CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Merriest Girls in Virginia Again "Hurry along Bitsy, don't dawdle so, Why don't you go run me my bath?" Felicity cried in a mocking voice. For an answer Elizabeth giggled foolishly.
"Run your own bath, silly Bananabelle!" The girls giggled, Elizabeth's sounding rather high pitched like a hyena. Felicity almost stumbled, but caught Elizabeth's arms, and straightened her balance. It was a hot, humid, August, Virginia night. It was rather foggy. Not a dense fog, but a more thin and misty fog. The girls linked arms and began their merry way down the street.
The girls had finished the bottle of brandy, each consuming half a bottle. Drunk and silly, they decided to sneak out of the Cole's house, and go down to the tavern for more.
"Are you sure they will have more there?" Elizabeth had asked.
"Of course," Felicity replied. "More and lots more. More brandy and ale than you could possibly drink."
"Let's go then," said Elizabeth. "I have always wondered what the fascination with discussing business and politics down at the tavern was."
So the two girls had made their way out of the Cole mansion, it was hard because Elizabeth was a giddy and giggly drunk, and they were now stumbling through the street.
Andy popped out of the Shields Tavern. He had his fair share of ale, and was contemplating going home, when he heard the giggles of merry women down the street. He made his way closer, breaking out into a huge drunken smile when he spotted one of the girls was Felicity.
"Felicity!" He bellowed for all of the world to hear. "Felicity!"
"Good heavens Elizabeth, it's Doctor Matthews, or whoever he is," Felicity cried. Andy crossed the street to get to them. The girls had their arms linked, and were stupidly giggling. "Elizabeth, this is Doctor Matthews," Felicity introduced as he approached.
"The one who taught you how to drink brandy?" Elizabeth asked. "Oh Lissie he's wickedly handsome, keep him around."
"And this," Felicity continued. "Is my best friend Miss Elizabeth Cole. She will be Mrs. Elizabeth Dunham day after tomorrow."
Elizabeth did an overly dramatic, sloppy, curtsy. Andy bowed.
"So this is your little Loyalist friend?." He kissed her hand. "Enchante."
Elizabeth giggled again.
"Elizabeth wanted to try some brandy," Felicity rambled loudly. "I even warmed it, just like you did."
"Tis very good," Elizabeth chimed in.
"Aye," Andy agreed. "Where are you two ladies off to now?"
"The Raleigh," Felicity replied. "We want to drink and talk like the men do."
"The Raleigh isn't a place for two beautiful and fine ladies like you," said Andy.
"I don't care," Felicity stammered. She began to walk but stumbled, this time Andy caught her arm. All three exploded into giggles.
"You must be escorted there. Let me escort you," Andy said.
"Oh all right," Felicity gave in. "As long as it isn't a hindrance for you."
"Nonsense!" Andy exclaimed. "Why it's not everyday I get to go to the tavern with two beautiful ladies." He held out an arm to each of them, which they gladly accepted. A devilish little though popped into Andy's head as they headed towards the tavern. Maybe just for once, luck would be on his side, perhaps it was fate that Felicity Merriman had chosen this particular night to get her and her friend drunk, and carouse the streets of Williamsburg.
Ben was happily enjoying his third round of rum, with Brady and a pack of friends.
"So mate did you see your girl yet?" Brady asked.
Ben sighed.
"Her friend is getting married. She's staying at her house for the next two days."
"Her friend the Loyalist?" Brady asked. Ben nodded.
"That's too bad," Brady muttered. "I guess that takes care of me converting the pretty Loyalist friend. "You could go see her."
"Aye," said Ben. "I am nervous about going to a Loyalist home, but Felicity can't stay shut up in there all day. I think tomorrow I'm going to stake out the place." He paused to take another swig of rum. "I'm going to wait until she comes out, and I'm going to say Felicity I am madly in love with you. I want to marry you, and I'm never going to leave you again."
"Here here," Brady yelled. "Let's do a toast, for Ben and Felicity!" The table roared as all the men thrust their mugs of cider, ale, and rum in the air. Ben was on a roll. After a few rounds at the tavern he felt that nothing, not even Mr. Cole, could keep him away from Felicity. Why if he had a couple more rounds, he might go over to the Cole's house tonight, even if he had to kidnap Felicity. Ben began twirling his cane, his eyes glittering of excitement and drunkenness.
Just then the familiar doctor fellow came in through the door. Ben was pleased to see he had showed up. He was taking another sip of rum when he noticed that on each arm of the doctor was a beautiful lady. He spat out his drink as his mouth dropped open. It wasn't because of their beauty his mouth dropped open, it was because he knew who they were.
Whoops and shrieks went out throughout the tavern. Fine ladies like that rarely set foot in the tavern.
"Matthews?" Somebody barked. "Where did you find girls like those at this hour? "
Felicity threw three coins down on the bar.
"I want three mugs of cider," she barked.
The barman mystified fulfilled her request. Ben sat dumbfounded. That couldn't be Elizabeth Cole. It looked like her, but the shy and quiet girl he remembered was giggling like a ninny.
Felicity chugged her cider in one swoop, as Andy and some guys egged her on.
"That's not very ladylike," a man scolded.
Felicity put her foot up on the bench.
"For you information sir, I am Felicity Merriman. Merry man, get it!"
For some reason this caused a series of laughter throughout the tavern. Ben included, erupted into laughter.
"Hey Brady," he said. "That's my Felicity girl."
"Which one/" Brady asked. "The giggly blonde? Or the buxom red head?"
"The red head," Ben replied.
"Gee," Brady gasped. "I sure wish I had befriended you before the war. You sure now the town's beautiful women."
"Aye," Ben said as he finished off the rum. His heart was beating wildly, from the wicked combination of a man in love, and alcohol. He felt as warm and giddy inside as a schoolboy.
"You going to go plant a kiss on her?" Brady asked. "You better before some other man sweeps her away."
They watched as Felicity asked a man who had been strumming a guitar, if she could play it.
"Do you think I should surprise her?" Ben asked.
"I think that would be funny," Brady laughed. "Go sneak up on her!"
At that moment Elizabeth climbed up on a table and called very loudly.
"Listen up all you crazy lads! I am going to sing a song for you now. I will only sing once, so you better listen!" The men whistled and whooped and then quieted down. Felicity sat on the table at Elizabeth's feet and strummed a long drawn out chord on the guitar.
Away with these self-loving lads, whom cupids arrow never glads.
A-way poor fouls, that figh and weep, for love of those that lye asleep.
For cupid is a merry god, Ard forceth none to kiss the rod.
Elizabeth sang sweetly, but flatly. At the end of the verse she collapsed again into giggles and fell into Andy's arms. Felicity stayed seated, her legs dangling off the end of the table. She went on strumming a few chords of her own. Ben got up, took one more swig of rum, and winked at Brady. He began to limp over to her.
Andy had kept an eye on Ben Davidson like a hawk. It was evident that the silly lad was way drunk. Andy could also tell that he recognized Felicity. He could tell by how he gazed at her as she played the guitar. It was a look of awe and devotion, as if Felicity was a goddess playing the guitar, instead of drunken maid, flubbing up her chords. Andy set Elizabeth down and put his arm around Felicity. He pulled her close, and planted a huge kiss on her lips, all the while keeping an eye on Ben. For a moment, Felicity kissed back, and then she pushed Andy away.
"Oh no you don't Doctor Matthews or Whoever –you-are!" She scolded playfully. "Father said I am not to see you anymore, because you don't court me like a fine lady. I agree, I am a proper and fine gentlewoman, and I deserve to be treated as one. No kissing."
"Gee Felicity I don't know many fine gentlewomen that kick drunk and wander into the local taverns," Andy replied. "Kiss me Felicity, just for tonight."
"No," Felicity said, this time more sternly. "Andy I have just gotten over the feelings I had for you. You said yourself you could never court me. Please."
"Just for tonight," Andy whined.
"And what about tomorrow?" Felicity stammered. "We just go back to not seeing or speaking with each other. Do I mean anything to you?"
"Felicity lets dance," Andy said. He tried to pull her to where some people were dancing, but she pulled away from him.
"I don't want to dance," she bellowed, she grabbed onto Elizabeth.
"Lissie doesn't want to dance with you right now," Elizabeth jabbered. "She needs another round of cider."
"No I don't," Felicity mumbled. "Come Bitsy. We need to go."
"No Bananabelle," Elizabeth groaned. "Don't call me Bitsy!"
"Yeah, don't call her Bitsy," Andy said butting in agan.
"I'll dance with you Doctor Matthews," Elizabeth said, and she pulled on his arm. Andy had no choice but to give in, and he found himself trying to keep a twirling and stumbling Elizabeth from tumbling over, and exposing her petticoats.
Felicity chuckled to herself. Thank heavens for Elizabeth. She was not going to fall into Andy's seductive trap again. She decided that she would have another mug of cider. She marched to the bar.
"Another mug of cider please," she told the barman. She fished in her pocket for another coin, she was just about to put it down on the bar, and grab her mug when someone else threw down a coin.
"I've got it for the lady," a familiar voice said, a voice that Felicity had erased from her mind a long time ago. He placed his hand on her shoulder. Felicity felt her heart skip a couple of beats, and a chill that shimmied up from her tailbone, into her shoulders, and up into her neck. Slowly she turned around.