Hello Dear Readers!

I want to thank everyone for your reviews and thoughts, I am very touched that you share them with me.

I think in this chapter you will understand what Rhett decides for himself.

Enjoy reading! :)

As always, the inspiration link is below, thanks for reading! :)

https//polinka22malinka/773697074357272576/my-inspiration-for-the-chapter-16-of-the-story?source=share

Chapter 16.

The morning at Butler's began late, and everyone gathered for breakfast at ten.

After her, Rhett arrived at the quiet mansion, his relatives not yet back from the ball, he had a glass of whiskey in the study, remembering their evening, their kisses and hot touches, and realizing that he would have to wait a couple weeks, he tried to distract himself from these thoughts and went to bed early.

But that didn't stop him from having some rather explicit dreams, when he woke up a couple of times during the night, slightly sweaty, and ran his hand over the empty sheets next to him, hoping to feel her velvety skin or smell her hair.

Nevertheless, Rhett was cheerful in the morning, and at breakfast, anticipating questions from his mother and sister and catching a sly glance from his younger brother, he announced as soon as the food was served, "Mother, I've got news for you. And for Ross and Rosemary too." He glanced seriously at his younger sister, who looked at him in disbelief.

Miss Eleanor gave him a slight nod and was about to cut a piece of biscuit soaked in sweet syrup when she heard her eldest son's serious voice, "I'm getting married."

Mrs Butler gave him a surprised look, smiled slightly and asked, "To Scarlett, I hope?"

Ross grinned and kicked his brother under the table like he used to do when he was a child, but Rosemary just frowned and reached for her coffee.

Rhett, expecting such a reaction, nodded quickly to his brother, barely glancing at his sister, and looking his mother in the eye, said cheerfully, "Yes, mother, to Scarlett, of course. I suppose your question, Mrs Butler, might offend your eldest son," he joked and added, "I spoke to my future wife last evening, asked for her hand in marriage and she said "yes". So the Butler family will soon become bigger," he said the last words very clearly and looked seriously at Rosemary, who caught his eye and dropped her eyes to her plate.

"Son, I'm very happy for you and Scarlett. Yes, it's a bit hasty, there may be talks in the town, but on the other hand, it's Christmas time, people are busy with balls, holidays..." Miss Eleanor reasoned thoughtfully. Now she realized where her eldest son had disappeared so abruptly yesterday, and where Scarlett had been, whom she had wanted to introduce to a good friend from the committee.

Rhett nodded, he didn't really care about the gossip about him, he was used to it, but now he had to think about his children's future and about her. The last thing he wanted was to be the main theme of conversations in every sewing circle and at every card table in town. Rhett had learned long ago that men were even worse gossips than women.

"Do you want a modest celebration, Rhett, or..." his mother kept asking him.

He grinned, realizing that he didn't care.

"I think you'd better discuss it with my fiancée, mother. But I want to get things settled this year. Before Christmas," Rhett said clearly and, seeing his mother's surprised look, just took a sip of strong coffee.

Last Christmas, riding on a horse to the hotel in a blizzard, he had been happy to spend the holiday with her, to have dinner with her, just to listen to her, to tease her. But he had also dreamed of falling asleep with her by his side, and of spoiling her with presents in the Christmas morning. Rhett had wished to spend the next holiday with her, and now he was determined to make it happen.

"Then I had better get to visit my future daughter-in-law sooner, or I'll wake up in this house one morning and find that my eldest son has moved out without my knowledge," Mrs Butler joked, turning to her daughter, "Rosemary, Darling, will you keep me company today? It would do us all good..."

"I've got a headache, mother," Rosemary interrupted, catching her mother's surprised look and trying not to look at her older brother's gaze across the table, "I think I've got a cold, I haven't felt well since last night. I'd better stay home, especially with the children there..." she said evasively, with emphasis on the word children, and Rhett gripped the handle of the cup tighter, but smiled strainedly and said aloud, "Well, then Rosemary better to stay home. She'll still have a chance to interact with her future niece and nephew."

Rosemary barely looked at him, nodded, and Ross said something about the games they were making up with Wade and how Ella was no longer afraid of him.

Mrs Butler stroked her daughter's cheek gently, then called for the maid, quickly wrote a note and asked to take it to Mrs Carter.

After breakfast, Rhett and Ross said goodbye to their mother and sister and left the house. They both had to go to the centre, Ross to the meeting and Rhett to his lawyer's office.

As they got into the carriage, Rhett asked with a grin, "You were suspiciously quiet at the table, Ross... Not like my little brother..."

Ross smiled and just said, "I'm waiting for details! Not at the table..."

"Don't even hope," Rhett interrupted, grinning, adjusting his hat and turning to the window.

"Oh, come on, Rhett! If it hadn't been for me, things wouldn't have been so rosy for you this morning. Scarlett asked me to take her home, and I asked her to wait for me on the veranda..."

Rhett was silent, realizing that the reason for this was Rosemary's stupid words, but he turned to Ross and said with a smile, "Ross, thank you. It was really important..."

"And...?"

"What 'and'?"

"Details, Rhett! I've never seen her so embarrassed... You knocked the girl off her feet with your passion, didn't you?" Ross said laughing.

But Rhett just shook his head, grinned and added, "I told you, don't even hope!"

"Well, do good deeds afterwards," Ross grumbled, but then added with a smile, "but then I'll have a sister-in-law, which is also good! By the way, we became close to each other with Scarlett, so Captain Butler, behave yourself..."

Rhett just smiled mischievously, but Ross added more seriously, "Rhett, really, don't hurt the girl."

Rhett looked sternly at his brother and just said, "She and the children are the most precious things to me, Ross. Do you really think I'm capable of hurting Scarlett?"

"Not on purpose, Rhett, not on purpose... You're not the most open person," Ross said and, twirling his black felt hat in his hands, added more quietly, "Does she know about the woman you were looking for?"

Rhett just nodded and said, "That's in the past. I'm not looking for anyone anymore, I found Scarlett."

He fell silent, feeling his palms sweat slightly, realizing that his phrase could be interpreted in two ways, but Ross just smiled and the brothers rode the rest of the way, each thinking about his own things.

As Mrs Butler was finishing her coffee in the parlour and her sons were leaving, there was a knock at the door of a house on the same street, a smiling Mary took a note and in a few minutes a surprised Scarlett was reading a message from the Butler mansion from her future mother-in-law who "would be very glad to visit her and the children this afternoon."

Scarlett looked nervously around the sunlit living room, then turned to Mary and said, "It seems we have guests today, Mary. Mrs Butler will come for tea this afternoon about three o'clock."

Mary smiled and nodded, but Scarlett continued in a worried tone, "We should have something special cooked... We should ask the cook to bake a cake... Mary, maybe that chocolate cake Amy used to make in Saratoga, on last Christmas? Maybe you remember the recipe," she asked the maid hopefully. Seeing her excitement, the maid smiled even wider and assured her that she remembered the recipe and would tell the cook.

While Mary was in the kitchen, Scarlett went into the nursery, where Wade had brought some of his toys: a wooden train, some soldiers, and was trying to play with Ella, who looked at her brother with interest, but was just about to put another toy in her mouth, which made him angry.

"Mummy," Wade shouted irritably when he saw Scarlett in the doorway, "tell Ella not to mess with my toys!"

"Wade, son, you came himself into the nursery with them and you could have played in your room," Scarlett replied calmly, walking into the room and sitting down on a velvet armchair. Ella immediately stood up, leaned against the bed and slowly, awkwardly began to walk towards her mother, who smiled at her awkward, cautious movements.

Taking her daughter in her arms, Scarlett gently stroked the curls that reached almost to the baby's small, fragile shoulders as she heard Wade muttering, and trying to figure out what to expect from Miss Eleanor's future visit. "Has Rhett told her everything yet? Of course, that obnoxious man blabbed it all over breakfast... If not last night... Oh... What if his mother is against our marriage? What if she thinks like a Rosemary..."

Scarlett's mind went round and round, unable to concentrate, nervous, trying to calm herself around the children. Little Ella often gave her that sense of calm when Scarlett put her to bed or watched her. But today Wade was moody, his play was not working, he was angry at his toys, at his little sister, and ended up with Scarlett's voice raised and her nervous glance in her son's direction.

Mary came just in time and a frowning Scarlett handed little Ella to her and quickly went into her bedroom to pick out a homemade dress.

As she looked through the clothes in her wardrobe, Scarlett tried to calm herself and stop being nervous. For some reason, she liked Mrs Butler and wanted her to approve of their relationship with her son. Scarlett had no one but her children and, it seemed, Rhett himself, and the thought of becoming part of a family, of having a family, gave her hope.

Her hand reached for the beige button-up simple dress with the chocolate sash, but on the way she caught the emerald dress she'd worn yesterday. Scarlett closed her eyes for a moment, remembering Rhett's confession, his burning eyes, and then the kisses that had made her knees tremble and her lower belly tighten now.

Taking a deep breath, Scarlett thought that she already missed this man she had seen every day since moving to Charleston. Taking the dress and looking at herself in the mirror, she waved her head slightly, trying to push the images and memories away and concentrate on her future meeting with her mother-in-law.

A few hours later, while Scarlett was showing Mrs Butler her house, she forgot her worries and anxieties, for she was charmed and won over from the very threshold by the manners, affection and warmth of her guest. Scarlett introduced Miss Eleanor to her children, but Wade was about to go riding with their stable man, who also was their coachman.

After talking for a while with the boy who had volunteered to show her his room, Mrs Butler said softly to Scarlett, "Just like Ross when he was a boy, My Dear. An active boy, but thoughtful, you're lucky! Rhett was a real little devil, and it was only through Ross's concern that I found out about all his antics, which could have ended badly. Ah..."

Little Ella had just woken up from her nap and was eager to be taken by her mother, so Scarlett had to excuse herself and they sat down in the soft armchairs in the nursery. Scarlett sat with a sleepy Ella in her arms, who looked at the future grandmother suspiciously.

"Scarlett, what a sweet little girl, and I think she looks like your late husband," Mrs Butler said, noticing the portrait of John on the nursery wall. Scarlett placed another photograph of the two of them on the mantelpiece downstairs in the study, which served as a library. Although she didn't like to read, but sometimes she liked to sit in silence in that room.

Later, in the living room, they sat at a small coffee table by the fireplace, drinking tea and eating cake. Mrs Butler talked about the ball and finally, cautiously, broached the subject of her visit.

"Darling," she said, putting down her china cup and smiling, "I think we both understand that my hasty visit is connected with my eldest son's very active behaviour and his proposal to you."

Scarlett also put down her cup and blushed slightly, fearing further words. But Miss Eleanor, carefully adjusting her pearl bracelet, which matched her light grey dress beautifully, said only, "Scarlett, I see that you are nervous, but I assure you there is no need. As a mother, I am delighted for my son who, let's face it, Darling, at his not young age, has met beloved woman."

Scarlett lowered her eyes to the cup, then raised them, trying to be brave.

"Rhett isn't easy to live with, but I know you can handle it, because I've seen how you communicate in our house," Miss Eleanor continued, chuckling slightly.

Scarlett smiled and heard, "He was an active child, a determined, brave boy. And after that story, when he had to leave our home and town..." Miss Eleanor stopped talking, looked away, and Scarlett could see how sad her face had become.

"Will you tell me, Mrs Butler? About Rhett... He didn't tell me..."

The Older lady looked at her future daughter-in-law, but knowing she had to be as honest as possible, she nodded and told a story that had happened almost two decades before and had left its scars in two homes and several people's hearts.

Scarlett listened quietly but with interest. She wasn't shocked by the story, after all it had happened so long ago, and for some reason she believed Rhett and was hurt that his father hadn't believed and supported him then.

"Anyway," said Miss Eleanor, "Rhett has become even more private since then, My Dear... But just now, talking to you, I can see he's beginning to let his armour down. He may seem rude, but he has a very tender heart, I've noticed that since he was a child... "

Scarlett listened intently, realizing that while Rhett was often gentle, especially with children, he was also quick to joke and not always in a kind way. He was so unusual to her, but the fact that he knew and understood her so well appealed to Scarlett. "If he can understand me so well, I can too," she thought confidently, smiling at Mrs Butler.

"Thank you for sharing, Mrs Butler," she said, adding, "It was a long time ago. I suppose people have other things to worry about now, after the war..."

Miss Eleanor nodded, smiled and looked closely at the confident gleam in the girl's green eyes. She understood why her eldest son had chosen her, why he had fallen in love with her. She had already seen that Scarlett had chosen a 'side by her man', and she could only be grateful for fate.

"Now, Darling, we have some organisational matters to discuss," Mrs. Butler said and reached for the teapot to pour more tea.

That evening, Rhett sat in his study, looking thoughtfully at the letter he had brought with other papers from his lawyer. He had come home late, had dinner in a restaurant and, finding no one in the living room, had retired to his study to think.

Rhett smoked a cigar, and his eyes kept returning to the neat lines written in Mrs Wilkes' hand. He had not answered last year's letter, and he did not know what to make of this one. In the letter she wrote him of family news and again asked politely if he had any news about Scarlett.

His eyes run through the lines again, but there was a knock at the wooden door and Rhett quickly opened the desk drawer and placed the letter among the books and blank envelopes.

"Son, am I not disturbing you," Mrs Butler asked him, and when she saw Rhett stand up and shake his head negatively, she smiled and added, "You were late, we had dinner without you." "I had dinner with the lawyer, mother. Have a seat," Rhett said, gesturing to the black leather sofa. Mrs Butler, in her lilac house dress, sat down and smiled as her son sat beside her, looking at her with interest.

"I suppose you came to tell me about your visit to Scarlett and the children?" Rhett asked with a smile, adjusting his grey waistcoat.

"Yes, Dear, I was with Scarlett today, looking at the house, meeting Wade and Ella, discussing some details of your future wedding," she listed, and Rhett listened intently.

"I also told her your old story, Rhett..." Mrs Butler said, looking at her son intently. He looked back seriously and asked, trying to joke, "Do I still have my fiancée?"

Miss Eleanor did not seem to notice the joke and continued, "I wanted to tell you something important, son. The girl trusts you and you should appreciate that. I also wanted to tell you that although you are my son, I will have one more daughter now when you are married. And as far as we know, she has no one but her children..."

"And me," Rhett interrupted her gravely.

"Yes," Mrs Butler replied calmly, "but I want you to understand that I will always be ready to help her and listen to her. There is something about her, Rhett..."

"Mother, Scarlett is not a fragile flower," he tried to joke again, but Mrs Butler said sternly, "Yes, she doesn't look like that and this girl has so much inner strength, so much passion for living and I understand why you chose her, Rhett. But there is something about her, something special... She can be strong, like metal, but at the same time fragile, like crystal. I have noticed Scarlett reaching out to me, I think she is happy to become a part of our family because she can not remember her own..." Rhett listened intently, but a wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows.

He woke very early the next morning. He hadn't slept well, all night he had been thinking about how he should act, what he was entitled to and what he wasn't... Melanie's letter was on one side of the scale, but there was also the Wilkes, he hated, her meeting with whom annoyed and frightened him at the same time. After all, no one else remembered about her, about Wade... On the other side of the scale, her dead parents, her burnt house, her ruined land. How can he show her all this now? And more importantly, why? He just wanted to give her happiness, joy and all his love. "They've been through enough... What the hell is this for? Who said it was the right thing to do? It's not for nothing that she doesn't remember... "

Rhett himself did not notice how, pondering, he dressed in a grey woollen suit, put on a black coat, took a hat in the hall, and at seven in the morning he was already walking along the seafront, looking at the horizon, watching the waves, listening to the cries of the seagulls, breathing that salty air he loved so much and thinking, periodically throwing pebbles into the water. It was as if he was waiting for the sea to tell him something, that it was the best counsellor for him and already knew the answers to all his questions.

A couple of hours later, his feet carried him to a familiar house and a familiar white wooden door. Rhett barely glanced at his watch on a chain, it was almost nine. He had no idea what to do when he knocked on the door, but he knew that everything would be decided now. For him or for her.

"Rhett, what are you doing here so early?" he heard her surprised and cheerful voice.

He stepped into the hall and looked at her carefully. She was very pretty in a blue homemade dress and smiled at him, so he answered without thinking, "I couldn't sleep, I was walking nearby..." and then added more quietly, "I've really missed you, Scarlett."

He didn't expect her to suddenly come closer, reach out her hand, take off his hat and whisper softly, "I've missed you too, Captain Butler... Me too, Rhett..."

He looked into her green eyes and at that moment a thought flashed through his mind, "What if she never looks at me like that again?" It was this thought that tipped the scales.

Rhett smiled, leaned in to kiss her, but heard Wade's voice somewhere nearby and they pulled away abruptly.

"Be careful, Captain Butler," Scarlett replied, giggling and adding, "Come on, Rhett, let's have breakfast, the cook's just setting the table."