Chapter 8:

To say that Felicity wasn't excited would be a lie. She was ecstatic from the moment her mother had suggested that she might be pregnant. Ben was also excited. She would catch him staring at her, especially her stomach. "You're not going to see anything yet. 'Tis too early," Felicity would say at the time.

"Aye, but our child is still there. I'm watching him."

"If that be the case, I am sure she is quite pleased to have your attention."

"The child is yours; I am certain he or she is going to love the limelight," Ben replied, hugging his wife. "I know I love that you love to be the center of attention."

"Is it my fault that I seem to be drawn to all the action that happens in Williamsburg, is it?" Felicity asked, shrinking into his embrace. "I just happen to be the center of attention."

"Aye, but you love it."

"I never said I didn't." The couple shared a laugh, enjoying the moment they had together.


Felicity was looking forward to motherhood, but she was still anxious. She knew the risks, all women knew the risks of giving birth. She wanted the baby now, she didn't want to have to worry about the labor nor the fact that she wouldn't make it to see her child. She wanted to be a mother; Felicity didn't want to leave Ben alone with their child and having to bury her. She didn't want to have to bury their child with him. Or worse, having to bury her and their child. It was perfectly plausible—it had only happened to a young couple down the street a month or two before. He was just another man who had to bury his wife and dead child in Virginia, in the newly formed United States.

"You'll be fine, Lissie," Ben comforted her one night. He had woken up and found her crying next to him, a nightmare having taken hold of her. Ben sat her up and listened to her sob out what had been happening in her dream. From what he had understood amongst the tears, she had had a dream where she watched them lower their child in the ground—next to her grave. She was afraid she wasn't going to survive; she wasn't going to make it to see their child grow up or that their child wasn't going to make it to grow up. And that scared him. But he needed to comfort her now.

"You are the strongest person I know—even stronger than some of the men I fought beside during the Revolution. You will make it to raise our son or daughter," he said, squeezing her hand. "I am certain of that."

By that point, Felicity was down to sniffling. She was calming down considerably. Ben always had the ability to that for her. "What if the baby doesn't make it?" she asked, hiccupping slightly.

Ben hugged her tightly. "Tis your child. Your strength certainly will be passed on to him or her," he said. "We're going to be a family of three in nine months, you trust me."

"I trust you." She hugged him. "I just can't help but feel nervous. The odds are not in my favor."

"I know, Lissie. But don't you worry anything. Now, go to sleep. We all need it," Ben said kissing her. He gently pulled her down and the two fell back to sleep.


Mrs. Merriman rubbed her son-in-law's back. "You are comforting Lissie perfectly well, Ben, you have nothing to fear," she said.

"Could you tell that to your daughter?" Ben asked, head in his hands.

"I'm afraid Felicity's concerns are real. You know that too, Ben. Women don't look forward to labor and many do not make it past it, it is a fact we have come to accept," Mrs. Merriman said. She patted Ben's back, walking into the kitchen to check on dinner.

Mr. Merriman leaned forward. "She's right. But you're right too. Everything will be fine. Felicity is Martha's daughter and will go on to have many children."

"I hope not that many children," Ben replied, smiling. "I do not think Williamsburg would be able to handle all those little Felicity clones walking the city."

"Mayhaps they'll take after you? Then the city won't try to castrate you." Edward laughed, watching his son-in-law continue to shake his head.


Meanwhile, Felicity was busy trying to teach her youngest sister some of the dances Polly would need to know for the upcoming Christmas ball. A would be easy task became difficult because Polly would not hold still long enough for Felicity to demonstrate the moves. The youngest Merriman daughter kept flitting about the room, going on and on about how wonderful the ball would be. She made guess at who the guest list was going to include, what they were going to wear, wondered what she was going to wear (here, Felicity had to smile at the memory of the almost finished dress), what type of music would be played, and, of course, how good the food was going to be! "I believe the food is the most important part of the party," Polly said.

"Of course," Felicity laughed. "You would plan a party's dinner down to the last dessert and then forget to invite the guests!"

"At least with food, you don't have to have a polite conversation with it and pretend to be interested in the most mundane things. That's the only down part of a party, the boring discussions women are forced to have."

"Hush, now. Some conversations are very delightful. Besides, if you have a few quick polite conversations you can easily spend the rest of the time dancing," Felicity said. "Of course, you cannot if you keep bouncing around and don't learn the moves to the dances that will be performed."

Polly stopped and stood next to her sister. "How come the men can have the serious discussions and we're stuck discussing fashion?"

"That's just the way it is. Though everyone can discuss serious issues. Women prefer not to, just to remain polite."

"Yet you and Ben have serious discussions."

"That's because he respects my opinion. You'll find someone who respects you as well," Felicity said. "Now, can we start this dance lesson before I am unable to do so?" She rubbed her stomach.

"Does the baby kick yet?"

"No, it does not. Now stop avoiding this lesson!" Felicity laughed. With that, the dancing lessons finally commenced.


Later that night, Felicity was busy finishing the dress for Polly as she talked with Ben. Polly, however, was next door pondering her sister when she was supposed to be in bed. She was worried for her sister and her brother-in-law because of Annabelle Andrews. She grew up listening to Felicity and Elizabeth recount stories about the older Cole girl and Nan trying to defend a few of Annabelle's actions. Not most, but a few. Polly didn't like her from the get-go, especially because of the animosity between the woman and her favorite sister. That dislike had grown since meeting the infamous Lady Annabelle Andrews.

Annabelle seemed to be the type who had always gotten whatever she wanted with little to no conflict. She snapped her fingers and it was there. It was certainly true that Annabelle had had her own share of troubles since leaving America. She absolutely hated returning across the Atlantic, Polly knew that. She had listened to countless stories about how much Annabelle loved England and despised Virginia. But she did love Ben and Ben was in Virginia. So for now, Annabelle would love Virginia until she had Ben and could convince him to leave the area for good. They would be leaving behind a heartbroken Felicity, who had to deal with the shame of a separation from her husband. Polly knew that legal divorce wasn't allowed in Virginia, there would be no court to help her sister.

But Polly knew she shouldn't worry about Ben. Her sister's husband was a member of the family and wasn't leaving anytime soon. Ben was her father's partner as well as Felicity's husband. He loved both his roles in the Merriman household. He especially loved Felicity and being her husband. He adored Felicity, he adored the entire family. Annabelle was mistaken if she thought she could change what he felt for the Merrimans and for his wife.

Ben also loved working at the store; he had told Polly so on her many trips to the store. Polly liked to hang around there, but she wasn't like Felicity. Her sister would get behind the counter and work with the customers; Polly wanted to watch the customers. She was as energetic as Felicity, but not as outgoing. Polly preferred to watch people, see what she could learn from the way they behaved. Nan thought it was rude, Felicity thought it could become a career. "Women don't have careers, Lissie, not women like us," Polly once said.

"Did Nan take over your body? I hope not, though I do fear sometimes our practical sister does practice witchcraft. Ever notice the funny way she has of being able to read my mind?" Felicity responded.

"Tis not hard, Lissie," Ben had called out from where he was working on the store books. "You seem to wear your thoughts in your eyes. I always know what you think."

"That's because you're my husband. Of course, you know," Felicity said with a smile. "But Polly, you can write a story, give yourself a man's name and publish it. You could be famous."

Polly smiled at the thought. She hadn't told her parents the possibility she could be a writer, though she suspected. Her father often gave her a book of paper to write things down when she ran out of paper. They, along with Felicity and Ben, would also be her primary audience—and their reactions were good. She planned to share some of her stories with her friends from Miss Manderly's soon. But for now, she would use her powers of observation to watch Annabelle closely. No one was going to ruin her sister's marriage. No one.


A/N: Lessee how long it has been since I last updated…in over a month! Oh, my readers, accept my apologies. I'm afraid it wasn't my month. I had spring break but then got sick when I got back. Then I had some problems with a club I'm in which lead to some unhappy Mac times. And of course, my worst enemy—WRITER'S BLOCK! (It's evil, I tell you, evil!) But now, here's a short chapter. And to all my Christian readers: happy Easter! --Mac