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Felicity POV
The next morning I awoke and on my nightstand was a note from Elisabeth. I picked it up before rolling onto my back with a sigh. I broke the seal easily but fumbled to open the page. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I read her perfect crisp handwriting.

Spring Party is in a week invite Ben to be your escort. Also, can you have him being around my dress I lent you the day when it rained?
Love,
Elisabeth

I dropped the note with a groan. I didn't fully understand the meaning of her note but, I understood it enough. I grabbed my loose leaf journal entries and assumed a slouched upright position. Elisabeth is doing well. Okay. I thought as I read. Ben and I aren't on the best terms right now because of my awkwardness. John Cole, father's newest apprentice is ill and hence can't be my escort to the party. Glancing at the note I knew what Elisabeth meant. With an exasperated sigh I propelled myself backward hitting the mattress less elegantly than anticipated. Ouch.

I heard my door swing open. "Nan?" I asked sitting up tucking my papers away.
I was right. Nan twirled into my room announcing, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man happy, healthy, and wise."
"Catchy, you could write a book" I quipped
"And true, however; that's Benjamin Franklin for you," Nan replied stopping at the foot of my bed.
"Franklin who and is everything okay?"
"Benjamin Franklin, a powerful man who is doing his part for the war and yes everything is fine as long as you are okay," Nan chirped while playing with one of her golden ringlets.
"I'm fine. Just overslept?" I guessed.
Nan nodded, "Mother figured you needed it. But, Tis laundry day and the clothes aren't going to wash themselves." She turned to my closet and shuffled through it before pulling out on of the five dresses. "Wear this today!"
I looked at the pink dress hesitantly.
"It will bring out the color in your eyes," Nan continued.
"But if I'm washing clothes shouldn't I wear my shift?" I asked.
"Felicity you are a woman now!" Nan stated, "An apron should suffice you from any calamities. Put it on. Hmm, this dress is Elisabeth's."
I glanced toward the window and saw horses being saddled. I took the dress without complaint and pulled it on. "Um, Nan. Is Father and Ben gone yet?"
"No, almost though."
"Do you know where is Ben going today? Lace me please?" I asked hurriedly turning my back to her.
Nan obliged pulling tighter than I would have, "Anxious are we? There," she tied the ribbons in a bow. "He is spending the morning with Father at the store. Why?"
"I shall tell you later, Nan," I said grabbing Elisabeth's dress and running down the hall.

Nan's POV
"Ladies do not run!" I shouted faintly as possible. "Humph. Poor dear," I said walking to the door to gaze after her, "She still has her nightcap on."

Ben's POV
"Thank you Mr. Merriman," I said accepting the reins to my steed for the day.
I was about to mount when I caught movement in the corner of my eye. Turning I saw Felicity. She was dressed in a pretty pink flowing dress that made her eyes shine. When Felicity stopped by her father I noticed there was a dress in her arms.
"Good Morning Lissie, dear!" Mr. Merriman greeted her.
"Good morning father," she responded.
"We missed you at the breakfast table," he paused and nodded at her head. Felicity's arms juggled the dress as her hands flew to her head. Feeling the nightcap she pulled it off hastily. Her perfect face flooded different shades of red to match her hair.
I turned away to hide my smile.
"Thank you Father," she said, "Are you both going into town today?"
"Yes, darling. Do you need anything thing?" He replied.
"Not really, just a word with Ben if you have the time," Felicity said casting a glance my way.
I turned at the sound of my name while Mr. Merriman said, lot course. I should get a going though. Ben, meet me in town?"
I nodded with a, "Yes, sir."
Felicity, reached up and gave her Father a peck on his cheek, "Have a lovely day, Father."
With a "Thank you!" He was off.

I watched Felicity wave him off wondering what she wanted to talk to me about. Once he rounded the corner she turned to me saying, "Good morning Ben."
"Good morning Felicity."
She let out a nervous chuckle, "So, I hear you are a good dress deliver."
"Yes, I have experience," I confirmed.
"Great," she paused, "Elisabeth gave me this dress to borrow the other day and I was wondering if you have time to return it?"
"Of course," I replied taking the dress.
"Thank you, she is expecting it. Maybe she wants to wear it this weekend."
This weekend? "Perhaps, I'm sure she will be grateful to have it back," I assured her.
"Aye, tis a lovely dress for spring and all," she hesitantly said.
Unsure what to say I said, "That it is."
Felicity bit her lip. I continued, "I hope you slept well?"
The question caught her a bit off guard but, she replied, "Quite well and you?"
"Very well, now I'm ready for a day of unloading boxes and training."
"I see, how is everything at the camp?" She asked in her normal voice.
"Fine, thank you," I started.
"Good, I suppose you are packing up to head out within the week?" She asked.
"Yes, well we are expected to leave Sunday morning," he confirmed.
"I see. Well, I wouldn't want to keep you up. Will you be home for supper?"
Home. "I will be here," I reassured.
"Thank you again Ben and have a good day," Felicity said.
"I will and Felicity?" I paused and she stood waiting, "You look very nice today. The pink in your dress really highlights your eyes."
She stood and flushed a light pink, "Why thank you."
There was another awkward moment before she continued, "Thank you," she started walking backwards, "Have a nice day!"
She turned and headed back to the house.
"You have a lovely day as well Felicity!" I called out while mounting my horse.
She turned and rewarded me with her dimpled smile.
I waved and with a slight nudge I rode off thinking, What a perfect start to the day.

Nan's POV
 It is a younger sister's duty to watch over her older siblings. I firmly believe this to be the case and strive to make sure my older sister, Felicity, is behaving herself, using proper manners, and to prevent making a complete fool of her. So I stand under the shade of the house watching Felicity and Ben talk. It is rather painful to watch them honestly. I can hear most of the conversation where I am perched and it sounds like they are both meeting for the first time.
Oh! Felicity is heading this way. I quickly duck further into the shadow but, I must not be quicker enough, "Nan!"
I stepped forward with my caught in the cookie jar smile, "Morning Felicity. Are you enjoying the fresh morning air?"
She frowned, "I didn't think it was ladylike to spy on people."
"True," I paused, "Don't frown it clouds up your beautiful green eyes."
Felicity's mouth opened and then shut. I stifled a giggle before turning to go into the house.
"Arg, Nan!" She whined behind me.
"The least you could do is thank me," I returned with a smile. Felicity followed me inside where we were stopped by Mother.
"Mother?" I asked sweetly, "Shall we start laundry soon?"
"Yes, dear. Will you two gather any other articles of clothing?" Mother asked.
"Yes Mother," we responded before peeling off into different directions.

Felicity POV
Maybe Ben is clueless about the spring party. Maybe he is too busy being the day before and all. Perhaps he doesn't want to take me. I'm a miserable hinter! I stopped on the top step and picked up the basket I was to fill with clothes that needed to be washed. Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't go. I don't have any one to bring me. I don't really want to go. But, Elisabeth and Na- no just Elisabeth will miss me.
I grabbed all my dresses and gave them a shake from one skirt pocket a book tumbled out. I saw my name written in ink on the cover and I slid it
under my pillow for safekeeping till later.

An hour or two later we all found ourselves around a huge tub filled with warm water. Mother and Rose were hard at work scrubbing the clothes that Polly handed to them. Nan squeezed them dry and since I had a few inches on her, I got the job of hanging the articles of clothing on the line.
I was nearly finished hanging a round of stockings and shifts when Nan came around with a basket of dresses.
"Tis a lovely day for drying," Nan said holding up one dress. She started hanging it up on the far right end of the line.
"It is," I agreed taking a dress and throwing it over a bush.
"And these are lovely dresses. Have you decided what to wear to the party this Saturday?" Nan asked straightening the dress on the bush.
"No, I don't know if I want to attend," I confessed.
"You must come Lissie," Nan insisted, "We are in the middle of a war. You should jump at this opportunity and have some fun."
She picked up another dress. The dress looked like a nicer form of my pink dress I was wearing. She plucked gingerly at the lace that hemmed the sleeves and hem. "You should wear this one." Nan suggested.
I glanced over the basket before picking up a light blue floral dress, "And you should wear this one."
Nan hung up my suggested dress, "Perhaps, I do like the color. Felicity, who is escorting you to the party?"
I gave the blue dress an extra shake before pinning it up on the clothes line.
"Honestly I don't know. John Cole asked me a while ago but, his poor soul is stuck in bed rather ill," I stated.
"Tis too bad. Lady Templeton was telling everyone at the store what an amazing couple you make," Nan continued when she saw me roll my eyes at the word 'everyone', "Well, just a few prominent ladies. They all feel for you that he is stuck to his bed."

Was that a tone of jealously? I shook my head, "I'm sorry I caused them a morsel of grief. I really hope for his sake that he gets better. I hope nothing develops in his lungs."
"As do I," came Nan's determined voice.
I glanced up to see Nan laying the last dress out. I asked, "Who is bring you to the party?"
Nan scratched her head, "I suppose we both don't have a partner. Father suggested he will happily take me but, I don't know."
I nodded understandably.
"Well, let us go see what Mother has for us now," Nan changed the subject while picking up the basket. "Shall we?"

A few more hours found all our hands red and our foreheads covered in sweat. We had exchanged jobs to give each other a break. Now from my seat on the couch I sat mending.
Mending too! Of all the days. Can't we give our hands a break? I thought as I stabbed my needle into a ripped hem of a dress. I know the answer Mother wanted to wash everything.
"Sorry Lissie," Mother said leaning over my work, "We only have a few articles of clothing that need mending. I'll work on washing them when we are finished."
I smiled apologetically, "Tis fine, Mother."
Nan sat up straighter and her hands flew over the ripped apron. "Felicity," she educated me, "Sewing is extremely important for a young lady."
"I'm sure," I agreed half heartily.
"Miss Ross sewed to show her support by sewing a flag to represent the colonies," Nan informed.
"I would like to see it," I commented.
"I would too. As for now the newspaper article will have to suffice," Nan sighed, "However, I thought you were seeing her flag on your sampler."
I am? I stopped seeing and pulled my sampler out of the nearby basket. I squinted and just saw lines of white and red.
Nan scooted next to me and squished her nose, "Your lines have gotten rather uneven."
"Thank you," I said exasperatedly.
"No, no don't be discouraged. See these are the stripes." Her finger traced the red and white lines. "And of course," her finger landed on the light sketch of thirteen squiggly circles, "Those are the stars representing our desire to achieve greatness."
I saw the knotted blue thread bordering the edge making a square. I am nearly finished. Surprising. "Perhaps they also represent a new constellation. They almost define the colonies as a shining constant that will last forever more."
"How did my young ladies become so wise," Mother smiled picking up the last of the mending.
I blushed and glanced down at my now finished mending.
"I'm very proud of my young ladies," Mother continued while gathering the mending. "I love you all."
"We love you too Mother," we chimed.
"Now, thank you for helping. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon," and with that Mother was gone.
Nan pulled her sampler out. Glancing over at I noticed out of the gray tangled mess of thread emerged the cover of Mother's silver tea pot. I glanced at mine and picked up the needle with blue thread attached to it. I stuck my needle in a few times before stitching my first stitch. After a few more I realized they were uneven. Squinting might help. I squinted and it made it look better. I stitched some more in happy silence until I decided I had made enough of one mess today.
I set my sampler down when I heard Nan say, "Are you finished already?"
I picked it up, "I was considering it. Why?"
"Don't quit. You are almost finished," Nan encouraged.
I glanced at my sampler and couldn't help but notice a good two more inches of blue I had left to sew. Those inches looked like feet right about now. "Thanks, Nan. I think I'll wait for now."
Nan glanced over, "I could outline the stars for you."
"Thanks for the offer," I started.
"Please, if you are going to make the flag properly you have to have stars," she half begged.
I squinted at my flag and saw what she meant. My sewing wasn't horrible but the stitches had a tendency to vary in size making the circle of stars horribly close losing its formation. "If it won't be any trouble." I finally said.
Nan's blue eyes nearly glowed. "Not at all!"
I passed my sampler over before relaxing back. Nan fell to work. First my feet started tapping on the floor absentmindedly. Next, as if my hand had a mind of their own, the started playing each other. Time passed slowly as Nan's head stayed bent over our samplers.
"Felicity?" I heard Nan ask.
I looked up from admiring the floor boards, "What?"
"Are you making that drowning noise?"
I glanced around, "I must be."
"You don't have to stay. I am nearly done though." Nan stated.
"I think I ran out of patience so, I'll check on Penny." I stood up, "Thank you again."
"You are welcome," Nan said, "don't worry I'll leave some of your sampler to finish." She shot me her half saint half devil smile and I just smiled back.

I found Penny in good spirits and took her for a long ride. Upon returning to the barn I quickly untacked noticing the hour. Mother was surely finishing setting the table for supper now. As I hung up Penny's bridle I heard Father and Ben approaching. I opened the barn door before they could dismount.
"Good evening Father, Ben." I greeted.
"Good evening Felicity," Father replied swinging himself off his horse, "How is you today?"
"Fine, thank you. How was your day?" I asked moving toward Ben's horse.
"Very good. I really appreciated Bens help unloading today's delivery."
"And you Ben?" I asked holding the horse still so he could dismount.
"Fine, thank you," Ben replied with swinging his left leg over to dismount. He slowly slid down.
"Long day?" I asked as I noticed his lack of speed.
"Yes, lots of heavy lifting- not that I minded it," he answered.
"That makes two of us and I have the blisters to prove it." I smiled.
Ben took a step closer to look at my tiny blisters that dotted my hand. The rest of my hand was calloused but, the washing and the riding took its toll. He lightly brushed my hand with his finger.
"You should soak your hands," he said concerned.
"They will be alright," I assured shutting my hand.
"I could take a needle to them," Ben offered.
I scrunched up my face.
Ben chuckled and a warm smile spread over his face.
I couldn't help but, smile back and add a chuckle of my own. "I think I'll be fine," I glanced over my shoulder. Father was busy untacking, "I should go inside. Mother probably needs-"
"Okay," Ben nodded.
"Okay," I said, "See you inside."
I waltzed back to the house and made my way into the kitchen.
"Felicity! Where have you been?" Rose said when she saw me.
"I'm sorry I lost track of the time. I was riding Penny," I explained.
"No real harm done but, we were worried," she said as she cut the bread into thick slices.
"Felicity!" Mother's voice rang out as she entered the kitchen.
"I'm sorry Mother," I said.
"Next time don't lose track of the time! The world isn't quite as it used to be either. Just next time come back sooner and stay closer to our house."
"Indians," came Nan's voice as she picked up the white napkins, "Soldiers, guns, wild animals..." Her voice trailed off as she left the room.
"I'm sorry. May I?" I reached for the silverware.
Rose stopped me saying, "Good grief your hands child." Rose zipped around to a cabinet and pulled down ointment. Taking a bit she carefully smeared some on my hands. "Now, keep these," she tied a rag around my right hand, "On. Please."
"I will," I promised.
I went to go back for the Silverware to only be dragged away by Nan. "Come along we have to get ready for supper."
Within a moment I stood staring at my reflection in the world as room mirror. I splashed any dirt away from my face and patted my skin dry with a towel. Nan took my braid out and attacked my red curls with a brush. It soon was calm enough to be pulled up into a braided bun. Nan stuck a few hair pins in and called it good. Nan didn't solicit my help as she refreshed herself.

We found our way into the dining room surrounded by the rest of the family. The ladies took our seats first before Father and Ben did. Ben was directly across from me and shot me a quick smile before lowering his head to pray. I followed in suit as Father blessed our food.

Upon hearing the words, "Amen," we lifted our heads. For supper there was rice with meat and gravy. We all were served in silence until Father broke it, "How was your day, ladies?"
"Lovely," Nan replied.
"Was unloading the delivery any trouble?" I asked glancing at Ben then Father.
Ben was preoccupied chewing so Father replied, "No not with Ben to help. His arm has healed nicely. It was quite a load though. I couldn't help notice a few extra things tucked in there for the party this weekend. In fact Lady Templeton said she looked forward to my daughter's presence this weekend."
"I am quite excited, Father," Nan sang out, "We were just discussing what we were going to wear today."
"And Felicity?" Father asked me.
I felt Ben's eyes on me as I turned to look at Father. Nan cut in, "She doesn't."
Mother cleared her throat stopping Nan in mid-sentence. She fell back to cutting her meat.
"I can't wait." I lied my voice flat.
"I'm glad." Father stated. He dabbed his chin with his napkin before continuing, "It will be a nice opportunity amongst the chaos amongst us. Lady Templeton was insistent that you both come and rather sympathetic about your escort Lissie."
I swallowed my bite and nodded. I reached for my water glass and took a sip. My eyes met Ben's as I lowered the glass and I quickly adverted my eyes. "Yes, I have heard."
"We need not worry about John's feelings," Father explained nicely, "I will happily be both of your escorts unless someone offers." Father's eyes rested on Ben. It was rather obvious.
I hid my smile by taking another long sip of my water. My eyes met Ben's once more and I couldn't hold my smile back. My throat had other plans and soon I found myself coughing. I placed my cup down and coughed into my arm. I suppose I took too big of a sip. I turned my head away from the table and when I turned back around I couldn't help notice the eyes on me. "I'm sorry. The water just went down the wrong way," I explained.
My face must have not been as convincing for it took another minute before they continued eating without staring at me.
"What do you say, Ben. Could you help escort my pretty princesses to the party Saturday afternoon?" Father asked.
I coughed in surprise.
"Are you sure you are fine, dear?" Mother asked.
I nodded and then looked at Ben out of my peripheral. "I'll have to see with my commander since we leave the following day," I heard him explain. He glanced at me and my gaze fell away.

Thankfully the rest of the meal went less awkward. As I was about to retire to bed Ben stopped me at the stairwell.
"Felicity, do you mind- if I get permission- if I accompany you to the party?"
I nodded not trusting my words. I finally said, "Of course, why wouldn't I?"
"Um, I just want sure if the coughing was a hint of some sort," he confessed.
I smiled, "I see how you could think that."
"So we are good?" He confirmed.
"Yes, we are good." I paused, "Will you be in town tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately no. May I ask why?" He asked.
"Just wondering. Father is letting me help in the store." Felicity explained.
"Okay," he nodded, "How are your hands?"
I glanced down at the rags. "They don't hurt," I said lifting one up. As I twisted my hand the rag slipped off. I caught it with my other hand.
"That was a nice catch," Ben said grabbing my free hand with his carefully.
"Thanks," I said looking at my hand in his. His hand feels so nice.
After a moment he said, "It looks like it's doing fine. May I help you re-tie the rag?"
"Um," I stuttered, "No, um thank you. I think I can get it myself." Get control of yourself.
I laid the rag back across my palm and fumbled with the ends but to no avail. I glanced up and saw Ben half smirking half smiling at me. "Find something humorous Mr. Davidson?" I challenged.
"Yes, you" he said uncrossing his arms, "May I?"
I stretched my hand forth and he quickly tied it. I paused, "Thank you."
"Anytime," he said, "I best be going."
"Okay," I agreed.
"Then Goodnight Felicity."
"Goodnight Ben."
We took a step away from each other. "Oh, Felicity!" Ben said suddenly.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I brought the dress back to Elisabeth." The dress? It clicked. Oh right Felicity.
"Thank you," I said not really wanting to go.
"Okay, goodnight then." He finally said.
"You too. Sleep well," I well wished.
"Thanks. Goodnight then," he smiled then turned and walked out the back door.

My feet skipped up the stairs and I ran to the window in my room. Looking out I saw the barn and a shadow of a man walking towards it. It's Ben. The moon light shone down on home and I noticed Ben had stopped. I felt he caught my gaze coming from the window. I waved just in case he was looking. Sure enough he was. He waved back. Good night Ben.
In a happy state I waltzed back and took off my dress before collapsing onto my bed and falling asleep.

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