The Lady and the Gunner

Chapter 2 – Retribution

Eliza came onto the deck to get some air. She had been on the ship for two days now. Her sister was battling a fever, but there was little she could do other than fret about it. The men were working, but it was Gunner Hobbs who noticed the female presence among them. He looked up at her and smiled a little.

"Miss Eliza. How are you?" He asked politely.

"Well enough." She said. In truth she was weary. She had spent the first day below the deck. She had had supper with the acting captain, Buckland and his officers after she had woken from sleep. The officers had mostly eaten, but invited her to join them.

It was a pleasant affair and it had taken some hours. She had sipped her claret wishing it would take away the pain and mental anguish. She had revealed to them that she was seventeen, her sister fourteen, and when their mother had died, their father had little choice than to bring them with him. All the people he knew in Jamaica were men and not the sort two virginal should be around. It was Lt. Bush who noted her mannerism were a lot more proper than he would have expected and she drank claret as though she had had it before. She smiled and had remarked her mother kept a very proper household. All the officers thought her charming and witty and when she finally was too tired to speak without yawning, Mr. Bush saw her to the doctor's sick bay. The doctor offered her some water and then turned to his own bunk as she dozed off. She had slept well that night, perhaps helped by the alcohol and the laudanum laced water the doctor had given her. She woke in the morning to June move as she slept.

Her fever still raged, but she had lived through the night. Eliza put another cool rag on her brow and then climbed back into her hammock to rest for a time longer. The doctor found her reading next to her sister. The man was kind and commented it was well she had remained there. The ship had 700 men aboard and the two women and he did not like the thought of her alone, out and about at night.

For now, after seeing her sister looked after, the girl sighed, the sun on her face before looking at Hobbs. "This ship is huge, how does one not get lost?"

He chuckled. "I have lived on this ship for nearly thirty years. One gets used to it."

She nodded. He went about his work checking the guns since she seemed to be well enough off. She went to the edge and hopped up expertly onto a barrel and sat down, drawing one knee up. She then looked over the waves holding the ropes a little. She began to sing in Gaelic about the sea. All about paused listening to her words, some of the Irishman knowing the words.

Hobbs leaned against a canon listening and then he smiled. Her song ended and she looked about. She flushed realizing everyone, including the officers, had been listening. She hopped down and pushed her hands over her skirts before moving, her head up to the stair to go back down below.

Hobbs coughed and she looked at him. He dipped his head. "It was beautiful, Miss Eliza."

She nodded and disappeared.

Z+Z

That night tragedy struck.

Eliza was eating with the officers when the doctor walked in. He coughed and the men looked at him. "Dr. Clive. Have you come to join us?" Buckland asked.

"No, sir. I came for Miss Eliza."

"Why?" She asked rising.

He looked at her and his face fell. "I'm so sorry."

"No!" She gasped. "No! You are lying!" She cried and pushed passed him running out into the middle of the men. Shaking her head as the music stopped she ran up the stairs and onto the deck. She could hardly breathe as she went to the side and threw up. Her stomach heaved and finally she was reduced to sobbing against the rail.

She felt hands upon her. "You do not want to be so close, my dear." A gently voice told her. She looked up and saw Gunner Hobbs standing over her with a light.

She turned away and sighed trying not to weep.

"What has happened?"

"My sister…she…"

He swallowed and looked skyward. "I am sorry." He breathed. He set down the lamp and looked at her. He crossed himself and sighed. "A prayer for her soul."

She nodded and then turned to him, needing comfort. She pressed her face against his chest. It was rough and sweat fouled, but comforting as he wrapped an arm about her to steady her. She sobbed harder and was in near hysterics until her body finally gave out. Hobbs caught her against him and lifted her body in his arms. Not many were on the deck, most were enjoying the party of sorts below, but Hobbs carried her to the sick bay and tenderly laid her down on the medical bed in the middle before calling for the doctor. She was still sobbing, weaker now, but her body could no longer move or protest as he touched her hair in a vain attempt to comfort her as well as he could.

The doctor came and his hand dropped away. The young Miss June had been wrapped in a hammock and it sealed for her to be buried at sea. It lay nearby and Miss Eliza seemed to notice. Hobbs followed her eyes and put himself between her and her sister. "Don't look, Miss Eliza. Don't." He looked at the doctor. "Can we not move the body, for pity's sake?"

The doctor had the girl drink some rum laced with laudanum and soon she quieted all together. The doctor sighed and Hobbs looked at him. "What did you do to her?" He demanded.

"She will sleep now. I gave her some Laudanum, God knows she needs it."

Hobbs nodded.

"Her sister?" He asked looking back.

"We will send her tomorrow morning."

Hobbs nodded and left.

Z+Z

"We commend her body to the deep. Ashes to Ashes and Dust to dust." Buckland said reading from a book before him.

The small body of June was dropped over the side. She hit with a small splash. Eliza stood quietly, quivering, saying nothing, but tears rolled down her cheeks. At the splash she let out a gasp and shut her eyes tight as she turned to the side.

Two large hands were on her shoulders. "She is in a better place now, Miss Eliza." Hobbs said. "No one can hurt her anymore and she is safe."

Eliza nodded and turned to him. Her eyes searched his as she stepped to him and pressed her face to his jacket. His hand went to her hair in a reassuring gesture. Many of the men were on deck to give the girl a good send off and now dispersed.

Hornblower looked at Hobbs and nodded. "When you are able, see her to captain's quarters, Mr. Hobbs."

"Very good sir." Hobbs said.

After a time he walked with the girl to the captain's quarters. Captain Buckland had remained in his own modest cabin, but had felt the girl would do well there and Hobbs made sure she was well enough to sit down before leaving her for his duties.

Z+Z

It was night when the alarm went up.

Eliza woke to the sounds of clanging steel and angry voices. The ship had been taken by surprise, but still the boarding party was small and was looking for something. A smaller group went aft and Eliza looked out the window and recognized the ship.

She pulled on her clothing, hiked her skirt sides the sides. She looked about and found a sword, the captain's sword and drew it. It was a fine weapon and she touched it reverently. She smiled. The downside to this young hoyden was her father wishing for a boy. He taught her to do well in society, but also under the pretext of dancing classes, taught her sword play. She had learned well and had entered a couple of tournaments dressed as a man and won. Her father had never revealed her sex, but he was as proud of her as any son. That was until he wished her to marry and then she had refused. When major had tried to force her she had cut him, with a knife and run, without looking back.

She opened the door and saw the three men coming. They noticed her and ran for her, but she blocked the knife of one with her sword, and twisted, shooting the second in the rib cage. The man shoved his weight at her and she yelped as she was pushed over some boxes and landed flat on her ass. Her skirt was hiked up to her knees as she looked up angry.

"Well, well, you little hoyden. Death falls you everywhere." The silky voice of a man she hated said as he moved to her other side.

"Run, Miss Eliza!" Came a new voice as he leapt at the man who had pushed her bringing him to the floor.

"Hobbs?!" She gasped and rolled out of the way as a sword clashed down.

She rolled to her feet and crouched. The pirate smiled. "You got my brother killed you little bitch, and now I will kill you." He said.

She parried his blade and punched the man. She gasped as it hurt her hand, but the man had been caught off guard. He grunted as blood came to his lip. "Well, I always like them when they put up a fight." He muttered.

His mate was wrestling with Hobbs on the ground and Eliza backed up a bit into a more open area. Again she parried and then they crossed swords to the side. He produces a knife and she produced the pistol that she blocked his stab with. Standing beside each other the man smiled and then head-butted her face causing her to blink and drop backwards away.

Her nose and lip bleed and she touched it glaring at the man. "Seems we are even James." She muttered.

"Not even close." He hissed aiming to stab her. She dropped to the floor and kicked the man in the genitals causing him to cry out in pain. She stabbed, but only grazed his leg as he jumped back from her. "Whomever spawned you is cursed you miserable hoyden."

"Perhaps, but at least he can still fuck a woman." She returned noting his hand on his lower regions.

Hobbs had looked up startled by her language allowing the man to punch him and gain the upper hand for a moment, but he then grabbed a pulley from nearby and slammed it into the man's head. The man grunted and was still. Hobbs rose to his feet and watched the girl finish of her attacked with a slash to the neck. He dropped, slashing her with blood, to her feet as he gurgled his last.

Hobbs looked at the girl. He could see her leg to her upper thigh and realized she was not wearing any under clothing. She had a cut above her knee, her face was bloody, and she had blood spatter down her top front. God in heaven she looked like an amazon holding the sword. She dropped it and lifted a hand to her face, smearing the blood. Hobbs felt his nether regions spring to live and he realized he would like nothing more than to grab her, pull her onto one of the trunks there, and have his wicked way with her.

He came to her panting as she was and looked at her. She touched his lip where it bleed and smiled a little. "Hobbs." She said.

He touched her thigh. "You are injured." He said softly.

She shook her head. "Not much." She said.

He shook his head and lifted her barefoot to his thigh and wrapped a cloth about her leg to stop the bleeding. When he was done. Fingers sticky with her life blood, he looked up at her. "You are a remarkable woman, Miss Eliza."

"Thank you, Mr. Hobbs."

"Jamison." He corrected before stooping and pressing his mouth to hers. He was a large man and his great hands found their way to her back and down to her skirts and touched her thighs. She did not even protests and he pressed her back against some supplies. She was so sweet and she relaxed into his kiss as he continued to let his hands explore. The finally settled on the orbs of her ass, which he kneaded through the material of her dress.

His mind hung onto control by a thread. If they were caught he would be flogged at the very least and more likely he would hang from the yard arm for rape. Quickly he was getting to the point he didn't care. He could just lift her up to his waist and support them and…

They heard footfalls and they broke apart panting a little, but he stepped back a respectable distance after straightening her clothing, and looked as Hornblower, Bush, and Matthews came to them. "Are you all right, Miss Eliza?" Hornblower asked.

"Yes. Thanks to Mr. Hobbs." She said nodding. She winced a little as she took a step.

Hobbs looked at her, his blue eyes sparking despite the fact the magic was over. "Some of the credit belongs to her I assure you." He nodded to her left hand. Hornblower looked and realized she was holding the very blood captain's sword.

Hornblower blinked. "Where do you learn to use this?" He asked taking it from her.

"My father taught me. Women who cannot use swords can still die by them, he said. So he taught me how to use it."

"And well." Bush commented looking at the man before her. He noticed she was shaking. "Are you quite all right?"

"Yes…" she took a step. "No."

Hobbs extended a hand. She stepped over the body and locked a hand onto his elbow. "I will see her to the sick bay sir."

"Very good, Mr. Hobbs." Bush said.

The gunner walked with her back to the sick bay. He leaned close. "Are you well, Miss Eliza?"

"I…I…"

"You have never killed someone before have you?"

"No." she said looking down.

He nodded and paused to touch her cheek. "It is not easy." He said softly. "A woman should not see such things."

"How man have you killed?"

"Including today? Thirty." He said evenly.

Her eyes widened and he nodded. "Does it become easier?"

"Not so much easier, just harder to remember." He said as they came to the sick bay.

Dr. Clive looked up. "Good God, what happened to you?" He asked going to the girl.

"Apparently this was all meant to kill her."

"We destroyed their company. It seems rather hopeless to go against a seventy-four."

"Yes, but they tried to eliminate her quickly. However, she was more than ready for them." Hobbs said.

"Is the blood hers?"

"Mostly not." Hobbs said. He turned away as the doctor lifted the girl's shirt to her upper thigh to look at the cut that Hobbs had bound. The doctor noticed and he gently rewrapped the wound.

"We will be in Jamaica in two days." The doctor said as he had the girl sit down and removed her top. "Mr. Hobbs would you be so kind as to try to find a shirt that the lady can wear that is not blood covered?"

"Sir." Hobbs said taking the bloody one from the doctor and going away.

After about ten minutes he returned with one and he gave it to the doctor. He noted the girl had not moved and had her back to him, slim with a hint of color with her backbone showing leading from her thick red hair to her hips. The doctor had given her water to wash the blood.

"Here you are my dear." The doctor said.

Hobbs stood back as she pulled her hair up with a thong. She then pulled on the white shirt, but not before the gunner who was standing back, eyes down, looking out of the corner of his eyes, caught the sight of the curve of her bosom.

Once the shirt was on her, she walked to him. She swam in it and it hung off one sun tanned shoulder as she stood before Hobbs. She cocked her head at him. "Whose shirt is this so I can thank him properly?"

Hobbs smiled a little and looked down at her. "I can readily bring you to him, Miss Eliza."

She nodded and followed him out to a private part near the storm holds. She looked about. "Well? There is no one here, but us."

He smiled a little. He lifted a hand to her cheek. "It is mine." He said smiling.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Well than thank you, sir. I am indebted to you." She took his hand and squeezed it as she walked by. He held it a moment longer and lifted it to his lips.

"A pleasure, Miss Eliza." He said.

His eyes lifted and he saw Stiles who had just come down watching him. The girl did not see the Boatswain's mate, but she went to the deck to get some sun. She found the doctor working on Mr. Kennedy.

She knelt down as Hornblower held his head in his lap. "Mr. Kennedy?!" She gasped. She looked at the doctor. "Let me help."

"No, Miss. I just got you a new shirt." He muttered. "Mr. Hobbs." He barked as the man appeared. "Take the girl aft away from here."

"Aye, Aye sir." Hobbs said nodding to the girl. She sighed and followed him.

She then moved and sat on the stair looking out.

He looked at her. "You miss home?"

"Aye." She said.

"You are an orphan now then?"

"Aye." She swallowed. "I will be the ward of one of my uncles, I have no doubt." She said, almost bitterly.

He stood there, his blue eyes like water as he looked out. "It will all be well. You are a pretty lass. You will find some lucky man to marry you and have some children with."

"What is to happen when we get to Jamaica?"

"There will a court martial trial for the officers of the Renown." He sighed. "The captain was killed, they claim he lost his mind and so mutinied." He looked at her as she turned back startled. "I have heard rumor that Commodore Pellew will be there. He was summoned from where he was out."

"I would have thought he would be in Portsmouth." She said.

"He is said to be on his way."

"Indeed. I am sure he will chair the tribunal."

"For a merchant's daughter you know much about the navy." He commented.

"When you are around marines and others every day, you learn your fair share." She shrugged.

"I suppose." He nodded.

She looked up suddenly. "Do you think Mr. Kennedy will make it?"

"Depends. Belly wounds can be tricky." Hobbs said honestly.

She touched his head near his temple where a wicked bruise was. "Where did you get that?"

"A rifle butt to the head trying to stop the deserters." He said.

She nodded.

Z+Z

The ship pulled into port and Hobbs brought the young woman to the gang plank. He smiled and helped her into the boat and then dropped back to take the rudder. There were six other men at the oars. She looked up at Hornblower, Buckland, and Bush. "I thank you for your kindness and hospitality good sirs."

"I wish you a good journey, my dear." Buckland said. "I hope our paths cross again."

"I am sure we will." She smiled.

"God's Speed." Hornblower said.

"Safe Journey, Miss Eliza." Bush said.

She nodded.

The crew rowed to the jetty. The waves made the boat unsteady and Hobbs jumped off onto the pier and helped her up. He had her small bit of belongings and he walked with her to the cobblestone walk. He smiled at her. "So this is goodbye then, Miss Eliza."

"How long will you be here?" She asked turning her head, her red hair shining in the light. How he ached to lose his fingers in it and feel her soft lips against his. She was petite and beautiful and perfect in every way, but still he maintained the proper distance, with effort.

"Until the trial is over, at the very least." He said.

She nodded. "Very well. Perhaps we will meet again then."

"Perhaps if God and fate are on my side. It has been a pleasure, Miss Eliza."

"With you also, Jamison." She said.

He drew himself up and looked at her. "Say it again." He said like a prayer.

"With you…"

"No my name."

She smiled. "Jamison." She said.

He sighed and closed his eyes savoring that. "Thank you." He breathed. "No one has called me that since I joined the navy."

She smiled and leaned up on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. "Stay safe, Jamison Hobbs. There is a woman who is meant for you. And she will be a lucky woman."

He smiled and watched her go then, carrying the small box with her toward the dock master's office. His hand went to his cheek. God in heaven, he was going to miss her and he hardly knew her. He sighed. Back to the matter at hand. The trial of those he saw murdered the man he had served under for many years and had bled for.

Z+Z

The girl herself sighed as she walked into the dock office. She smiled at the man. "Greetings, Mr. Kamon."

"Miss Elizabeth. You look worse for wear."

"I am indeed. I am in need of a carriage and my papers if you please."

"Of course."

He fetched them and called the carriage for her. She got in with his help and then looked at the driver. "To the best accommodation on the wharf if you please." She said.

He nodded and clicked his tongue. The carriage began to move. She looked down at her papers she had had safely stored when she got here. She opened them. They were all the correct copies she had stolen from her father's desk two years ago. She touched the name. Elizabeth Hyacinth Wellesley, daughter of Lord Andrew Wellesley, Viscount Wellesley and his Lady wife, Lady Mariah Pellew, sister of Sir Edward Pellew.

Her mother would no doubt cringe to see her so low, but she did not care. She was as much a rebel as her mother had been when she had married her father. Her father had often remarked it was the English in her, but it was far more likely her father's Irish blood who caused her to be hot tempered and act before thinking.

She sighed as the carriage came to a stop. She paid the man and then walked to the desk. "I need a room."

"We do not cater to strumpets my dear."

She sighed and laid down her papers. "I believe you have a room available always for Lord Wellesley."

"Of course." The man looked down at the papers and then up at her. "You are his daughter?"

"Yes. I have just returned after being about a ship that saw action. I will require two dresses, a maid, and a bath." She said looking at the man. She gave him some of her coin.

The man nodded. "Right away." He looked up at a black man. "Mr. Key. Please take Miss Wellesley to room 20."

"Thank you good sir."

"Thank you. Be sure to tell your father that were will see to your every need."

"I will." She promised and followed the man to her room.

She looked about. It had a balcony that looked out over the ocean and had a common room and a large bed room. It would due after being at sea for two years.

After an hour some women brought up a bath tub and buckets of hot and cold water. The girl dropped into the steaming water gratefully and she looked up seeing a woman moving about. "Who are you?" She asked.

The girl curtsied. "I am Maybelle. I am your maid Miss." She was a quadroon by her look and she spoke like the aristos here, not like a slave.

"Thank you, Maybelle." Elizabeth sighed and relaxed letting the heat soothe the two years without a proper bath away. Maybe washed her hair and used a lice pick to get out the twigs, lice, and whatever else was in her hair. She then wrapped it and then saw to watching the young woman. She was well practiced at it and Elizabeth felt very pampered.

"Where did you come from, Miss?"

"The Renown. They liberated me."

"From pirates?"

"Yes."

"That is exciting."

"Not as much as you would think." She said. "Tomorrow I must make inquiries." She said.

"Indeed Miss. I will see you have a proper gown and shoes."

"Thank you."