The entire household was up at dawn the next morning with Felicity's parents to see them off. As Williamsburg was just beginning to stir, Mr. and Mrs. Merriman climbed into the carriage, Rose handed Mrs. Merriman a basket of provisions, and away they went.

Once the carriage was out of sight, Rose, Marcus, and the youngest three went back inside. Ben, too, turned to go in that direction, but turned when he noticed Felicity wasn't following.

She stood with her eyes closed, her face tilted upward towards the sky. Sunlight caught strands of her red hair, making them seem as though they were strands of live fire, blown a little by a slight breeze. He had a sudden desire to know what it would feel like to run his hands through it. He tucked the thought away for later.

"Felicity?" He walked back to stand beside her. "What, pray tell, are you doing?"

She started a little before she turned to him and he was sorry to have ruined the picturesque scene. "I love this time of day. The world is just coming alive and for all we know we could be the only people in it. It's quiet and peaceful. It's the time of day that makes me think along the lines of God's in Heaven and all is right with the world. I used to love to take Penny for a ride about now."

"You used to?"

"I've gotten caught up with helping Mother. Doing all of those things makes one tired. I just haven't made time for it in so long." She sighed a little.

"Maybe you should."

"Perhaps I will. I'd best be seeing to the children."

She turned and went up the path towards the house.

"Felicity." He called after her.

She turned to him. "Yes?"

He walked forward until he was once again at her side. "It would appear I was wrong about you."

"How so?"

"You seem to have become quite the little gentlewoman housewife." She smiled up at him, merriment in her brown eyes. "Am I wrong?" he asked.

"You shall have to wait and see, now won't you? Now, come on. Let's go role play."

He laughed to see her look around covertly before hauling up her many skirts and petticoats and running the rest of the way inside. He ran after her.

As he took off his hat and placed it on its assigned peg. "You are a scandal, Felicity Merriman." He hissed.

"You should be used to it. You've known me half my life. And besides, you don't really mind."

"You should though. Some man might see your" he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Lower appendages."

Felicity laughed off his discomfort. "It was just you. Otherwise, I am very careful."

"I'm human too, you know."

"Benjamin Davidson!" she shrieked. "Whatever is that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I would like to be acknowledged as something other than 'just' Ben."

Felicity sobered. "Well, maybe you all ready are more than 'just Ben'."

He had no idea what to say to that, so he said nothing.

In the space of an hour, Felicity was handing Ben a basket containing his and Marcus' lunch and he was heading for the door, Marcus having gone before him.

"So long as we're role playing," Polly observed innocently enough from behind Felicity. "This is where Father always says, 'Good day, Wife'."

Felicity turned as if to rebuke her sister, but Ben caught Felicity's elbow instead.

With a bright smile and a courtly bow he said, "Good day, Housewife."

Felicity just stared after him bug-eyed as he walked away towards town.

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