Lime washed walls
As I looked around at the wealthy diners, I felt I was seeing my future. However I used a little time to watch an oriental trader mounting a staircase to reach a warehouse. His stiff gait indicating battles fought. But my attention was pulled back into the coffee house as a snippet of conversation reached my ears. A naval captain was talking about Van Diemen’s Land. His audience of two clergymen enthralled.
I had just returned from an unsuccessful venture in Spain, and had a need to refresh my fortune. It was time to seek pastures new. If the orient could reach my part of the world, I must surely be able to reach Van Diemen’s Land. As I paid for my coffee, I thought of how I might raise the capital to buy a berth in a ship and a stake to purchase trade goods. I must look for a wealthy widow, marry her, then fly the coop. Marriage three was beckoning me.
Footnote: I spent a large part of today in the Merchant’s Hall at York; the environment of its coffee house seems to have washed off on me. In true I only have one wife.
Haha! You only have one wife. That’s good to know! LOL! Great story! He sounds like a CAD. Haha!
I reckon he is, but Van Diemen’s Land should sort him out.
I’m not sure he will cope when he gets there.
Then history will repeat itself, if he survives. Thank you Iain.