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Dear readers, I'm posting a new chapter. Ok, I could make it very long, but I allowed to myself to move the conversations of the main characters (and not only) to chapter number six, which will definitely be the last!:)
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I own nothing in regard to GWTW.
Chapter 5.
Eulalie Robbillard was one of those women for whom reputation was always paramount. Her own reputation and that of her relatives. And if her reputation was unblemished, her niece's one always made her frown and her cheeks blush.
"Of course," she thought to herself the day she received the return letter from her niece, "of course Scarlett has always been a clueless and didn't value the institution of marriage. Her mother raised her wrong, or maybe it's her father's bad genes... Ugh... But, divorce! Not even she is worthy of such a fate! That Mr Butler will have to explain everything to me and his mother!"
So belligerently she reflected, on Wednesday afternoon, having received a letter from her niece at lunchtime, and having hastily finished her meal (in truth she lost her appetite at once), she dressed quickly and looked at her reflection in the hall.
"To think of it," pondered Eulalie angrily, putting on her hat and gloves in front of the mirror, "and yet he seemed such an interested husband, such a father... And really! After all, we all told Scarlett not to get involved with him!"
She then quickly stuffed into her small purse a crumpled piece of paper that was clearly a letter from Scarlett and hurried quickly to the Butler mansion, hoping to catch the perpetrator of the events there.
That afternoon, Rhett persuaded his mother to invite Anna to their place for the first time. He thought sadly that the gossip didn't seem to have reached his stubborn wife, whom he missed dearly, and every night the same dream haunted him. A dream in which they met again in the hotel room, a dream in which they forgave each other, a dream in which they loved each other desperately and passionately. He was already thinking of buying train tickets, Anna reproached him every day that he was 'stalling' and that 'it will be worse', but he just waved it off. To tell the truth, he was just scared. Besides, everything was tied up in such a knot that he did not know from which side to untie it.
Miss Eleanor, on the other hand, decided to finally interfere in her son's affairs and marriage. This constant gossip about his mysterious woman made her feel uncomfortable in the company of her friends, especially Eulalie, whose niece was actually her daughter-in-law. Miss Eleanor lamented that she had not met Scarlett sooner, that she had not invited her and the children in early September when Rhett had come alone, frowning and blackened with grief. She couldn't imagine what her daughter-in-law was like that time, in truth, she was focused on her son. Then that note from Eulalie in early November, asking Scarlett to see her. Mrs Butler was happy and ready to invite Scarlett to their house, but Rhett, irritated, showed up late that morning and said his wife had left urgently to the children in Atlanta.
Now that the gossip was becoming more and more intrusive, Miss Eleanor finally gave up to Rhett, who had long wanted to introduce her to Anna. She decided to look at the woman and see if she should worry and expect another of the scandals that were her eldest son's constant companions.
But the lunch was unusually friendly and cheerful. Anna was a sweet woman, who spoke warmly of her late husband, was very polite, did not pay Rhett any more attention than was required by etiquette, and generally dreamed of 'meeting Scarlett Butler soon'. Miss Eleanor noticed how Anna looked at Rhett expressively at these words, but he only looked away.
They were already drinking coffee after lunch and talking about Paris, when they heard a knock at the door, a noise in the hallway, and in a few minutes Eulalie, flushed from her quick walk, entered the parlour at a brisk pace.
Barely nodding to Eleanor, she looked at the surprised Rhett with anger, at the interested Anna with irritation, and, taking a letter from her purse, began to say angrily, addressing Rhett, "Mr Butler, let me begin without greetings, for you don't deserve them! You know very well that I have always supported you in your marriage to my niece, but not this time!" she paused for breath and continued with renewed vigour, "Scarlett is my blood! And, even if she has behaved inappropriately at times, she still doesn't deserve to be treated that way, Mr Butler! To divorce her so quickly, at such a difficult and dramatic time in your lives! What were you thinking about, Mr Butler?" she asked, glaring angrily at Rhett, who was sitting in his chair, looking rather surprised, but trying to keep a cool face.
Eleanor turned pale at the word divorce and looked pleadingly in her son's direction.
Anna alone watched the scene in the parlour with curiosity and interest.
"Eulalie, please sit down," Miss Eleanor timidly suggested, pointing to the chair beside her, but Eulalie only shook her head negatively and stared at Rhett.
He smiled at her and asked in a polite tone, "What are you talking about, Miss Robbillard? What divorce?"
"Don't play the innocent lamb, Mr Butler! Take this and read it, I got it from Scarlett today," and she held the letter to him.
Rhett looked at the older woman incredulously, then noticed his mother's worried look, then caught Anna's curious gaze. He took the letter, unfolded it, and began to read,
"My Dear Aunt Eulalie! First of all I want to thank you for your concern and good intentions. I appreciate your attitude, for you are my dear Auntie, my mother's sister.
But, it is all in vain, for since the beginning of this year I am not officially Mr Butler's wife, and I have not the slightest idea of his life.
The documents sent to me by post were signed by me in the presence of my good friend and lawyer, Mr Andrew Lewis, who sent a signed copy to Mr Butler.
I dare say I never received a set of documents signed by my ex-husband. If it would not be too much trouble, please asked him (you may do it in writing form) to send the documents to my lawyer Mr Lewis, address enclosed.
I hope your health is good, we look forward to visiting you. Wade and Ella send you greetings and good wishes.
All the best, your niece, Scarlett O'Hara.
P.S. Please bear with my request for papers. Mr Lewis and I feel that the documents should be in order as life circumstances change very quickly. Thank you."
Anna watched as Rhett's face changed as he read the letter, his features becoming harder and harder as he grew paler. Finished reading, he raised eyes that burned with a fierce fire.
"Rhett," Anna called to him softly, touched his shoulder and asked, "is everything all right?"
He silently gave her the letter, then looked gravely at Eulalie, who had yielded to Eleanor's entreaties and sat down beside her friend, said in a serious tone that concealed his anger, "What your niece wrote, Miss Robbillard, has nothing to do with reality! I did not divorce Scarlett, she is now and for the rest of her life," he paused and took a breath, "she is not Miss O'Hara, she is Mrs Butler! She is my wife!" he finished his speech in a high but uncertain voice.
Rhett, looking at his confused mother and Eulalie, heard a quiet chuckle from the left side of the sofa and realized that Anna was avoiding his gaze and generally looked like she could barely keep from laughing.
While Miss Eleanor was ordering more coffee for her friend, Anna reached out to Rhett, who was sitting confused and said to him in a whispered cheerful voice, "Bravo, Scarlett! Rhett, that girl has made you! Be sure to introduce me to her!"
Rhett didn't have time to answer anything before Eulalie, noticing Anna beside him, asked irritably, "Mr Butler, explain yourself! Scarlett claims in her note that the papers were sent to her, is that true?"
Rhett looked at his mother and Eulalie and only said, a little embarrassed, "It was a little joke, the papers were unsigned and..."
"Rhett Kenneth Butler," he heard his mother's stern voice, "how dare you joke like that with your wife? What kind of a joke are we talking about? Have you gone mad?!"
Rhett saw his mother's indignant eyes, the shock in Eulalie's, and again heard a slight chuckle from the left.
"Well," he said gravely, rising from the sofa, "Mother, Miss Robbillard,if you'll excuse us, I have to take Anna to the hotel. We must be off now, and I have business to attend to. As for my wife," he intoned emphasising the word 'wife', "I'll sort out any misunderstandings between us quickly!"
The three women stared at Rhett in surprise, his eyes glittering feverishly, he moved quickly as he helped Anna put on the velvet cape, then walked over to his mother, kissed her on the cheek, nodded to Eulalie and added, "Mother, please, ask to pack my things, just a small valise. I'll have a short trip to Atlanta. And yes, Mother, I won't be coming back alone, but with my family. It's time to introduce you Scarlett and my children." At these words he nodded to the stunned mother, Anna said goodbye to the ladies and they stepped out onto the sunny porch. It was the end of February, and the weather was warm, spring-like.
As Rhett silently seated Anna in the carriage, she dared to ask, "Are you going tonight, Rhett?"
He only nodded, he was serious, and his hands were clenched into fists.
"Rhett, what's wrong?" asked Anna.
"Anna, did you see the way she wrote? 'Andrew Lewis', 'good friend', can you imagine the bloody friendship there, between him and MY wife?" he said suddenly with anger and she saw the muscles in his face tense.
"Loosing her is ok, yes? But seeing her with another man? Rhett, I've told you!" said Anna bitterly
He was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm going home to my wife, Anna. And if anyone in Atlanta has forgotten that, or thinks differently, I'll remind it everyone!"
Seeing him off that evening at the railway station, Anna kissed him on the cheek, then stood on tiptoe and adjusted his felt hat. "Rhett," she told him, "be honest with her, Darling. Open up to her."
He only nodded, looking at Anna with an affectionate and serious look, then kissed her hand and walked into the train carriage with a quick, determined step.
While Rhett was travelling in his cabin on the train, only two questions swirled in his mind: why had his wife abandoned him and their marriage so quickly? And how far had their 'friendship' with her lawyer gone?
While thinking about the latter question, he was overcome with fantasies of a strange man touching his woman, of putting his hands on her waist and then pulling her close to him, of kissing her lips, her neck and going lower. At all these thoughts, his hands clenched into fists, his forehead covered with sweat, and his heart fell somewhere downward in terror. It was beginning to seem to him that the train was going slowly, that he would reach Atlanta faster by foot.
"If he touched my wife, I'll shoot him!" he thought to himself, throwing off his jacket and running his hand through his hair.
On the contrary, Wednesday went well and quietly for Scarlett. After writing that letter, she was at least glad that her ex-husband would have to explain everything himself to his mother and probably her aunt. In any case, the pain and jealousy from the fantasies of him with another woman smouldered in her soul, but the thought of her little revenge, brought a bitter smile to her face.
That same Wednesday she accepted Andrew's invitation to dine at the hotel restaurant for the first time, he had insisted on inviting the children but Scarlett had gently declined. She didn't want to let a pleasant but still unfamiliar man into her family and her children's lives. She had seen the looks Andrew occasionally threw at her, but she wasn't even ready for friendship. She'd had a friend in the past who'd become her husband, but now he was nothing to her. A stranger. But still loved. Beloved stranger who broke her heart.
They sat and talked, the evening was light and pleasant, and then, as they were about to leave the restaurant, Andrew gently, but still held her waist, letting her pass. Scarlett flinched at the touch and decided to mark her boundaries.
When Andrew saw her off and wanted to kiss her cheek goodbye, she stopped him gently but firmly. Looking into his surprised, slightly upset eyes, she began to speak, "Andrew, I'm sorry, but let's set some boundaries. You're certainly a nice man, but I'm hardly ready for any kind of communication right now..."
"Even friendly?" he asked quietly.
She only nodded, but Andrew reached out, shook her hand shyly in farewell, and said, "Let's just meet and talk from time to time, Scarlett. I don't have many friends in this town, and you're very pleasant and fun company when we're not talking about your ex-spouse."
Scarlett grinned and nodded politely in agreement.
The next day, Thursday, while Rhett Butler was going out from the train at the Atlanta train station, Scarlett and the children went for a walk. Then she dropped Ella and Wade off at Aunt Pittie's, where Beau and their faithful helper, Uncle Peter, were waiting, and her way laid to Ashley's sawmill. His books had to be put in order since it was the end of the month.
That evening, Scarlett and the children stopped by the sweet shop before dinner. Laughing at another story about Aunt Pitty, the three of them walked into their house, with paper bags in hands.
It was already evening and the door was opened by Pork, who had not gone to Tara but was serving as her butler. Scarlett noticed how broadly he smiled as he greeted them and without knowing the reason, smiled back slightly.
"Pork," she addressed him in her thin and cheerful voice as the children giggled at the recent joke and took off their coats, "Pork, please take these bags and carry them to the kitchen."
Pork nodded, continuing to smile broadly, took the bags and silently withdrew.
"Sweets will be after dinner, children. And put that pleading look away, Ella," she said playfully. Then Scarlett patted Wade's hair, smiled at Ella and said, "We had a deal, didn't we, children? Come on, be good and go get changed, and I'll make dinner arrangements and..."
And then Scarlett froze when she saw the familiar hat on the hall table. Her hands trembled and her breathing quickened. As she entered the house, she sensed something had changed. There was something new, something forgotten but familiar to her. Now she realized that it was the smell of HIS cigars that he liked to smoke in the dining room by the fireplace.
"It can't be..." the thought barely flashed through her mind, then she felt goosebumps on her skin and heard a familiar voice behind her, "Welcome home, Mrs Butler."