(As the meal winds down, people are feeling pretty sated by the food and the good wine present. It's at this point that someone comes up to Viola and nudges her politely):

"Lady Wessex, I have heard rumors that you are in possession of one of the original works of William Shakespeare, is this true?"

She beamed at the mention of the familiar name, she couldn't hide her delight as she looked up at the young man who came to her side with an obvious interest on his face. She was only grateful that Robert had since gotten up and went off to talk to some of the other workers from his day group.

"Yes I do actually. It is one of my prized possessions, let me see if I can find it!" she said, looking excited.

She rose to go back to her tent she normally shared with Robert to find the manuscript that Will had given to her as a gift. She held it close to her chest for a moment and tried not to cry in memory of the special memento.

Robert was watching her as she came back into the group cradling it in her arms. He had sensed her disappearance and looked everywhere for her. As soon as he saw the slightly tattered package in her grasp, his expression fell. There had been times when he wanted to dash the blessed thing overboard during their voyage here – but despite his best efforts to think otherwise, he knew it was indeed a remarkable work that should stand the test of time, despite the history behind it and those involved. He had to admit, even now – Shakespeare was a master with the pen.

It was something that indeed he hadn't even divulged to Viola, he didn't dare. But, that day when she had run out of the carriage to attend Will's play of Romeo and Juliet at the Curtain and when he saw Viola up on that stage, how regal she looked – how luminiscent, as if she were actually Juliet. For two hours he watched her quietly, listening to the story unfold and even though he was bitter at the end watching his wife kiss the arrogant and very married playwright, he couldn't help but be a little at awe of her. It was the first time he'd ever seen a woman perform, something unheard of – and yet, she was astounding.

So instead of intervening now, he decided to see if she would have that same effect on the colonists. He felt – proud of her.

She noticed his stare as she took her seat back at the table and opened the manuscript before her. She smiled at him and hoped he would approve. He held out his hand for her to proceed and she nodded in response.

Soon the words came from her lips as the candles were lit around the table, as twilight was upon them. It made her face glow in the half light and she looked almost ethereal.

She was adorned almost entirely from head to toe in a deep rose gown with a white bodice that peeked just above the cleavage. She had a plain, white linen cap to hide the french braids holding back her golden hair and the peach shade to her pretty cheeks had returned. She looked so lovely tonight, so much so that she suddenly paled in comparison to Lisanne who sat next to Robert at his right. He was so lost in her for a moment as she recited Shakespeare's words:

'Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,

Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek

For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night

Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny

What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!

Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'

And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st,

Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries

Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,

If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:

Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,

I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,

So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.

In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,

And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light:

But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true

Than those that have more cunning to be strange.

I should have been more strange, I must confess,

But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,

My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,

And not impute this yielding to light love,

Which the dark night hath so discovered.'

She had the colonists with their cheeks in their hands, resting there watching her transfixed. For a moment she seemed lost – for no one spoke the section of text marked for Romeo.

Suddenly the words came to Robert, he knew them as he had heard them many times before, sneaking several reads during the long voyage when there was nothing else to do but sit and listen to the timbers creak as they rode upon the unforgiving seas.

'Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear

That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops…'

Viola looked up in shock to see her husband quoting the lines she held in her hands which began to tremble. She could scarcely believe it – she couldn't help it as she listened to him, her heart began to quicken – how wonderful he sounded, his eyes were soft as he begged her continue. How did he know the lines? She barely could remember her own for a moment, but did…then she knew, she didn't need to read the words as she knew them by heart and instead watched him.

'O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,

That monthly changes in her circled orb,

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.'

He responded:

'What shall I swear by?'

She grinned and said:

'Do not swear at all;

Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,

Which is the god of my idolatry,

And I'll believe thee.'

He grinned in return and replied:

'If my heart's dear love…'

She said:

'Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,

I have no joy of this contract to-night:

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be

Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!

This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest

Come to thy heart as that within my breast!'

His eyes seemed gentle to her, she never saw him so handsome as he appeared tonight, leaning towards her on the table – the dark vest he wore was opened at the neck to reveal the strength of his breast to her eyes, his forlorn, chestnut locks curled over onto his forehead and his goatee curled into another dimpled smile. She felt her breath caught in her throat as she watched him. He was now Romeo, her Romeo…

He replied:

'O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?'

She said:

'What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?'

He replied:

'The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.'

She said:

'I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:

And yet I would it were to give again.'

He replied:

'Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?'

She said:

'But to be frank, and give it thee again.

And yet I wish but for the thing I have:

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite.'

They stopped for a moment and looked over at her nurse, prompting her to say something, but she had no clue.

"What is it my lady?"
It proved to be enough to feed into another part of the quote from the manuscript, Viola giggled a bit as she said:

'I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!

Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.

Stay but a little, I will come again.'

With that she looked up at the other colonists, a little out of breath at the magical moment that had just happened before them and replied as she closed the manuscript to signal the end of the passage.

"That is all for this scene."

Everyone gasped in delight and sat there for a few moments, before they heard the sound of applause coming from across the table – it was Robert, cheering on his wife proudly. Soon everyone joined in.

Viola was blushing now as she looked over at him, tears forming in her eyes. Quietly she got up from her seat and came around him, resting her hand on his shoulders and leaning in to kiss his cheek.

"I should very much like to share the same tent tonight, Robert – that is if you think it might be cold this evening?"

"As cold as the ripening winds of the east bear down on us – I should very much like you at my side to warm me into restful sleep."

He grinned as she walked away from him. He couldn't take his eyes off her as he watched her wander over to speak to some of the other women who greeted her warmly with hugs and congratulations.

Viola felt a lovely, settled feeling travel through her and knew it was contentment. That was until she turned to see Lisanne immersed in conversation with her husband again and his attention drawn to her instead.