Felicity had been to jails before. When she was ten she and her best friend Elizabeth had gone to the jail at the edge of Williamsburg. She remembered the small, cold, dark cells,the eerie light that a-lighted the prisoners' faces.But the jail that Ben was imprisoned in was much different. True, it had the same cold stone walls and the black iron bars caging the prisoners in, but this one was bleaker. The number of inhabitants was far greater and the sanitary conditions much worse. The smell of sweat and human waste was overpowering. The men were sick, hungry, and dishearten. The faces of the incarcerated were ghostly white, and many were shrunken from not having enough food.
The ride back to Williamsburg was a somber one for both Felicity and her father. They were much less talkative than on their initial trip. The only sounds were those of their horses' footsteps along the paths providing a steady beat for the birds singing in the trees. Finally father broke the silence and in a strained voice asked, "You and Ben?"
"Yes, Ben and I . . . ?" Felicity pulled Penny up so she was riding side by side with her father and looked straight into his eyes.
"Never mind, I am not ready for this." Mister Merriman admitted, regretting that he had mentioned the subject, and turned his head away from his daughter's stare.
"Not ready for what?" Felicity was puzzled.
"For you to be courted."
"But I have been courted for months now." Felicity pointed out.
"That was different," Mister Merriman tried to explain, "That was slower, I felt like I had a long time to get used to the subject. I like Henry—I like Ben as well, but they are different, your actions towards them are different. I know you care for Henry, but you are devoted to Ben. I think I've known it for a while, but have denied it to my self 'til now. And now Ben, I never would have imagined saying it, but Ben scares me."
Felicity had to giggle, her father, scared? She smiled with amusement. And what was even more amusing was that father was scared of Ben! She remembered back to the time when Benjamin Davidson had been an apprentice in her father's shop. He had been quiet and, for the most part, very obedient. Her father had trusted him and described Ben in the past as being loyal, trustworthy, and honorable.
Mister Merriman continued, "You have to speak with Henry. You must be fair to him."
Felicity stared straight ahead, thinking over what he had just said.
&&&
At home Felicity and her Father were met with showers of hugs and questions from their family, everyone wanted to know how Ben was faring. When questioned by her younger siblings about what the jail was like, Felicity hung back, sheltering them from the true horror of it all.
Keeping her promise, the next day Felicity ran over to Elizabeth's to tell her everything.
"Charles Town is a grand city, but it has suffered greatly. It as though a dark shadow has been cast over the city. We are lucky to be living in Williamsburg."
"Felicity, you are a Patriot. Most of this community is Patriots, the Committee of Safety are all Patriots. This dark shadow you talk of, I understand what you mean quite well for it is the shadow that we Loyalists live under everyday. It is the shadow of destruction and fear." Elizabeth revealed to Felicity. Felicity fell silent for several minutes. She remembered how scared Elizabeth had been when they were younger of the militia marching through town and how the Cole family had lost their trust in their neighbors after Mister Cole was imprisoned for a time for being a Loyalist.
They were sitting in the privacy of Elizabeth's bedchamber that late July afternoon. Felicity told Elizabeth all about her encounter with Jonah and introducing him to the innkeeper who offered him a place in her heart and home. Elizabeth was proud that Felicity had helped the small child. It broke her heart that such a little bit was left all alone in the world with no one to care for him. And finally Felicity told her about Ben. She told her everything, leaving nothing out.
"It was horrible Elizabeth! Going in there, seeing all those poor men packed into the small cells! And there he was, he was beautiful!" Felicity got up and spun. Then she began acting out the encounter. "I ran over to him," she ran over to where Elizabeth was sitting on the bed, "and looked at him, his handsome face with the big brown eyes and fine brown hair, tied back from his face—an angel bringing light to the darkness!" Felicity near swooned and Elizabeth giggled at the entertainment.
"I think you were more the angel to him than he was to you!" she tried to stifle another giggle.
"He reached out to me and I took his hand in mine," Felicity took Elizabeth's hand, "He asked if it was a dream for he sees me so often in them."
"How romantic!" Elizabeth sighed and then glanced down at Felicity who was still holding her hand and giggled again.
"And then," jumping up and hugging herself, "he kissed me!" Felicity flung her arms out and spun, filled with joy, the crescendo of her tale. "My whole body trembled, from head to toe! I never wanted it to end!" she sighed and sat down next to Elizabeth, "but then it did, and the dream was soon over."
"You should go into play-acting Lissie!" Elizabeth clapped with delight at Felicity's theatrical re-telling. She then reached out to her friend and pulled her in to her and stroked her hair. "You are in love Felicity, 'tis a wonderful and frightening feeling all at once. Ben is a fine lad, I hope he comes home soon to you."