Paper Part 13
The last of the winter weather began to leave London. The sun began to shine more frequently and intensely. The new shoots of spring flowers started to peak through the soil. Scarlett wandered through the gardens surveying the damage that the winter had caused. Scarlett had always heard that the English loved their gardens and always planted amazing displays of color and foliage. She was eager to see the now dormant beds in full bloom. She and Rhett let the house in mid-summer and didn't have the opportunity to witness the full glory of the garden. She made her way to the white washed gazebo that sat at the back of the property. It felt lovely to be outside and to feel the sun's warmth on her face. Scarlett had spent the majority of the winter recuperating indoors, trying to gain back the strength she had before the fall. She felt she was almost back to her old self. Her energy and strength increased daily, but lately she felt more tired and drained than normal. She plopped upon the wooden bench that lined the walls of the gazebo. She didn't think she could take another step; she was suddenly overcome by fatigue, "maybe I'm not fully recovered after all." she thought. She rested there a while.
A cool breeze washed over Scarlett causing her to remember the time she and Rhett spent in New Orleans on their honeymoon. She couldn't believe that it was nearly a year since they were first married. So much had changed during the year. She left her old life in America behind, finally learned to leave Ashley in the past and found true love with Rhett. Rhett had said that “marriage could be fun.” Scarlett agreed that it was indeed “fun”, but that it also was a lot of work. The fun didn’t always come so easily. She and Rhett had shared plenty of happy moments over the past months, late nights in front of a blazing fire; sharing a bottle of claret and cuddled close to each other, romantic candlelit dinners, moonlight walks, and fiery passionate exchanges of love making. Their desire for each other was raw and honest.
But there were also moments when the couple quarreled. Life in the Butler home was not always a fairy tale. Scarlett recalled one heated argument the two had a few weeks back. Dr. Thompson would still not allow Scarlett to exert herself by doing too much physical activity. She felt like a caged tiger. She wanted to dance. Run. Scream; anything not to have to sit in that sterile house any longer. Rhett had been working with Sir Bragg trying to acquire a new boat to add to his bustling export business. Rhett felt that by adding another boat to the fleet he could increase the number and type of items exported back to America, thus increasing his profit. There were no ships available that met Rhett’s stringent requirements. Sir Bragg suggested having the ship built to Rhett’s exact specifications to the size and dimension that would accommodate more cargo. So it became necessary for him to travel to Blackpool to oversee the drafting and beginning stages of production. Scarlett had come home from shopping, and made her way unsteadily up to the bedroom. Her arms were weighed down by cumbersome dress boxes and her view blocked by the large oval hat box piled on top. She came into the bedroom to see Rhett packing his black leather valise. He informed her he was leaving for a few days, rushing to catch the mid-afternoon train out of Kings Cross. Scarlett snapped. She couldn’t believe he was running off to conduct business when she was trapped at home. “You’re an insensitive, selfish man. Leaving me here, with nothing to do; trapped in this house I hate, while you run off and play.” Scarlett screamed. Rhett stopped packing, “Play? Is that what you think I do? Do you think I enjoy having to travel half a day by train, sitting in a cold dock men’s office looking over blueprints, and worrying that when I leave these people are going to build me a boat that couldn’t make it across the English Channel, let alone the Atlantic Sea? I hardly call it “play”, my dear.” Rhett explained. Scarlett huffed and stomped her foot, “You know what I mean, Rhett Butler. You promised me you wouldn’t let your work take up too much of your time and well, look at you. I’m hardly 3 feet from my grave and you’re leaving.” Scarlett stated. Rhett chuckled, “Three feet, eh? I didn’t know the finest dress shops in London were located so closely to your grave?” Rhett nodded towards the boxes in Scarlett’s arms, “Just remember my dear, it’s my business that enables you to purchase those pretty little frocks.” Scarlett’s eyes narrowed, her temper rising quickly. She threw the boxes to the ground, scattering clothes and tissue paper at Rhett’s feet. “There take them.” Scarlett ran to her wardrobe and flung the doors open wide, “Here take these too. Take every last stitch of them back. Return them all for your hard earned money.” Scarlett screamed. She crossed the room and glared at Rhett, her green eyes glowing, “I hope one day your precious ship sinks to the bottom of the ocean and I only pray that you’ll be on it Rhett Butler.” With that Rhett snapped his valise shut, grabbed his hat and coat. He stopped in the doorway, turned and stared coolly at Scarlett, “Am I correct in assuming that I shouldn’t name the boat after you then, my dear?” Rhett asked teasingly. Scarlett’s anger left her speechless; she looked about the room franticly. She picked up the porcelain water pitcher by the side of the bed and flung it with all her might towards Rhett. He quickly deflected the flying object with the oak door, closing it like a shield in front of him. The pitcher shattered into shards and flecks of china. Rhett opened the door slightly and poked his head through, “I’ll take that to mean “NO”. Scarlett beat her clenched fists on her legs and screamed, “Go to the Devil!” Rhett laughed and mockingly tipped his hat to her, “Bon Voyage! My darling.” She heard him laughing as he descended the stairs and made his way out of the house. She was furious. She was tempted to pack and go as well. “You’d be sorry if I weren’t here.” She thought. But where would she go?
Scarlett finished cleaning up the fragmented remains of the water pitcher and discarded them into the dust bin. She was making her way back up the stairs when she heard the front door open. She turned to see Rhett stepping into the foyer. He looked up at her and walked to the bottom of the stairs. He stared at her for a moment before speaking, “Did you happen to buy anything today that would be suitable for a visit to a ship yard in Blackpool?” Scarlett smiled, her dimples returning to her cheeks and silently nodded her head “yes.”
The sound of a red headed woodpecker up in the old willow tree brought Scarlett back to the present. The sound made her think of Tara. It had been more than a year since she had been back to her childhood home. She had letters from Suellen relating that all were well and that Mammy was still with them and busy chasing after Suellen's children. Scarlett laughed, "If they are anything like Suellen was, Mammy's got her hands full." she thought. Scarlett wanted desperately to return to Tara. If for no other reason to see Mammy again. She made a mental note to ask Rhett if they could go back for a visit when she was feeling well enough to travel such a great distance.
She heard Rhett call for her from the house. "Down here Rhett." she yelled back. She watched Rhett walk across the lawn making his way towards her. Rhett had been away on business for a week. A trip that he said she could not accompany him on. Secretly Scarlett didn’t want to go, not after that last trip to Blackpool. Scarlett couldn’t remember a time when she visited a more dismal and dull place in her life. She was all too happy to stay in London and let Rhett conduct his business solo. This time Rhett wouldn’t tell her where or why he had to go away. He just said "It was to take care of a matter that was long overdue." She was glad to see he had returned safe and sound.
He stepped into the gazebo, kissing her fully on the lips before taking a seat across from her. "Hello.” Scarlett said, “I wasn't expecting you back until later tonight." Rhett took a cigar from his breast pocket, "Well don't sound too excited Mrs. Butler." he said before lighting the end of the thickly rolled tobacco. "You act as if you weren't pleased to see me as if I interrupted something.” Leaning forward to look at Scarlett, “Do you have another man in the house?" Rhett teased and winked. Scarlett smiled and played along, "Oh dear, how did you ever guess? I'm glad you didn't come home earlier, you would have found me in a most compromising position with Sir Bragg." Rhett choked on the tobacco smoke, "Fine joke with a weary traveler." He blew the remaining cigar smoke into the air, “I was able to settle my business earlier than expected. We settled on a price and signed the papers last night. I decided to come home and spend some time with who I thought was my "lonely wife." But I see my presence has only interrupted your other plans." Rhett said eyebrows raised. The two laughed.
Rhett looked around at the gazebo, "What are you doing in here?" he asked. Scarlett replied, "The sun was just so inviting that I decided to walk around the gardens. I think the lilacs and lavender are going to bloom soon. I want to make sure Massey brings a huge bouquet to the bedroom as soon as they do. I came in here to rest; I just suddenly got tired and didn't think I could make it back to the house without taking a bit of a sit down." Rhett laughed, "A bit of a sit down? You sound more and more like Sarah Whitcomb every day. I'd say in another year that cute little Southern accent of yours will be just a faint memory." Rhett placed his hand caringly on Scarlett's, "You said you suddenly got tired. I thought you were getting your strength back Scarlett. Is everything alright?" he asked concerned. "Yes, I feel fine, but lately I've been overcome with sudden bouts of just an overwhelming sense of fatigue. And now that I think about it, I haven't had much of an appetite lately." Rhett knew something was amiss if Scarlett wasn't hungry. He never saw another man or woman with Scarlett's appetite. "Well, I say you should make a call to Dr. Thompson, just to make sure everything is fine." he said. Scarlett nodded her head, "Perhaps you're right, I’ll make plans to see him next week." Rhett leaned back against the bench satisfied that if anything were wrong Dr. Thompson would detect it.
"So how was your business trip? Did everything go the way you hoped it would?" Scarlett asked hoping Rhett would slip and divulge the reason for his trip. Rhett nodded. "I was pleased with the outcome." he stated plainly. Scarlett bit her bottom lip. She had hoped he would say more. She was dying of curiosity. She thought she'd try another tactic. "Honestly, I don't know what kind of business a person could conduct that would take you a week to settle." she said aloud trying her best to sound indifferent. "You can stop trying Scarlett. It won't work." Rhett chuckled. Scarlett pretended to act confused, "I don't know what you mean Rhett. I was just merely stating...” Rhett interrupted her, "You were merely trying to get me to tell you where I was and what I was doing." "Well can't you at least tell me where you were?" she begged. Rhett stared at her and shook his head, "No." Scarlett stood up, "Sometimes you can be so infuriating." she huffed. “Fine. I don't want to know, keep it to yourself and I hope you rot keeping your precious little secret from me." Rhett laughed and pulled Scarlett into his lap. He cradled her in his arms, "I told you before I left that I had to tend to a matter that's been put off long enough. You'll find out in due time, but for now I will, how was it that you so eloquently stated? "Rot with my precious little secret"?" Scarlett playfully tweaked Rhett's nose, "Something like that." She nestled her head against Rhett's shoulder, "I am glad your home. This house can be so lonely without you. You're the only thing within it that truly belongs to me. I missed you terribly." Rhett was glad to hear that Scarlett had missed him; truth is he couldn't stand to be away from her for a minute either. He found it hard to concentrate when she wasn't near.
"I missed you as well, my dear." Rhett confessed. He whispered into her ear causing Scarlett to blush. She could feel the color rush to her cheeks. She smiled slyly, "You're right Rhett Butler, you aren’t gentlemen." She teased. Rhett roared with laughter. He swept her into his arms and carried her towards the house.
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