Chapter 10:
It was a few days before Lady Palinger's Christmas Eve ball and Felicity was finally finished with her sister's dress. "Who do you think?" she asked her husband when he got home that night, holding it up to her.
"I believe it is too small for you, Lissie," he replied.
"Ben! It isn't for me and you know that! It's Polly's dress."
"She will look like a young lady in that dress, Lissie, you did a wonderful job with it. When are you giving it to her?"
"Tomorrow. T'will be an early Christmas surprise," Felicity replied, laying the dress out on their bed. "She will be so happy!"
"Aye, she will be. However, I do pray that you have fixed dinner."
"Aye, I have. The dress has been sitting here as I was waiting to show it to you when you returned home. Shall we eat now?"
"Of course. I am certain both you and our unborn babe are hungry," Ben replied, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He pulled her close and hugged her. "Though I do believe you will be overjoyed to hear that you need not cook dinner tomorrow night."
"Indeed? Why?"
"Your father has invited us over for dinner. He said your mother wanted to see you before the Christmas Eve Ball."
"Tis perfect! We can give Polly her dress then! Now, on to the dining room before our dinner grows cold!"
"How horrible would that be!" Ben exclaimed, mock dramatically. Felicity giggled and let him lead her to the room.
"Felicity was agreeable to enjoying dinner home with us tonight, right?" Mr. Merriman asked his son-in-law the next day.
"Aye, she nearly burst from joy when I told her," Ben laughed in reply. "Shall I deliver Mr. Jacobs' new tack?" Mr. Merriman nodded and Ben soon departed the store. A few minutes later, Felicity walked in with some lunch for her husband and father.
"Lissie! This is a surprise. Your mother said she was going to send Nan with my lunch and would also offer for her to bring Ben's."
"I know, but I haven't been in the store for a long time. I've missed it and offered to come myself."
Her father laughed at his daughter's answer. "Felicity Merriman, I do believe you love this store more than either Ben or I," he replied. "Come. We shall set up for lunch in the back. Ben should return from the errand I sent him on in a few minutes. Shall you stay?"
"I cannot as I did not pack for myself," Felicity said, following her father. However, a customer entered the shop so Edward bid his daughter to proceed as he would handle the new person. Felicity nodded and disappeared.
She set about preparing the back room for the men's lunch, making it a bit nicer than how it usually looked. Her father walked in, picking up his cloak. "I'm afraid I will not be able to enjoy your mother's delicious lunch yet. A customer needs my help," he explained. He sighed. "This set up looks positively inviting. Will you leave a note for your husband before closing the store?"
"You are closing the store?"
"Aye, there isn't a person to tend the store until William is old enough to be an apprentice."
"I could mind the store for you, Father."
"Aye, but you shouldn't be standing long in your condition, Lissie. Nor standing on any stools to reach items on the high shelves or lifting heavy objects."
"I can sit on the stool while tending the store and, thanks to the local gossips, all women know I am in a delicate condition. They will not complain."
"Lissie, you are more than qualified to mind my store. I shall return shortly, but if Ben comes back first, you are to surrender the store to him immediately. No fighting him, understood?"
"Aye." Edward kissed Felicity's forehead and rushed out of the store. Felicity dragged out the stool she had often sat upon while tending the General Store and made herself comfortable. It was quiet, which disappointed her immensely. She prayed that one customer walked in the door before Ben or her father came back.
She thought she was going to doze off right there at the counter when the door opened. She straightened up as a very handsome man walked in. He was finely dressed, someone Annabelle would be attracted to immediately but he would be repelled by her snotty attitude. Felicity felt like she could approach him and he would regard her as one does an old friend, even though they were strangers. He walked towards the counter, smiling in a friendly manner. Felicity could tell he was an outdoors man, despite his expensive apparel. "Good day, I'm looking for Mr. Edward Merriman, please," the man said.
"I am sorry, but Mr. Merriman stepped out for the moment," Felicity replied, smiling. "May I help you, though?"
"I wasn't aware Mr. Merriman would take a female apprentice."
"I'm not an apprentice," Felicity replied, feeling a sense of déjà vu. When she thought on it, she realized those were almost the same words she and Ben had exchanged when he returned from the war. "I am his daughter, Felicity."
"Felicity?" The man seemed interested, which unnerved her. "I am Lord John Freeman. Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He kissed Felicity's hand.
"The honor is mine, milord. May I help you?"
"I was just exploring town and told my cousin that I would pick up some sugar. Save her slave girl a trip since I was out. Do you have any?"
"Aye, I believe my father received a fresh batch just the other day. I'll return in one moment," Felicity replied, hurrying to the back room. The man called out after her.
"I hear you are an excellent horsewoman," John replied.
"Aye, but may I ask who you heard that from?" Felicity asked, bringing out the sugar. She told him the price and he paid.
"I heard it from a friend of my cousin's as well as some neighbors. Is it true you now ride a horse that was considered wild and untamable?"
"Aye, my horse Penny. She was only such because her owner abused her. I rescued her and set her free. She fortunately was returned to me almost a year later by my beloved grandfather."
"The one who left you his plantation at King's Creek, between here and Yorktown, am I correct?"
"Aye, you have heard correct. I, however, cannot believe what I am hearing."
"Why?"
"Because it would mean that the gossips in Williamsburg are worse than I imagined," Felicity replied. "Nothing is safe in this town."
"I only asked a select few, who weren't very forthcoming. You and your family are held in high esteem here in the city. I usually received terse replies as well as under the breath mutterings about 'leaving the poor girl alone' and 'in her condition.' I paid them no mind," John replied. He then laughed. "I do believe I am coming on a bit strong. The friend I was telling you about told me about your love for nature. I have such a love myself—especially for horses."
"Indeed?" Felicity asked. "I do believe your friend was right in assuming we have a few things in common."
"Aye, she was going to introduce us at Lady Palinger's ball. You were attending it?"
"It will be my youngest sister's first ball. I would not miss it for anything save an illness," Felicity replied. She was quite enjoying her conversation with this Lord Freeman. "Tis all she can talk about and will not hold still. Which isn't very helpful when I am trying to help her with the dances, if you think about it. Do you enjoy balls?"
"Nay, I do not. I avoided them like it was the plague. I preferred the countryside and the laws of the wilderness to London and the laws of society. I only went to one or two because my mother or father would drag me with them."
"I adore balls as much as I adore riding my beloved Penny, I must admit."
"Finally. Here I was thinking we were too perfectly matched up—we would have nothing to argue over!" Lord Freeman laughed. Felicity smiled.
"You are from London? There must be a ball there every week!"
"Aye, t'would seem so I admit."
"Here in Virginia, we oft times only have Lady Palinger's Christmas Eve ball, maybe a few other balls here or there. Some may even be fortunately enough to be invited to balls in Richmond, but not I. That is why I enjoy balls—they aren't chores for me like they are for you, but rather treats. They are a time for us to gather with our neighbors and dance and eat and just be merry together."
Lord Freeman regarded her warmly. "Miss Merriman, I do believe you are a great speaker as well as a very educated woman," he replied. "I do believe we would be great friends as you would keep me entertained on many of my expeditions once spring comes."
"Oh, sir, as honored as I would be, t'would not be proper," Felicity replied.
"Do not call me 'sir', Miss Merriman, you may call me John."
"Aye, John, and I do believe I can allow you to call me Felicity. Nearly everyone in Williamsburg already does."
"Thank you. Now, why would it not be proper for you to escort me come spring?"
"One, I am married. I highly doubt my husband would let me go off with some strange man we had just befriended. Besides, think of the gossip. Second, I believe come spring I will be too large to ride a horse. The women muttering about my 'condition' were referring to my pregnancy. I am due in the summer."
"I see," John said slowly. "I am afraid I was not told you were married. Are you a newly married?"
"I would say so," Felicity replied, thinking a bit. The door opened and her smile grew deeper. This was not unnoticed by John. "Ben! Come, there is someone I would like you to meet. Lord John Freeman, this is my husband, Benjamin Davidson. Ben, this Lord John Freeman. He is visiting some cousins here in Virginia for…oh, how long?"
"My journey here in America is open-ended, Mrs. Davidson," John replied. "Tis a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Davidson. You are a lucky man, she is a fine woman."
"Aye, she is," Ben replied, hugging her close. "I do hope we shall see you again."
"He is attending Lady Palinger's ball."
"Then we shall see you again. Good day, Lord Freeman."
"Good day, Mr. Davidson, Felicity." Felicity nodded. John left the store as Ben started laughing.
"What, pray tell, is so funny, Benjamin Davidson?"
"You will befriend anybody, wouldn't you?" he asked, heading for the back room. "I hope my lunch isn't cold."
"T'was cold to start with and what do you mean by that statement?"
"I was hoping for a warm lunch was all."
"Not that statement."
"Felicity, you are a personable person. We should have sent you to reason with the British back during the Revolution. You would've charmed them into surrendering long before they actually did," Ben replied. "You just have a way with people. Tis a trait I love you for."
"I love you, too," Felicity said, kissing him. "I shall see you tonight?"
"Aye. Remember, we are eating with your parents."
"I remember. I should head over to see if my mother and Rose require my help. Tell my father I shall see him tonight."
"I shall. And Felicity? Don't forget Polly's dress."
"I shan't." Felicity stopped. "It is odd, but I have a peculiar feeling that we shall be seeing John Freeman more often than we would think."
"Aye, I have the same feeling as well. Yet, I don't think we are going to welcome all those visits," Ben replied, vaguely. "Ah well, tis always an adventure whenever you are around, Felicity Davidson." She smiled and left.
A/N: Here it is, another chapter! School is over except for that trip to London, which I will be sure to tell you all about when I get back. Look, now you have something else to look forward to besides the next chapter! Thanks to all my reviewers and other people who have made this my most viewed story according to the hit counter. --Mac
