CHAPTER NINE

May 1781

As winter melted away into spring Felicity was filled with new hope and beginning. Springtime was her favorite time of year. It meant she could again take Penny on morning rides, and work in her garden.

The past months had been a whirlwind for Felicity. Every Wednesday Andy religious stopped by the store to visit. If the store was too busy, he would poke his head in, and then leave. He rarely bought anything, just the occasional small gift for Felicity, one time he bought her chocolate. The only thing that Felicity could find that Andy seemed to take a liking to other than herself, was ginger crackers, so if no one else was around she would always pack a bundle of them up for him. Andy began to ask Felicity other times when she knew that her Father would be away from the store. With the nicer spring weather the store got busier, so their meetings were limited. They began to meet in the early mornings for walks. As much as Felicity enjoyed her time with the doctor, he rarely gave her any information about his past, or life in the Carolinas. All she knew was that he was born in Williamsburg, but moved away when he was nine. At first Felicity enjoyed her secret meetings with Andy, it was blissful seeing a gentlemen without having to be shoved in some ball gown, barely able to move, and having every motion ladylike.

Some of the townspeople the nosy ones such as Mrs. Fitchett caught on that the new doctor was spending lots of time lurking in the Merriman store. One day while Andy was visiting Mrs. Stone came in the store and praised Andy for saving the life of her little daughter Eliza, who had been sick with fever the past winter. It was then that Felicity realized that Andy was a reputable doctor, and he seemed to have plenty of money, being always dressed nice. Why did their meetings have to be private? Why didn't he ask Father to come courting? Felicity asked the only other soul who knew about her secret meetings.

"I am tired of sneaking behind Father's back," Felicity confessed. "I am also not fulfilling all of my duties in the store."

"Ask him to escort you to my wedding," Elizabeth replied. The girls were walking home from the milliners where Elizabeth had another fitting for her new gown for her wedding. It was going to be her signature color, light blue.

"I will do such thing," said Felicity. "Father would never allow it unless he asks permission first."

"Have you asked him why he hasn't asked your Father's permission?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, its too forward," Felicity sighed. "What if he doesn't want to court me?"

"So he hangs around your Father's shop, never buys anything, and gets up early to take you for walks instead. Sounds to me he is courting you, just not officially. Really Felicity I haven't seen you care for any suitor like this Doctor Matthews. Wouldn't it be fine if he could meet your family, why I am dying to meet him," said Elizabeth.

"Perhaps my family is not good enough for him," Felicity said. "There must be a reason he hasn't asked yet. Tis not his age, Josephine Fitchett married a man near forty, and Andy isn't that old."

"He is older though," Elizabeth pointed out. "Joseph doesn't know much about him. Just that he is a Patriot, and the Patriots keep to themselves. Perhaps he has a wife back in Charles Towne."

"Aye," muttered Felicity. "I have thought of that. There must be some secret he doesn't want Father to find out. Why are all of my suitors trying to sneak off with me? Can no one be honest?"

"What happened with you and Eli Merriweather was not your fault," Elizabeth told her friend. "I just think you need to find out what secret the doctor is hiding. I do want him soiling your good name, while he keeps you as his mistress, and I do not want you getting hurt again."

"Again?" Felicity asked. "I never had feelings for Eli, he's a no good scoundrel, I am over what he did."

"I am not talking of him," Elizabeth said. "I mean Ben Davidson. I am tired of my Lissie falling for men that she cannot have, and I am not going to let this new doctor hurt you."

"I have fallen for no one," Felicity replied. "I entertain Andy, he entertains me, and until he courts me properly, I will not harbor anymore feelings for him. He has rotten manners anyway."

One morning Andy and Felicity had agreed to meet to ride horses. Andy was staying in a boarding room over the tavern, and didn't have a horse of his own, so he had to borrow one. Six years ago Felicity snuck off in the morning to see Penny, now she was off to meet a boy. Instead of breeches, Felicity put on her grandmother's deep green riding habit.

They rode their horses out past town. There was nothing that could make Felicity feel more free and happy to be alive then riding Penny in the morning. It was hard to even realize that somewhere, there was a war going on. After riding, they slowed down to a leisurely walk.

"Penny is a fine horse Lissie," Andy observed.

"Aye, I actually met her not too far from here," Felicity replied.

"I thought you said that your Grandfather bought her for you," said Andy.

"He did," Felicity answered. "But Penny and I have a long history. I saved her from a cruel master, and tamed her. She was wild at first, nobody could ride her."

"Penny is too fine a horse to belong to someone cruel," Andy put in as he raised his hand to pet the horse.

"It was Jiggy Nye," said Felicity. "He lives on the edge of town at the tannery. He's the town drunk. I believe he won her in a bet. He used to beat her and starve her."

"Jiggy Nye?" Andy repeated, his face going white.

"Aye, he is no good," said Felicity. "You know him?"

There was an awkward silence between the two of them.

"No," Andy finally muttered.

"Tis such a shame," Felicity sighed. "He actually came and helped save Penny's life one night. She was having her first foul. He could have had quite a career for himself if he didn't drink it away."

"That scoundrel saved Penny's life?" Andy asked. "That doesn't sound like Jiggy Nye."

"Why yes," said Felicity. "He was returning a favor of kindness though. He had been in jail, and was sick. Elizabeth convinced me to send him a basket of medicine, and a blanket."

"Ah yes Miss Elizabeth," Andy nodded. "Felicity Merriman wouldn't have been so humble to think of something like that on her own."

"I used to hate Mr. Nye," said Felicity. "I used to hate him more than anything, and wish he would drink himself away. However he did save Penny's life, so I pity him. I no longer believe he is maliciously cruel, just a drunk. Everybody has their vices."

"Humph," Andy snorted. "It is people such as Jiggy Nye who are a waste of space in society. People are dying, so people like that can be part of this independent nation. Jiggy Nye deserves nothing!"

"What has he ever done to you?" Felicity cried. "If anyone in this world should be bitter about Mr. Nye, it should be me."

"You don't know half of it Miss Felicity," Andy snapped. "I must be going now, I have work to do."

They rode silently the rest of the way home. As much as Andy had mentioned going down to the tavern at night, Felicity found it hard to believe that Andy couldn't pity a drunk. Felicity had never seen Andy in church, he never mentioned prayer or scripture, he had no gentlemanly manners. If anyone should understand a scoundrel such as Jiggy Nye, it should be Doctor Matthews.

Felicity knew Andy had many secrets. She knew she had to get to the bottom of them, because they wouldn't be able to go on like this much longer. She was absolutely right,

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