"You'll make us the talk of the neighborhood...
"You'll make us the talk of the neighborhood Scarlett surveyed India
coolly over her shoulder
"Maybe you should come out and sit on the steps with me, IndiaA
blind tramp might stumble by and marry you in exchange for room
and
board As soon as it was said, she wished she'd bit her tongue
insteadShe hadn't come to fight with IndiaBut Ashley's sister had
always been like a burr under a saddle to her, and her humiliation at
the locked door rankledIndia pushed the door to
Scarlett spun and raced to stop it closing"I apologize," she said
through clenched teethHer angry gaze locked with India'sFinally
India stepped backHow Rhett would love this! Scarlett thought all of
a suddenIn the good latest dior bag days of their marriage she had always told him
about her triumphs in business and in the small social world of
AtlantaIt made him laugh long and loud and call her his
"neverending
source of delight Maybe he'd laugh again when she told him how
India
was puffing like a dragon that had to back down
"What do you want?" India's voice was icy, although she was
trembling
with rage"It's mighty gracious of you to invite me to sit and take a
cup of tea," Scarlett said in her best airy manner
"But I've just barely finished dinner In fact she was hungry now
The zest for battle had pushed panic awayShe hoped her stomach
wouldn't make a noise, it felt as empty as a dry wellIndia stationed
herself black and white chanel purses against the door to the parlor"Aunt Pitty is resting," she
saidHaving the vapors is more like it, Scarlett said to herself, but
this time she held her tongueShe wasn't mad at PittypatBesides,
she'd better get on with what she'd come for
She wanted to be gone before Ashley came home"I don't know if
you're
aware of it, India, but Melly asked me on her deathbed to promise that
I'd watch out for Beau and Ashley India's body jerked as if she'd
been shot"Don't say a word," Scarlett warned her, "because there's
nothing you can say that means anything next to Melly's practically
last words
"You'll ruin Ashley's name just like you've ruined your ownI won't
have you hanging around here after him, prada clutch bringing disgrace down on all
of us
"The last thing on God's green earth I want to do, India Wilkes, is
spend one more minute in this house than I have toI came to tell
you
that I've made arrangements at my store for you to get anything you
need
"The Wilkeses don't take charity, Scarlett
"You simpleton, I'm not talking charity, I'm talking my promise to
MelanieYou don't have any idea how quick a boy Beau's age goes
through breeches and outgrows shoesOr how much they costDo
you
want Ashley to be burdened with little worries like that when he's
broken-hearted about bigger things? Or do you want Beau to be a
laughingstock at school? "I know just how much income Aunt Pitty
gets
I used to rolex vintage women's watch live here, remember? It's just enough to keep Uncle Peter
and the carriage, put a little food on the table, an,d pay for her
smelling saltsThere's a little thing called 'the Panic, tooHalf
the businesses in the country are foldingAshley's likely going to
have less money coming in than ever"If I can swallow my pride and
beat on the front door like a crazy woman, you can swallow yours and
take what I'm givingIt's not your place to turn it down, because if
it was only you, I'd let you starve without blinking an eyeI'm
talking about BeauAnd Melly, because I promised her
what she asked"'Take care of Ashley, but don't let him know it,' she
saidI can't not let him know it if you won't help, chanel classic jumbo flap bag In