The next couple of days passed relatively uneventfully. I started the cook, whose name I learned was Hamen, at the Inn on frying chicken and fish. We had decided on the 4 new girls that would be waitressing. Agatha was back to trying to jump me every time I entered.

I started to fill the feed bill on the Human Garbage Disposal and got a few sets of pads. The Football finally was done and pretty close to what I remember not perfect but considering the circumstances I was impressed. I had him make a spare and one more for another purpose.

I had Grumpy make an Iron Bar and some Weights for weight lifting. I was already overbooking Lilly as it was. He of course balked about me coming back especially after I embarrassed him.

All I had to do is remind him I was a Knight and if I wanted I could kill him for insulting me and probably get away with it. A Knight who was on a mission from the King no less. I even got a discount.

The Buckets were done from A&B and James and I had rounded up over 800 men to start on the clearing and grading of the land Tuesday. I plan on going out to the site with Bolt and his new man Lago Le Charpentier (the French carpenter who will be known as Lego from now on for obvious reasons) Monday after the Combine to lay it out for them. I also got them on building some rulers and yardsticks.

One benefit to ignorant rulers I can still call them yardsticks. I had already made a universal one that would always be the template. Copies of copies don’t work as a rule especially with a measurement instrument.

I also got them to build push sleds for the combine. It took them a while to understand what the hell I wanted. You explain that I want a cart with skis instead of wheels that weighs a lot and will be pushed by men so multiple padded posts on the front. I doubt they ever understood its purpose.

I had Lawrence and my new assistant, Gilbert, rustle us up a crew to work the timers. I trained Gilbert on how to train them in working the scales and adding the weights together. Agers can’t even add simple things like 10 + 10. To a modern person that just seems basic.

Gilbert took to math like a sponge. He reminds me of myself in school. I was top of my class in math throughout middle and high school. I decided that after the Combine I would get him involved with the engineering crew on the stadium.

Nobody really works on Sunday here which seems a waste of a day to me so I decided to go to Church. You kind of need to at least make an appearance in there occasionally otherwise people start to talk. Besides I had to talk to Father Clarence. I need him and some of his priests as stat takers for the combine as they were the only ones who could write. I would take my own shorthand notes in modern English but I want to focus on the drills not on writing. Note to self start schools.

“I would be honored to attend Sir Arthur. I will ask as many of the others as possible if they will come as well. I want to see this Game that has the whole City talking.” He said after Mass. I think that was the Empress’ doing she knew how much it meant to me.

“Thank you Father”

“Now when was the last time you confessed my son?”

“It has been more than 2 weeks Father but you know I’m not Catholic.”

“It is still good to confess one's sins to God regardless of which doctrine you follow.”

So I confessed to him about sleeping with Matilda and Agatha and Lina and the Blonde, I didn’t even get her name. As well as a few other minor indiscretions I knew wouldn’t cause alarm. I liked the man but I knew how easily information can slip out and to confess about lying about my origins to the King and Him seemed like one I should hold to myself.

I don’t recall telling anyone else about swimming and the King had known about it when he talked about swimming across the Channel. Everyone else had just got the standard, I’m a foreigner from America. I could have gotten drunk and told that same lie again but I doubt it.

I had been hedging my bets that he might turn me in. If he did I would need a story as to how I ended up miles inland when I was found by the peasants in the village I awoke in and was attacked by the rapist. How did a person who was from the other side of the Atlantic end up inland?

This is the kind of question that is much easier explained before it is asked. Had he told the King and he had sat on the info waiting to see what I do. Speculation gets you nowhere but in trouble.

Father Clarence said I should seek marriage before I found sexual desires (hah) and that I should come to Mass more. I said I would try and left. On the way out I ran into Matilda who was also going to confess I could only imagine about what.

“Hello milady” I said and kissed her hand.

“Hello Sir Arthur, just confessing about our illicit affair I see.” She said a little too loud.

“Please Empress, I beg you to keep your voice down or you will start rumors flowing.”

“Oh they are already you foolish man. Speaking of foolish men I talked to my father he said he would let you build the stadium in his preserve. It wasn’t easy. He can just start another one someplace else you would think I was asking him to give me away to you.” I pretended not to notice that last part.

“I thank you for that and will have to make it up to you but I have many things I must do at the moment. I bid you good day, milady.”

“I would rather have a good night”

And with that I left. Hearing murmurs as I did. Dammit that woman loves to see me squirm.