Felicity: Revolutionary Romance

Chapter 4

When the sun had set, the people of Williamsburg got ready to welcome a new night. They did so by going home. They all waved farewell to their hosts and as the procession of horses and wagons slowly left the Cole residence, the Merrimans were the last to go. Felicity was looking for Ben in the sparse crowd, perhaps even a hint of his handsome features and his long brunette hair. After a quarter of two minutes, she found him standing next to Mr. Cole. They were in the middle of a hush-hush type of conversation.

"And if the ships in Plymouth harbor were attacked by a party of, say...colonials?"

"It would be treason. It is better to remain loyal to the king if you value your own life."

"They have hundreds in Boston who are against the English law. I heard from a reliable source that they might attack the shipyards at any day."

"And who is your source?"

"A group of esteemed men, who claim that—"

Fearing that Ben would find himself in trouble over politics, Felicity politely interrupted with a cough that went through her right fist. The men's heads turned to see her hand retreat back to the level of her waist.

"Ben, may I speak with you in the parlor?"

"Of course?"

Ben was unsure of himself, as he and the girl slipped silently into the nearby room.

The parlor was lit by eight candles, one for each of the four walls, with works of literature from the Old World adorning the shelves. It was not the place which she would have chosen for a tryst such as she hoped this one would be. A seven foot sofa sat in front of the fireplace where the fire was crackling, emitting a hellish, but not too glaring glow. As soon they seemed safe and as far from Mr. Cole as possible, Ben was the first to speak.

"'Tis fortunate that you saved my life, Felicity, if Mr. Cole had gotten too suspicious, I would have been thrown in prison for sure."

"And a person should be devoted to that somebody when their life is saved," Felicity's voice seemed...vivacious.

She clasped her hands, holding them up to her chin, before she said the exact words.

"To tell you the truth, I'm in love with you, Ben."

Ben's face was sympathetic, but his feelings made it clear that was much too young to understand how much freedom she would have to sacrifice in exchange for marriage.

"If you were a much older and more respectable woman who knows her place, I would reciprocate my feelings."

"You mean you would rather be with Annabelle instead?" Felicity sounded slightly disappointed.

"No," corrected Ben. "You're much more of a stronger character than her. But given the amount of times you wish yourself to be a lad...well, if you were a lad, a relationship of that kind would be improbable."

"Improbable? I'm a young lass, if I wore breeches—"

"Right now," Ben interrupted. "There should be little talk of these matters, I should not let anyone else know that I have any connections towards the Patriots."

"Since I am not a lady," Felicity countered in mock-politeness. "Maybe I should these Patriots and see to it that even a girl can fight for independence..."

She looked down upon herself in doubt.

"But if I did, would I still be friends with Elizabeth?"

"That is her choice."

He looked over Felicity's right shoulder, being certain that no one was watching them.

"I should be heading home, your father will be requiring my services soon. And I hope to see more of you when you have finally seen what is of upmost importance in the world."

And he walked right past her. Felicity's head followed his entire figure walking away from her sight.

A moment of consideration entered Felicity's mind and it had given her the choice to follow after him, but by the time she entered the foyer, Benjamin had disappeared. Defeated, she fetched her shawl and walked slowly back to her carriage, letting the cold air perpetuate the coldness that had already settled in to her heart.

The following morning, word had spread to Virginia that a interesting turn of events happened over in Boston, Massachusetts where Edward Merriman's brother and sister in law lived with their only child, a boy of good stature by the name of Charles. A ship that sailed under the Union Jack named Dartmouth and several others were sitting in the Docks, minding their own business when a group of Patriots, dressed as Indians, invaded the ship and tossed it's cargo of tea overboard. This made the tea, as one banker substantially noted two centuries later, "unsuitable for drinking." Loans from the banks that controlled the ships were defaulted and public indignation would ensue on companies responsible for supplying the tea. Within months, there would be a run on the Bank of England in London. The bank on Threadneedle Street would recover, but pretty soon, a force of action would be taking place in the colonies...one that would lead to bloodshed. "No taxation without representation" was the Patriots motto and it was those taxes that would play a contributing factor to what would be known as one of the greatest conflicts America would ever see.

As for Felicity, it can be said for certain that the new year would soon bring nothing but trouble and turmoil to the beliefs of her friends and family.