Felicity: Revolutionary Romance

Chapter 2

When the brothers left Felicity sitting on the porch, she went back into her father's store like a sleepwalker, out from the cold and into the warmth of the store. The very idea of one of the Cole sisters getting married seemed an ideal prospect, but in her head, it was making her envious. It was one of those times she experiences the unpleasantness of life, not counting a few minor incidents like her new party dress getting ruined which her mother easily cleaned after she fell in a muddy path walking to a party from two years ago.

At that moment, Rose came into the shop, a thin middle-aged woman with the small, shrewd eyes of an elephant. She was shining black, pure African, devoted to her last drop of blood to the Merrimans, having been their slave since Felicity was born. Rose and her fellow slave Marcus felt they they owned both body and soul of the entire Merriman family. Secrets were shared between them and the hint of a mystery was enough to set her on an investigator's trail. Her role as a secondary mother figure for Felicity and her brother and sister was a caring one, but not without strictness.

When she saw Felicity sitting there by the counter, she asked.

"Why didn't you ask 'em to stay for supper? I know I would have cooked two more plates for 'em."

"They had to leave, their mother was cooking them dinner anyway."

"Sometimes, it is difficult to make up someone's mind, whether it be lunch or supper, but when you gotta eat, you gotta eat. And I was just about to tell you that dinner's ready."

Felicity turned away from Rose with studied nonchalance, her face preoccupied with dread.

"No, I want to sit here and watch the sunset. It's so pretty. I am going to sit here until Father comes home."

"Not unless you want to catch a cold," said Rose. "Now why don't you come back inside the house where it's warm?"

"It feels warm in here. I'll just keep stoking the fire."

"If you insist."

Felicity heard the back door creaking and within minutes Rose was out of her earshot. Earlier that day, her father had gone over to the King's Creek Plantation to buy a horse named Blossom. She would be used to pull cargo to and from the store since his previous horse had died from over-exhaustion. By now, it was time for Edward to appear, and she expected to see him alone with his new horse. Her eyes followed the road that led to the left portion of Williamsburg to hear the pounding hoof-steps of the horse that he bought. The closer it got, the more Felicity could see of her father dressed in his grey vest and white shirt setting off his grey pants to perfection. Even now, she could recall the details of the way he dressed. He dismounted from the horse, which was a chestnut stallion, and walked right over to Felicity.

"Well, what do you think of Blossom?"

"I think she'll be a perfect companion to old Bess."

Felicity wanted this horse in an instant, just as she wanted food to eat, but knew better when she remembered the exact reasons her father bought this thoroughbred in the first place.

For two years, if not a lot more, Edward had squired upon this place, granting supplies to balls, barbecues, parties, picnics and even court days and holidays. He was a very courteous father, even to his own father-in-law and his apprentice. His clear grey eyes showed the promise of honest man who was responsible and hard-working to support both his family and his employers, even towards his customers and the men and women of the arts, stage and poetry.

Edward walked over to Felicity, pinching her cheeks in response. Laughing, she wrestled it away.

"Well, I understand your mother and Nan told me you went out riding yesterday, and with both legs on each side again."