|
"Don't make a scene, ScarlettThey're wasted on me As if he could
see inside her skull, he drawled his final words"Don't count on
sharing my bed, either, Scarlett He opened the door to the street
Before she could say a word, he was goneThe door swung slowly
closed
behind himScarlett stamped her footIt was an inadequate outlet
for her anger and disappointmentWhy did he have to be so mean?
She
grimaced-half anger, half unwilling laughter-in grudging
acknowledgment
of Rhett's clevernessHe'd known what she was planning easy
enough
Well then, she'd have to be cleverer, that's allShe'd have to give
up the idea of having a baby right away, think of something elseHer
brow was furrowed when she went back to join Rhett's mother
"There
now, dear, don't be upset," Eleanor Butler said, "he'll be all right
Rhett knows the river like the back of his hand She had been
standing
near the mantel, unwilling to go into the hall and risk intruding on
Rhett's farewell to his wife"Let's go into the library, it's cozy
there, and let the chanel watch black . servants clear the table Scarlett settled into a
high-back chair, protected from draftsNo, she said, she didn't want
a throw over her knees, she was just fine, thank you"Let me tuck
you
in, Miss Eleanor," she insisted, taking the cashmere shawl from her
"You sit down now, and ease yourself"What a dear girl you are, Scarlett, so like your darling
motherI remember how thoughtful she always was, such beautiful
mannersAll the Robillard girls were well behaved, of course, but
Ellen was special Scarlett closed her eyes and inhaled the faint
whisper of lemon verbenaEverything was going to be all rightMiss
Eleanor loved her, she'd make Rhett come home, and they'd all live
happily together forever and everScarlett half-dozed in the
deep-cushioned chair, lulled by the soft reminiscences of a gentler
timeWhen the disturbance erupted in the hall beyond the door, she
was jerked back to confused consciousnessFor a moment she didn't
know where she was or how she had gotten there, and she blinked,
bleary-eyed, at the man in the pasha cartier watches blue face doorwayRhett? No, it couldn't be
Rhett, not unless he'd shaved off hismustacheThe big man who
wasn't
Rhett stepped unevenly across the doorsill"I came to meet my
sister,"
he saidThe words slurred togetherMargaret Butler ran towards
Eleanor"I tried to stop him," she cried, "but he was in one of those
moods-I couldn't get him to listen, Miss Eleanor"Hush, Margaret," she said with quiet urgency"Ross, I'm waiting
for a proper greeting Her voice was unusually loud, the words very
distinctScarlett's mind was clear nowSo this was Rhett's
brother
And drunk, too, by the look of himWell, she'd seen drunk men
before,
they were no special noveltyShe stood, smiled at Ross, her dimple
flickering"I declare, Miss Eleanor, how could one lady be so lucky
as to have two sons, each one handsomer than the other? Rhett
never
told me he had such a good-looking brother!"
Ross staggered towards herHis eyes raked her body, then fastened
on
her tousled curls and rouged faceHe leered rather than smiled
"So this is Scarlett," he said thickly"I chanel handbags large classic shopping bag might have known Rhett would
end up with a fancy piece like herCome on, Scarlett, give your new
brother a friendly kissYou know how to please a man, I'm sure His
big hands ran up her arms like huge spiders and fastened themselves
on
her bare throatThen his open mouth was over hers, his sour breath
in
her nose, his tongue forcing itself between her teethScarlett tried
to get her hands up to shove him away, but Ross was too strong, his
body
too closely pressed against hersShe could hear Eleanor Butler's
voice, and Margaret's, but she couldn't make out what they were
saying
All her attention was focused on the need to break free of the
repulsive embrace, and on the shame of Ross' insulting wordsHe had
called her a whore! And he was treating her like oneAll of a sudden
Ross thrust her away, tumbled her back into her chair"I'll bet
you're not so cold to my dear big brother," he growledMargaret
Butler was sobbing against Eleanor's shoulderButler
hurled the name like a knifeRoss turned with a clumsy lurch, sending
a omega seamaster midsize small table crashing to the floor"Ross!" his mother said again
"I have rung for ManigoHe will help you home and give Margaret
decent escort
When you sober up, you will write letters of apology to Rhett's wife
and
to meYou have disgraced yourself, and Margaret, and me, and you
will
not be received in this house until I have recovered from the shame
you've caused me
"I'm so sorry, Miss Eleanor," Margaret weptButler put her
hands on Margaret's shoulders"I am sorry for you, Margaret," she
saidThen she moved Margaret away from herYou
will,
of course, always be welcome here Manigo's wise old eyes took in
the
situation with one look, and he removed Ross, who surprisingly said
not
a word in protest
Margaret scuttled out behind them"I'm so sorry," she repeated again
and again, until the sound of her voice was cut off by the closing of
the big front door"My darling child," Eleanor said to Scarlett,
"there is no excuse I can makeRoss was drunk, he didn't know what
he
was sayingBut that is no excuse Scarlett was shaking all miu miu black handbag over |
| 