It did not take too long for the ship to reach New Providence, and as the ship approached the port of Nassau, Robert looked out from the deck to see the beauties of the city. When the ship docked, he was in no particular hurry, and so he let the other people exit the ship first who had a more urgent search for housing. After that, he exited the ship and went to the fortress, where he figured that he would find out who was in charge of the area and would be able to encourage the settlement of those who had been removed from slavery.

He walked into the fortress and was given an audience with Vice Admiral John Maxwell, who Robert was informed was largely in charge of what was going on, aside from a Lieutenant Governor who was nowhere to be found at the moment.

“Greetings, Admiral,” Robert said.

“And who do I have the honor of speaking to?” the admiral replied.

“I am Robert Woods, and I come from Charleston, South Carolina with a group of freedmen who have helped the British government in their efforts in that rebellious colony seek a better home here,” Robert added.

“What do you propose we do to help them?” the admiral asked.

“I am not sure how much needs to be done, but so long as there is enough land for them to settle near town, I am sure that they would be able to build their own homes and participate in the life of the area,” Robert said.

“I think we might have some space for them around Freetown,” the admiral said. “This town is thriving enough already but some more settlers there would increase the security of the area.”

“I would have no problems escorting them there and helping them to settle in the area,” Robert said.

“What are your own duties for the Crown?” the admiral asked.

“Are you not aware of my range of duties?” Robert said.

“Not at all. No one has informed me of you at all,” the admiral responded.

Unwilling to divulge all of the details right away, Robert answered. “The Crown has seen it fit to call me into varied service, which has ranged from the law to diplomacy to surveying, to service as an observant messenger at times. I am not sure what would need to be done here.”

“What were you doing in Charleston?” the admiral asked.

“I was there to defend a young black man who had been charged with capital murder, since no local attorneys wished to take the case,” Robert replied.

“Were you successful in your efforts?” the admiral asked.

“I was indeed. The young man, along with his sister and mother, were on the ship that landed today here from the port of Charleston,” Robert answered.

“I see. And where do you reside?” the admiral asked.

“That is a tricky question,” Robert allowed. “My abode, such as it is, is in St. Augustine, in East Florida, but my duties have called me to a wide variety of areas throughout the Empire.”

“Are you willing to inform the people who traveled with you my granting of them of their own plots of land to build houses in the city of Freetown, to travel with them to said place and help them start their lives as free people in His majesty’s land of the Bahamas, and then to return here to provide such service as the Crown sees hit?” the admiral asked.

“I see no problem with that,” Robert answered.

“Given your varied service, I am sure we will have something for you to do here,” the admiral answered.

“I hope I may be of use in this colony,” Robert said politely. Seeing himself apparently dismissed, he tipped his cap and exited the Vice Admiral’s room, before exiting the fortress itself. He asked around the port where the new arrivals had gone and was soon rewarded with information that they were at an inn, where he prepared to go, seeking a room for himself if space was available. He arrived at the inn to find that the new arrivals were sitting in the common room.

“Is everyone here from the Charleston arrivals?” Robert asked when he saw them assembled there. There was a bit of discussion and then everyone agreed that the arrivals were all there.

“For those of you who do not know me, I am Robert Woods, loyal servant of His Majesty’s government, most recently assigned to serve as an attorney in Charleston, South Carolina, and like you exiled here. I have just spoken with Vice Admiral Maxwell, who appears to be in charge of this particular colony, and he states that you are all to be given city lots in the city of Freetown, where you are to make your homes. Is this acceptable to you all?” Robert stated.

There was a general note of agreement among those assembled.

“I am glad to hear that. I believe it is probably too late in the day for us to be leaving to go to Freetown, but if it pleases you all, we can go to the port tomorrow morning after eating breakfast and seek passage to Freetown, where I will help you all receive your assigned lots and help you in designing appropriate housing, at which point I have been asked to return here to assist the Vice Admiral in the affairs of this colony until further notice. I hope you may all enjoy your life as free citizens of the crown here and that no one will disturb your peace or hinder your enjoyment of your freedoms,” Robert said.

While no one else except for Harrison and his family knew Robert particularly well, Harrison figured now was the time to speak up. “Mister Woods,” he began.

“Yes, Mister DuPont?” Robert answered politely.

“What is your profession?” Harrison asked.

“That is a difficult question to answer,” Robert replied.

“When you were in Charleston you served as my attorney, and I dare say you were competent at it,” Harrison said.

“I’m pleased you thought so,” Robert said.

“But you are not a full-time barrister?” Harrison asked.

“Not at all,” Robert said. “I do not know if it could ever be said that I was a full time professional at any one particular job. From my youth I have been involved in various and sundry tasks, whatever I was able to do that was necessary for his royal majesty.”

“What sort of tasks are you able to do?” Harrison asked.

“I am not sure of how to answer that question,” Robert said.

“From what you told us, you will be helping us to obtain land for ourselves in Freetown,” Harrison said.

“Yes, that is correct. I do not happen to have any surveying equipment, so after your plots are recorded in the city itself, which certainly has some building for city records, I will ask if there is any surveying that needs to be done on the plots and then work with you all to figure out what kind of construction would be possible. After we work on some planning, I will return here,” Robert said.

“So surveying is one of the tasks you are qualified for?” Harrison asked.

“It is indeed,” Robert said.

“And what else are you qualified for?” the young Sadie asked.

“I have done a variety of tasks, including delivering messages, as well as a bit of trade and diplomacy,” Robert said.

“You have quite a wide variety of skills,” Sadie asked.

“I have worked hard to develop in many areas,” Robert agreed, with a smile. With that he nodded and went to the innkeeper to see about his room, making the arrangements to have a room of his own. He asked the innkeeper what repast they had for supper and was told that they had some chicken marinated with the herbs of the country as well as some punch. This was pleasing to Robert and he enjoyed the taste of the chicken with the herbs and spices on it. After eating, he went to his room and relaxed on his bed.

How much different were Robert’s thoughts this evening than when he was on the ship departing from Charleston. To be sure, this was not his first time in Nassau. The city was by no means perfect. Indeed, his mother had visited during the time that she was widowed from Robert’s father, and had found the experience particularly unpleasant, so much so that she did not want to speak of the place or its ways. Robert could see, however, that for a man such as he was, there was little difficulty or problem in a town like this one, and a man might take advantage of the liberties a port city like this provided had he been the sort of person to do so.

There was, moreover, at least one person who was not far away from where Robert was laying and thinking that was perhaps at least half-hoping that Robert would take more advantage of the freedoms that the area had to provide. If this remained unnoticed, or merely unacknowledged, by Robert, it was noticed by others.

“You have too obvious an interest in Mister Woods,” the elderly Sadie said to her daughter.

“Whatever do you mean?” the young woman asked, feigning innocence.

“You know exactly what I mean,” the mother replied. “You are flirting with him whatever chance you get.”

“I hardly see how something like that is a problem,” the young woman responded.

“It is not a problem, exactly,” the elderly Sadie admitted. “We know him to be a good and decent man. But we also know he’s not going to be around for the long haul.”

“Do you think that matters?” the young sadie asked.

“You should try to think of who you would want to settle down with,” her mother said. “I am sure that Robert would be kind to you, but he clearly has a lot to do that takes him far away from home, any home, and his circle is far different from yours.”

“You had no problems making a home with Mister DuPont, despite the differences in class,” young Sadie said. “I hold no grudge against you for that, for it is the reason Harrison and I are here, but you certainly did set your cap rather ambitiously.”

“Well, that was a special situation,” the elder woman said, sighing a bit. “I did not set my cap for him. He was a widower and was not the sort of person who accepted being lonely. He kept on pursuing me and I figured it was in my best interest to allow myself to be caught, if I could make a better life for myself and then for you. So far it has worked out.” The younger Sadie didn’t know what she could say to that.