The fantasy of love with Ben had its complications. Felicity knew she could not string Henry along any further; it was unfair to him and to Ben. She tried to think of a way to break the news to him.
On Saturday Henry arrived, unannounced, at the Merrimans with a bouquet of summer flowers. Burying his face in the sweet flora, Henry took a deep breath and smiled and then skipped up the front steps and knocked. Over the past two weeks he had missed her so, he never wanted to be separated from her again and was going to declare his love for her. He planned on asking Mister Merriman for his Felicity's hand this evening. Answering the door, Felicity was filled with guilt when she saw his smiling face and the beautiful flowers. He looked so genuinely happy that Felicity loathed herself for what she was about to do. She stood in the doorway, unfeeling, as Henry kissed her on the cheek and welcomed her home.
"I've missed you so," he whispered in her ear, gently nuzzling the skin behind her ear with his nose, "Come riding with me!"
"Henry, I can't. We need to talk." Felicity said, coldly, but Henry paid her no heed.
"Of course you can, go get Penny. 'Tis a glorious day." He held out his hand, presenting the fine day to her.
Felicity grabbed his hand and jerked it towards her, "I said 'no'---we need to talk."
Henry just laughed and placed his free hand on top of the two, and brought his face close to her, "Anything you like my love, I am just happy to have you back here with me." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Let's go to the gardens and talk." Felicity said seriously and the two of them walked to the garden behind the house and sat under the white dogwood tree. Felicity sat rigid on the bench and coolly again started, "Henry we need to talk."
"That we do," Henry smiled and took one of Felicity's delicate hands in his large one and looking lovingly into her eyes.
Felicity pulled her hands back, and turned her head. "The trip I was on with my father was to Charles Town."
"I know that, for business, right?"
"We went to see Ben."
"Ben?" Henry was confused, "As in your father's apprentice Ben. I thought he was a casualty of the Battle of Charles Town."
"He's imprisoned there. He is very much alive." Felicity corrected him.
"That's wonderful news, your father must be thrilled to still have his apprentice alive." Henry hugged Felicity, but she did not hug him back. He began to kiss her down the neck. It was too much for her!
"Henry! We cannot see each other any more!" she blurted.
Henry stopped mid-kiss and pulled away from Felicity. "We cannot what? Felicity, are you alright? You do not mean that." He begged her to reconsider, but Felicity sat unmoving.
"No Henry, I am not right for you, you deserve someone better than I."
"No one could be more perfect for me than you are. I love you!" his eyes glistened; he could not comprehend what was happening.
"Henry, it is a lie. I care for you, I do, but not in the way you want me to. 'Tis unfair to me and to you to pretend."
These last words hit Henry, and his whole demeanor changed. He could not take this, he jumped up and yelled at Felicity, "Pretend?! Lie?! All this time are you saying you cared nothing for me?!"
"No! Henry, please!" she pleaded, "It's not like that!" This was not going at all like she had hoped.
"Do not 'please' me Felicity Merriman! All along you have been playing with my feelings? Oh you act well my girl," he growled at her. "What brought this on?"
Felicity looked down at her feet, tears streaming, "I'm sorry, I just . . ."
"Just what? What happened in Charles Town? Our relationship was fine before you left!"
"I had time to think about our relationship and realized that though I care for you greatly, I do not love you in the way I woman should love a man. I cannot be what you want me to be. I tried, I wish I could be."
It was if Felicity had slapped him in the face. Henry stood there looking at her in shock and then his eyes narrowed. "It is that apprentice." He sneered. "I remember, you once told me how close you and this Benjamin were. Our relationship was fine until you saw him! You hussy!" he growled at her and pulled her up by her wrists. Looking at her his anger faltered and he was just left with the hurt of Felicity's betrayal. He shook her once, "Good-bye Felicity Merriman, I curse the day I met you!" he dropped her wrists and grabbed the flowers and stormed out of the Merrimans' garden. Felicity stood watching him storm out while rubbing her wrists. The delicate milky skin was bruised red from his grasp. She had never meant to hurt him so much, she had no idea he would take so badly. A few minutes after Henry left Mrs. Merriman hurried out to her bewildered daughter.
"Oh Lissie my dear, what happened?" she asked with concern, rubbing Felicity's wrists. "I heard yelling, but I did not listen in."
"I turned Henry down," Felicity explained sadly.
Mrs. Merriman looked horrified, "But what caused these red marks my child? Do not tell me Henry did it!"
"He was angry, he was holding my wrists tightly when I broke the news—don't tell Father! It is my fault; I should have told Henry sooner that I did not love him. I tried to love him, but you cannot make a person fall in love."
"Felicity," Mrs. Merriman put her arm around her daughter.