie said quietly, "We will take your money, Miss Watling, thank you. We need medicine, bandages... We'll take it, won't we Scarlett?"

Scarlett looked at Melanie and nodded. The hospital was in need of funds.

"Thank you," Scarlett said quietly, and Belle grinned and handed her the money tied up in a handkerchief.

The deed was done.

They didn't remember how they got home, it had all happened too quickly.

When they got home, they both went quickly up to Melanie's bedroom, sat on the bed and unfolded the handkerchief.

Melanie counted the money, and repeated cheerfully, "Scarlett, it's a big sum, Scarlett, it's so good!"

But Scarlett hardly listened to her. She was looking at the handkerchief, specifically the initials R.K.B. embroidered in blue thread.

For some reason she wanted to cry at that moment, but she restrained herself. Never mind, it was all unimportant and didn't concern her... Melanie suddenly fell silent and looked at Scarlett. She was pale and subdued.

"Darling, are you alright? You're very pale..." she began.

"I'm fine, Melly," Scarlett interrupted her cheerfully and with a fake smile continued, "I'm going to go change and go see Wade." With these words she quickly left the room, taking with her the ill-fated handkerchief, which smelled hauntingly of sweet feminine perfume.

Roy had returned from his trip the day after the 'handkerchief incident', which Scarlett hadn't dared to burn, but had stuck in the dresser in the hallway, next to the handkerchief she'd borrowed from Rhett when they were picking flowers.

She was happy to see Roy; he'd been away for three weeks this time, but he came back a little happier than when he'd left. That evening they had attended a small evening of music and by some chance had ended up alone at the end of the event.

Roy took her hand and they went out into the garden. The hall was stuffy and noisy, and they wanted to be quiet.

Roy said something about the spring weather and the birds at that time of year, but Scarlett lost the thread of the conversation and thought. He was not offended, but rather thought that she needed this silence and the coolness of the evening to think about something. He had been brooding all day, and now he was agitated.

Scarlett remembered the events since the Bazaar, all their meetings with Roy, their conversations, his encouragement in everything, his interest, their jokes that were not derisive.

She remembered how he admired her thoughts and actions, how he didn't shame her but tried to give her a different perspective. He tried to broaden her understanding of many issues.

She was different from others from childhood. Both Mammy and her mother had always called her unusual. She felt goosebumps on her skin. Roy hadn't just not tried to turn a blind eye or judge, or make fun of her. He'd made her realize that she shouldn't be ashamed of being so bright, so active. That it was her strength, her gift.

They stopped near the bench in front of each other and for the second time in her life, Scarlett decided to be frank with a man.

She raised her shining eyes and smiled broadly at him.

"Thank you, Roy."

"For what? I didn't do anything, darling."

Scarlett continued to talk smiling,

"You are doing everything. You are accepting me for who I am and not for you want me to be."

He smiled and told her quietly,

"I like you, Scarlett.Your brightness and boldness and spontaneity.I wish you hadn't lost it all now, in this difficult wartime. Scarlett, I'm... I'm in love with you". Roy took her cold hands in his warm ones and looked anxiously into her eyes.

"Oh, Roy..." uttered Scarlett, but Roy continued.

"Don't say anything now, Darling. I can see your eyes and I..." he whispered those words and leaned in to her face. She closed her eyes and felt his warm lips touch hers. He wrapped his arms gently around her shoulders and kissed her affectionately and Scarlett responded without hesitation. That was right. Perfectly right .Roy gently pulled away from her lips, kissed her forehead and hugged her even tighter.

"Darling, I hope this isn't a dream" he said with a smile.

"Not a dream" Scarlett whispered and snuggled up against him, warm in his arms.

She fell asleep that night with a smile on her lips, not remembering the handkerchief, Rhett and Belle.

May was marked by General Lee's brilliant victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, where his army defeated an enemy twice his size. The Southerners were elated; they believed that it was about to be decided, just a little while longer! Victory was just around the corner and familiar life would return to their towns and homes.

For Rhett, this period was not easy. Not only was he watching Roy Thompson's active courtship of Scarlett while he was tormented by jealousy, but there were problems in London and Paris that required his presence. He had to go to Europe for a couple of months or so.

He was going to talk to her before he left. In general, Rhett had been feeling unusually uneasy lately. He couldn't bear to leave now, to leave her in this man's company. At first the mere sight of Mr Thompson near Scarlett had made him clench his hands into fists and joke about her with redoubled vigour. He saw that this was not one of her beaux from the county, but a serious young man with his own plans for Scarlett.

"My Scarlett," he thought.

That evening they sat on the swing, talking about this and that. Rhett smoked a cigar lazily, asking her about the news, about Wade, about news from home. He seemed to be joking less than usual and waiting for something.

Scarlett, on the other hand, was talkative and fidgety. She was uncomfortable to learn of Rhett and Belle's connection, she was hurt by it, offended, though she couldn't understand the reason.

But, she needed to talk to someone.

Because there was Roy. Her heart sank at the thought of him and a dreamy smile appeared on her lips.Their relationship had been fast-paced, but it had been real, right and exciting. Scarlett longed to share it with someone, but she couldn't open up to Melly yet, afraid it would hurt her memory of Charlie.

And Rhett was a wonderful conversationalist when he wasn't such a mocking varmint or a pompous turkey. He was easy to be with, he wasn't in love with her. He told her it clearly! He was almost like a mean older brother. Mentally Scarlett chuckled, comparing him to Suellen.

Rhett looked at her carefully, expressively, raising an eyebrow, and she decided to start talking.

"Have you ever fall in love, Rhett?",she asked with curiosity.

"What does 'love' even mean, Scarlett Attraction, lust. Love is a set of hormones and nothing else, Darling," he said, smiling strainedly.

"Do you really think so? But..."

"Scarlett, men think differently."

"Not all men think that way, Rhett. Not all..."

"Come on, darling, all men are alike, just some have the courage to confess their sins and weaknesses," he grinned. She asked him to wait a minute and walked with a determined step into the hallway, where from a small chest of drawers she pulled out two handkerchiefs, one clean and ironed, the other crumpled and smelling of feminine perfume.

She came up, handed him two handkerchiefs, and looking him in the eye, said, "Is this the kind of 'weakness' you're talking about, Rhett? I'm sorry, but you didn't lend me THIS handkerchief, I got it by accident, so let the one who took it from you take care of it..."

She fell silent and looked at him seriously and resentfully.

He took the handkerchiefs and didn't know what to say. He was embarrassed that she had found out about his connection to Belle like this, but he decided to attack her. Lazily tucking them into an inside pocket of his jacket, he said, "Grow up, Scarlett, it's just a relationship, a kind of friendship. You and I have a great friendship, and Belle with me... well...you know... "he grinned and looked at her.

Scarlett stood pale, and he hated himself for all the nasty words he had said a moment ago. Why had he even put them side by side...

"Rhett," she said quietly, "I'm sorry you think that way. And I can safely tell you that not everyone feels that way about friendship," she finished seriously and he realized who she was referring to and went on the offensive again.

"So we have a new golden-haired, ah sorry, dark-haired knight in armour? Or should I say uniform? Huh, Scarlett?"

He was openly mocking her, he couldn't forget that childish scene in the library, and now he couldn't believe she was capable of any feelings.

Scarlett's eyes flashed dangerously and she braced herself for battle, but Rhett continued nonchalantly.

"You are not his type, Dear".

"All right, Rhett, whose type am I?"

Rhett stared at her in silence, and Scarlett grinned.

Then he continued.

"He's not who you think he is."

"Well, you're not either."

"He seduces you with sweet talk..."

"Enough! You don't know anything."

"He just wants to have fun with you!"

"How dare you say that to me!"

Scarlett turned pale again, gasping with indignation, and jumped off him, but Rhett managed to grab her elbow. His face was flushed, but his voice was firm.

"Scarlett, wait! Wait! I'm sorry. I'm in trouble right now, I'm not myself! I'm just saying this to you as to someone I care about very much. Someday you'll understand."

"Do you know your problem is?" Scarlett said coldly. Rhett stared at her in silence and she continued, "You've met so many people like you, Rhett Butler! But Roy is another. And I..."

"Does he make you happy?" Rhett interrupted her.

"He doesn't make me feel bad. He doesn't rude to me. Do you know what he called me the first time we met?"

"And what was that?"

"Lady."

He froze, remembering their first meeting, and Scarlett managed to escape his grasp and slip onto the porch.

Rhett looked at her with sadness and despair, but her gaze was filled with contempt.

Suddenly the door opened and Melanie stepped out, smiling.

"Captain, Butler, we..."

"Excuse me, but I need to go up to my room, I think I'm getting a migraine..." interrupted Scarlett.

At the word 'migraine' Melanie's eyebrows went up and she looked questioningly at her sister in law.

"Good day Captain Butler, have a pleasant journey" Scarlett continued and without looking at anyone hurried into the house.

Melanie looked questioningly at Rhett, he stood stunned and upset.

"Captain Butler, I wanted to invite you to join us for dinner."

" I'm sorry Mrs Wilkes, I really appreciate your invitation, but I have a couple of other pressing matters before I leave" Rhett replied politely.

Both he and Melanie knew he wasn't telling the truth, that there was a thunderstorm brewing on the porch.

"Then, have a pleasant journey, Captain Butler" Melanie said politely and looked at him sadly.

He took his hat, made a curt bow, and saying, "Thank you, good bye," turned and walked quickly away.