It had been six days exactly. Ben and Felicity were alone in the parlor once more, the others having all ready gone up to bed for the night. Nan had been adamant with Polly and William that they go to bed earlier than Ben and Felicity. Felicity knew her siblings all harbored hopes of her and Ben's future together, all though Ben and Felicity had decided to tell them nothing until it could be discussed with her parents.

"Here."

Felicity balled the just-repaired breeches and aimed them at Ben's head, bent over the money-keeping books as he had been every night. The breeches hit their target with practiced precision and she burst out laughing. He smiled at her and put them on a corner of the desk.

A knock sounded at the door. Ben looked over at her.

"Who would be here at this hour?" he asked.

"I'll find out." She volunteered, going to the door.

She opened it to find her parents on the other side. She ushered them inside and shut the door, then hugged them both. Ben, having come to investigate, hung up their cloaks for them.

"The children are all in bed." Felicity told her parents as they all moved back into the parlor. "Would you like me to wake them?"

"No, let them rest." Mr. Merriman replied. "We have something we would like to talk to you and Ben alone about."

"Actually," Felicity glanced at Ben, suddenly nervous. "We do too."

"Me first." Mr. Merriman demanded, settling into a chair. "But before all, how did things go here?"

"Fine." Felicity answered impatiently.

"Were you all right handling the store, Ben?" Mr. Merriman asked.

"Aye, sir. Everything went perfectly. It was busy."

"Good. And what about you, my Lissie? Did you have any trouble running a household?"

"No, Father. Everything went smoothly."

"I forgot what a good cook she was." Ben praised her.

"So you worked well together, then?"

"Aye." Ben answered for them, looking puzzled.

"Wonderful! I have grand news about my business in Yorktown."

"Oh?" Ben asked.

Felicity was getting inwardly antsy. Why was Ben being so conversational? Didn't he want to get everything settled with her parents?

"This business, you see, was of a more personal nature than I may have led you all to believe. I spoke to the parents of a fine young man while I was there, Lissie. A very good man. He fought for the Patriots. His parents and your mother and I have come to the agreement that this is the young man you shall marry."

Felicity froze in her spot, looking wildly at Ben. He, too, looked equally horrified.

"Father, no!" Nan spoke up from the doorway, William and Polly behind her.

"Why, hello children." Father said pleasantly, beckoning them forward. "I apologize if we woke you."

"Father, Felicity can't marry that other man!" Nan was undeterred.

"Why on earth not?" The same spark that Felicity had noticed in her Father's eyes before he left was back.

Polly spoke up. "Because she's going to marry Ben! We heard them talking about it!"

"Who did? I think you'd better sit down and tell me exactly what you heard." Father lifted Polly into his lap.

"Nan and I, Father, really, we did!"

Father looked to Nan, who confirmed this with an anxious nod, then took up the story. "They were making plans to seek your permission concerning it when you and Mother returned. We heard them from our bedchamber."

"Is this so, Felicity? Ben?" Father turned and asked.

"Aye, sir." Ben answered. He looked as if he wanted to say more.

Felicity nodded without a word, moving a little closer to Ben on the couch they were sharing. She had never been this miserable in her life, she was certain of it.

"Father," William spoke up thoughtfully. "You know I don't want to run the store, correct?"

"Aye." Father sat back and waited for his son to come to his point.

"Doesn't that mean that it would rightfully go to Felicity? And if she was married, to her husband?"

"Aye. It does."

"Can you think of anyone better to run the store than the man you trained yourself?" William inquired.

"Indeed, you're right, William. Which is why I have chosen the man for your sister that I have." Father looked around at his children's confused faces and smiled – until he saw the countenance of his fiercely scowling wife.

"Edward," Mother admonished sharply. "You're making the two of them positively miserable. You've had your fun, now out with it."

Father sighed dramatically. "The man I have chosen is a native of Yorktown. He has a younger brother named Joseph."

Felicity felt her eyes start to widen. "Father…" she asked slowly.

Polly was not so cautious. "Ben's brother's name is Joseph! Of, Father, it's Ben, isn't it? It's Ben! I just know it is! It has to be!"

Polly was jumping up and down in her father's lap now, in her nightclothes besides. Under different circumstances, Felicity would have thought the sight quite humorous.

"You're right, my sweet, spirited girl." Father laughed. "Our Felicity is to marry Ben. There's never really been anyone else for her, has there?"

Did I have you going there for a minute?:) Please review and check out my other stories (on FictionPress too)! This is the end of the line for this story. The chances that my next story is American Girl are only 1 in 24.