Hello! Thank you so much for the all reviews, you guys are awesome! On a less awesome note, it has been snowing here in England today… Snow in March? Ugh.

This is a slightly shorter chapter then the previous two, but it was the best place to end it.

Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer – I do not own anything.

Hurrying out of the library, Scarlett found the house in an uproar. People were rushing around and calling out to each other. Intent on finding out what was going on, she pushed her way through the crowds when Scarlett heard her own name being called and jumped guiltily before realising that it was Charles Hamilton.

"Miss O'Hara!" he called. "Oh please Miss O'Hara, I need to speak with you. Urgently!" oh not you too, Scarlett thought wildly. The last thing she wanted was to accidently reveal what had just occurred in the library and she was positive that if anyone so much as looked at her they would see if written all over her face, plain as day. No, she needed to find out what was happening and hope to God that she could make it through the rest of the day without acting as though anything were out of the ordinary.

"What is it Mr Hamilton?" she asked impatiently.

"The war's started and they're calling for volunteers to sign up." He said breathlessly.

"What?!" Scarlett gasped and ran to the window. She saw the Tarleton twins fly down the drive on horseback, whooping and shouting, followed by the Calvert boys and the Fontaines.

"I'm going to sign up too Miss O'Hara. Will… will you be sorry to see us go?"

"I'll cry into my pillow every night" Scarlett mumbled, as she watched all her childhood friends leave one by one.

"Oh Miss O'Hara, I have to ask. You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met. The sweetest and the dearest and I know you could never feel the same about me but could I dare hope that you would wait for me?"

Outside, she saw Ashley say a rather restrained goodbye to Melanie and promptly turned her attention away from the window.

"Hmm, what was that Mr Hamilton?" Scarlett asked, realising that Charles had been talking.

"I said Miss O'Hara, will you marry me?"

Scarlett opened her mouth to tell him no. Why, what on earth would she get out of marriage to a man like Charles Hamilton except for missing out on all the fun unmarried women have and a baby every year. Scarlett froze. A baby. What if what she and Rhett had just done landed her with a baby? She tried to keep a look of horror off her face at this thought in case Charles noticed and asked her what was wrong.

Scarlett was not as ignorant as other unmarried girls as she had grown up on a plantation and had once accidently witnessed her father's best stallion mate with one of the mares. Her father had seen her watching and when she asked what was happening he told her that they were making a baby horse and, unthinkingly, added that people did it too. He had then hastily made her give a solemn promise to not mention anything to Mammy and Mother about what he had accidently let her witness or what he had just revealed and sent her off with promises of a new frock. Scarlett had scampered off, all thoughts of what she'd just seen forgotten in the excitement of a new dress, just as, no doubt, her Pa had hoped. What she and Rhett had just done was, she assumed, what her Pa had been talking about that day.

Oh why had she done it? She would just die if she had a baby and her reputation would be ruined forever. She'd be an old maid with a bastard baby as nobody would want to marry her. She felt the blood drain out of her face at that prospect. Oh how terrible! Except, Charles…

He had just asked her to marry him. Her mind went into overdrive. She knew that babies were sometimes born early and if she married Charles sooner rather than later then if it turned out that she was going to have a baby then people would be none the wiser. Yes, strange as it may sound, Charles was the answer to her prayers, and if it turned out that she wasn't pregnant, then at least it would show Ashley just how much she didn't love him. Her mind made up, she turned to Charles.

"Yes Mr Hamilton I will." She said, immensely grateful for his proposal and perfect timing.

"You'll wait for me?" he asked, almost unbelieving, and if Scarlett was honest, she couldn't quite believe it herself.

"Oh, I don't think I'd want to wait" Scarlett said quickly.

"You mean you'll marry before I go?" Scarlett nodded and he took her hands.

"Yes, the sooner the better" she said, forcing a smile.

"I…I must go and talk to your father then… dear" he said.

"Yes you must" she muttered.

He kissed her hand and Scarlett felt herself die a little on the inside. She was subjecting herself to a life with this mere boy who she felt nothing for and who until this day, she hadn't given a second thought to and all because she'd gotten carried away and done something incredibly stupid and wrong, even for her standards.

"I'll wait here for you" Scarlett said and he hurried off, calling her father's name.

As soon as he left Scarlett let the smile drop off her face and she gazed out the window in a daze. Her mind could hardly comprehend the events of the past half hour. For the first time she wondered where Rhett was, and if he had left the library yet. Her question was answered when she saw him next to Frank Kennedy in a carriage, just leaving. Her eyes followed him, when he turned around. He appeared to be looking for something, his eyes roaming over the building and stopped when he saw her standing at the window. He nodded in what might have been an approximation of a bow and Scarlett felt angry tears prick her eyes. He could leave. He wouldn't have to suffer the repercussions of their actions. He didn't have to marry someone he didn't love to protect his reputation and future.

The thought crossed her mind that he should have offered to marry her after ruining her like he did. However, after what she'd heard about him it would seem that if he had no intention of marrying the girl who he took out in the buggy, then what would make him feel inclined to marry her? Surely not his conscience, (which she doubted he had) or the honour of a gentleman (which he clearly wasn't). Even if she shouted from the rooftops that he had ruined her, which she had no intention of doing, she still wouldn't put it past him to blame it on her lack of restraint and morals and walk away, as unmarried and conceited as ever. She dug her nails into the palms of her hands. Indeed, with his reputation, he probably had a hundred children belonging to him, leaving a hundred ruined girls in his wake. Oh it wasn't fair she thought as his carriage rolled down the track. He was still glancing back at her and she narrowed her eyes. This was all his fault. Him and his bruising kisses and expert caresses. The tears fell silently as shame and anger rolled over her. Oh no one could ever find out what she'd done. Ever.

When she could no longer see him, she angrily swiped away her tears but stood at the window with a heavy heart and a desperately sad feeling that her carefree existence was disappearing before her very eyes.

Please review and let me know your thoughts. All reviews are very much appreciated and make for a very happy author!

Miss Ivy