Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Nine

Before Rhett went to the dining room, he went to the kitchen. He saw one of the scullery maids and said to her, "Please fix Mrs. Butler a tray of food and take it up to her. And…."

Lola thought, 'Doesn't he know that he is not supposed to come into the kitchen. He is supposed to go through, Mrs. Burke.' She then added in her mind, 'I bet he doesn't even know who Mrs. Burke is.' She interrupted Rhett by saying, "Mr. Butler…."

"Yes?"

"I don't leave the kitchen."

Rhett started to get mad. He was tired and frustrated by everything going on. He was still worried about Scarlett. He wanted to scream at her to just take the tray to Scarlett. Instead, he calmed himself down and said, "Get the tray ready. Be sure and put some sweets on the tray. I will have Prissy take it up to Mrs. Butler."

"Yes, Sir."

Lola curtsied and hurried away. Rhett would be glad when Scarlett was well enough to resume running the household. In passing he thought, 'I probably should give her more credit for everything she does around here.'

Rhett would be amused to know that the staff was thinking the same thing. They couldn't wait for Mrs. Butler to get back on her feet and she had only been laid low for three days.

Rhett found Prissy in the dining room supervising the children. He said, "Where is Mammy?"

"Resting. The last several days have been hard on her."

"I suppose so. They have been hard on everyone. Would you take the tray that is being prepared for Mrs. Butler up to her."

"Yes, Sir."

"And get her a glass of brandy. A nice serving, please."

Prissy smiled and said, "Enough to ease her pain."

"I don't know if there is that much brandy in the world but give her a big serving. Come back down and make a tray for Mammy. That way she can eat and go to sleep."

"Yes, Mr. Rhett. I will take care of the children."

"I will help you. Let Mammy sleep."

"Thank you, Sir."

Prissy left the room and Bonnie said, "Mama?"

"Is in her room."

"See."

"Maybe tomorrow. Sometime in the morning."

"Now."

With an incredibly firm voice, Rhett said, "No, in the morning. After supper you will go to bed."

"Mama."

"I said in the morning."

Bonnie didn't agree, but she stopped arguing. Yes, Rhett thought, 'I have turned her into a spoiled brat. Hopefully, Scarlett and Mammy can straighten her up.'

The meal was ham with macaroni and cheese. It was one of Scarlett's favorites. As Rhett watched his daughter quickly shovel food into her face, he guessed it was one of hers also. She was cute as a button, but she definitely was an ill-mannered brat, and he was completely to blame. He thought, 'Oh well, Mammy and Scarlett will fix everything.'

Rhett made sure the children were in bed before going to his bedroom. He brought a book, but he also brought some of his correspondence that he still needed to get caught up on. Once he was sure she was asleep, he would get the journal. He would finish reading it then leave it in the room. After she was up and about again, he would have to find where she had decided to hide it. Probably the same place she had hidden it in when they shared the room together. He knew there was no way she was going to leave it where he could find it. She would never take the chance of exposing herself that much.

When Rhett got to the room, Scarlett was lying on the bed propped up by pillows. She still had her supper tray across her lap.

Rhett looked at the tray. It had legs on it so the person in the bed didn't have to hold the tray. It looked like a little table. He said, "That is nice. Where did you get that?"

"Italy. I ordered it before Bonnie was born. I knew I would be stuck in the bed for a couple of days so I knew it would get used."

"It is nice you have it now."

"Would you put the tray out in the hallway?"

"Sure."

Rhett was pleased to note that everything on the tray had been eaten, even the sweets. He thought that was a good sign that she had a hearty appetite.

Once Rhett was back in the room, Scarlett moved her feet so she could get out of the bed. He said, "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready to go to the WC. I think I am going to need your help standing up."

"Alright."

Rhett walked over to the bed and helped Scarlett stand up. He said, "Do you feel dizzy?"

"No, let's try walking to the WC. Stay beside me."

"Of course."

Slowly Scarlett walked to the water closet. Rhett was a little impatient because she was moving so slow, but he knew she couldn't move any faster. Finally, they got to the door, and she said, "Come on in, but I am going to try to walk out by myself."

"Alright."

Once Rhett got Scarlett to the toilet he turned around and walked out of the room. He would never have thought he would be a mother hen, but he wanted to hover over his wife, so she didn't hurt herself again. At last, the door opened, and she stepped out. Slowly they made their way back to the bedroom. He said, "Do you want to take your wrapper off?"

"No, it hurt too much to get it on. I will just keep it on until tomorrow morning. Mammy is going to give me a sponge bath then."

"Alright. Get in. I'm going to be sitting in that chair. Do you want to be able to see me?"

"Yes."

Rhett laid Scarlett on her side. He was about to pull up the covers when he remembered. He said, "I have to wrap your ribs."

"What?"

"I have to wrap your ribs."

"No, go get Mammy."

"Mammy is probably already in bed if not already asleep. I will do it."

"You will not see me without my nightgown on. It is indecent."

"How am I going to wrap the strips around you if I can't see what I am doing?"

"These rags will be fine until in the morning. Mammy can change them when she gives me my sponge bath."

Rhett just smiled. He said, "If the matrons could see how proper you really were they would forgive you of all of your sins."

"No, they wouldn't. Be quiet and help me into the bed."

Rhett was quiet while he got Scarlett settled. After she was settled, she said, "Who is the doctor that you are going to talk to about my brain?"

"Dr. Harrison. He is a Yankee, but he was trained at Oxford, which is great. Medical care is better in Europe than in the North or the South. Of course, the South is so backward in medical care, I'm surprised they still aren't using leeches and bloodletting."

"I know what leeches are but what is bloodletting?"

"It is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to cure illnesses. There are still a lot of doctors both here and in Europe who still use it, but the use of it is dying out."

"Don't let them do that to me, Rhett."

"No, I won't. I don't believe it serves any real purpose but to make the doctor feel like he is doing something to cure his patient."

Rhett sat down and opened the book he had brought. It was a book he was reading. He just started from where he was already at. After five minutes, she said, "Read me something else."

"I don't have anything else."

"Read me your correspondence."

Rhett thought, 'Why not? She won't understand it anyway.'

Rhett read the letters to Scarlett. Most of them she didn't comment on, but one of the last ones, she said, "He is cheating you somehow."

"Why do you say that?"

Sleepily Scarlett said, "I don't know. Good night."

"Good night, my pet."

Rhett reread the letter, and he had to agree with Scarlett. Something was not quite right. He went downstairs and penned a letter to one of the other investors. He told him: I think Marcus is cheating us. Investigate. Let me know as soon as possible.

Rhett went back upstairs and made sure Scarlett was asleep. He then went across the hall. He got her journal. He sat in the chair across from Scarlett and started reading the rest of the diary.

June 15th

I think the battle lines have been drawn. I think there are as many people taking India's side as are taking Melly's side. That surprises me. I wouldn't think that many people liked India that well. Of course, they may not love India but hate me and want to see me get my comeuppance. I guess this may be a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

June 18th

I am with child. I haven't felt well for a while, but I thought it was nerves from what is going on around me. I thought I was tired because of all the visiting Melly is making me do. I hope the baby looks just like Rhett or everyone will think it is Ashley's baby. Everyone except Ashley and Melly. Rhett might even think it is Ashley's baby. Although he did say he knew I had not been unfaithful to him. Not because of my moral compass, but because Ashley would not be physically unfaithful to Melly. Oh, why did I go out to the mills and meet with Ashley alone. Why didn't I jerk away from him when I heard the footsteps. Why hadn't I been a nicer person? No, I'm as nice as I can be, besides, it doesn't matter. Most women hate me on sight.

June 19th

This will be my baby. Rhett can keep Bonnie, and I will take this baby. Wasn't that what Rhett had said about Bonnie? That she was his because I had two others. Well, this one is going to be mine because Rhett has three others. Wade and Ella are more his children than mine. I have tried so hard in the last two months to be a good mother. I have spent time in the nursery, but Wade is still scared of me. My own child is scared of me. I know why. It is because I am always yelling at him. I yell at him because he pesters me when I am busy. Busy doing what? Busy running businesses like a man when I am married to the richest man in the state if not the South. Maybe I should sell my businesses. At least, the mills. There is no point in keeping them. I don't know. If Rhett never comes home, maybe I will keep them to fill my time.

Rhett paused in his reading. He was happy. He thought, 'She wanted the baby. She wanted his baby!'

Rhett went back to reading the journal. He smiled when he read the first sentence.

June 23rd

I know where the rat bastard that is my husband is. He is in Charleston darkening my name with my aunts. It's not bad enough that he darkened my name to all the Atlanta matrons to get received again, but now he has taken his act on the road. Aunt Pauline dared to tell me what to do. The woman that depends on my good will. The same woman that forbade me from marrying Rhett. Now, he is a charming man. I have half a mind to write to her and tell her that if I sell my businesses I will not be able to afford to send her a check anymore. I bet she would change her mind in a heartbeat. Ugh! Aunt Pauline said Rhett had been reluctant to tell them about her activities in Atlanta. What horse hockey?! I bet he couldn't wait to tell them. And how dare they receive him anyway for any reason? HE ISN'T RECEIVED IN CHARLESTON. Hypocrites!

Rhett said with a smile, "It seems you know me as well as I know you. You can't imagine my surprise when those old battle axes let me in without any fuss. You should cut them off. After all, they are talking badly about you and don't deserve your support."

Author's Notes: The current practice for tending to cracked and broken ribs is not to wrap them. It is now believed that the pressure from the wrappings causes more damage than without the wrappings.