Hello Dear readers:)
Posting the update before a busy weekend. On Sunday my eldest son turns nine years old and I already want Monday sooner:) Children's parties are always exhausting.
So, Rhett turned on his favourite 'tough guy and joker' behaviour.
It seems someone didn't realize the seriousness and hurtfulness of his words.
Well...
Enjoy reading!:)
And, thank you so much for all the reviews you leave! It inspires me to write more.
I own nothing in regard to GWTW.
Chapter 7.
The first rays of the sun slowly seeped through the closed curtains and crept over the pillow, which was already empty and only the crumpled white pillowslip was a witness to her mistress having fallen into a restless sleep around midnight and woken up at dawn.
Scarlett had recently washed her face and without opening the curtains she put on her house dress. She didn't want to call Prissy yet, it was very early and she was afraid of waking not only Wade but also Beau, who had come with his parents to Suellen's wedding.
At last she opened the old beige curtains, sat down at the dressing table, picked up a brush and her gaze fell again on the fine silver comb that Rhett had so gallantly presented to her yesterday.
"Well, he had to ruin the whole evening!" she thought with anger and sadness, remembering how last night's event had ended.
After she had pushed him away and fled into the garden, she had been afraid to even look back or feel that he might be near her. She was hurt that he had again reminded her so directly and so openly of their deal and their 'relationship', whatever it was.
It was already very cold outside, but Scarlett didn't seem to notice, instead she stood with her arms around her shoulders and stared into the darkness of the garden in front of her.
It was only a couple of minutes later, however, that she felt the touch of soft wool on her shoulders and back.
"Honey, why are you here alone? It's very cold, Scarlett, and you're not wearing a shawl. Mammy will be very unhappy," Melanie kept saying as she threw the warm shawl over her, stroking her shoulder and smiling affectionately.
Scarlett smiled gratefully at her sister-in-law. Melanie had a way of doing just that. She always turned up when she was needed and no matter what she was carrying with, a warm shawl or her dead brother's sabre.
Melanie watched their last dance with Rhett, and it seemed the whole room was watching, for Rhett Butler "nodded politely to us and left the room almost immediately after you, walking over to Mr. Allen, for a second. He looked upset, I'd even say angry, is there something wrong, Scarlett?"
She shuddered with relief at the news that the rascal had already left the ballroom, so she could return and say goodbye to acquaintances. But Melanie was bombarded her with questions to which she had no answers.
They reached home quickly, and Scarlett said good night to the Wilkes, India, and the curious Aunt Pitty, who had left the party earlier because of "the hated Henry Hamilton," leaving them in the parlour to drink tea and discuss the evening, while she herself went upstairs, took a quick look in the nursery where the boys slept, then passed into the bedroom with Prissy, who helped her with her corset, and was soon in her bed.
But sleep would not come to Scarlett, she kept remembering the whole evening with Rhett, which had begun with the gift and jokes and ended with insults and resentment.
She didn't understand why he didn't like Ashley so much, they had nothing in common, they didn't communicate much and hardly knew each other. But they both quietly and mutually hated each other.
Her tired and inflamed brain told her that the only thing they had in common, or rather between them, was her. She herself.
"So what?" she argued to herself. "It seems, Ashley Wilkes doesn't love me any more than a friend, and neither does Rhett Butler. Ashley may have wanted me... My body, like he did then in the orchard, but he's a gentleman. And he knows how to hide it. Not like this varmint. He treats me like that Belle Watling, the scoundrel!" And suddenly, her cheeks flushed and she felt hot at the thought that perhaps he had put them near this woman.
"My God," she began to think feverishly, throwing back the blanket and sitting up on the bed, "God, he thinks me for... For a whore... Just a more expensive one... But all these talks and gifts... They say he's always giving that woman furs and outfits. And this jewellery. Why did I accept it after all?"
Scarlett wanted to cry with despair, she didn't want to be 'like that', her mother had brought her up differently.
"Yes, I agreed to sleep with him, but it was a desperate situation. I can't renege on my word. But, he has no right to behave like that to me and say such hurtful things until... Until the moment of this damn deal... And why didn't he just sleep with me at once..." she thought again, still laying back down on her cushion.
It was in these thoughts that Scarlett fell asleep.
And now, after a restless night, Scarlett, who had been nervously brushing her hair, decided that she would return that comb.
"I won't let him treat me like this! That turkey should apologize to me, not make jokes again! And the comb... I'll have it back today..."
Scarlett held out her hand, looked sadly at the beautiful and graceful work, at the stones that suited her eyes so well, and sighed, realizing that it was the right thing to do.
"And until he apologizes, I won't say a word to him! There, Rhett Butler, let's see what you have to say now!"
She raised her eyes belligerently, braided her hair into a knot, and then quietly went out in search of Prissy, she had to get dressed for breakfast and then drive to the sawmill.
Rhett stepped quietly into the office, lit by the sunset sunlight filtering through the trees. Scarlett was ready and standing with her back to him, staring out the window. He looked at her frail, slim figure in the dark green dress and without thinking long enough, shortened the distance between them. He walked over, stood very close to her, wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned into her neck. His hot breath scorched her snow-white skin and he whispered hoarsely, "Scarlett..."
She didn't move, and Rhett, unable to stop himself, stupefied by the scent of her skin, began to kiss her neck greedily, and his hands suddenly moved sharply to the row of buttons on the back of her dress and nervously, hastily, his fingers began to undo them, one by one, while he continued to kiss her neck and run fiery kisses down her spine, repeating in a hoarse whisper, "Scarlett... I want you... I need you..."
She was obedient, pliable in his arms, he remembered how quickly he had laid her on the couch against the wall, how quickly he had mastered her, repeating only her name between quick movements. He couldn't notice the expression in her eyes, for some reason his eyes were closed.
When it was over, he leaned back and lay on his back on that sofa, cradling her against him. He inhaled the scent of her hair and realized that nothing would ever be different for him again. Now he wouldn't be able to sleep a single night without holding her in his arms.
"Scarlett," he whispered, hoping to hear such a dear voice, but she suddenly gently removed his hands, then silently stood up, found a crumpled dress on the floor, and pulling it on, without turning round, only said, "I've paid you back."
Rhett shuddered, his heart falling somewhere down as he heard the next phrase, "I'm leaving. I won't see you again. I'm leaving you, Rhett," he listened to the phrases spoken in a foreign metallic voice. The words stuck in his throat, he had no room to breathe and taking a deep and intermittent breath he opened his eyes.
"Jesus... It's just a dream!" he thought, finding himself not in a hotel room. He was lying under the blanket, his pillow was wet, and he himself felt a mixture of arousal from his dream and at the same time relief that it wasn't reality.
He threw back the blanket and sat up quickly, looking around. He was alone in his room, in Belle's brothel. Scraps of memories from last night flashed through his mind.
Her dance with Ashley and the way she had looked at her 'knight', their last dance, his harsh words and her equally harsh response, the way she had run off into the garden, leaving him alone in the middle of the ballroom. Then he remembered how quickly he had walked up to Tom, said goodbye, and gone straight to Belle.
From that point on the memories were more vague. He came in, drank a lot, then they sat with Belle in her office and he drank again. They talked about something, but he could hardly remember what. He remembered that Belle had laughed a lot at first, but he also said, that he didn't want to sleep with her and he remembered her hurt look.
Rhett looked at the bed again and realized that he had definitely slept with someone, it looked like the new brunette from Macon, but he barely remembered anything, perhaps just the feeling of physical release as he made love to one woman and imagined another.
A glimpse of the clock on the mantelpiece made him realize that he was late, that this was the time he usually picked Scarlett up from her aunt's house in Peachtree Street.
"Well, I'll get her a little later today," he thought as he went to the wardrobe where several of his suits and shirts were hanging. Having his own room and personal things in a brothel was very convenient, especially in times of war, when he was more likely to spend the night here (and always with Belle) than in a hotel.
Now, he hardly ever slept here, preferring to fall asleep in his hotel room. But his room, as well as his personal things, had proved very useful, even today.
As he cleaned himself up and dressed, Rhett thought about how to deal with Scarlett, that stubborn fool who only had eyes for Ashley Wilkes. The fact that she'd been looking at him all night while he danced with her had faded from his mind.
But she was looking! Slyly, or with interest, or furious, or timidly and sometimes, he thought, even affectionately. "But never lovingly, as at that fool!" concluded Rhett bitterly and fiercely to himself, smoothing his hair and adjusting the knot of last night's cream-coloured scarf round his neck.
He looked at himself in the mirror and his hands froze for a moment.
He remembered how she had tied and adjusted the scarf for him, how careful the movements of her slender fingers had been, how timid and gentle she had seemed to him at that moment.
"Okay... It doesn't matter now, that Wilkes will be gone soon, like in a couple of days, and we'll stay only together again," Rhett thought as he closed the door and went down the back stairs. On the way out, he thought it would be a good idea to come to Belle and apologize for his drunken behaviour, but he decided not to disturb her, especially since it was still morning.
When he left, he hurried towards the hotel to take away the buggy, not noticing that a red-haired woman with a disgruntled face was watching him from the window.
The thought of a man turning her down was the only thought in her head, and she knew who it was because of. "But, I'll wait, Darling, I'll watch," Belle thought as she headed for the mirror to put on her make-up. She looked at herself, noting a new wrinkle near her pretty lips, frowned, but then grinned, remembering something.
Scarlett glanced nervously out the window, Rhett was already an hour late, he usually dropped by around nine in the morning, but now the hand was creeping towards ten and he was still gone.
"Where did that obnoxious man go?" she thought, the wait was nerve-wracking. She wanted to meet him, to sit down in his buggy, and to remain coldly silent, turning away from him.
"Scarlett," she heard her sister-in-law's voice.
"Yes, Melly," she replied absent-mindedly, taking her eyes off the window.
"Honey, Captain Butler's running late, isn't he?"
"What makes you say that, Melly?"
Melanie smiled, walking over to her and they sat down on the couch next to each other.
"You haven't left the window in almost an hour, Scarlett," she said, winking at her.
Scarlett only shrugged absent-mindedly and asked, changing the subject of conversation, "Did you want something, Melly?"
She suddenly took her hand and began to speak, smiling, "Scarlett, Honey, I had a little idea and I need your help!"
Scarlett looked expectantly at her sister-in-law, while listening to the sounds outside herself, she wanted to hear the sound of a buggy pulling up.
"I was going to ask you to invite Mr Allen over to our house for tea, we can do it tomorrow after work at the sawmill, just for a little time, Scarlett. Do you think he'll come?"
Scarlett looked perplexed at her sister-in-law and said, "Tom? Of course he'll come, Melly, but why?"
"Well, he has no friends in Atlanta at all, Scarlett," she began to explain, "besides, we'd like to know who our sister-in-law works with. Tomorrow, about four o'clock, right? It'll be me, Ashley, you, India, but Aunt Pitty was going to the Meade's..."
Scarlett nodded and suddenly looked at her sister-in-law, who was a little pink with embarrassment and a sudden thought popped into her head.
"Melanie, you want to get Tom and India together, don't you?" she asked suddenly, giggling.
Melanie only nodded and suddenly said, lowering her voice, "Honey, I think they had a really good conversation last night and why not let them talk some more?"
Scarlett grinned and remained silent, thinking that she had become almost a matchmaker for India, and Melanie added timidly, "Of course, if you think it's very indecent, Scarlett, I won't..."
"Melly, no, it's all right! You're right, Tom has no friends here except..." Scarlett paused to stop herself from saying the varmint's name and continued, "Besides, it would be nice if India would get married," she finished with a smile and thought to herself, "And will stop being mad at me about Stuart."
Melanie brightened up and said, "I'm so glad, Honey, that you've been supportive. Ah, Scarlett..." then she kissed her on the cheek and added, "Everyone can only dream of such a sister-in-law! By the way, Captain Butler can also..."
"No!" interrupted Scarlett sharply and Melanie only stared at her in surprise.
Scarlett smiled crookedly and said, "I mean, Rhett might get in the way, getting Tom's attention, I think it's unnecessary..." she explained confusedly, and then looked out the window as she saw a familiar buggy pull up.
Scarlett rose and whispered, "I've to go, Melly," went quickly into the hall, took her warm shawl and bonnet, and walked out of the house.
Rhett saw Scarlett approaching him with determination and smiled at her. He'd been thinking about how to behave himself the whole way and decided they'd just forget about the incident. He'd make a joke, she'd call him 'rascal' a couple of times, then they'd laugh and forget the whole thing.
But when he got no smile, no scolding, no simple greeting in return, and she just sat silently in the buggy and turned away, Rhett grinned. "She's changed the rules of the game," a thought flashed through his mind and he smiled, sitting down beside her and taking the reins.
After driving in silence for about five minutes, Rhett said in a polite and joking tone, "Mrs Hamilton, how did you like last evening?"
Silence.
"The newlyweds were so happy, weren't they?"
Silence.
"And the dancing... I haven't danced since the war, and last night I had the most marvellous partner..."
Silence.
Rhett chuckled and said, "Are we in a fight?"
Scarlett was silent again.
Rhett fell silent, they drove for another ten minutes and he asked again with gentle smile, "Still in a fight, Scarlett?"
She only remained silent. "He doesn't even realize how much he's hurt me! The rascal!" she thought to herself.
They drove in silence to the sawmill and as soon as the buggy stopped, Scarlett got out and walked quickly towards the house.
Rhett threw down the reins, got down and caught up with her at the door. He reached out and grasped her elbow gently but firmly.
Scarlett stiffened, for a moment, then uttered quietly but clearly, "Let me go now."
Whether it was her cold voice or her serious tone, Rhett realized that the situation wasn't as simple as he'd thought and carefully let her go.
Without looking at him, she walked into the room and sat down at her desk.
Rhett went for a walk around the grounds, waiting for the arrival of Tom, who had to go to the construction site first thing in the morning.
Tom arrived an hour later when Rhett had already walked around the grounds three times.
"Where have you been so long, Tom?" he asked him glumly, holding out his hand.
"You know Rhett, on the construction of the new station building. It's turning out to be a beautiful building, by the way, and..."
"Tom, you've got to help me," Rhett interrupted him.
Tom gave his friend a hard look and only said, "If it's about Scarlett, I don't interfere, Rhett."
Rhett looked at him seriously and remained silent.
Tom had already opened his mouth to ask what the matter was, but the sound of a carriage pulling up drew them away.
"Oh, Mr Kennedy," Tom exclaimed and walked towards Frank, who was already heading in their direction.
"Gentlemen, good afternoon!" he began to say, and Rhett could see Old Frank glowing with joy.
The men shook hands and Frank, a little embarrassed, explained that he had come for his "sister-in-law," he said, chuckling.
"We're leaving with my wife tonight," Rhett noticed Frank say the word 'wife' fondly and grinned, "and we want to have a small family dinner before we go. So, if you don't mind, we'll pick Scarlett up early today."
Rhett only shrugged and nodded. He needed to talk to her himself, but instead of it he watched Frank went into the office and came out a couple of minutes later, saying that Scarlett was finishing up some business and would be ready in a few minutes and that he would wait for her in the carriage.
Rhett and Tom walked closer to the door and almost bumped into Scarlett, who was coming out, throwing on her black shawl.
"Oh, Tom, hello," she said to him,
smiling.
"Good afternoon, Scarlett. You and I missed each other today..."
"Yes, I've finished all the calculations, everything's on your desk."
Rhett watched them, it was like he was invisible. It was starting to make him angry.
"By the way Scarlett, the wedding party yesterday was marvellous!" said Tom with a polite smile.
Scarlett smiled, said, "Yes, thank you," and was already walking past them, when she turned round and, transferring her gaze from Tom to Rhett and back again, said in a calm tone, "By the way, Melanie would very much like to see you for tea tomorrow."
Rhett smiled with thought, "Holy Melly," and replied politely, "What time should I be there?"
Scarlett shifted her gaze from Tom to him and back again and then replied with a smile, looking Rhett in the eye, "You have to be at tea at four in the evening. But, I was talking to Tom."
With those words Tom smiled and nodded, and Scarlett turned and walked briskly to Mr. Kennedy.
They watched the carriage drive away, Rhett stood grimly, and Tom grinned and said, "I've got work to do," and walked to his desk.
Rhett walked silently into his office and his eyes immediately noticed a familiar object on the desk. The silver comb with emeralds lay neatly on top of the papers.