Felicity: An American Girl ROMANCE, Pt3, Ch24: Faithful Friends?

When Felicity and Ben entered the sun room arm and arm, the duke rose from his table, smiling pleasantly as Felicity curtsied most properly and Ben, looking awkward, bent forward at the waist in his stiff attempt at bowing (he still wasn't accustomed to being in the presence of a highly-ranked Englishman). Immediately, Felicity disengaged herself from Ben's arm and grinned brightly, walking forward to Lord Eric, who held his hands out to her in friendly greeting. Much to Ben's surprise, she took them with a squeeze of her own quite happily.

"Good morning, Miss Felicity!" Eric beamed, obviously in good spirits. "We were beginning to wonder if the both of you would make it to breakfast or not! 'Tis nearly ten o'clock."

She blushed girlishly. "Forgive me, your grace, but we were so tired, and we'd had so much to discuss!"

"That's perfectly acceptable." He gestured to his fine round table, which was covered in a lovely buttercreme-colored cloth and set with gleaming silver complete with a silver candelabra in the center with two lit white candles. A fire was going in the marble fireplace, making the room warm and cozy, which it already seemed to be with its bright yellow walls above white wainscoting. The ceiling was even beautiful, with its rococo cornices and decorative plasterworks. Everything had a light and cheerful touch about it, all accredited to Evangeline, whose optimistic flair possessed every room in the house. Felicity had often wondered how the duke could have been so melancholy in a such an amazing, uplifitng place. He had loved his wife more than anything.

"Join me, both of you. I will have Maggie bring you some hot-"

"Maggie is already already bringing it," said Maggie, bustling into the room with a tray of hot food on it. I heard 'em comin' down." The way Lord Covington was grinning proved that only his beloved care-taker could interrupt him like that and still be able to busy-body about the table. Eric pulled a chair out for Felicity, but Ben hurried forward to hold it, too, as Felicity went to sit in it. She gave her smiling thanks to the duke, and Ben felt an intense flash of hot jealousy right away. Just how close had this 'duke,' who was obviously much older than his Lissie, gotten to her in the time she'd been here? Squire Babcock had said the duke was a widower of three years, and should consider re-marrying. But did the man have designs on Felicity? He'd better not have, Ben scowled, because I will not have it! Felicity is mine!

Ben was very aware that Felicity had believed that she would never see him again. She'd had every right to think that. 'Twas not as if he'd left her with any hope or assurance, and he had cursed himself relentlessly for his thoughtlessness. If he lost Felicity to another man- especially this suave, handsome, protective duke- 'twas exactly what he deserved. But he did not want that to happen. She had to know he still loved her, more than ever!

As Maggie fussed about the trio at the table, which was set before a splendid clear window overlooking the gardens and the hedge-maze, Eric dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin and inquired, "I trust that you two young people have resolved your differences and are now reunited in joy?"

Felicity blushed and opened her mouth to speak, but Ben spoke first, sounding a little stiff : "We are together again, your grace, and we will get past our troubles in good time."

Felicity gave Ben a surprised look, and the duke merely looked from Ben to Felicity and back, his slight smile unchanging, for he could easily see that things were not settled between the two of them, but he was not going to pry. He simply nodded. "Very well! Let us eat."

Maggie set the two young guests a plate of hot sausage and eggs, fresh biscuits and tea, which they put into right away. The duke attempted conversation again. "Miss Felicity, I have heard from the captain of my ship, and he insists he will be ready to ship out by the end of next week. Seems more timber was needed for repairs, but they are coming along nicely."

Felicity perked up immediately. "Oh that's very good news, my lord! This means you will not be beating me at chess for much longer."

This time it was Ben who gave the surprised look at Felicity. Eric grinned broadly and said "But have I not taught you well, Miss Merriman? We will still have a few evenings to do battle on the board yet."

She laughed softly, but it was forced. "Or 'tis only you enjoy winning!"

"I must confess, my dear, if England has lost the colonies, I can redeeem my country's loss by victory in sport!'

They both laughed. Ben scowled, not likeing this warm familiarity between them. So it would seem this duke was playing chess with Felicity during the evenings. That had been something he had always wanted to teach her, but had never got the chance. His face was feeling hot, as it always did when he got jealous or angry. And part of his anger came from knowing 'twas he who had left Felicity believeing he no longer loved her, that if any other man took interest in her, she had every right to show interest back.

Was she affectionately interested in this man?

Ben cleared his throat pointedly. "Does that mean you approve of your king's actions against the colonies, sir?"

The duke and Felicity exchanged a startled look. Said Felicity sternly, "Ben, really! Lord Covington and I play chess because it keeps my mind occupied! To keep me from letting other certain depressions make me sick! And I am grateful for the distractions he has provided for me during my stay in his home. What is the matter with you?"

"Do not chide him so, Miss Felicity," said the duke gently, coming to Ben's defence (much to Ben's chagrin). "Were I in his stead, I would be quite protective of my lady as well."

Felicity was instantly forgiving while Ben blushed furiously. "If you say so, my lord. You have been so very kind to me while I have been here. I do not wish for you to think all of us colonists are hot heads." She gave Ben an unapproving glare.

"Mr. Davidson, I do not approve of my king waging war on the colonies," Eric said, unoffended. "As a matter of fact, I believe him to be putting this fine land into poverty with war after war. I have no argument against your countrymen, or the French, for that matter. I was merely lightening the mood."

"Yes, sir," said Ben grumpily, looking as moody as if he had just been put in his place by a superior officer in the army.

"Now let us speak of important matters, Miss Felicity." And the duke's expression did turn from one of mild amusement to one of urgency. "You do wish to bring Reginald Forsythe and his cousin Tristan to justice, do you not?"

"We want them shot!" declared Ben, his eyes flashing outrage. "They cannot get away with what they've done to Felicity! Prison is too good for them!"

"I understand, Mr. Davidson, how you feel," Eric said calmly while Felicity looked worried. "But the law must prevail if the citizens of this country are to have any faith in those who are supposed to protect them."

"And if both Forsythes continue living they will come after Felicity! I will not have that!" Ben argued back, his heart racing. "My loyalty is to Felicity, not to England!"

"Ben, please!" Felicity finally got to say. "Calm down. I am the one at the center of this, so I will have my say." To the duke she said, "You have told me that unless I was an heiress or the daughter of a wealthy man who holds a considerable amount of property, the most Reginald could be punished is by a year or two in prison. Although I am neither of those, what would the laws have to say about the abduction of a woman from another country?"

"Imprisonment, fines, and/or the pillory." Eric felt bad for his young guests when he saw their disappointed faces. "As soft as Reginald Forsythe is, he would never last long in a prison or a pillory, and he can no longer afford to pay fines. I seriously doubt that his uncle and Tristan would come to his aid no matter what."

Before Ben could speak in anger about what should be done about Forsythe, Felicity said quickly, "Reginald does not frighten me. Even I could beat him senseless. 'Tis his cousin I am afraid of. He had been burned and will want revenge, as we have already discussed. What can the law do about him?"

Eric sighed thoughtfully. "The courts do not rely on a woman's testimony as they really should, but with me to back you, I believe we can charge him with abuse of slave women and attempted physical harm to you. We can convince the authorities that his burns were the results of his unchristianly behavior." From the way he paused, Felicity knew he was about to ask or say something she wasn't going to like. "Now, Felicity, Reginald and Tristan cannot go unpunished. I have to know now, would you be willing to press charges, or will I have to take it upon myself to do so."

Ben wanted to say something, obviously, for he squirmed in his seat and looked barely controllable, but Felicity just stared at the table-top. The duke was waiting for an answer, and putting it off would not do any of them any good, so she frowned and inquired, "Does this mean I would have to see the Forsythes again, your grace?"

"I will not lie to you, Felicity. Most likely it will."

Ben could not stay quiet a moment longer. " Why should she? Has she not been through enough hell because of them already?"

"It is all right, Ben," Felicity said firmly, giving him her best reassuring look. "The duke can protect me, not that I need it, and I suppose you will be with me if I have to see them again?"

He gripped her hand on the table supportively. "Oh absolutely! No one can keep me from you, ever again, Lissie. You cannot get rid of me. I am gong to spend the rest of my life at your side!"

She smiled meagerly. Said Lord Eric, "I had hoped you would be brave for me, Felicity, and for Lettie. If she is still at the Forsythe estate, then I can help you get her out of there."

"Oh would you?" Relief and gladness washed over her pale face. "Then yes, I can be brave. Of course I can be brave! I don't want to leave without her! Do you know yet if she is alive?"

"No." He looked grave. "But you know where the slave quarters are. If you had to look for her- if she is alive- would you know all the places to look?"

"Yes!" She sat bolt upright in her chair. "I do hate to admit it, but I do know the dark corners of that place and where the slaves are kept. 'Tis abominable!"

"Oh Lissie," sighed Ben, with love in his eyes and hate for her having to know that as well. "I shall be right by your side!"

"Excellent," Lord Covington murmured, pleased. "Then the both of you will be accompanying myself, my lawyer, a constable and quite possibly guards to the Forsythe estate tomorrow."

"Yes!" Felicity gulped nervously. Her mental reaction was Oh dear Lord, I'm going back. I am going to be back in that place that nearly killed me. Forsythe Manor...I swore I'd never go back. Now I'm going back!

Her anxious face must have been saying it all, for Ben put his arm about her shoulders as he told her with confidence, "I will be with you, Lissie. I will see to it that none of those bastards hurt you ever again!"

She nodded wordlessly, no longer feeling up to eating anymore. She had successfully finished one full plate, but finishing a second was now out of the question. "I know you won't, Ben," she said softly.

A figure in the doorway caught all of their attentions. Lazlo entered the room, bowed briefly and said, "You have company, your grace. Or rather, the young lady does."

"Me?" Felicity gulped, her natural reaction these days to become worried and nervous: was it Tristan? Had the Forsythes found her? Beside her, Ben sighed. Felicity did not know that Ben had just figured out who it might be.

Eric rose slowly, laid his cloth napkin down. "I will see to this, Miss Felicity. Do remain here, please."

"Ye-yes, of course." She took a deep breath.

Ben leaned close to her. "Remember I told you I had some surprises for you?" One of his fingers stroked her cheek affectionately. "If I am correct in my thinking, this should be one, or two I should say, of those surprises."

She gazed at him uncertainly, and it pained him to know that she still did not trust him yet. But it was okay, he had no right to expect more than that. It only made him more determined to make her see that he was sorry and that he loved her more than life itself.

Lazlo reappeared in the doorway, smiling. "Miss Felicity, the duke requests your presence in the foyer. 'Twould seem all is well with these guests of yours."

Ben looked a little disappointed, for he still wanted to have Felicity all to himself. Couldn't Elizabeth have waited until tomorrow at the least?

"Thank you, Laz," Felicity said nervously, then turned to Ben. "Are you coming with me?"

"Ha!" replied Ben, relenting to a grin. "Just you try going anywhere without me!" He rose, held her chair as she stood, then offered her his arm. Following Laz, Felicity found it difficult to breathe. But if the duke said all was well, then she should trust him, right? But still...in her present state of mind she couldn't fully trust anyone or anything unless she judged it with her own eyes. She took a deep breath.

"Felicity!" a dear, sweet all-too-familiar voice rang out in the main hall. And just as it was when she set eyes upon Ben Davidson yesterday for the first time in months, the sight of Elizabeth Cole coming at her in a flurry of rapid, petite footsteps and grabbing her into a manic hug was overwhelming!

"Eliza...Elizabeth?" she stammered, her green eyes filling with tears uncontrollably as she slowly responded, wrapping her arms about the tiny figure of her friend. "Is it...really you?"

"Yes, yes!" cried Elizabeth, hugging her ferociously. "Oh Lissie, I'm so sorry! So very, very sorry! Oh how I've missed you! Please tell me you are all right, oh tell me!"

Felicity sniffed, trembled and lapsed into crying herself. "I'm well now, Beth. I am well."

"Oh praise the Lord we found you!"

Both young woman cried quietly while the duke and Lazlo stood nearby, having turned away slightly so that they would not be overcome by the emotional scene themselves. Yet another familiar voice rang out, "Felicity! I say! Have you forgotten me?"

Gasping, Felicity raised her head from Elizabeth's shoulder and beheld her friend Arthur Pratt, striding forward from the main doors where he had been standing. The bright-faced, beaming blond Brit opened his arms wide and gathered both Elizabeth and Felicity to himself in a joyous embrace. "You are alive!" he exclaimed happily. "At last! We are all together as we should always be!"

Felicity looked at Elizabeth through watery, emotional eyes, and said "Elizabeth...does this mean you and Arthur are..."

Elizabeth laughed through her tears, "Yes! I told him I absolutely refused to marry him until he helped me bring you home!"

"I am but a husband in training," said Arthur, blushing brightly.

"I thought everything had been ruined!" Felicity cried in wonder. "Our friendship, our lives, everything!"

"Oh no, Lissie!" Elizabeth insisted, clasping her best friend pale face with warm hands. "Everything is not ruined! 'Tis all my fault, all of this, simply because I didn't wait to find out the truth of what I saw! Your father was right when he said you cannot always trust your eyes! You have to trust your heart!"

"Elizabeth, how could you ever think that I could do such a thing!" Felicity sniffed wretchedly. "Of course I love Arthur, just as I love you! The two of you are part of my family! He is merely the second brother I never had. I could never-!"

"I know, I know!" Elizabeth's heartbreak and self-loathing was as plain on her face as Felicity had seen it on Ben's. "Believe me, Lissie, I have suffered for my behavior, just as Ben has, all of this time! It was just a horrible thing to endure with you gone! God forgive me, Lissie, for being so weak! Can you ever, ever forgive me?"

There was a tense pause, then Felicity beamed, nodded quickly and embraced her friend fiercely again. "I want to get past it all, Beth, truly I do! Once I am home again I know I can heal better, like Father will."

Arthur was misty-eyed, too. He ran a thumb under his nose (for lack of a proper hankie) and sniffed, "We will all be better once we are home again. We can laugh and make merry just as we did before!"

Elizabeth grinned through her tears, clasped Felicity's hands and said, "Yes! We shall all be well again! Arthur and I will marry, and you and Ben shall marry..." She saw Felicity's expression falter, turn uncertain as the emotional red-head glanced back at Ben (who was watching her with brown eyes full of hope). "Lissie, is there somewhere we can go and talk?"

"The gardens, Miss!" This came from Maggie, who had taken it upon herself to never miss an exciting moment in the manor. She had heard the chatter of feminine goings-on from all the way back in the inside-kitchen and came a-runnin'. "There's a lovely walk all around the gardens. Ye can have privacy there while ye do your catchin' up!"

Lord Eric grinned.

"Oh! Pardon me!" said Elizabeth quickly, disengaging herself from Felicity so that she could offer Maggie a proper curtsy, and Arthur bowed. "Elizabeth Cole, ma'am. This is my fiance, Mr. Arthur Pratt. We are both originally from England, but we have been living in the Virginia colony for years. Felicity is our dearest friend in the world and we were determined to find her and take her home to her family."

"Oh I do so love a happy ending!" Maggie beamed, curtsying as well. "I'm Magdalene, Miss, but everyone calls me Maggie, so I hope ye will as well. Any friend of Miss Felicity's a friend of mine. Would ye care for some hot tea after your walk?"

"Yes Ma'am!" said Arthur, eager for eats and drinks.

"Arthur, you are staying put," Elizabeth told him wife-ishly. "This is between Felicity and me, alone. We have so much to talk about, so much to catch up on, that it can only be the two of us."

This did not sit well with Ben, who stepped forward to slip an arm about Felicity's too-slender waist. "Elizabeth, I cannot let Felicity out of my sight. I promised her that I wouldn't, and I have broken too many promises to her already. I will not break another."

"It is all right, Ben," Felicity assured him calmly, collecting herself mentally. "The gardens are well protected. I need this time with Elizabeth, you must understand."

Elizabeth actually glared at Ben. "According to what the innkeeper's stableboy told us about your going off on your own yesterday morning, you've had time with Felicity alone already! You did not wait for us, like I wanted you to."

Ben sighed. "I did not come all of this way just to sit around and wait, Elizabeth. You meant well, but my life depended on getting her back, and no one was going to keep me from her."

"Ben Davidson, I was not trying to keep you-"

"Stop this arguing," Felicity intrrupted tiredly. "I realize the both of you care about me, and it means ever so much. But arguing will accomplish nothing. There are two Forsythe men in this country who are after me, one of them for revenge, and the other simply because he is an obsessive lunatic. The last thing I need is arguing between two people I love so very much! Has there not been enough pain and anger caused by the Forsythes already? Please, for sanity's sake at least, let there be no more ill feelings among the four of us!"

"Well said, Miss Felicity." This came from Lord Covington, who came forward with a smile."I have gathered that this has been quite a war for you, and war makes the young feel very old. Is that not correct, Mr. Davidson?"

Ben didn't know what irked him more: the fact that the duke was correct, or the fact that the duke had a charming, winning smile aimed directly at Felicity. He forwned. "You have been in a war...sir?"

"Oh yes, young man, indeed I have." Eric smiled abidingly. "I fought against the Spanish at sea. I was a part in Britain's capture of Havana. Yes, son, I know war all too well. One does not need to be engaged with weapons to experience it, either."

Ben didn't like being called 'son,' either, but he was humbled by the duke's admission of having been active in war. If only the man would stop smiling at Felicity like that! Out of sheer curiosity, Ben asked, "You were a naval officer?"

"Yes. Promoted all the way to captain before succombing to tropical fevers, which reduced me to uselessness as long as I was in such tropical climates. I was terribly upset that I had to be sent back home as close to my death bed as I have ever been."

"Aye!" agreed Maggie, chiming in as witness. "We thought his time had come he was so bad off! Took 'im a good two years of 'is young life to get back to health, and even then the fevers returned now and then. I tell ye, it takes a lot out of a man, those tropic fevers! If Lady Eve hadn't been visiting-" She stopped, looking at the duke as if she expected to be scolded for bringing up the late duchess so brazenly.

" 'Tis all right, Maggie. Yes, if my late wife had not come to visit me during the time I was ill, I might not have gotten better at all. Of course, she and I were only courting then, but I knew then she loved me and that fact alone was my salvation."

"And Felicity is mine," Ben told him firmly, yet without malice."I cannot ever lose her again."

"Ben, please," Felicity said. "I will be perfectly fine in the gardens with Elizabeth. She and I need to talk. Give me this, will you?"

After a moment, he smiled and drew her to him to kiss her cheek. "Never could refuse you, Lissie. At least let me walk you out?"

She could have been bitter and told him 'Yes, you did refuse me. The morning you left me behind Father's store." But she didn't feel like being bitter, not with Elizabeth and Arthur here, two other people she thought she would never see again. Hatred was such a horrible feeling; a nasty, sickeneing feeling that weighed the heart down and tortured the soul. She did not like being angry. It was so exhausting! Her fingers absently smoothed down the collar of his coat. "Very well, Ben."

He removed his coat and draped about her shoulders so that she needn't go upstairs to fetch her cloak. Elizabeth, Felicity and Ben curtsied and bowed in respect to Lord Covington and exited toward the back of the manor. Ben took Felicity's arm as they went. He felt anxious and nervous about letting her out of his sight. Even here. He no longer trusted fate. Softly he said, "You will not be long, will you?"

She sighed tolerantly. "No, Ben, I will not."

"But we are in no hurry," scolded Elizabeth, flashing Ben a irritated look. "Felicity and I need to have some time together. You can entertain Arthur for a while."

Felicity smiled.

"Arthur is already engaged in conversation with Lord Covington about the sheep hanging around out front. He entertains himself." Ben looked just as irritated.

"Then just stand about and brood, like you did aboard the ship." suggested Elizabeth, her annoyance growing. "You managed just fine like that."

"Well why can you not-"

"The both of you are doing it again." Felicity rubbed her forehead tiredly. "No more arguing or I swear I will put myself to bed and stay there until your spats are over!"

They got quiet.

As they emerged from the back doors and out onto the grand patio, Elizabeth dared to inquire, "Felicity, why are there so many sheep clustered on the front lawn?"

She chuckled softly. "I'll tell you what I know, but even I can't figure it out."

Looking quzzical, Elizabeth hooked her arm through her friend's as Ben released Felicity at the top of the steps leading down to the garden paths. He looked out over the hedge maze, which Elizabeth was also amazed by, and watched the two young ladies veer off to the left of the maze arm-in-arm. His stomach was in knots. No way could he just go back inside and wait. He just got Felicity back and now she was out of his sight again. It made him so feel so damn empty. His arms ached to hold her tight, his mouth hungered to become reacquainted with hers, his eyes burned to look her over.

He was in love like never before.

He sat down at the top of the steps to wait. It was cool out, not cold, but somewhere between winter and spring. He folded his arms over his knees and imagined what it would be like to enter the maze and get lost in it with Felicity. It was a fantasy he was really getting into when he heard footsteps behind and then beside him. The duke. He looked up questioningly.

"I have invited your friends to stay here at Bel Hall until the ship is ready. There was no need for their carriage to remain. I hope you do not mind."

Actually, Ben did mind. He wanted to go back to the Stag's Head Inn where he could have Felicity to himself. But to refuse the duke's kindness would not only unfairly insult him, but upset Felicity as well, seeing as how she clearly enjoyed it here. His reply was casual. "Of course not, sir. Thank you."

To his surprise, Lord Covington sat down beside him. "I know something is on your mind, young Ben. I can see it in your eyes even if I do not know you very well. There are some people who cannot help but wear their feelings on their faces because their hearts are so full of passion that they cannot hold it all in. At least that was my late wife's reasoning. I have found it to be true on many occasions. So I know what it is you want to ask. Ask it."

At first Ben felt awkward, not knowing quite what to make of this man, this duke, who was both friend and rival, it seemed. He hesitated, then figured it could cause no further harm. "Are you in live with Felicity?"

Eric Covington smiled and looked out over his own hedge maze absently. He let the tension between them linger just a moment longer before replying, "No, Ben, I am not." He heard Ben's breath release, then quickly added, "But that doesn't mean I was not tempted to be. What can I say? She is a beautiful, spirited little thing, even if she tries to hide it behind her mask of suspicion. This house has been devoid of a woman's lovliness and warmth, and your Felicity has been the first ray of light to have entered into it in three years. Oh, now don't look so concerned, Davidson. I would think that everyone falls in love with the girl in their own fashion when they meet her. My Evangeline was quite like that. No, I harbour no romantic feelings for her. Only admiration and friendship. You have nothing to fear from me."

Now Ben felt guilty! "I'm sorry, sir, your grace, for being so hot-headed. I just...I just love her so much."

"I know. 'Tis obvious."

He turned red. "Do you think she can forgive me for the way I acted that morning? I mean, she must have told you about how horrible I was to her...didn't she?"

Eric nodded slowly, his face showing no judgement or superiority. "She mentioned that her fiance abandoned her when she needed him most, that he did not believe her when she was telling him the truth. She did not mention names, but one doesn't need to have been schooled at Eton to put the pieces together." He watched Ben's gaze fall ashamedly. "Oh now don't be so self-sorry, lad. You made a mistake and now you have to make amends. Do not push for more than she can give you as of now. She can forgive, but not forget. So rather than beg her to forget, allow her to heal. It may take time, but it is not impossible." He grinned. "Let love decide when the time is right."

Ben nodded, feeling easier now. Lord Covington wasn't so bad after all. His titles of 'duke' and 'lord' had made him seem so intimidating and demanding of respect and formality at first, but beneath the titles, the air of wealth and power, he was just a man. A man who still loved his deceased wife and was obviously lonely, as all human beings got from time to time. Once again, you nearly judged someone unfairly, he chided himself irately. How many more times are you going to hurt and insult someone before they just whip out a pistol and shoot you dead just to shut you up?

Ben straightened himself a bit as Lord Eric began to rise, and asked, "Sir, if you don't mind me asking...why are there so many sheep clustered on your front lawn?"

Eric just grinned and shook his head.

Author's News: On the night of the 24th I will be posting a Felicity and Ben one-shot Christmas piece, a sweet little gift for the best readers and reviewers in the world! Recently found out that I hadn't been getting any reviewer alerts because there is something going on with lj and AOL, a sort of 'disturbance in the e-mail force' and it would just figure that I had an AOL address. So I switched to , which is more appropriate for phoenixes, anyway. Hope you guys will like the one-shot!