Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW
Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.
This story ended up being five chapters
Chapter One
Scarlett woke up in the middle of the night. She reached for Frank, but he was not there. It was confirmed. Last night had not been a nightmare. What had that stupid man been thinking? Defending her honor. Defending her honor! She didn't need her husband defending her honor, she needed her husband collecting the debts owed to him. Furthermore, she would have to wear black for the worthless man because he was foolhardy enough to get himself killed. He got Tommy Welburn killed and she would get blamed for that also. God's nightgown! Frank had almost gotten Ashley killed over nothing but honor. Thank goodness, Rhett had been able to think of an alibi for those foolhardy men. Rhett was pretty smart. Luckily, he had saved Ashley's life. She knew he had saved Ashley's life for Melly, but she didn't care. He had saved Ashley's life. Now she just had to wait until Melly died and she and Ashley could finally be together.
For a moment Scarlett wondered what Rhett felt for Melanie. He always treated her with the utmost respect. Like he thought she was a great lady. Which was funny to her because Rhett didn't respect anything or anyone. She wished Rhett would treat her with a tenth of the respect he gave Melly. She couldn't think about that right now. She wanted to go back to sleep. She would figure out her plan later.
Later when Scarlett woke up, she started thinking about what she was going to do in the next several weeks. She knew she would have to pretend to be remorseful and filled with guilt because of Frank's death, but the truth was that she was well rid of him. She would not have to suffer through his foolishness ever again. She would not have to suffer through any man's foolishness again, but Ashley's. Although it wouldn't be foolishness with Ashley. It would be magical. She would not have to bear another child. Another child that was just one more mouth to feed. Except for Ashley's child. She would rejoice in carrying Ashley's child just as Melly had. She refused to think about that anymore.
Scarlett spent the day arranging the funeral for two days hence. Mr. Jeter, the funeral director, had told her that Tommy's funeral would be the next day. She didn't want to have Frank's funeral on the same day. She had bought the least expensive coffin and burial plot. She decided she could get by with it because nobody knew how much those things costs. When Mr. Jeter told her Fanny had bought the same coffin, she knew she was safe.
Scarlett had stopped by the dressmakers and found out how much Frank dying was going to cost her. Dresses, hats, and all the accessories that all had to be in black. Not to mention the full widow weeds.
Uncle Henry had stopped by right after dinner. He had comforting news. It seems that Frank had a life insurance policy for ten thousand dollars. She had acted surprised when Henry had told her. She had spoken a lot of words about how wonderful Frank was to have had the foresight to consider her future despite their financial hard times. Furthermore, the policy had a double indemnity so now she had twenty thousand dollars. She had said, "Frank was such a wonderful husband. I didn't deserve him."
Scarlett had started crying after that statement. The truth was that she had browbeat Frank into getting the life insurance policy and she had made sure the premiums were paid on time. That was money well spent. She had probably paid twenty-five dollars in premiums, and she was getting twenty thousand dollars back. Not a bad investment. She had not thought Frank would get killed. She thought he would die of a heart attack or apoplexy. Now she was rich. At least, rich enough not to worry about money any time soon. Scarlett would have to go see Mr. Hancock after the funeral to see about getting her money. She had also browbeat Frank into drawing up a will. Another smart move on her part.
Scarlett had arranged for there to be food at the reception. She had wanted to cheap out on the food and not serve that much, but she knew if people were going to believe she truly was remorseful for her actions and that she had truly loved Frank she would have to put out a spread.
That night as Scarlett was trying to go to sleep, she wondered how long she would have to wait before she cleaned out Frank's belongings from the room. She knew what she would do. She would tell everyone that every time she saw something that belonged to Frank it made her cry especially since she knew she was responsible for his death because of her fool hardy actions.
Two days after the raid the inquiry was conducted. Ashely had to go and testify. He forced himself to lie under oath for the good of everyone else and he guessed himself also. He was not ready to die. On the way home, he telegraphed his friend about a job in New York. When he got home, he had made a decision. Whether his friend could give him a job or not he was moving to New York. He rested in the parlor on the sofa. He felt better being out of his bed.
Several hours later Ashley received a telegram from his friend John Robinson. He and John had gone to Yale together. They had even gone on their grand tour together. Him, John, and Charlie. It made him sad to think of Charlie, but the thought of his cousin gave him courage to go through with his plan. He had to start living not only for himself, but for Charlie also. He had been alive, but he hadn't been living.
Ashley briefly wondered if Scarlett would let him take Wade to New York with him. Most of the time she acted like the boy was just an inconvenience. In truth, she treated Beau better than she did Wade. He guessed that was because Beau was his son, thus special at least in Scarlett's eyes. Ashley decided he would ask her tomorrow after the funeral. No, he was not going to delay any longer. He was going to stop being a procrastinator. He sent for Scarlett that very moment. He would get the unpleasant scene over with then he could be done with Scarlett O'Hara once and for all.
Ashley sent Archie to Scarlett's home with a note. The note said, "Come to my home right away."
Scarlett was so excited that Ashley was calling for her. She went right over.
When Scarlett got to the Wilkeses' house, she found Ashley lying on the sofa in the parlor. Once she was seated he told Melanie to leave them alone because they needed to talk business. Ashley told Scarlett to get up and shut the door. Once she was once again settled in a chair, Ashley said, "I have just come back from the inquiry about the raid. I lied under oath something I never thought I would do, but I had to in order to save everyone's life including my own."
"You just did what was best for everyone. You sacrificed your honor for everyone else. You are so wonderful."
"No, I did it to save my life." When Scarlett started to protest Ashley just went on talking. He said, "I have done a lot of thinking in the last forty-eight hours. I almost died. Frank and Tommy did die."
"Yes, it was horrible, my darling."
Ashley went on like Scarlett hadn't spoken. He said, "I am selling my part of the mills. Melly and I are moving to New York."
"What!? You can't. What will I do without you."
"Probably be even more successful than you are right now."
"But, Ashley, you can't make it in New York. You need my help."
"Maybe the Ashley of two days ago did, but not anymore. I am going to try standing on my own two feet. If I fail, I fail trying. Not wallowing in self-pity like I have been doing since the end of the war. I have now accepted our once perfect lives are over. I am going to learn to live in the world we now inhabit. I am going to stop pretending to be a gentleman."
"You are a gentleman. You are good and honorable. You are everything that was once great about the South."
"No, I am not. A gentleman would not lie under oath like I did at the inquiry. A gentleman would not have been having a secret love affair behind his wife's back. A gentleman would not lean on a young woman because he was too scared to stand on his own. A gentleman would not lead a woman to believe he loved her when he would never love her the way she needed to be loved."
"What are you saying? I need you."
With a sad smile, Ashley said, "No, my dear. You do not need me. I'm going to tell you what I probably should have told you back in the library all those years ago but how was I to know you would be so stubborn in your devotion to me. At the time I was trying to spare your feelings. I was trying to let you down gently. I thought your love for me was nothing but puppy love. I still think that is all it is, but you refuse to accept that truth."
"No, Ashley, my love for you is real."
"Then I am extremely sorry for you. I do not love you the way a husband should love a wife. In fact, I don't even love you."
"What!?"
"You are wildly exciting and you are wonderful to be around for small portions of time. You are such a conceit booster when you stare at me with admiration in your eyes. You have made me feel like a million dollars. Sadly, I have needed that these last few years, but I am not being fair to you, Melly, or even myself by continuing this illicit relationship. Here it is in as plain a language as I can speak. I love Melly. I always have. I can't remember a time when I didn't love Melly and imagined Melly being my wife. I will never love you or anyone else that way. I almost died because of honor. I will not die for honor. I have not told you the truth because I didn't want to be that cruel to you. A gentleman would not treat a lady so harshly. I am walking away from being a gentleman and being honorable. I am going to start living my life the way I want to live it. And that will be in New York where people don't care about honor or being a gentleman."
"No! I don't believe it. You love me."
"Listen to me, Scarlett. For once in your life listen to someone else and accept their decision. Stop being selfish and do what someone else wants. I do not love you. I let you and Melly bully me into accepting the job at the sawmills. I never wanted it. I never wanted to be a manager of a sawmill. That is why I am no good at the job. This last year I have been too weak to stand on my own two feet therefore, I have let you lead me around like a pet. I have let you take care of me and my family. Not a very manly thing to do. No matter what you say or do, I am going to New York. No matter what Melly says or does I am moving to New York. Accept that there never was anything between us except a fantasy you made up in your mind and that I let you believe."
Scarlett stood up and said, "You! You! You horrible man. You coward. You incompetent businessman. How dare you say I am selfish when I have done so much for you and your family. I will be glad to get rid of you. You have cost me money for the last time. I will buy your share of the sawmills. I will send Uncle Henry a note right now. Good luck in New York. You are going to need it. Stand on your own two feet. What a joke! You are barely standing with Melly's and my help."
With that Scarlett stormed out of the parlor. She didn't stop walking until she got to Hamilton House. She wrote Uncle Henry a note right that moment. As she was writing the note, she paused. She knew she could never drive through Shanty town by herself again. She would sell her part of the mills also. She didn't need the money. She had the money from Frank's life insurance policy.