The next morning, Scarlett woke up with a headache. She had slept only a few hours, and her nightmare had returned. She gave up the idea of going to the mills, it would be too tiring today. Until noon, she tried to read. But she wasn't good at it. Her thoughts kept returning to last night. In the end, she threw the book away irritably when she heard a knock on the door.
Seeing Rhett on the doorstep surprised her. She looked him up and down. He looked especially festive today, in a dazzling white starched shirt and a topper.
"Rhett, why are you here?" she asked irritably.
"I have an urgent matter that I would like to discuss with you," he replied calmly.
After yesterday's scene, Scarlett was embarrassed to be with him. But she felt that Rhett would not leave. So she invited him to the library. She sat down on the sofa, and he slid next to her, leaving almost no space between them. He picked up the book that Scarlett had left there earlier. His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he read the title.
"The Scarlet Letter, dear? I didn't know you had an interest in such literature."
"I was wondering," she replied casually.
"You're not in the mood today, Scarlett, what happened?"
"Nothing, Rhett, I didn't sleep well, and besides, I was having a nightmare." She wanted to brush it off, but Rhett was interested in that.
"What did you dream about?" he asked, looking interested.
She didn't want to tell him at first, but then she thought that there was nothing wrong with it.
"I often have the same dream. It's a thick fog and I'm scared and I want to eat all the time. I'm running through the fog as if someone is chasing me, but I can't see anything but the fog. "I'm trying to find something there, but nothing works." She shuddered, remembering all this.
"It's a dream, Scarlett; it can't catch up to you."
"I know Rhett, I just... I don't like waking up alone in the middle of the night. But it doesn't matter, you said you had some business." She didn't want to discuss it anymore, Scarlett just wanted Rhett to tell her what he wanted from her and leave.
"I'm leaving today, and I'll be gone for a long time, probably for a few months."
"Where are you going?"
"To England, I have some business to settle. And that's what I want to talk to you about. I still want to have you more than any woman in this world. I've been waiting for you for so long, and it's time to finally resolve this issue." Scarlett jumped up from the couch, walking away from him in anger.
"How dare you, Rhett Butler! If you ask me to become your mistress again, I will kick you out of this house, and you will never come back here!"
How could he offer her something like that again? Scarlett was outraged. How could she think of him as a gentleman if all his thoughts were on this?
He quickly approached her, taking her wrists in his hands.
"Don't shout; otherwise, the whole house will come running here. You misunderstood me..."
"Did you get it wrong? Get out of here, you scoundrel... Let me go."
But he wasn't going to let her go.
"Hush, I suggest you marry me, Scarlett. Should I get down on my knees?" and at the same moment, he got down on one knee, still holding her hands.
Scarlett could only stand silently with her mouth open. She couldn't believe it, he must have gone crazy. His words popped into my head: "I'm not a man who's getting married," and now he's proposing to her. It was probably a joke.
"My dear Scarlett, all this time I have been striving to own you, ever since our first meeting at Twelve Oaks. And now I realize that I can't live without you anymore. And it's time for you to marry me."
It wasn't a joke, he was proposing to her. Her throat was dry. She was looking at Rhett, who was as casual as ever, but his eyes were watching her intently.
Scarlett remembered how long ago she had imagined this. She would get these words from Rhett. He would be at her mercy, and she'd torment him. And now, she heard them from him, but she had no control over the situation.
And then she thought about his offer. Did she even want to marry him? Until recently, such a thought had occurred to her, but then she pushed it away. But why would he do that, because he doesn't love her? She didn't love him either, she was sure of it. She liked him, Rhett could be charming if he wanted to be, and he was very rich, which she liked too. She would be lying to herself if she said that his proposal didn't touch her. Her heart skipped a beat after hearing his words. But it's one thing to spend time with him and share a couple of kisses. It's another to live with him for the rest of your life.
She was not at all attracted to marriage. The woman had always depended on her husband. If she agreed, her mills would become Rhett's property. He could do anything with them, even take them or sell them. Then, everything she had worked on for so long would be gone. Scarlett couldn't even imagine what it was like to be dependent on a man like Rhett Butler.
She blushed under his gaze.
"No, Rhett, I'm not marrying you. I don't want to get married at all."
"Oh no, Scarlett, you were born to be someone's wife. So why not be mine?"
She pulled her hands out of his and moved to the window, as far away from him as possible.
"I suggest you think about my proposal while I'm gone." He walked up to her.
How could she hope that Rhett would back away from his idea? Of course, he wasn't going to give up so easily. But she wasn't going to give up either.
"No, Rhett, I don't want to put it off and keep you waiting. I don't want to marry you or anyone else."
"This is ridiculous… Why?"
"It doesn't matter, I don't want to." She began to squirm under his gaze, she definitely wouldn't share her thoughts with him.
He took her hands again.
"Dear, I am ready to promise you that marriage with me will not disappoint you. You shouldn't be afraid. I promise you pleasure..." Scarlett thought he was joking, but he seemed to be serious.
"Pleasure? She snorted. "Marriage is a pleasure for men, although God only knows what they find in it. For women, this is a constant hassle. They must endure their husbands' whims, and even a child a year. Dubious pleasures, Captain Butler."
She frowned at him, and he laughed at the whole library.
"Hush, Rhett, Aunt Pitty will hear you and come to see what's going on here." She turned around nervously, looking at the closed library door.
"Oh, Scarlett, I've always admired your straightforwardness. And I can guarantee that I can change your view of marriage. Why don't you marry a great young man with a terrible reputation and a knack for dealing with women..."
"And with a vanity of such a size that it won't be able to follow you through the door soon," he laughed again.
"Oh, Scarlett… Choose a day. I'd prefer to marry right after my return. If you want, we can wait a bit longer, but no more than a few months. I don't want to wait that long."
Oh, he was impossible, he didn't seem to be listening to her at all.
"I haven't even said yes to you yet, you're in too much of a hurry, Rhett."
He held her close, not letting her move.
"Why don't you admit the idea that I can't imagine my life without you and I want you to become my wife? I don't want to let you go." She peered into his face. He was smiling. It seemed to amuse him. But, in his eyes, she saw a strange fire.
She allowed herself to imagine that his words were true. It wouldn't be so bad to be Rhett's wife. He could take care of her, and she wouldn't wake up in an empty bed anymore. They got along most of the time, and she could always tell him anything. It could have worked...
"Oh, Scarlett, are you still thinking about that fool..."
He pulled her closer and kissed her. Gently at first, and then with increasing passion. His lips demanded her answer. It was the same kiss as it was then, on Rough and Ready. All-consuming and leaving no chance for salvation. It seemed to her that he was pouring out all his passion in this kiss. And she answered him, answered him with the same passion that she was capable of. If he had always kissed her like that, she'd have agreed to everything he offered.
"Rhett, please..." she tried to pull away and regain her clarity of thought.
Scarlett was able to focus and saw his face filled with passion. His eyes glittered feverishly, and the arms that hugged her trembled so much that she was even scared. He seemed to be losing control, too.
"Say yes, Scarlett..."
"I can't..."
And then his lips were on hers again. And, even if Scarlett briefly thought of stopping him, it vanished.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Then, she surrendered to a kiss that knocked the ground out from under her. His lips left hers and slid onto her neck, where her pulse was pounding frantically. But he did not stop and pressed a long, hot kiss to her breasts, covered with the thin fabric of her dress. Scarlett felt herself trembling.
Rhett pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes.
"Say yes." Scarlett was about to, but then she remembered. There was something else she wanted to find out.
"I'll agree, but I have one condition."
"The condition? This looks more like a business deal than a marriage proposal. Say..." he looked interested.
Scarlett was silent, she didn't know how to voice it to Rhett, but it was important to her. She blushed and lowered her eyes. He lifted her face, forcing her to look at him.
"Scarlett, what's the condition?"
She needed to have the courage to tell him.
"There will only be two of us in our bed, Rhett. No Belle Watling or anyone like her. My husband will only be mine." She stubbornly lifted her chin.
She wouldn't share her husband with other women, especially whores. She had always been jealous of Rhett visiting that woman. She had no designs on him. But now that he could be her husband, she couldn't let it happen.
Scarlett had long ago realized that Rhett could not be forced. But she hoped that this time he would agree. He wanted to marry her.
He studied her face, trying to find something, and then smiled.
"As long as you welcome me to your bed, I'm willing to honor this arrangement." She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
He agreed, she didn't expect it. It seems he wanted her to agree to his proposal. And Scarlett was glad that it happened.
"Ask me again, Rhett," she smiled slyly and saw his responding smile.
"Scarlett, will you marry me?"
"Yes, yes, I will."
He bent down to kiss her again, but he stopped.
"Did you agree because of my money?" he asked, looking at her intently.
"No... I like you. Of course, it's good that you have money, Rhett, but that's not the main reason."
He raised one eyebrow.
"So you like me... "It would be nicer to hear that you love me." She couldn't read his emotions, but his voice was disappointed.
"Well, Rhett, you didn't say you loved me, either."
"You're right, darling, I don't love you. God help the man who loves you. You'll trample his heart like a rag. And if I loved you, you'd be the last one to know about it."
Scarlett felt a pang of pain after his words. Of course, she already knew that, but when he said it out loud, it was painful. She felt upset but didn't want to show it to him.
"What kind of ring do you want, dear?" she cheered up after these words.
"Oh, Rhett, I'd like a big diamond..." she couldn't help but smile, and he laughed.
"Okay, you'll get the biggest diamond that you can show to everyone around and make everyone envious of you."
He suddenly released her and headed for the exit. Scarlett didn't understand why the change in his behavior had happened so abruptly.
"Are you leaving, Rhett?" she asked, wanting him to stay.
"Yes, Scarlett, I told you I was leaving. My train is tonight. I'll write to you." He was about to leave the door, but she stopped him.
"But Rhett... don't you want to kiss me goodbye? We won't see each other for a few months," she tried to make the most innocent face she could.
"Wasn't kissing enough for one day? He laughed again."
But she kept standing there and looking at him. And then he came back and took her in his arms again, this time she greeted him, reaching for his lips first. They shared a long moment of tenderness until he pulled away again.
"Come back soon..." She was telling the truth, Scarlett wanted him to come back as soon as possible.
"I'll be..."
Scarlett couldn't quite figure out what had happened. She returned to the library and sat down on the sofa. She couldn't believe she'd agreed to marry Rhett Butler. Suddenly, reality hit her. She remembered his bad reputation. He was not accepted in Atlanta. By marrying him, she could become an outcast. Scarlett tried to imagine what Ellen would say if she found out. She would never let Scarlett do something like that.
She suddenly doubted her decision. Maybe she should have refused. But Rhett was so persistent. He almost wrung the agreement out of her. But it was only a promise, she could still refuse him when he returned, especially since no one knew about it.
But Scarlett let her thoughts drift, imagining what it would be like to be married to Rhett. She would spend all her time in the company of this man, falling asleep and waking up next to him. Scarlett realized for the first time that she knew almost nothing about Rhett. The rumors that were going around the city and the few stories he told her. What he was like, his past, and his family, she didn't know anything about. Her aunts, who lived in Charleston, were friends of Rhett's mother. They said she was a wonderful woman. That was the end of her knowledge, but for some reason, she wanted to know as much about him as possible.
In such thoughts, Melanie found her, who came to pick her up for the next meeting of the sewing circle.
"Scarlett, dear, are you okay?" Melanie looked puzzled.
She pulled Scarlett out of her thoughts.
"Yes, Melanie, I was thinking."
"You look worried."
And Scarlett suddenly wanted to tell her what had happened. She had no friends to share secrets with. They only saw her as a rival. Melanie was the closest thing to a true friend.
"Oh, Melanie, Rhett proposed to me," Melanie's face reflected a dazzling, joyful smile.
"Oh dear, it's so wonderful, I knew he would decide to do it after all!" She looked very pleased, and Scarlett's suspicions crept in.
"Melanie, what did you do? Did you talk about something with Rhett?" Scarlett couldn't believe Melanie was capable of something like this.
"No, no, dear. I couldn't..." she blushed. "I just decided to give him a little push..."
"Push?" Scarlett didn't know what she was talking about.
"He and Mr. Clark were at that dinner for a reason. Maybe Mr. Clark misinterpreted my hints about your feelings for him," she said, avoiding the issue.
Scarlett couldn't believe that Melanie had a plan to get Rhett to marry her. It was impossible.
"Melanie! Were you trying to make Rhett jealous? But I don't understand why?"
"Oh dear, Captain Butler loves you so much..."
Scarlett grimaced. Melanie was so naive. She couldn't imagine that, not long ago, he had told her he didn't love her. Remembering this, a feeling of sadness came over her.
"I'm afraid you're wrong, and it's not true."
"But, Scarlett, he looks at you like that. He always watches your every move, as if no one else exists. You should have noticed. It would help if you were kinder to him. He loves you, I'm sure of it."
Scarlett wanted to laugh in her face, Melanie was so stupid. But for some reason, she wanted to believe Melanie's words.
"Melanie, I want to ask you not to tell anyone about this yet. I want to announce the engagement when Rhett returns."
"Of course, Scarlett... I'm very happy for you. I'm sure you will be very happy together."
Scarlett looked into her face and saw that she was sincere. Her face was glowing with joy, and it was so amazing for Scarlett, who had never taken Melanie seriously.
But she decided to set aside these thoughts for later. Now, they had to meet with the Atlanta ladies about very important matters.