Rhett Butler's people (61 page)

He couldn't go near his wife until he could trust himself. His wife! He couldn't go home until Scarlett was safe behind her locked bedroom door. "Home." Rhett spat the epithet between his horse's hooves.

When he came into the parlor, she was there. She was sneaking a glass of brandy. She paled when she saw him.

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His resolutions vanished like smoke. His hands ached with the need to hurt her. He would have killed her on the spot. Killing would cure her of yearning for Ashley.

"You drunken fool. Take your hands off me."

"I've always admired your spirit, my dear. Never more than now, when you are cornered."

"You can't understand Ashley or me. You are jealous of something you can't understand." Regal as a queen, she tossed her head and straightened her wrap, rising to go.

He caught her. He pressed her shoulders against the wall.

"Jealous, am I? And why not? Oh yes, I'm jealous of Ashley Wilkes. I know Ashley Wilkes and his breed. I know he is honorable and a gentleman. And that, my dear, is more than I can say for you -- or for me, for that matter. We are not gentlemen and we have no honor, have we? That's why we flourish like green bay trees."

When he turned to the decanter, she bolted.

Rhett caught her at the bottom of the stairs. His hands slipped under her dressing gown onto her sleek skin. He whispered hoarsely, "You turned me out on the town while you chased him. By God, this is going to be one night when there are only two in my bed!"

Rhett scooped and carried her up the broad staircase of the great house he'd built for his bride. She trembled in his arms, mesmerized by his rage. On the landing, when she took breath to scream, he stopped her mouth with his own. She was his creature; he had nurtured her and taught her and devoted himself to her. She was his and he would use her as he saw fit.

He carried her into the darkness at the head of the stairs, his mouth pressed to hers, their breath intermingling.

In her bed, in her dark room, she opened to him like a flower and he crushed that flower for its loveliness. Even when she let her love roll down, even that couldn't quench his hunger.

Hours later, Rhett rose from the bed where Scarlett slept, exhausted. He didn't know who had been the victor, who the victim. He pressed his

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aching head between his hands. His eyes were sore, his lips were sore, his tongue was swollen, his body was sticky with his sweat and hers. He smelled like the woman he had violated.

"My God," Rhett Butler whispered, "I am just like my father."

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Chapter

Chapter Forty-six

Eugenie Victoria Butler

When Bonnie Blue's parents were fighting -- which they did an awful lot -- the house swelled up with anger, until Bonnie put her hands over her ears so she wouldn't hear it pop. Yesterday had been 'specially bad. The grown-ups were going to a party at Aunt Melly's house, so Bonnie thought everybody would be happy, but that afternoon Big Sam came 'round to the back, and when Mammy heard what Big Sam had to say, she put on her sorrowful face, and pretty soon all the servants had sorrowful faces and they wouldn't tell Bonnie, but she knew it was something bad.

Her Mother came home and hid in her bedroom, but when Daddy Rhett came home, he made her go to Aunt Melly's party. Bonnie knew Mother didn't want to go to the party, but Daddy Rhett made her go.

That night, Bonnie couldn't sleep, and when she heard loud voices downstairs, she opened her door just a crack and she saw Daddy Rhett carrying Mother up the stairs just like she was a baby. They were kissing, so maybe they'd made up and weren't going to fight anymore.

Next day, Mother didn't come down until almost suppertime and she was happy as a cat with fresh cream, but Daddy Rhett was gone. When Bonnie asked when he'd be home, Mother smiled mysteriously and said, "When he's done feeling guilty, sweetheart." That evening, Mother went around humming, and after dinner she brought out the stereograph and Wade and Ella and Bonnie Blue sat with her on the sofa, taking turns looking at pictures of a big river in China and Chinamen wearing hats like upside-down bowls.

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Mother expected Daddy Rhett to come home, but he didn't. Not that day nor the day after nor the day after that. Mother stopped humming and was short with everybody, and when Wade suggested they take out the stereograph and look at pictures, she snapped at him.

When Daddy Rhett did come home, they fought again -- worse than ever! -- and Daddy got so mad at her Mother, he threw his cigar down on the parlor carpet, which stunk up the whole house!

Later, Mammy pretended to be cheerful as she packed Bonnie's clothes, saying Bonnie was going away with Daddy Rhett for a while, but Mammy's old sad eyes knew better.

"Mammy," Bonnie asked, "what's a divorce?"

"No such a thing! They ain't doin' no such a thing!" When Mammy sighed, all of her sighed, not just her mouth. "They just considerin', that's all-Belle Watling was waiting at the railway station.

When Bonnie was introduced to Belle -- whose name Bonnie had heard a lot when Mother was angry -- Bonnie drew herself up and asked, "Are you really a fallen woman?"

Belle's smile dimmed and then brightened again. "Well, honey, I reckon am.

"Where'd you fall from?" the child asked.

"Not too high, honey. I reckon where I fell from wasn't too high." Belle took Bonnie's hand to help the child into their Pullman car.

Bonnie was delighted by the Pullman. She couldn't get over how couches became beds, and she made the porter transform them three times before she was satisfied.

Bonnie knew her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world, and when she saw pictures of queens in storybooks, she knew they were just like Mother. Daddy Rhett was the kindest, smartest, funniest man, and the best horseman, too. Why, his black stallion was almost as fast as her pony!

Bonnie knew they loved her and she knew they loved each other, too. So why couldn't they just say so and not fight anymore?

But that was before and this was now, and Bonnie raced up and down

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the Pullman car with Prissy chasing her. "Watch out for that table! Don't go out that door! We coming to a tunnel! Cover you eyes!"

The world flashed by the windows. Plowmen were turning the earth in glistening red furrows. In towns, people got on the train or got off the train and stood on the platform, greeting and gossiping, and luggage carts trundled and the bell clanged and the conductor shouted "All 'board!" and swung on the train. Bonnie wondered if he ever got left behind.

Sitting in Belle Watling's lap, Bonnie asked about water lilies in the swamp they were crossing and a blackened plantation house on a hill. "Are there ghosts?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes, honey, there are. But they won't hurt you."

When they sat down for dinner, Daddy Rhett complimented Belle on her gown and she blushed, "Miss Smithers helps me pretend I'm a lady."

Bonnie's father's smile was so sad. "Belle, dear Belle. You know we can't choose our heart's desire."

"You think I don't know that, Captain Smarty?" Belle retorted. "You think I don't know a thing or two about desires?"

He laughed then, his old laugh, and Bonnie's pealing laughter harmonized and Belle's mock-stern expression dissolved into giggles.

The next morning, Bonnie stood on the seat as their train rumbled into Charleston. When her father offered his hand to guide her through the big brick depot, Bonnie preferred to walk by herself, thank you, but she let him lift her into the cab.

Bonnie was glad to see her cousin Louis Valentine again. While her father and her aunt Rosemary talked about the things grown-ups talk about, Belle and Prissy took Bonnie and Louis Valentine to the promenade to see the boats. Prissy chattered with Belle just like Belle wasn't a fallen woman.

Bonnie wanted to stay longer in Charleston, but her father said they couldn't. Bonnie pouted until they were back in their dear familiar Pullman car. She ate her dinner and climbed into her little bed. Since Bonnie was afraid of the dark, her father left a light burning where she could see it through the bed curtains.

Bonnie woke to cypress swamps that gave way to shacks and shanties,

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then more substantial buildings, and then their track joined another as they sped past old stone houses Daddy Rhett called "the Vieux Carre. It's the old French Quarter, Bonnie." Their train rolled along the levees above the wharves and the ships in the big river. Bonnie was fascinated by the steamboats and she begged until Daddy Rhett gave his laughing promise that yes, yes, they would take a steamboat ride. Because as Bonnie Blue asserted, "I had to leave my pony behind and I miss him very much, but I shan't miss him so much when I'm taking a steamboat ride."

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Chapter

Chapter Forty-seven

A

Catholic

City

A spring morning in the Vieux Carre: Church bells echoed in the narrow streets, the birds-of-paradise were flowering, and behind wrought-iron gates overripe lemons and oranges were dropping from the trees.

Waiting beside Rhett for a cab, Belle Watling remembered the pregnant young girl she'd been in this city so many years ago.

"What did you say, Belle?" Rhett asked.

"I spect I was talkin' to myself. I was thinkin' how New Orleans seemed like the biggest city in the world." Belle added, "Lord a mercy, I was scared."

Rhett helped her into an open landaulet. "Do you remember when you and me met up outside the St. Louis Hotel? That Didi woman you was with? Mercy, what a beauty! She was wearin' the brightest red hat Ed ever seen. Sometimes I still dream about that hat...." She touched Rhett's arm, "If you hadn't found me that day, Rhett, I ..."

"But I did, Belle." He smiled. "Very occasionally, things turn out better than we expect."

Belle knew Rhett's marriage wasn't one of those things. That foolishness between Mr. Wilkes and Miss Scarlett had birthed something terrible. Belle'd never known Rhett so drawn and sorrowful.

When they stopped at number 12 Royal Street, Rhett said, "I think it best if you meet Taz alone. I don't want his dislike of me ruining things. I'll be back in an hour."

"But Rhett!"

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He helped her down and gave her Andrew's bequest. "Go on, Belle. Go brave." The cab horse's iron shoes rang on the ancient cobblestones.

Belle had moved Andrew's things from Isaiah's rough paper parcel to a nice poplar box, which seemed more respectful. Now, with the box in her hands, she wondered if she couldn't have found a nicer one -- maybe walnut. Belle told herself, Ruth Belle Watling! Don't be a ninny! and yanked the bellpull more vigorously than she'd intended.

On tenterhooks, she listened for his footsteps and the rasp of drawn bolts. The gate creaked, swinging open. "Maman!"

Belle dissolved in tears. "You've grown a beard!"

"I was just about to go out.... I am surprised, so happy you are here! Please, please come in."

Taz's little garden was the prettiest Belle had ever seen. Its lime tree was certainly the most fragrant. What a sweet little bench! What a cunning little fish pond! The house -- was this her dear son's house? What a perfect little house! Belle sniffled into her handkerchief.

Taz threw his arms out to encompass it all. "Maman, it is yours!"

Belle froze like an animal sensing a trap. "But Taz, my home's in Atlanta."

"Come in, Maman," Taz adjusted. "Please. I'll make tea. English tea. Unless you'd rather have water or a glass of wine?"

"Taz, who would have dreamed ..." Belle's gesture was a mother's delight. "Honey, you've done right well for yourself!"

"Maman, I have done it all for you." Taz flashed his familiar grin. "And I'm not always so pompous. I promise you I'm not. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

Bon Dieu,

I am so very happy. Please, let me show you the house." Taz laid Belle's box on a window ledge and led her into the kitchen, which had just enough room for both of them. "Oh," Belle said, "it's so cozy and snug!"

The front bedroom's balcony overlooked the garden. When Taz said, "This will be your room," Belle pretended she hadn't heard. The bedroom in the back had a separate staircase, which would be ideal -- as Belle understood -- for the young man about town who might come home late.