CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
It rained all day the next day making the roads slick, muddy, and miserable. Felicity worried constantly about Ben. Not only would she have to worry about him getting mixed in some battle, but she also worried about him getting caught in the rain with his bad leg. She kept telling herself that he'd be fine. He was fine in the woods for a few days with a wounded leg, and that was back when he was sixteen! At least now he didn't have an open wound, and he had a reliable horse. Felicity had baked a pudding cake for Ben's return. He always seemed to like her pudding cakes, at least he ate them and told her how great they were. William always said they were undercooked.
"Lissie," her mother said. "Pacing by the door is not going to make Ben come back any sooner. With the rain he probably had to stay the night somewhere. Why don't you go read to Polly? You can get her to stay still better than anyone."
"But what if Ben comes back," Felicity argued.
"I will make sure that you are first to know when he comes riding up this way," Mother replied.
So Felicity went to pay Polly a visit. Polly had surprised her with her will and determination. When asked if she would ever ride horses again Polly always replied
"As soon as Doctor Matthews says I can go outside again, I am going to ride horses. I never want to be without horses!"
"She's definitely my sister," Felicity would say. "Perhaps Father and Mother found Nan in the pumpkin patch."
Polly was a challenge to take care of. Since both of her arms were broken she had to be spoon fed. Since she could not move her neck or sit up, all food had to be like a broth, nothing that had to be chewed. Giving her water had to be done by either carefully pouring some down her throat from a cup, or putting a sponge to her lips.
Finally on Thursday around noon Patriot cantered his way up to the Merriman house. Felicity tore off her apron (heaven forbid Ben see her with the frumpy thing on) and burst out of the house. She ran down the porch steps, jumping over the last three, and ran straight for Patriot.
"Ben you made it!" She called. "Who's that?"
Felicity noticed a very small woman sitting behind him on the horse. She held a small bundle of something wrapped up in a blanket. Ben with the help of Felicity slid off of the horse and grabbed his cane. He gave his bride a welcoming kiss.
"Lissie, this is my sister Constance. I brought her back with me where she would be safer."
This was a pleasant surprise. As Felicity's interest in Ben grew, she wondered more about his family who he rarely spoke of. Felicity had always wanted to meet another Davidson. As Connie slid down off of the horse, Felicity couldn't help but notice how small and frail she looked. Felicity remembered Ben saying that his sister was four years younger than he, but she looked like she could pass for thirteen.
"Tis a pleasure to meet you Miss Felicity. Ben has told me so much about you." Carefully still trying to balance the blanketed bundle, she extended her hand at Felicity.
Felicity gingerly took Connie's hand, afraid that if she were not careful, her bony bird wrists might snap like a twig. Just then something from in the bundle whimpered.
Out poked a furry brown head, and two shiny, brown, raisin, eyes.
"Ben!" Felicity exclaimed. "What is-"
"This is for you!" Ben grabbed the dog out of Connie's arms and placed her in Felicity's. "I'm sure most will say it has been foolish, but Connie talked me into it. We met a boy on the side of the road about three miles from here. He was selling them."
"You do spoil me," Felicity said as she scratched the dog's head. The dog was a small, rat, terrier, of some sort. Her coat was the color of strong tea, and quite shaggy. Felicity thought she was the cutest thing.
"What are you going to name her Miss Felicity?" Connie asked.
Felicity eyed the dog lovingly. It gave her a few kisses.
"Well since you found her being sold on the side of a road like a gypsy, I think I will call her Gypsy. No wait. Since she is to be a proper dog I think I will call her Miss Gypsy," Felicity decided.
"Miss Gypsy it is," Ben said. "Lissie perhaps you wouldn't mind showing Connie around Williamsburg today."
"Not at all," replied Felicity.
"Oh I don't know," Connie said. "I am quite worn out from the travel, and I may be getting one of my headaches."
"You can lay down in the guest quarters," Felicity offered.
"That sounds lovely," Connie answered.
Felicity led them inside the house. Connie immediately went to lie down. William eyed Felicity with excitement when he noticed the small, shaggy, dog she was carrying.
"Don't mind Connie," Ben said. "She gets headaches and faints often. She was never very healthy as a child."
Felicity could care less about Connie's headaches. Ben was home and that was all that mattered!
"I made you a pudding cake," she said with excitement. "Can I get you some?"
"Oh yes Felicity. You do know how I love your pudding cakes," Ben answered. Felicity handed Miss Gypsy to William and turned to cut Ben's piece of cake. William made a gagging motion over at Ben who returned it with a wink. Felicity served Ben a big piece, and then turned to cut one for William.
"We won Penny," she chattered. "But the price is enough to make your hair curl. 400 pounds! Can you believe that?"
Ben almost choked! Penny went for 400 pounds! Felicity began to chatter on about the auction, her back was turned. Ben motioned for William to give him Miss Gypsy. William handed the dog to Ben, and Ben set Miss Gypsy up in his lap. Ravenously, Miss Gypsy began to mop up the uncooked, soupy, pudding cake.
"I haven't seen Andy since Tuesday," Felicity carried on. "Is the 400 pounds okay with you? Maybe you two could split it." She turned around to face Ben, and give William his piece. Swiftly, Ben pushed Miss Gypsy down off of his lap, and under the table. William began to pick at his cake.
"Lissie," said Ben. "Penny is a very special horse to you. You will never have another horse like her. I told Doctor Matthews that I would pay him for Penny and then some, and I will keep my word."
Felicity went over and gave Ben a hug. She noticed Miss Gypsy standing at her feet.
"Oh dear," she said. "What exactly do you eat?"
"Pudding cakes," William replied with his mouth full of food. "Especially uncooked."
Three days went by and Ben searched everywhere for Andy. He had stopped by the apothecary so many times that the lady behind the counter wondered if Mr. Davidson had stooped low enough to be caught up in one of his rumored gambling games. Ben even went to the Raleigh Tavern one night looking for him. When he couldn't find him there he peaked in at all the other Taverns in Williamsburg. Fortunately, Andy had an appointment to see Polly on Monday. He couldn't hide from Ben forever.
Meanwhile, Felicity was not loving her time with Connie. It wasn't that she wasn't nice. Connie was very nice and almost overly sweet. She took her to tea at Elizabeth's and Elizabeth adored her.
"Oh Lissie you are so lucky," she said. "You will have such a sweet sister-in-law. Joseph's only sister is twelve years older than me, but Connie is pretty close to your age. It should fill the void of not having a good relationship with Nan."
Connie was supposed to move into a room over at a boarding house next week. Until then, Mrs. Merriman put Connie in the guest quarters and moved Felicity in there as well to free up the stable loft. Since Ben couldn't do stairs very well, he took William's cot in the kitchen, and William took the stable loft.
Connie was always fainting. In the three days that went by Connie fainted six times. She knew that Nan and Annabelle seemed to faint when convenient, or when it would get them out of doing something they didn't wish to, but Connie seemed to faint even if you looked at her cross eyed, and she was so overly modest. She even kept her eyes shut while tightening Felicity's corset.
Felicity and Ben announced their official engagement right after supper on Saturday night. It was finally happening! Mother and Connie jumped up to hug her. There was just one more thing left to be done.
On Monday afternoon Ben waited outside of Polly's bedchamber. Ben had 420 pounds in a bag ready to go as payment. He just wanted Doctor Matthews out of their life for good. Andy emerged from the bedchamber. A look of annoyance but not surprise crossed his face when he saw Ben sitting there.
"I have brought my payment," Ben said. "420 pounds."
"I don't want it," Andy replied.
"We have a contract," said Ben. "I owe you." Ben thrust the contract into Andy's face.
"I said that I don't want it," Andy answered quite hostilely. "The horse was my gift to Felicity."
"You signed a contract," Ben repeated. Andy snatched the contract out of Ben's hand and ripped it in two.
"Now we don't." Andy quipped and began to walk away.
"You!" Ben glowered. "What's the matter with you? Can't you see that I am about to give you 420 pounds? Why you could play silly dice games for weeks on end down at the tavern with that money."
"Contrary to what you believe I do more than play silly dice games," Andy sneered.
"I appreciate all you have done for Felicity," said Ben. "Without you she would have never have gotten Penny back. But she is to be my wife, and I am not comfortable with her receiving such an expensive gift from somebody else."
"Well then go over to the Dunham's stables and shoot it," Andy spat.
Just then Felicity and Connie appeared in the hallway.
"Andy I am so glad that we didn't miss you," Felicity said. "My friend here has a problem with headaches. I was wondering if you could help."
"Who are you?" Andy asked Connie rather rudely.
"I am to be Felicity's sister-in-law," Connie said in her small, quiet, mouse, voice.
"Then no, I can't help you," Andy said bitterly. "Ask your brother for help. He has a nice stash of medicines."
"Okay that does it!" Ben screamed, waving his cane like a madman. "You leave Connie out of this! We have a legitimate contract, and I want it honored!"
"Andy, what is this about you not honoring the contract?" Felicity asked. "Why aren't you accepting Ben's payment?"
"Give me one good reason why I should," Andy shrugged. "I don't get anything out of the deal."
"I said I would pay you whatever you wish," Ben exclaimed. "You want more than 420 pounds/"
"You will pay me whatever I want?" Andy asked. "Anything I ask?"
"Yes," Ben and Felicity said in unison.
"Okay Mr. Davidson," Andy said smoothly. He turned to Connie. "You can be our little witness. I want you to break your engagement with Felicity, so I can marry her."
"What!" Felicity screeched.
"I don't know what kind of a sick game you are trying to play," Ben yelled. "But we are not pawns in one of your dice games for you to gamble with! "
"Andy you are not being fair," said Felicity. "Why are you doing this? Why are you hurting me?"
"Why did you hurt me?" Andy retorted. "While I have been mending your sister I have had to watch the woman I love give her affections to another man. I was only good for you as long as he wasn't around, or if you needed your horse back."
"Andy you blew your chance with me long ago," Felicity snapped. "We've been through this. I am finished with you."
"Well I'm not finished with you," Andy said in a childish manner. "You break the engagement, or I keep the horse."
"You really are a sick bastard," Ben growled. "I challenge you to a duel tomorrow morning!"
"Benjamin no!" Felicity shrieked and flung herself at him.
"Sounds good to me," Andy replied.
"Boys we are going to stop this nonsense right now before someone gets hurt," Felicity said.
"Well maybe that is what someone needs," Andy mumbled. Connie fainted onto a heap on the floor. Andy looked at her with disgust, stepped over her, and left.
"Ben please stop this," Felicity begged after Andy left. "I don't want you to fight a duel over me. I would rather have to leave you, than have you give away your life."
"Stay out of this Felicity," Ben said very seriously. "Without you in it, my life is not worth living."