CHAPTER TEN

Nan crept down the stairs one evening to retrieve some of her mended shifts from the mending pile. She heard Mother speaking to Father in the parlor.

"Felicity seems to be in a much better mood lately," she said.

Ha! Nan thought. Felicity is never in a good mood. The parlor door was only open a crack, so Nan decided to peer through it and listen.

"Humph, really?" Father replied not looking up from the pamphlet he was reading.

"Well she seems more like her usual spunky self. I was quite worried about her after the Merriweather's ball. Now she is getting up early, she is talkative, and she has been fulfilling her household duties rather efficiently," said Mrs. Merriman.

"Well she sure isn't fulfilling her duties in the store," Mr. Merriman said with annoyance.

"Really?" A surprised look crossed Mother's face. "But she adores working in the store."

"She is fine, when I am there, but when I leave her alone nothing gets done. For the past few months I have given her tasks to complete for me while I am at my meeting, and they do not get finished. Shelves don't get restocked, orders do not get packed or written up," Mr. Merriman sighed. "This past Wednesday I told her to please pack and write up four orders for me, only one was finished. I find it hard to believe that Wednesday afternoons are that busy with customers."

"Tis not like Lissie to not do what you tell her," Mrs. Merriman agreed. "Perhaps she is daydreaming too much."

"Either that, or she is using her alone time in the store to converse with boys," said Mr. Merriman. "I suppose I am going to have to have a talk with her."

Nan felt giddy with excitement as she tiptoed back up the stairs. Nan always knew that Felicity was Father's favorite, he hardly ever got angry with her, and let her do almost anything she wanted. Nan was going to get to the bottom of this. Felicity was not going to get away unpunished this time.

Nan usually had lessons at Miss Manderly's Wednesday afternoons. She told Catherine to tell Miss Manderly that she would be a little late this particular Wednesday, finishing up some extra housework. Nan had to make a little detour to Father's store. Nan pushed open the door, and the little bell tinkled. Nan saw a tall man slumped over the counter, engaged in conversation with Felicity, and they were standing very close. Bingo.

"Nan," gasped a shocked Felicity, pale in the face. She certainly did look like the cat that killed the canary.

"Very good, Felicity, you remember my name," Nan said smugly as she strolled up to them. "Care to introduce me to your friend?"

Andy whirled around, still leaning on the counter, to face Nan. Nan was taken aback by the blueness of his eyes, and how handsome he looked.

"What are you doing here?" Felicity barked. "Don't you have lessons today?"

"Am I not allowed to shop in my own father's store?" Nan said innocently. "Perhaps Mother needed me to pick up something."

Felicity was glowering at Nan. Since Felicity worked in the store, Mother always had her bring anything that she may need from the store. Nan had no business here, except to annoy her, and make trouble.

"So is this the famous Nan Merriman?" Andy asked and gave her a gentlemanly bow. "Felicity has said many great things about you."

"I am sure she has," Nan replied smiling up at Andy with a childish giddy look. "She hasn't said much of you though. What is your name?"

"Doctor Matthews," Andy replied.

"Oh," Nan nodded. "Well she has mentioned you. She said that you were-"

"Nan," Felicity interrupted. "You either buy something now, or get out of here. I am going to tell Mother you are not at your lessons."

"Really?" Said Nan. "Well at least I am not the daughter who is flirting with a gentleman while she should be working." She turned and smiled at Andy. "Good day Doctor Matthews," she said and waltzed out of the store. Felicity was agitatedly drumming her fingers on the counter.

"Now that weasel is going to go home and get me in a bit of trouble," she sighed.

"What they say down at the taverns is sure true," Andy whistled. "You are the much better looking Merriman. She's a real piece of work."

"Her goals in life are to get married, and make my life miserable," Felicity groaned.

"She has one of those smiles that whenever you see it, you just want to smack it. Smack it hard," Andy observed. "I don't think she will give you any trouble though. She doesn't come in here all that often, how does she know I am not a customer?"

"She had a reason to come here," Felicity answered. "She never comes in here. Andy this has to stop. We can't keep sneaking around like this. Perhaps Mrs. Fitchett, or Mrs. Stone tipped her off about you hanging around in here. Would you mind if I introduced you to my father?"

"Felicity, I can't," Andy started to say.

"Then what exactly do you want from me?" Felicity shouted. "I am ready to be courted and married. You cannot keep me on the side as your little amusement forever! People are starting to talk about us, other young men think that I am yours, it isn't fair to do this to me! Why are you doing this?"

"I want you to speak of me the way you do about Benjamin Davidson," Andy replied.

"Well that will never happen," Felicity retorted. "Ben was kind and loyal. He was honest. He would never contrive some charade as you have. He is everything you are not."

"And that is why I cannot ask your Father to come and court you," said Andy.

"You have a wife," Felicity accused. "You probably have a wife and family back in the Carolinas, and you are using me! I told Eli Merriweather that I would not be his whore, and I will not be yours either!"

"Lissie I am not married please," Andy begged.

Felicity was crying now, Andy tried to shake her and get her to stop, but it was hopeless.

"Don't call me Lissie," she balled. "That is only a term for those that love me."

"Well maybe I do love you," said Andy. "I love you, and that is why I know that I can't have you. I am foolish for loving you, and even getting to know you. I came back to Virginia for one thing, to try and claim the property I rightfully deserve. Virginia is filled with sadness and pain for me, I wasn't happy about accepting a job here, and living here again but then I met you. You were one beautiful thing in a world of darkness, you made Virginia not so terrible anymore."

"Stop, please stop," Felicity begged through tears. For an answer, Andy pressed his lips to hers. For that moment, Felicity cried stupidly, as she passionately returned his kiss. She forgot about Nan and Andy, she forgot about everything, and gave her all to the kiss. Andy broke the kiss, grabbed his hat and turned to leave. With the blink on an eye, he was gone, leaving Felicity exhausted, in a tangle of emotions.

"I love you," she murmured, tears straining down her face. She sat there silently

for a moment, and then dried her eyes, for there was work to be done.