CHAPTER FIVE
JANUARY 1781
Felicity Merriman sat by the fire in the parlor strumming her gorgeous guitar. Grandfather had given her the guitar as a birthday present, and Felicity was quite accomplished on it. When she played, gentlemen would come and sing, but so far it hadn't helped her gain any suitors. To Felicity, that meant that the guitar could be her own personal enjoyment, just like riding horses. She did it for herself, and only herself.
"Lissie," William called from the parlor door. "Miss Elizabeth is here to see you."
"Elizabeth!" Felicity cried as she put down the guitar and went to greet her friend. "Come, warm yourself by the fire. Tis freezing outside. I will tell Rose to put the tea on."
"Lissie! I have to tell you the most glorious news," Elizabeth exclaimed. "I have some not so good news, but I want to tell you the good news first!"
"What is it?" Felicity asked.
"Joseph," Elizabeth squealed. "He asked Father for my hand in marriage, they are drawing up a deal, we are going to officially announce the engagement at a party sometime in February!"
Both girls squealed with rather unladylike delight. Nan poked her head in.
"What is going on in here?" She demanded. "It sounds like there are a couple of pigs squealing? I wondered if Felicity's butcher beau was here."
"Funny Nan," Felicity snapped. "At least I have a beau. Elizabeth is betrothed."
"Congratulations Elizabeth," said Nan. "I wish my sister could say the same."
"Felicity will be next," Elizabeth said. "I bet she will be betrothed sometime in this upcoming year as well."
"Oh yes," said Nan. "She will be the pig butcher's wife. Felicity Prutt. Has a rather elegant ring to it."
"Nan, go away, or else I am going to tell Mother that you are stuffing cloths in the bodice of your dress again," Felicity retorted. Nan made a face, and then left.
"Speaking of annoying sisters, now the not so good news," Elizabeth said.
"Does it have to do with Bananabelle?" Felicity asked. "Wasn't she with child?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "It was born last month. I was really hoping she would have a boy, but tis a girl."
"Oh no," Felicity breathed.
"Afraid so. A walking, talking, miniature, Annabelle," Elizabeth sighed.
"Well look on the bright side," said Felicity. "At least she is over in England. Now that you will have a husband of your own, you won't have to worry about moving to England." Mr. Cole was always saying that if Elizabeth could not find a suitable man in the colonies, he would send her to England to stay with Annabelle and her husband, until she found an Englishman.
"I am so happy for you Elizabeth, I really am," Felicity said hugging her friend.
"Lissie, you know you will be my maid of honor. I want you there for everything," Elizabeth replied. "A date has not been set yet. I wish my grandparents over in England could come, but with the war and everything, they won't. They think the colonies are uncivilized wilderness, they would never come over here."
"Well I will be there, I promise," said Felicity.
"Are you excited about the upcoming ball?" Elizabeth asked.
"Not really," Felicity replied. "I will have Prutt bumbling about me, and I will probably make an absolute ninny out of myself dancing."
"Lissie," Elizabeth sighed. "This ball will be far grander than the little dances you have been to. There will be men from other towns, possibly other colonies. Tis the ball of the year, and you will certainly find a suitor."
"I just do not understand it," Felicity said picking up her sampler, and ripping out her messy stitches. "Josephine Fitchett is not the best at dancing, and she looks like a pumpkin in that awful bright orange dress she wears, yet even she is betrothed. What is wrong with me Elizabeth?"
"You have Theodore though," Elizabeth said trying to be helpful.
"Oh he's a blundering fool," Felicity sighed. "Yes he is sweet, but all he talks about is meat. Meat, meat, meat. I never knew there were so many different things you had to know about slaughtering a pig."
"Oh Lissie," Elizabeth sighed. "At least you will be able to cook a delicious ham someday!"
The beautiful green silk gown slid like a dream over Felicity's head. It was the night of the ball, and Felicity was getting dressed. All week she had been scrubbed from head to toe, ointments had been rubbed into her skin to make it soft, her few stubborn freckles bleached with lemons, her red hair set on rollers to give it softer curls.
"Felicity you look absolutely stunning," Mrs. Merriman said with pride as she handed her a shawl.
"Lissie you look like a princess," Polly declared. Felicity turned in the mirror. The gown was heavenly she was surrounded in a cloud of deep green silk. The sides of her hair had been swept up in a hand painted comb that once was Grandmother's. My blue silk gown had brought me magic long ago, perhaps this lovely green one will as well. She told herself to settle her nerves.
"I think it is a bit low cut," Nan stated when Mrs. Merriman left the room.
"My bosom fills it out quite nicely," Felicity answered. "Perhaps in three years you will get to wear it, then again you might not have the bosom for it."
"What is this bosom you two are always talking about?" Polly demanded.
"Something your sister is obsessed with," Nan muttered. Nan couldn't help but feel a mite jealous. She had heard some gossip from Catherine, a girl she took lessons at Miss Manderly's with. Catherine had an older brother, who had said that the older Merriman was the good looking of the Merriman girls, and this greatly distressed Nan. Also Felicity being the eldest was the one to receive the new gowns. Nan went to her first dance lesson when she was eleven, wearing Felicity's old blue gown. As beautiful as the gown was, the fashion was always outdated, and the gown was Felicity's, always would be.
Felicity's heart pounded as she walked down the staircase. She had never felt so beautiful in her entire life. She had never worn such a full gown with so many layers of lush green silk.
"My Lissie," Mr. Merriman breathed. He was waiting to escort her. "I am going to need an army for myself to keep the courting lads away after tonight."
"No Father," Felicity replied. "You will only have to fight off the Meat Ball."
"Lissie you look beautiful, I wish my mother could have seen you. She looked a lot like you," said Mr. Merriman. Felicity had never met her paternal grandmother. She had died when Mr. Merriman was a small boy. "She would be very proud."
"I don't know Father," Felicity said as she threw her dark green velvet cloak around her. "This dress is so full, it never ends. What if I trip?"
"You won't," Father assured her. "I did not pay Miss Manderly my hard earned money for nothing." He bowed as if she were a fine gentlewoman and offered her his arm.
The Merriweather's lived in a huge estate with a glorious mansion that had a veranda that circled around the whole house, and thick white columns. In the spring, they also held an elaborate garden party in their breathtaking gardens.
This ball was fine enough to very well rival the one she had attended six years ago at the Governor's Palace, back when her biggest concern was being afraid of the strict dance master, instead of finding a husband.
I have never seen such a flurry of gorgeous gowns, thought Felicity. The room was a sea of brightly colored silks and taffetas, laces, brocades, and bustles. The tables of food were amazing a and work of art themselves. I wish I didn't have Mother lace up my stays so tight, shee thought. But then again tis not proper for ladies to eat too much in public. Felicity squirmed in her tightly laced stays. They were really beginning to pinch and cut into her ribs. Catching sight of Elizabeth made her forget about her stays. Elizabeth was dressed in a gorgeous ivory gown, colorfully embroidered with birds and flowers, and trimmed with fine Belgian lace.
"Felicity, you are gorgeous," Elizabeth exclaimed. "Your gown is exquisite, it fits you perfectly."
"Where is your handsome fiancé?" Felicity asked.
"He is here. He is talking with some friends. I have not seen the Meat Ball yet," Elizabeth reported. Though the ballroom was very crowded, Felicity couldn't spot Theodore either.
"I do not see him either," said Felicity. "That means I get a few minutes of freedom, where I do not have to discuss the slaughterhouse, or the price of beef."
"You are in a bigger pasture Lissie," Elizabeth replied. "A pasture with far more horses. Men from all over the colonies are here, and they are noticing you. They keep looking over at us."
"They are more likely noticing you," said Felicity.
"Not with that dress and your bust they won't," Elizabeth said with a wink. Joseph came up behind them.
"Hello ladies," he bowed. "Mind if I borrow my lovely lady for a dance?" He asked Felicity.
"Certainly not," Felicity replied. "Dance away."
Felicity wasn't left along for long before she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me miss," a voice said. Felicity whirled around to find Eli Merriweather standing behind her. He kissed her hand. No matter how tightly Mother or Nan (Nan was always the tightest) laced her stays Felicity never fainted. Felicity did not faint. Elizabeth often did, as well as Nan and Mother, but Felicity wasn't a fainter. Right then she nearly fainted. Eli Merriweather was the eldest son of the Merriweather family, the hosts of this grand event. Being a Merriweather meant wealth and power. Far more wealth and power than the Dunham, Howell, and Cole family had. Felicity had once overheard one of her Father's friends declaring the Williamsburg was ran by the Merriweather family. He wasn't terribly handsome. He was tall and very lanky, like a grasshopper. He had a head of golden curls pulled back in a queue, a long neck, and a long, crooked nose, however he was a Merriweather and had to be treated with the utmost respect, and he didn't talk about meat.
"You are Felicity Merriman?" He asked.
"Yes, that is me," Felicity's heart was pounding.
"I have heard some wonderful things of you," he said with a smile. "May I have this dance?"
Dancing with Eli Merriweather meant constantly being on her toes. She was now dancing with the most eligible bachelor in Williamsburg, and there was no way she was going to ruin this glorious moment by stumbling about. She was going to bring pride to her family, as well as Miss Manderly's institution. When they finished dancing Felicity asked
"What are these wonderful things you have heard of me?" The only things she could imagine being said about her were how klutzy she could be, or about her becoming the wife of the butcher's son.
"I have heard that you are filled with life and spunk, and that you are adventurous," Eli replied. "Is it true?"
Felicity raised an eyebrow.
"Whom did you hear this from?" She asked.
"The whole town knows," Eli answered. "Is it true?"
"Why yes," Felicity nodded. "I do love a grand adventure, and I am pretty spunky."
"I like adventure too," said Eli. "Would you fancy having a little adventure with me, by escorting me on a walk out on the veranda?"
Felicity couldn't believe her ears. Had Elizabeth and Joseph lobbied for her? Nan was going to be green with envy.
"Aye," she replied giving a flirtatious yet sweet smile.
"Eli returned the smile and took her arm as they left the crowded ballroom.
"Tis a beautiful home your family has here," Felicity said as they went down a hallway. Eli stopped at a door.
"I just need to step in here for a moment," he said and quickly thrust the door open, grabbed Felicity tightly by the arm and ushered her inside the room, slamming the door and locking it behind him.
"Eli what are we doing?" Felicity asked.
They were alone, in a room that resembled a library. It had an opulent, lit, fireplace with a huge leather chair facing it. The walls were all bookshelves heaped with books. In the middle of the room were a set of chairs, a game table, a small bar, and a sofa.
"We are having an adventure my dear red-headed one," Eli hissed sardonically. He
grabbed both her arms roughly and pressed his mouth to hers. Felicity immediately
turned her face away and he began savagely kissing the side of her cheeks, and down to
her neck.