XIII. Homecoming

Winter, 1596-1597

When I knocked on a door, a familiar face greeted me with a puzzled expression and a grin. "Good afternoon Sir, are you lost?"

"I haven't been gone that long, have I?"

"Well, pardon me for mistaking you for a distinguished gentleman." I gave him a disgruntled look before we both laughed. I missed his sense of humor. He welcomed me with open arms. "Johnny Boy, 'tis good to see you."

I realized I hadn't been called that in months. "Same to you, Danny Boy." He had also gotten taller, but stayed somewhat lean.

"My, you're dressed nicely: a clean dress shirt, tights, polished shoes, and neatly tied hair."

"I came from a friend's." I spent some time at Arch's estate in Mountnessing. "I never met a man with so many shoes and tailored clothes, half of which he doesn't wear anymore. He gave some to me, since we're a similar size." Arch, in turn, couldn't understand why I only had one pair of good shoes.

"I see—fine taste in clothing," he mused, while feeling the material of my shirt. "You hated wearing your good clothes even to Morning Mass. You'd be running in the meadow soon after service was over."

"...And mum would yell at me, while dad would give me a lashing for dirtying my good shoes."

I spent Christmas with Danny. For presents, I gave everyone something I acquired from my journeys. I gave Danny gold coins.

"Is that real gold?!"

"'Tis indeed—from the Spaniards themselves."

Danny gave me my present. He crafted a handheld ship from splinters of wood.

"You remembered!" I used to tell Danny about my ideal ship if I were captain. It looked just like I envisioned, much like the Susan Constant herself.

I went to Alford with Danny the following Market Day. Apparently, I was becoming somewhat of a hero, as stories of my adventures made their way throughout Lincolnshire.

"Did you really slay a group of poachers?"

"Well, not on my own. I had help from a friend."

"Of course John couldn't slay them on his own." Even Adam wanted to provide his input. "Perhaps he could if he had half the strength I have."

"Is that so?" I grabbed him by the neck and pulled out my sword, not to harm him but to scare him. "I've dealt with men who are bigger than you." I let go of him, and he quieted down after my old schoolmates laughed at him.

Another person I hoped to see, but didn't, was Sarah. Her friends told me she was visiting other relatives in another part of England.

I wanted Danny to come to London and meet my other friends on my birthday. Danny hadn't been to London, but he seemed interested in seeing it. Arch met us at Kenny's. He was quiet around them, but seemed a little more comfortable by the time Bart arrived.

"Hello, chaps! I wasn't certain I could make it, though I cannot stay all evening. The Missus and I are visiting family in London, and are expecting me for supper." He turned to my other good friend. "You must be Danny. John has mentioned you."

"Likewise, you must be Bart."

We planned on going to the Theatre to see The Blind Beggar of Alexandria. Danny seemed impressed by the liveliness, but I could tell it was also a bit overwhelming for him. It didn't help that the Theatre itself was in a bad area, though Kenny helped us avoid certain parts.

I was glad I convinced Danny to wear my good clothes to appear as gentry, or else we wouldn't be able to sit in the gallery as my comrades would. We could have gotten in trouble, but sitting high was certainly better than being in the pit, as I was able to watch every detail.

While we joked about the play, afterward, I noted a familiar woman hailing a carriage a ways off from the Theatre. What could she be doing out here? Did she live in London?

"Smith!" Arch interrupted my thoughts. "We're headed to the Boar's Head." I wanted to make an excuse to head home. I knew Danny didn't drink.

"Come now, Smithy, what is one tankard? I'll even buy one for you," Kenny offered.

Of course, one drink lead to another. Even Danny acquiesced to a few. All I remember is carousing on top of the tables at one point, and pulling Kendall away from a fight with a man who apparently owed him money from the last round of Twenty-One. After Danny vomited, it was high time to head home.

When Danny and I made our way back to Willoughby, and changed into regular clothes, we talked it over at my house in the morning. I missed these days when Danny and I could just chat.

"So many buildings so close together! So many people, Johnny! I've run into more people on Cheapside than in our entire village! How do you keep from getting lost?"

"'Twas rough at first, but in time, with some help, I've learned my way around the City. Cheapside is near my favorite part of London: the ports are nearby, and we're right in the middle of it all. I hope to move down there. 'Twould be much easier for traveling."

"Is that so? What becomes of your house?"

I thought for a moment. "I haven't fully decided, but I would like to keep the house. There are so many memories here... ." A part of me wondered about my own siblings this season, but no one around town had heard from them since they moved over the summer, to who knew where. I would have hoped they'd at least know I was alive. "Perhaps I'll rent it for a while, to acquire a bit more income." Danny was quiet. I could tell he was a bit disappointed. "Of course, I could use a roommate... ."

"'Twould be great to live down there, though I'm not certain I could handle city life as you might, Johnny."

I laughed, remembering a time when we weren't even school age, he thought we were lost at the Alford Market, because there were so many people. I would've liked for us to be roomies, but I understood. "I can still come back here to visit," I assured him."Speaking of visits, I was invited to a banquet at Bart's. I can bring a guest, which means you can come."

"I'm not sure I'd be so comfortable around so many new people, Johnny. I was surprised he personally introduced himself, but I'm not certain how the rest of his family may be."

"His brother is amicable."

"He seems to be a decent fellow. Why haven't he and the others come here?"

"I hadn't arranged for it yet... ." I knew it would be polite to invite them, but what would I have to offer them? Arch and Kenny had nice homes. I passed by one of Bart's which was equally grand and even moated. I suppose showing them around the pastures via horseback couldn't hurt... .

We sat down to relax. I took out my pipe, stuffed, lit it and puffed.

"When did you start smoking?" I must have looked annoyed at his question, because he added, "I'm merely asking."

"One of my comrades, Newport, introduced me to it. I wasn't initially fond of it, but I suppose... ." I shrugged, somewhat embarrassed that I was explaining all this. I dumped out the contents, deciding this wasn't a good time.

Perhaps sensing my discomfort, and wanting to break the silence, he asked. "Who was that woman you were watching earlier?"

"Oh." I didn't realize he noticed. "Her name is Catherine." He pressed for details. "I met her at another friend's festivity. She's a traditional blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty, gregarious, with a great sense of humor...honestly I shouldn't be thinking of her myself, though admittedly, I'm quite drawn to her."

"She is quite appealing," he agreed. "Very similar to—."

I heard knocking at the door. I opened it to find a familiar blue-eyed blonde.

"Sarah?"

"John, you are home!" She excitedly greeted me with a hug. This wasn't the greeting I was anticipating, but I graciously accepted. I suppose she wasn't upset anymore.

"Sarah, what are you doing here?" Danny asked.

"Well, I came home early, and went looking for you at your house, but your mum told me you were with John." As she pulled away, I began wondering why she'd be going there?

I pulled something out of a bag. "This is for you." It was a ruby I acquired from my travels.

"Why John," she looked over at Danny before accepting. "I'm much obliged."

"Sarah, I'll meet you at home. Johnny and I need to chat."

"I see," she sighed. "Nice to see you again, John." We embraced again before she left.

"What was that about?" I asked, trying to gauge their odd body language.

"Johnny, I meant to tell you. Sarah and I are...well...courting."

"You're what? You can't be serious." I was chuckling, but he wasn't. My mouth dropped open. "Bollocks! You are serious: You and Sarah—my Sarah?!"

"Well, she isn't truly 'your Sarah' anymore, Johnny," he reasoned.

"What the Bloody Hell, Danny?! 'Twas barely a year ago I was still with her!" My brows were now furrowed and teeth clenched.

"Well to be quite honest, I didn't intend for things to happen this way. I always thought she was pretty, even before you asked her, and I was quite surprised when you did. When you left, she was still so distraught, and I comforted her; and eventually, I confessed to having feelings for her. I know 'twas not long ago, but I thought, in time you would move on with your life, and by then, you wouldn't care as much."

"Why wouldn't I care about my former love being with my best friend—well, 'best friend' my arse!"

He was now taken aback. "Well, haven't you picked up the finest forms speech from your new comrades! I would've presumed men of such high standing would have more class, though the previous night proves otherwise."

"People are people, Danny."

"You and I are sons of farmers. We are servants to such men. While you may dress as them, even a yeoman should know a goat can never fit in amongst sheep. I know my place and stay. You should have learned yours."

I couldn't believe what he was saying. "Oh, D— you, Danny! D— you! Sod off!" As I opened the door and motioned for him to leave, I could see the hurt in his face.

"Gladly!" With that, he took his belongings, and walked briskly out of the house.

"S—!" I banged my head and fist against a wall. I couldn't believe what I had done, I never swore at Danny before, but I was never this upset with him, either. How could he? How could she? Danny and Sarah? When and how long had they been together? Perhaps he had probably hoped we'd go our separate ways in order for him to be with her. I know it was Sarah's right to move on...but to Danny?! Adam, perhaps.

I needed to go somewhere. I could not stay here. Why? Would they care? Hell with them. These people were moving on with their lives, and I needed to move on with mine. I gathered my things, hopped into a carriage, and made my way back to London.