Felicity and Henry had been invited over for sweet tea and lemonade with Elizabeth and James. It was a lovely July afternoon and the couples basked in the warmth of the summer sun. Sipping her lemonade, Felicity observed James and Elizabeth's interaction. There was something so pure and wonderful about them. Felicity sighed; you could just feel that they were in love from being near them. You could be like that too if you would just let yourself Felicity told herself. As he took her hand in his own, Felicity smiled at Henry.
"I heard that the Americans have ordered de Gasse and the French fleet to be off the coast by the end of this month." James said as he sipped his tea. Henry choked on his on his lemonade. As Felicity patted him on his back, Elizabeth placed her hand on James' arm, "Maybe we should avoid the topic of politics for a time being James," she reprimanded softly.
"No, no, it is quite alright. I was just a little shocked at the news, are you sure you heard correctly?" Henry said mopping the spilled lemonade off his waistcoat.
"I do not care to listen to such dreadful events on such a fine afternoon. If you gentlemen insist on discussing politics, Lissie and I will leave you be and discuss more friendlier subjects in the garden."
"Go walk and discuss whatever you womenfolk talk about, I can see that Felicity is getting antsy from all this sitting down. Henry and I will bore ourselves here and meet up with you later." James told Elizabeth.
"Will you be alright?" Felicity asked Henry with concern.
"Quite so, go, go have fun with your Elizabeth. I promise you that this Englishmen will not bore me to death." Henry joked and kissed Felicity on the cheek.
Elizabeth grabbed Felicity's hand and the two of them walked towards the Coles' garden. Once out of earshot, Elizabeth asked, "Was that reluctance I saw in leaving Henry?"
"I was concerned for the fact he had just choked on his drink, that is all." Felicity responded.
"Oh, Lissie, I am your dear friend. Please tell me what games you are playing at."
"There are no games . . . I just do not know how I feel. I like him, but I do not know if he is for me."
"He adores you and is a good man. Any girl would be happy with those prospects."
"But" Felicity let out a small whine.
"But he is not Ben," Elizabeth finished with a sad smile. "Felicity you were not even thirteen when he left. You don't even know what his true feelings were. We were silly girls, we mayhap misread Ben entirely."
"Oh Elizabeth! That is a terrible thing to say for then I have made a fool of myself and my heart!"
"I'm not saying we were wrong. I am just saying look at Henry as Henry, not as Ben or anyone else. What does your heart say about Henry?"
"I . . . I don't know . . ." Felicity reflected on Elizabeth's words as they walked back to the boys. Felicity leaned over Henry's shoulder and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Henry smiled as he tenderly touched the place where Felicity's lips had just been.
"Welcome love." He said.