CHAPTER EIGHT

February 1781

Wednesday was the day Felicity looked forward to the most. On Wednesday afternoons Mr. Merriman always went to a meeting Wednesday afternoons to discuss "gentlemen" topics such as war, business, politics, and Samuel Adams.

With Mr. Merriman gone, it was up to Felicity to watch the store. One sunny Wednesday in early February Felicity was refilling the jars of spices that sat on the counter behind her. She heard the bell over the door tinkle and she whirled around to greet the customer. Her mouth dropped open, she was in total shock.

"What are you doing here?" She exclaimed.

"What?" Andy Matthews asked. "Is this not a public store? Am I not allowed to shop here?"

Felicity turned red, and felt flustered. Andy went on

"Is this how the infamous man beater Felicity Merriman assists all of her customers when her father isn't around?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Felicity snapped. "I am not infamous, and I am not a man beater. You of all people should know that."

"Aye. Felicity Merriman takes care of herself, and does a fine job of it. You are sure the top topic of tavern gossip," Andy replied. "The lovely Felicity Merriman, with her fiery red hair to match her temper, nicest bust in Williamsburg, breaking the hearts and lips of men throughout the town."

"That has to be the most ludicrous statement I have ever heard," Felicity said as she went back to her spices. "Hush with such nonsense."

"Your secret is safe with me Miss Felicity," Andy replied. "So does your father let you run the store alone when he is at the meeting? He must have an apprentice somewhere."

"Father did have an apprentice," Felicity answered. It felt strange speaking of Ben again. "He was a wonderful apprentice, and a loyal friend. He joined the Patriots in the fight for freedom."

"Noble of him," Andy snorted.

"Benjamin Davidson is one of the most loyal, brave, and noble, people I know," Felicity responded. Talking of Ben like this aloud reminded her how much she missed him, how she would never hear from him again. She remembered the kiss. The one they shared right there at the counter of the store two and a half years ago. It was a world away, so long ago, so untouchable.

"With that saccharine look on your face I'd say you are in love with the boy," Andy observed. "That is why Miss Merriman hasn't taken a shine to any other gentleman."

"I take a shine to no one," Felicity said annoyed. "You have no right discussing this with me. I don't even know you."

"But we shared a bit of brandy together," Andy laughed.

"Why are you still in town?" Felicity asked. "Did you move here? Where did you come from? How did you know my Father is at a meeting?"

"You and all of your silly questions. All distinguished men of Williamsburg go to the dreadfully boring meeting at the town hall," Andy replied. He picked up a small toy horse and examined it.

"Distinguished? Well that would explain why you are not at the meeting," Felicity said.

"Felicity Merriman you are a rotten soul," Andy laughed. "Rotten to the bone, like me."

"I am no way like you Mr. Matthews," Felicity laughed. "Now put that horse down, before you break it."

"Miss Merriman," Andy sighed. "How do you sell anything treating customers the way you do? So was this Benjamin lad handsome? Tall, dashing, fancy dresser?"

Felicity was saved by the tinkle of the bell as Mrs. Fitchett the town gossip strutted in. Felicity greeted Mrs. Fitchett who had come in for her weekly assortment of goods. Andy stepped aside, and pretended do be looking about the store as Felicity took care of Mrs. Fitchett.

"How are you today Mrs. Fitchett?" Felicity asked as she filled parcels of sugar, cornmeal, and cinnamon.

"Very busy," Mrs. Fitchett replied. "My Josephine is in an absolute tizzy over her April wedding. We got some fine lace from the milliner to add to her best dress for the wedding, but we did not get enough, and the milliner has none of that kind left. She is terribly nervous around her in laws and faints, so she constantly has to have her smelling salts with her."

"I assume a wedding would be nerve wracking indeed," replied Felicity. "My friend Elizabeth is planning a summer wedding, and already she has quarreled with her mother over the guests for the engagement party."

"Any event of the Cole family will be lovely," said Mrs. Fitchett. "With their money. So when will our Miss Felicity be planning a wedding?"

"I am afraid no time soon," sighed Felicity. If she had a shilling for every time a townsperson asked when her wedding would be she would be a very rich lady.

"Are the boys fighting over you?" Asked Mrs. Fitchett. "You are much more comely than your sister Nan. I would think the boys would be fighting over you. I always thought you should have taken up with that Davidson lad who your father apprenticed. Tis a shame, the war changes everything. Have you heard from him?"

"No Miss," Felicity shook her head and looked down to hide a very sad face. Mrs. Fitchett was not known for keeping thoughts to herself. Sometimes this was fun, but not when the gossip turned to you.

"I am so very sorry," Mrs. Fitchett said sincerely. "If you hear from him let me know. How is that horse you tamed and saved doing?"

"Penny is doing great," smiled Felicity. "I take her for a ride most mornings."

"Well you are certainly a wonderful horsewoman," Mrs. Fitchett agreed. "My girls were always afraid of horses. " As Felicity turned to the shelves to fulfill Mrs. Fitchett's order, Mrs. Fitchett noticed the unfamiliar face in the store.

"Now who are you?" She asked Andy. "I know everybody in this town, and I do not recall ever seeing you anywhere."

"Andrew Matthews. I am new here," Andy responded. He put down the horse.

"Well where are you from? Do you have family? A wife?" Mrs. Fitchett was like a little pit bull. Felicity listened intently, happy that Mrs. Fitchett was doing the dirty work.

" I am from South Carolina," Andy said. "Charles Towne. I am here in Williamsburg to see about some property that was in my family."

"I do not recall any Matthews in Williamsburg," Mrs. Fitchett said giving him a quizzical look. "Do you work? Have a profession?"

"I'm a doctor, filling in for Doctor Williams while he is on leave aiding the troops," Andy said.

"Well that is certainly useful to know that we have a new doctor here," Mrs. Fitchett chattered. "Since the war, doctors have been coming and going. Being a handsome doctor with property you must be married I assume?"

Andy shook his head. He had a look plastered on his face that Felicity read as being annoyed with Mrs. Fitchett's questions.

"No woman in their right mind would marry a man with the likes of me I assure you," he said,

"Well I declare I do not recall any Matthews in Williamsburg," Mrs. Fitchett prattled on annoyed with Andy's sarcastic answer to her question. "Tis property from your Mother's family?"

Felicity could see that Andy was clearly uncomfortable. She felt sorry for the new strange doctor from the Carolinas. He was a mystery, a puzzle to her, so she decided to help.

"Here are all your parcels Mrs. Fitchett. The next time you have a delivery for your horses let me know. You know I love horses," Felicity said with an angelic smile.

"Oh yes Miss Felicity," Mrs. Fitchett nodded. Andy shot Felicity a wink.

"What in the world was with that awful crazy woman?" Andy asked as soon as Mrs. Fitchett left. "Women and questions!"

"She is the town gossip," Felicity explained. "Now you can be the talk of the town. Why didn't you tell me that you're a doctor? What is it like in Charles Towne?"

"I have had my share of questions today young lady," Andy said.

"Well you questioned me about my Father's apprentice," Felicity shrugged.

"You never answered me," Andy said as he stepped closer to the counter. "Was he handsome and worldly?"

"Are you ever going to buy anything Doctor Matthews?" Felicity demanded.

"Maybe," said Andy. "Please call me Andy, not Doctor Matthews, tis stifling. Do you have any wormwood?"

"Wormwood? Whatever for?" Felicity said raising an eyebrow.

"For my tonics, to heal the people," Andy said innocently.

"Try the apothecary," Felicity replied. "You know that."

"Very well," Andy sighed. "I best be going. I will pop in next Wednesday while your Father is at his insipid meeting."

"Please don't," Felicity laughed.

"I am allowed to shop here," Andy stated.

"You have been in here for the past half hour and you haven't bought anything," Felicity exclaimed.

Andy went over to a shelf and picked up the small wooden horse.

"I'm buying this."

"What do you need that for?" Felicity declared.

"You didn't ask Mrs. Fitchett that when she bought all that rubbish from you," Andy retorted. "Must I be questioned by you women about everything?" He placed his money on the counter.

"Yes," Felicity replied. "I do not understand how you knew that Father was away at a meeting, and I don't know why you want to stop in here next week, and I don't know why you are buying this silly horse!"

"I know that your father is at the meeting because I am old enough to have attended it, and it is rather boring, nobody likes an outsider from the uncivilized Carolinas butting into Virginian matters," Andy said. "And I want to come back to this store frankly to visit you."

"Me?' Felicity snorted.

"I am a cranky, selfish, man and not much amuses me," Andy replied. "But you Felicity Merriman, amuse me very much."

"You talk like a fool," Felicity sighed. She handed him the horse. "I still don't know why you want that toy."

Andy pressed the horse deep into Felicity's hand.

"Why aren't you the wonderful horsewoman?" Andy asked. "The horse is for you, for entertaining me this afternoon. Certainly more entertaining than George Washington, and much prettier to look at." And with that he turned away and was gone, leaving Felicity wondering if she should keep the horse or throw it at him on his way out. She chose to keep it, and stuffed it deep into her pocket.

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