"Polly, William, it's time for you to go to bed now." Felicity said a while after supper.
Ben was in the parlor with his master's children.
The children didn't object to their sister's authority as Ben had anticipated, Polly just set aside her doll and William his book, and then they went to leave.
"Will," Felicity asked her brother at the doorway. "Do you feel well?"
"Aye, just tired." He answered.
"He worked hard at the store today." Ben praised the boy.
"When Father said to role play, I didn't think he meant me too. I didn't know I was to be apprenticed to the apprentice." A smile tugged at the boy's mouth as he said that. "Good night, Lissie. Good night, Ben."
"Good night." Ben chorused laughingly with Felicity.
The boy disappeared up the stairs to his bedchamber with a smile on his face.
"If you don't mind," Nan set aside her embroidery. "It's been a long day for us all. Do you think it would be all right for me to go up to bed as well?"
"Of course." Felicity answered.
"Very well then." Nan folded her sampler, put it away, and went up the stairs after her younger siblings.
Ben saw Felicity bite at her lip for a second, before she returned to her mending.
"Oh." The mending reminded him.
He jumped up from his chair and retrieved the torn article of clothing he had brought inside.
"Can you fix these?" He pointed to the rip in the knee of the breeches.
"Certainly. Just put them to the basket."
Ben did as ordered, and then set down at the desk in the corner of the room to tally the day's sales for the store. He looked over at Felicity, her head bent back over the mending, as a thought came to mind.
"Will I get them back?" he asked teasingly.
She looked up in surprise."Get what back?"
"My breeches."
"Benjamin Davidson, you are merciless!"
"I like teasing you."
"Why me?"
"It makes you smile." He sobered. "I haven't been around many smiles recently." He saw that her thoughts had turned darker with that, and he mentally sought out something to drive them away. "I like seeing you smile." He shrugged. "I like you, Felicity Merriman."
She blushed. "This role play idea is getting to your head."
"I disagree. If it had gotten to my head I think I would have called you Mistress Davidson by now."
She looked up at him, eyes widened in shock. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Ben chuckled. "Felicity Merriman, are you speechless?"
She recovered herself. "No. Of course not. I'm going to bed."
She put away the mending and turned to leave. On a whim, Ben said to her retreating person, "Good night, Mistress Davidson."
Felicity paused for a millisecond before continuing to the stairs. "Good night, Ben. Sleep well."
"Felicity," He followed after her and met her at the bottom of the staircase. "Don't you like me?"
"Aye, certainly. Since we were young."
"That's not what I mean and you very well know it."
"I know exactly what you mean, and I told you the exact truth. Nan has said I cried like a widow the day you left for the militia."
"Did you?"
"Aye. I suppose I must have. Father threatened to drag you back here if I didn't stop."
"But if you felt the way you say you did, didn't you want me back here?"
"Aye, but no. You wanted the militia; you wanted to fight for your country. Doing so made you happy, and that's what I wanted – for you to be happy. I knew you would come back."
"Felicity…" He was the speechless one now.
"It's not past tense, Ben."
His brow crinkled in confusion before she explained.
"You said I 'felt' and 'did want'. It's not past tense. I still 'feel'. I still 'want'. I still love you, Benjamin Davidson."
His heart soared in his chest at hearing the confession from her lips. He pulled her close until her head rested above his heart.
"I love you too, Felicity Merriman. I always have. Ever since your mother fell ill when Polly was born, I knew I wanted you. Would you agree to that? Do you think you could have me for a husband?"
She stepped back to look into his eyes. Twin jade-colored pools looked at him intently. He had a feeling she was taking him in.
"Aye, Ben. I can agree to it. What of my father though? What of your apprenticeship?"
"I would think that my apprenticeship would have nothing to do with it. I'll be here all ready, either way. That doesn't change. Your father…" he let the thought trail away. "Let's not worry tonight, let's just be happy. The war is over. We're practically engaged. I'm back where I belong, with you. Let's just rejoice. Or are you really tired?"
"I'm both, happy and tired. I think I'd like to go to bed now."
"All right." He kissed her on the forehead and up the staircase she went. He called after her. "Goodnight, Mistress Davidson."
Please review and check out my other stories (on FictionPress too)! I'm really sorry it took me so long to get this written.