Robert Woods and his trunk went on the boat from Freetown to Nassau. He looked around him, trying to memorize the islands and their sights in his mind. It was only a few hours after this when he found himself in Nassau once again. He investigated the dock and found which ships were headed to England, hoping that one would take him as far as Hull, and found one that would make a few stops along the coast before dropping him off at Hull. This was acceptable to Robert, and he deposited his trunk in the boat and gave the Governor and the city itself a farewell.

On the boat, Robert Woods went into his quarters, a particularly good one given his status and the knowledge of the ship’s crew that they were transporting a noble and were interested in doing it in style. The trip itself went as well as could be expected. It was relatively early in the year, so there were no storms, as was often the case during the summer and fall. The Gulf Current was warm and speedy, and the ship made good time as it made its diagonal course from the Bahamas along the coast of the rebellious colonies and then towards England. Robert spent some time on the deck, enjoying the salty sea air and also the sight of the pelicans and seagulls and other animals that they saw along the way. Robert also got the chance to look at other travelers who were along for the ride like he was. Most of them seemed to be people on official business, delivering messages or serving as agents of one powerful person or another. Robert made conversation with them, seeking to figure out what they were doing and how they were enjoying their time traveling. He appreciated the efforts that the Royal Navy and even the merchant marine were doing in order to reduce the problems of scurvy by providing better quality food for those on ships, and given Robert’s own identity, he ate well along the trip as might be expected.

After some weeks, the ship found its way to England, and made its stops, depositing people, allowing the sailors a chance at shore leave, and allowing the ship to make a bit of money by engaging in the coastal trade as it made its way to Hull, the last port of call before the ship would engage in other business. When the ship arrived at Hull, Robert said farewell and with his trunk, departed the ship and sought to find transportation to Market ________. It was late enough in the day when he arrived that he knew that he would have to spend the night there before returning to Orient Hall, the name of the Lipton estate, the next day. As the carriage bumped along the miles from Hull to Market ______, he pondered how different the country appeared from when he had been a child making this same trip to depart his homeland, perhaps never to return again. Now he was returning as the inheritor of a grand estate, far wealthier than he had ever expected to be.

His arrival in Market ________ was straightforward enough. The coach stopped at the main inn in the area, and as Robert Woods, now Viscount Lipton, did not wish to impose upon family that might not recognize him during the evening when they might expect some private time for themselves, he contented himself with staying at the inn.

“One night for a private room,” Robert said to the innkeeper.

The innkeeper looked at him and gave him a price, which Robert happily paid.

“What is the repast for tonight? I have come from a long boat voyage and just arrived at Hull today, and have not had anything to eat since we breakfasted on the boat,” Robert asked.

“I believe we have a plain dish of some chicken if you are interested, along with some broth,” the innkeeper replied.

“I would appreciate that a great deal,” Robert replied.

“Is there a reason you were in such a hurry to get here from Hull that you did not even stop for a nuncheon in Hull?” the innkeeper asked curiously.

“I grew up in this town,” Robert said. “I have not been here in twenty years, but some news in my family spurred me to come as soon as I could and I did not want to let a moment go to waste. Unfortunately, it is late in the day, so I assume that the express post has already gone out?”

“Aye, that it did. It was on the carriage you came in on. We won’t have another one go out until the morning, unless someone comes in by private carriage, and that is unlikely as there is no social event here tonight,” the innkeeper said.

“That is a pity, but at least it will be a quiet night and I will be able to get some rest before I return home,” Robert said.

“And where is home, if you don’t mind me asking?” the innkeeper queried.

“Home for me is Orient House,” Robert said honestly.

The innkeeper looked at him curiously. “Are you connected with the family there?” he asked.

“I am the eldest son of the late second son of the late Viscount, and from what I understand the first son died without issue, so as far as I have been informed, I am the new Viscount,” Robert replied.

“It is a pleasure to be a friendly face as you return home, sir,” the innkeeper said with a smile. “I assume you will have some messages for me to deliver in the morning.”

“I will send a message to Orient House for them to pick me up in the family carriage, since I have been unable to send them a message yet, and do not wish to arrive too late at night,” Robert said.

“Is there anyone else you are looking to see?” the innkeeper asked.

“Is there anyone of the Bennett family still in town?” Robert asked.

“There is a _______ Bennett who is a substantial merchant who lives on the outskirts of town, just a few minutes walk north of here along the main road,” the innkeeper said.

“That would probably be my uncle, my mother’s younger brother,” Robert said graciously. I would like to pay a call on him tomorrow morning, but I feel it might be a bit rude for me to do so tonight.”

“I am glad to see that for a man in a hurry you have such gracious manners,” the innkeeper said. “I will make sure you have a quiet night and enjoy a good breakfast as you make your way home.”

“I am glad to hear it,” Robert said. He said so sincerely, for though he knew, as well as the innkeeper did, that once he returned home he would be unlikely to spend the night here in the future, it was certainly in the best interests of an innkeeper to make sure that he had a positive relationship with a local notable, not least because such people might be encouraged to come and make social calls, to make use of the inn as a place to eat and conduct business and to invite people to stay at in the course of travels. He also knew that as this man was a relative of the Bennetts that he was likely to be deeply connected with the trade of the town. Some nobles were too proud to conduct business or social calls with the notable people of their local market town, but knowing that the Viscount was not one of those people ate up with pride or looking down on the inhabitants of the town, but had in fact grown up here and expected to pay a call on his merchant relatives, made the innkeeper glad to make his acquaintance.

As for Robert, he enjoyed a fine supper, read quietly to himself, and then went to his private room to get an early night’s sleep, in the hope that he would be able to get enough sleep to have a productive day when he awoke and returned home as a stranger as well as a lord. It was an unusual feeling, to be sure. The last time he had been in this area, he had been a shy and timid child, curious but of no particular personal importance in the world, and now he returned quite changed, but in many ways still a boy underneath it all.

Disclaimer: It is the usual habit of writers of works like this one to say that all characters are imaginary and that none of them are based in any way on reality. To whatever extent that this is true in general, it is not true here, and so I feel it necessary to give my own more honest disclaimer. There are some people in this work that are based on real people, but my characterization of them springs from my imagination and no claim is made here of being close to their real personalities or character. There are other characters who are wholly made up, and if there is any resemblance between these imaginary characters and real people, they can deal with it if they do not appreciate it.