Despite being in Atlanta for several weeks, Scarlett hadn't heard anything about Rhett. She consoled herself with the thought that if something had happened to him, the whole town would be talking about it. So she knew nothing bad could've happened.
To keep herself busy, Scarlett started attending sewing clubs. Not that she particularly liked it, but it was better than spending the whole day with Aunt Pitty. She had established a friendly relationship with many of the women of Atlanta. The matron's were still cool towards her but they atleast tolerated her. Scarlett tried to tone her behavior down as much as possible to not to annoy them too much.
One afternoon, Scarlett was sitting in her room when she heard voices downstairs. The drawl of the Charleston accent was unmistakable. She couldn't help but be delighted. Rhett was here.
"Miss Pittypat, you look charming today, please accept a small gift from me."
Scarlett went quietly to the door and listened.
"Oh, Captain Butler, what a surprise," Aunt Pitty babbled. "I'd love to invite you to stay, but I'm expected at Mrs. Merriweather's."
She could hear the uncertainty in her aunt's voice. A coward, she thought. She's afraid of the gossip that would come from talking to Rhett.
"Of course, Miss Pittypat, I won't keep you."
"I think you can stay for tea, I'll call Scarlett," she said suddenly.
"Is Miss O'Hara here?" Rhett seemed interested.
"Yes, she arrived a few weeks ago."
"Then I'll be happy to stay for tea," she heard the smile in his voice.
"Scarlett, dear. Captain Butler is here, could you come down?" Aunt Pitty called.
Scarlett felt excited. After all of this time, she would finally see Rhett! Pinching her cheeks to get a blush, she smiled at her reflection and went to the door.
Slowly descending, she finally looked up. He was standing at the foot of the stairs perfectly shaved, in his perfectly tailored suit, with perfectly styled hair and smiling slyly. Her heart skipped a beat and then began to beat faster. "He's so handsome!" Was the only thought in her head. She realized that he noticed how she looked him up and down and blushed.
When Scarlett was almost level with him, she held out her hand to him for a kiss.
"Miss O'Hara, glad to see you." Despite Aunt Pitty standing right there next to them, he held her hand longer than what was considered proper. Scarlett had to remove it, hiding it in the folds of her dress, Aunt Pittypat was still standing next to her.
"Captain Butler, what a surprise to see you here." She smiled into his burning eyes, and then turned to her aunt.
"Thanks Aunt Pitty, I'd love to keep Captain Butler company." You seem to be expected at Mrs. Merriweather's," she smiled sweetly, trying to finally get rid of her.
"Oh, that's right, dear, I completely forgot. Captain Butler..."
Rhett bowed politely to her and she disappeared through the door. Scarlett let out a sigh of relief and he heard it.
"What happened Scarlett? Are you so eager to be alone with me?"
He could read her too easily, it irritated her insanely.
"Oh Rhett, you're too vain." She turned around and walked into the living room, sitting down on the sofa.
"You've ruined my hopes my dear." He sat down next to her. "I was hoping that you were waiting for our meeting." He studied her face carefully.
"I'm really glad you're free, Rhett. How long ago?"
"This morning. I admit it's very nice not to sleep in the stable and I missed the pleasures of this life," he laughed. "How are you Scarlett?" He looked really interested.
So he rushed over immediately after his release to find out from Aunt Pittypat where she was and what happened with her. It couldn't help but flatter Scarlett.
"I'm fine, thank you. Things are really going better at Tara." She smiled.
"You look good, dear." He looked at her knowingly. "By the way, why are you in Atlanta, are you tired of rural life so soon?" he laughed.
She didn't know what to say to him. She couldn't possibly tell him that she was waiting for him here to ask him for money. She had to come up with something.
"Frank Kennedy proposed to Suellen and I came to settle some business."
"Old Frank is finally getting married, it's interesting," he laughed.
"I hope it happens as soon as possible." She rolled her eyes.
He laughed out loud.
"Suellen is too annoying, the sooner he picks her up the better." he laughed even louder.
"Oh, Scarlett, you are as delightful as ever."
Scarlett looked at him skeptically while she fidgeted on the couch. Somehow she had to tell Rhett what she wanted. Of course, her discomfort did not escape him and Rhett watched her curiously.
"What do you want to talk to Scarlett about?"
"Why do you think..."
"Scarlett, we seem to have already figured out that you should tell me the truth if you want to get something from me, and you definitely want something."
He waited patiently.
"I have an idea..." she began evasively. "Rather, this idea was given to me by Frank Kennedy"
"This story is getting more interesting, please continue Scarlett"
"Anyway, I want to buy a mill and I want to ask you for help Rhett..."
"Do you want to ask for money for a mill?"
"Yes, but this time there is no charity. I'll offer you half of the sales and I will return this money to you with interest"
"And why do I need a mill?" his tone became completely businesslike.
"You may not need it, but I need it, so I decided to ask you for help," she replied simply and truthfully, as he asked.
"Suppose I agree. But what will you do? Manage a mill? Dear, you forgot that you are a woman and you don't just want to start a business, but to start a men's business. Plus, don't forget about the Old Guard. They won't forgive you for this, and in general, how do you explain where you got the money?"
Scarlett considered his words, of course he was right. What she was going to do was definitely not a female occupation, she had never heard of a woman doing something like this in her life.
"Well, I can handle the old cats. A couple of tearful stories about my loneliness and the hardships of life and they will turn a blind eye to it," she said confidently.
Rhett burst out laughing.
"I'm willing to give you money just to see how you do it."
"Will you really help me, Rhett?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, knowing you, I have no doubt that this will be a good investment. Moreover, I don't need your profit or interest. But I will have one condition."
Inwardly, Scarlett was elated. Rhett was really going to give her money, she couldn't believe it.
"So, I'll give you as much money as you need. Moreover, you can buy whatever you want a mill, beautiful dresses or a carriage or jewellery I don't care. But if you intend to buy a pair of new pants for Ashley Wilkes, our deal will be broken." he looked at her expectantly.
A wave of anger swept over her.
"Ashley never asked me for anything! He wouldn't take it even if I offered..."
"Maybe, but thanks to Miss Pittypat, I know perfectly well that he lives at Tara with his family. I hope he helps you a little. Or a noble gentleman does not know how to work with his hands and continues to wander around thinking about the frailty of this life." he carefully studied her face.
"He works like the rest of us," she said stubbornly.
"Oh, of course, he has golden hands." Rhett waved her off casually.
"He's just..."
"I know he's doing everything he can. But Scarlett, have you ever thought about the fact that everything he does is not enough. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he's not capable of it. People of his type were born to contemplate, not to work. And he will never adapt to the realities of our lives. And in principle, it would not be bad if you did not put all this on your shoulders. You don't have to pull him on yourself, he has to do it himself..." his voice was getting louder.
She stared at him stubbornly. Scarlett didn't want to discuss Ashley or listen to what Rhett was saying about him. Especially after the scene that had played out between them at Tara.
"I do not know what to tell you Rhett, I'm just helping him and Melanie, that's all..."
"Ah, you mean it's only your kindness that makes you keep Mr. Wilkes by your side and the feeling of your deep love and affection has nothing to do with it." Scarlett tried to figure out why he was so keen He reacts to Ashley, but his face remained impassive and only his eyes glittered dangerously.
"Rhett, I really don't want to discuss this and I don't understand why I have to justify myself to you. You are not my fiance and not my husband. I can love whoever I want, and I don't want to discuss it anymore. Forget about what I said, you'd better leave."
He straightened up on the couch, still not letting her see his true emotions. A sad smile appeared on his face.
"All right, Scarlett, we'll leave this topic if that's what you want. Moreover, I still intend to give you money if you are still interested."
Scarlett was surprised, she thought that after this discussion about Ashley, Rhett would refuse her. He always overreacted to Ashley and she never understood why he was doing it.
"Do you still want to give me money?"
"Yes, I told you about it a minute ago," he replied irritably.
"Do you have time now? Can you come with me?"
"Where to?"
"Buy a mill, I want to do it now before you change your mind. And I'm not going out there alone."
He burst out laughing.
"You have forgotten, Miss O'Hara, that you are an unmarried lady and cannot afford to travel around the county with a scoundrel like me who is not accepted in good houses. Think about your reputation," he smiled cunningly.
Of course, she knew and remembered this story. At Twelve Oaks she'd been told about the girl and the buggy and how that was the reason she wasn't accepted.. But she didn't care what the gossips said.
"Oh Rhett, I don't care about that right now, let's go soon."
And she did get a mill, and a horse and a buggy. She just laughed to herself how she managed to steal a sawmill from under Frank Kennedy's nose. She was pleased to realize that she, a woman, was now in business. Of course, with the teaching of the mill came the difficulties Rhett was talking about.
The news of this spread like wildfire throughout the city and as soon as Scarlett visited the first sewing circle, the old matrons immediately went on the attack.
It was a rainy Tuesday and Scarlett cancelled her trip to the sawmill and went with Aunt Pittypat to visit Mrs. Merriweather. About fifteen minutes after their arrival, she began her conversation.
"Scarlett, since your parents are not with us, God rest their souls, and you have no other relatives who could tell you this, I want to do it."
Scarlett already knew what she wanted to talk about, but out of politeness she asked anyway.
"What do you want to talk about, Mrs. Merriweather?"
"Of course, about what you're doing now, dear. Where did you get the money to buy a mill? As far as I know, you don't have any relatives who could lend you such a large sum."
"Rhett Butler," she replied simply.
She heard a universal sigh from the ladies who were sitting around her, and then silence covered the room. Scarlett heard the hands of the clock move for a second.
"Scarlett, this is unacceptable! Your mother is turning over in her grave. How could you borrow money from a man, especially Rhett Butler. This scoundrel that no one accepts? It's bad enough that you run a mill, it's not a woman's job at all, then this!" Mrs. Merriweather was outraged.
"You have to stop this, Scarlett," Mrs. Elsing said. "This is not the behavior of a lady."
Scarlett was angry. She didn't understand what she had done wrong. She knew all the rules of southern society, she knew what they were talking about, but she did not understand why she should die in poverty and misery when she could earn money for herself and for her family. Yet she she also understood that she could not show her real emotions, these women would never forgive her. She realized she needed another tactic and covered her face with her hands, trying to cry. Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned to everyone who was sitting in the room with her.
"I know and understand everything. But I have no one, no parents or brothers or other relatives who can help me. I'm all alone, I'm just trying to survive, is it really that bad? I'm carrying my sisters and my house, it's so hard. I know that this is not a woman's business at all, but if I had a husband, I would transfer this burden to him. But now I have to do it all by myself." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.
She felt Mrs. Meade, who was sitting next to her, hug her.
"Come now, dear, don't cry. We understand how hard it is for you. You just have to understand that some of your actions are very inappropriate and thoughtless. We understand that you are just trying to improve your financial situation, but perhaps this can be done in other ways…And this Butler... of all the people on earth, you turned to him..."
"But all of you took him in during the war..." insisted Scarlett stubbornly.
"It was a different time," Mrs. Merriweather continued. "Now everything has changed. Do you really think he helped you out of good intentions? We don't want the reputation of a beautiful girl like you to be ruined by such a scoundrel, you are too naive.."
"I don't deny that he did a lot of bad things, Mrs. Merriweather, but now he's really helped. He's the only one who could help my family not starve and made sure I didn't have to worry that my house would be taken away for non-payment of taxes. He was the one who saved Melanie and I when the Yankees took over Atlanta." She decided to use her trump card, Melanie. She knew how much the old Guard loved and respected her, and Scarlett hoped that mentioning her might help. "He took us out when Atlanta was burning, Melanie and me and her baby. If hadn't been for him, we could have died. And I am very grateful to him for that..."
"We understand everything, dear. Now wipe your tears, everything will be fine. Just be careful, we'll keep an eye on you... and him." Mrs. Merriweather looked around the room and Scarlett saw that the women nodded approvingly.
Then the conversation was over and they began to discuss the latest gossip. Scarlett felt that she had definitely managed to convince these old cats of what she needed.