V

More terrified than he'd ever been in his life, Ben stood before the shabby door and raised his fist. Lissie was thankfully absent. He hoped she'd stay well away from the front of the house until things were settled. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to knock.

There was no answer, so he knocked again; louder now.

The door whinged open to allow Jiggy Nye a peek.

"Sir…"

"Well? Speak up, I can't hear ye!" he rasped.

"Sir! I've come to… That is... Will you let Felicity go?"

"What!?" the way he squinted, Ben couldn't tell if he was half-blind, or perpetually angry.

"I have a little money… will you let her go for this?" He timidly held out all his hard earned savings.

Jiggy Nye laughed a short, humourless laugh. "Get out. I knew ye'd be trouble. She's mine, and ye can't have her!"

"But sir..." his voice wavered as he tried to choke back tears. "I don't mean to keep her, like you do. It isn't right, making her starve and striking her when you're angry. If... if you need some work done, I'll do it for you. Please let her go."

"You mean to preach me right and wrong?" he sneered. "Who do ye think ye are, boy? Get off my land, or I'll beat you, and her right after!"

Ben trembled in his boots, but he didn't move. That couldn't be the end of it. He had worked so hard. He had mustered up the courage to come. He couldn't...

"Well!" Jiggy snarled, "Get!" And he slammed the door on Ben.

-x-

Ben pushed his peas to one side of his plate and stabbed an attempted roll-away with a despondent scowl.

"Do you not like peas, Ben?"

He snapped to attention, remembering where he was, and simultaneously, his table manners as well.

"I'm sorry, sir," he answered Mr. Merriman.

"You seem to have some weighty matter pressing upon your mind. What is it, lad? You can tell me."

Ben didn't want to answer. Not when he was so wretchedly ashamed of his failure.

Fortunately, he was spared the trial by a commotion at the door. The housemaid was having difficulty sending someone away during supper.

Jiggy Nye made it past her by rough force, and stomped his way into the dining room. Ben jumped up in fright.

"Tell yer boy to stay away from my house!" he shouted with a crooked finger curved in Ben's direction. "He has no business there, insulting me with his penny pieces."

Mr. Merriman remained in his seat, but looked to his apprentice. "Ben?"

He spoke to Jiggy Nye, rather than answering Mr. Merriman. His fists were clenched tight, and he realised he'd picked up his knife by instinct. "You're a cruel and wicked man, and don't deserve to care for Lissie!"

"Lissie, eh? So you have pet names between ye, now? I'm warning ye, Merriman, you keep that boy away from my daughter! I'll not give up what's mine by right! I'll be hanged if I do!"

Feeling he'd said enough, Jiggy Nye went out with as much shouting and cursing as he'd come in. Not knowing how else to behave, Ben sat back down and stared forlorn into his plate.

After Jiggy Nye had gone, there was a long stretch of uncomfortable silence before Mr. Merriman broke it by saying, "I thought you were telling tales from boredom or loneliness. I ask your forgiveness."

Ben looked up hopefully. "Will you help us?"

"There's nothing to be done. I'm afraid she belongs to him by law. He's her father."

"But he beats her! And starves her!"

"I'm sorry, Ben."

"What if she was your daughter?" Ben strove to hide the fact that tears were teasing their way out of his eyes. It was not manly to cry, and he would have to walk away from the table soon before Mr. Merriman noticed.

"The fact is she is not. She is Jiggy Nye's daughter, and that is why nothing can be done."

"I don't believe you. Something can be done. And I'll find out what it is." His lip trembled from fighting back the angry tears.

"Ben, don't cause trouble with our neighbours. If you incite Mr. Nye's anger, he'll retaliate not only to you, but to the girl."

"Felicity. Her name is Felicity."

"Ben…"

He glowered at the table. "May I be excused?"

Mr. Merriman sighed. "Yes."

He turned on his heel, but paused a moment and looked over his shoulder. "You don't think he'll hurt her because of me... do you?"

"I don't know, Ben. I do wish you wouldn't meddle."

And meddle he would not. At least, not so far as Jiggy Nye would have knowledge of. He would not give up his only friend. He would not leave poor Lissie alone.

Author's Note:

You may or may not have noticed, but I recently changed the rating for this story from T to M. For sensitive readers, you need not be alarmed for things of a lemony nature, but for violence and language at a later time, I would rather be safe than sorry. I made a sticky note for myself so I wouldn't forget to announce this change in rating, and it says...

Apologise to the children. Because now they can't read it.

So, I'm sorry, children! Wait until you're older. Or do what I always did, and read it at your best friend's house so your siblings don't rat you out. Imeanwhat?