"Lissie! Wake up! Wake up!" Felicity felt small hands shaking her. Her eyes fluttered open and focused on a concerned little Polly shaking her. "Lissie, you ill? Should I fetch Mother?" Polly asked full of concern.
Sitting up slowly, Felicity managed a weak smile for her sister. "No love, I shall be fine." Searching for an excuse Felicity quickly said, "Nan tied my stays today a bit too tightly and with the excitement of riding I guess I got a bit light-headed when I finally sat down." Polly wrinkled her nose, she was none too impressed with the excuse, but took it anyway—she was four what did she know of stays? It was at that moment Mother walked in.
"Heavens child! You look as though you've seen a ghost!"
Felicity spent the rest of the evening in bed reading and re-reading the letter. The color drained from her face. It was a miracle. All that wishing and hoping and praying had become a reality, just as she was giving up, fate had renewed itself.
Oh, how her family cried when Father read his letter to the family. Tears of joy that Ben was alive, tears of sorrow for his capture.
"Edward, we must do something for the lad," Mrs. Merriman said with concern, taking the letter from her husband and reading it over for herself.
"There is little we can do, dear; he is a prisoner of war which is different than a common thief." Mister Merriman explained. "A prisoner exchange can be done for his release, but that is based on the negotiations."
"Can we go see him?" William asked.
"Yes. Bring him food and medicine and something warm?" Nan followed up.
"I'm not sure children, it depends on the guard. I will see what I can find out about his situation." Mister Merriman assured his children.
Ben was alive. It was like a dream. Felicity kept pinching herself to make sure it was real. Ben is alive. Ben is alive. –Ben needs me! The thought came to her near dawn. She leapt out of bed with a start.