Dear readers, good evening!

The new chapter is already here, enjoy reading!:)

Unfortunately, old habits are not easy to break.

I own nothing in regard to GWTW.

Chapter 19

The two weeks Rhett had set aside to visit Charleston quickly turned into a month. November was coming to an end.

Scarlett liked spending time at his mother's house, and he could see that she had a rapport with both her and his younger brother.

"I wonder," he thought with slight irritation as he watched Ross and Scarlett discussing something and laughing quietly in the corner of the parlour, "if she'd get along so easily with Rosemary. Or do her charms only apply to men?"

Rhett didn't want to admit it to himself, but he was jealous of her, even of his brother. It wasn't a burning jealousy, as with Ashley, but rather an irritation and a desire to take up all her time and attention when she was free from the children or his mother or her annoying aunt, who came over every couple of days for tea.

Scarlett disliked these visits because, although Rhett promised to be there for her and protect her from sarcastic remarks, he often had to leave for meetings, make correspondence, or go for walks with the children. And Scarlett felt sad and abandoned during these meetings.

Luckily, there was Ross, who would take her for a walk in the garden or a coffee on the veranda after these visits, and in the evening her husband's warm embrace helped her forget all the remarks.

"Rhett," she confessed to him, sitting in his arms at the head of the bed at night, after another visit from her aunt Eulalie, "I miss you."

He looked at her carefully and, without hesitation, said, "Me too, Scarlett... Very much..."

She smiled weakly and said, "We rarely spend time alone together, you're always busy here in Charleston, either in meetings or with the children. I really need you during my aunt's visits, her sarcastic remarks, which your mother ignores, really hurt and annoy me. They don't know anything about you and me!" she finished hotly.

Rhett pulled her tighter against him, leaned over, kissed her hair affectionately and began to explain, "You see, Scarlett, during the time we've been in Savannah, there's been a fair amount of business that needs my attention and that of my lawyer. Constant correspondence with him, telegrams. It's not easy to settle cases at a distance from Atlanta, but everything is possible," he said, noticing her troubled look.

"And besides," he said with a slight irritation in his voice, "there's Ross, he spends a lot of time with you."

Scarlett didn't notice his irritation, but clung tighter to him and said thoughtfully, "Yes, there's Ross, he's easy and fun, he's your brother, but he's such a shy man, I never would have thought," she said with a smile, then added with a sigh, "but he's not you, Rhett."

His heart warmed at her words, the pesky feeling of jealousy began to recede and he reached up to kiss her lips. Then he moved lower, her neck, the neckline of her nightgown... The kisses grew hotter and hotter, all talk forgotten and only the vivid sensations of touching each other remained.

As Rhett fell asleep that night, his arms around her, he decided to surprise her and organize a trip to their estate just for the two of them.

"Mother could look after the children, Ross could help her, and we could spend a couple of days and nights there... It's been a long time since we've been just the two of us. The estate is in good condition, Ross has been looking after it for the last few years. Almost all the rooms have fireplaces and we'll be warm, though," he thought with a playful smile, remembering their recent passionate embrace, "we won't be cold."

Rhett fell asleep with a plan already in place, knowing that the trip would be good for them, especially since he knew that they had another trip to make soon and he knew it wouldn't be easy for them.

At breakfast the next morning there were various conversations, Scarlett was distracted, Rhett was concentrating on things he wanted to finish before they went to the estate, the children were eating breakfast and waiting for Ross to take them for a walk in the park.

Ross seemed more confused than usual and only Scarlett knew the reason why.

Mrs Butler's constant hints and lamentations at the table that it was time for him to get married had led her and Ross to a frank conversation on the veranda one day.

"So why haven't you married yet, Ross," Scarlett asked with a smile and added, "or are you like your brother, 'not a marrying man'?"

Ross smiled and replied, "I guess it runs from the family, getting married late. After all, Rhett, despite all his rants, married and from what I can see, is very happy with you, Scarlett."

Scarlett smiled at him, adjusted the white shawl on her shoulders and asked with interest, "Haven't you met a special lady so far that you'd like to marry and appease Miss Eleanor already," she finished with a giggle.

Ross looked at her embarrassed and decided to come clean, "Scarlett, it's in confidence, okay," he suddenly started to speak seriously and she looked at him carefully.

And Ross shared with her that he had met a young lady in a bookshop he frequently visited. He learnt that her name was Kathleen and that she helped her father in the shop. He made enquiries and learnt that she was twenty five and single young woman.

Gradually they began to greet each other and then Ross, overcome with embarrassment, handed her the first letter and so began a correspondence that lasted for six months.

Scarlett looked at him with curiosity and a slight smile and finally asked, "So what are you waiting for, Ross? Why don't you propose to her if you're so interested in your connection?"

Ross looked embarrassed and replied that he was just thinking about how to nicely confess his feelings to Kathleen.

"Scarlett," he asked timidly, "I need your help. I wanted to ask you to help me pick out a ring to ask for her hand in marriage."

Scarlett looked at him in surprise but agreed.

On one of their walkings with Ross, they sent the children home earlier with the maid and went to the jeweller's, where Scarlett helped him with his choice, all the while lamenting that he would have been better off with Rhett, for he had excellent taste.

"Rhett's very busy, Scarlett, you may have noticed it yourself, he barely has time for you and the children," Ross said seriously and Scarlett just sighed sadly.

That afternoon at breakfast Ross was so excited as he was going to give the ring to Kathleen and Scarlett knew it. They were to go for a walk together and then she would go home with the children and he would go to the bookshop.

Rhett finished his coffee first and, apologizing, saying he had to send an urgent telegram to Atlanta, left the table. Scarlett got up to see him off.

He was already in his coat and had taken his black hat from the table when she came up behind him and embraced him affectionately. His heart beat faster at her tender embrace, he turned, leaned over and kissed her quickly on the lips, whispering, "I'm all yours this afternoon, Honey, and," he smiled slyly, "I have a surprise for you!"

"What surprise Rhett?" she asked with burning eyes.

"Scarlett, be patient, it's a surprise," he said chuckling and quickly walked out, closing the door behind him. Despite the cold weather, the day was sunny and Rhett squinted his eyes, smiled at the feeling of happiness that overwhelmed him and hurried to the carriage.

Scarlett went up to their bedroom to get a cape, her gloves and to help the children get ready, when Ross caught her at the doorway and said conspiratorially, "It's all ready, Scarlett! Look, I'm going to hand her a keepsake note with the ring, nothing fancy but I think it's romantic."

Scarlett smiled, comparing the two brothers and remembering how Rhett had been when he proposed to her.

With interest Scarlett opened the note and read, "Sweetheart, my life was dull and empty until you came along. There is something about you, some mystery that I want to solve... Your R."

Scarlett smiled and told him, "That's very sweet and romantic, Ross, isn't it," but then a childish noise interrupted her, followed by the sounds of arguing and even tears.

"Apparently Bonnie had a fight with Ella," Scarlett said anxiously and, handing Ross the ring box and a note, hurried into the nursery. He gave her a concerned look, awkwardly slipped the box with the note into his pocket, but in such a way that a sheet of paper fell on the doorstep of the bedroom. Ross didn't notice it and hurried off to see if his help was needed.

Rhett came home a couple of hours later, after sending the telegram he went into the jewellery shop... For a long time now he had wanted to give Scarlett something special, something that symbolised new and important stage in their relationship and he seemed to have thought of it.

The choice took some time and walking into the house, he felt more enthusiastic and in love than ever. He heard his mother in the parlour talking to the maid and, quickly taking off his coat, he went into the room in time to speak to her.

"Mother," he called to her affectionately and his mother, lifting her head from the embroidery, smiled and gestured for him to sit down beside her.

"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about son?" she asked with a slight smile, never taking her eyes off the needle and thread.

Rhett smirked, his mother was always one step ahead.

"How did you guess?"

"Both you and Ross weren't your usual breakfast behaviour today, and I'm your mother and I've known you since you were children. And if I don't know what's wrong with Ross yet, it's clear that your case is about your wife, isn't it?" she asked with a smile.

"Mother, I can't hide anything from you," he said with a smirk, "I feel the same way I did when I was six and thought I was going to run away on a boat trip and you already knew everything."

"Oh, Rhett, you were a very restless and mischievous boy, not like Ross. You have such a difficult character, son, and I'm so glad you were lucky enough to meet a woman who could love you for who you are. I'm happy you opened up to her," he smiled, and Mrs Butler finished with a slight rebuke, "though it didn't happen right away, did it, Rhett?"

He looked seriously at her and only nodded, and she continued, "You weren't like yourself in the spring, son. I've seen you suffer and walk round this house like a caged tiger. That's why I was so insistent on sending you and Bonnie home."

Rhett nodded and said, "Yes it's been a difficult time for our family. Quarrels, misunderstandings, the loss..."

"What loss, Rhett?" Miss Eleanor suddenly asked him excitedly.

Rhett swallowed, he didn't want to initiate his mother into the details of their life without discussing it with Scarlett, but the conversation flowed so abruptly and frankly that he answered in a quiet voice, "We lost a baby. Scarlett was pregnant when I came back to town in July."

Mrs Butler looked at him sadly, put aside her embroidery, reached for his hand and stroked it affectionately.

"Son, I'm so sorry," she whispered, and then added, "you should have told me beforehand so I wouldn't accidentally hurt my daughter-in-law with any remarks."

Rhett sighed and added, "We didn't want to discuss this with anyone, Mother. In truth, it pains us to talk about it with Scarlett, but we do and have. This terrible loss has given us both a second chance, as bad as it would be to admit it."

His mother nodded, looked at him and asked with a smile, "What did you want to talk to me about, Rhett?"

After the conversation in the parlour, Rhett apologized and decided to change before dinner, he knew the children and Scarlett would be here soon. Walking up the stairs and whistling a cheerful melody, he found himself at their bedroom door. As he opened the door and was about to enter the room, a small piece of paper on the floor by the threshold caught his attention. He picked it up with interest, opened it, and his eyes began to run over the lines.

At the same instant, his brows furrowed and his eyes darkened.

"Sweetheart, my life was dull and empty until you came along. There is something about you, some mystery that I want to solve... Your R."

"What the hell..." was the only thought that swirled around in his head as he stared at that note with an incomprehensible look.

He was confused, all emotional and didn't immediately notice that Scarlett and the children had arrived and she, having heard from his mother that he was in their bedroom, quickly came up to him with a smile.

"Rhett, you're back already," she said cheerfully as she approached him.

He abruptly took her by the elbow and led her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

"What is it, Scarlett?" he asked in a quiet and angry voice. She looked into his eyes and noticed the cold glint in them that always upset her.

"Rhett, what..." she began, but he asked again, in a more angry tone, "What is it?"

She finally took her gaze away from his eyes and saw a vaguely familiar piece of paper, then realized it was Ross's note to Kathleen. But, what did it have to do with her... Did he... "Oh, God," she thought bitterly, and clasped her hands together in front of her.

"It's a note for my Dearest wife, isn't it?" he asked in a sarcastic tone and Scarlett turned pale at his assumption. Had she given reason to think of herself in that way?

"It's Ross's note," for some reason she replied in a quiet voice.

"That's what I've realized already, Darling! I recognized his too neat handwriting at once," he said wryly, and repeated, "Is it a note for you? You haven't answered my question..."

Scarlett looked gravely into his eyes and replied sternly, "I didn't answer your question, Rhett Butler, because it's a humiliating one! How could you even think that about me?"

Rhett, sobered by her stern tone, began to analyze and realize that he hadn't even thought about it. That the note had been the spark that lit the fuse, for he had been watching for almost a month that his brother and wife had communicated frequently and extensively, when he wanted to communicate with her but couldn't, because he was busy. It was only an emotional reaction.

He remained silent and Scarlett continued, "God, Rhett, how humiliating... He's your brother and I'm your wife!"

Rhett began to speak in a stern but excusing tone, "I wasn't thinking, it's just a reaction, Scarlett. You've been hanging out with him all month and he has no one! What could I have thought?" he finished in despair.

"Anything, Rhett! Anything at all! God, he wrote this note to the girl he was going to propose to today and gave it to me to read. Yes, sir, your brother is in love, and not with me, mind you! And I, too, have had the indiscretion to fall in love with a man who never really trusted me for a second of his life!" she finished bitterly, sat down on the bed and covered her face with her hands.

Rhett stood stunned by the news and sobered by her desperate confession.

He tossed the note aside and was about to move toward the bed to hug her, but she raised her head, looked up at him with her cold green eyes, and said quietly, "Don't, Rhett... Don't touch me now. No."

He stopped, looked at her and realized he'd better leave now and give her time.

Quietly saying, "I'm sorry, Scarlett," he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.