Will's Last Good Idea for 2021

We had a pleasant afternoon dinner with our father, sister and her family. We spent a lot of time talking New York Giants football with our nephews. Which was nice. We did not sit in session to discuss a new boat or dock, though we did learn one member of the plenary doesn't think we need a new boat. Which is nuts. We think we need a new boat, but also think getting and maintaining one would be a gigantic pain. Anyway, we went home and watched football. Below, the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan's West side. New Jersey is across the river:

We spent the drive from Bridgewater to Pelham thinking about The Bastard's Conquest. In doing so we put together a rough character sketch of our protagonist, Robert d'Hautville. This branch of the d'Hautville family (the d'Hautvilles were a very important Norman family) have a small but respectable holding in Normandy. Robert's father fought with Robert Guiscard in Italy and is named for him. His older brother fought with William during his wars for survival in Normandy. 

Robert's relationship with both is fine. With two large personalities in his life, Robert's a bit on the shy side, but not overly so. His older brother is much brasher, and having seen him get in some trouble, Robert is more cautious. He's generally introspective. Continuing the family's legacy of service and maintaining its name is paramount. Robert will command a group of archers at Hastings, but is not an archer himself. 

The Bastard's Conquest would be an episodic novel, showing Robert d'Hautville's role in various parts of William's reign over England.