The Lady and the Gunner
Chapter 4 – The Testimony
Hobbs sat finishing his breakfast with his young wife. The trial had been taking longer than expected and he was surprised no one had hanged yet. His idol had been killed, though in action he still blamed the Lieutenants assuming command for his fall that had made him seem to lose his mind. Even Hobbs had to agree the man had been unstable, but he would always stand by his captain.
Mrs. Hobbs was looking well. The trial had kept her husband with her for nearly a month now as they went over testimony, called witnesses, and had frequent breaks for deliberations and to become cooler. He was in his wife's company all he could be for he knew that soon he would be back on a ship only to return in six months if not more, assuming he came home at all.
His wife was holding a sun umbrella as she took his arm and he walked out with her to the market. They walked together talking about nothing and everything. Hobbs was fascinated by his wife and how she moved about. Her empire dresses hugged her ample breasts and fell like a sheath down her body. Her skin was a lovely honey color from the sun.
She had confided in him that she had originally run away from a marriage and it was because of this that she had been captured. She had been taken in by the lovely Dorr family, the merchant, his wife, and daughter June when she came to Jamaica. June had brought her home after befriending her and it was then that she befriended them all. She had an enterprising mind and as such, her adopted father had listened to what she had to say about trade routes and other such batters. They had become even richer from her ideas and William was already a rich man.
Hobbs smiled. His wife clearly had more money than he, but he was all right with it. She had the money she needed her own inheritance to keep her living as she should be. He wanted to see her back to England, however, to keep her safe, but that would be later, once he was out to sea again.
She was so small compared to him. He did not realize it until now. She barely came to his chest and standing next to him she was like a living doll. He walked with her every day after the trial had adjourned. Today he had stayed with her.
"Not that I am complaining husband, but why are you not in court today?" She asked.
"I have been called as a witness." He said evenly.
He paused as they passed the gallows. He stared at them a moment and sighed. "They will not hang you, Jami."
"I know." He said. "But others may."
Two men came up. One was Stiles and the other Matthews. They looked at Hobbs angrily. Hobbs pulled his wife behind him. "Gentlemen, my wife has nothing to do with this. Leave us be."
"A kiss from me." Stiles said. He spat into Hobbs' face. He looked at him. "Judas." He muttered. He walked on.
"Why you…" The lady growled moving to come forward, but her husband shifted to block her.
Matthews looked back at Elizabeth standing there looking rather affronted. "Your pardon Ma 'me." He said looking at her.
Hobbs stood still as they passed and then reached up and wiped the spittle his face. He sighed and looked at her. "They do not really like me." He said.
"Clearly." She used her handkerchief to wipe the rest away.
"I am sorry you had to witness that." He said.
"Why did he call you a Judas?"
"Because he thinks I am turning against the ship. I am not. Everything I have done and will do has been for the good of the Renown." He balled his fists.
"I know." She said. She touched his arm. "I love you." She said to him.
He finally moved his head. "I love you too." He whispered. He pulled her to him and stooped for a kiss. He looked up and noted Styles and Matthews were some ways off, but watching. He smiled a little and kissed his wife deeply. They may think him scum of the earth, but he had a woman and she was there.
She pulled back and looked up at him. "Jami?"
He wrapped an arm possessively about her and looked back over his shoulder throwing a look at the pair before escorting his wife to their room. The door had barely shut before he was kissing her and working on her clothing and his own. He was in his full uniform, but his clever fingers were managing just fine to free them.
He walked them into the bedroom, startling Maybelle who was seeing new towels were hung. She turned hearing them and gasped in amusement and astonishment as the lady and her husband walked together, divesting their clothing as they went.
The maid made a quick retreated. Hobbs did note her there as he kicked off his boots, but was set enough on his aim that he did not care even if she stayed in watch. Hell the young girl might learn something. His own wife had learned a great new things and she her innocence still enthralled him.
He cupped his wife's head between his hands as he looked at her. "I am not sure why I did right to deserve you." He whispered. "You and an angel who reaffirms my belief in God." He smiled and kissed her nose.
"Being a good honest man." She said looking up at him. She touched his cheek. "You are Jami." She smiled and nuzzled her husband's cheek.
He nodded. "So you have said, beloved." He said before pressing his mouth to her collarbone and smiling as she sighed in pleasure.
Z+Z
Hobbs looked at his wife. "Will you come to court with me?" He asked.
"For what?"
"Moral support, I suppose."
She took a breath. "Yes." She said.
He nodded and he watched her stand up and go dress. She chose a dress of white and blue that matched his uniform. He smiled watching her set her hair to right and then she came to him. He lifted his saber from the table where he had set it and put it over his shoulder.
"You know you look very smart in your uniform." She said as they walked out into the street. She held her sun umbrella and released it to shade her. He put on his hat and offered his arm like a gentleman would. She took it and smiled at him.
He chuckled. "You spent half the night cleaning it."
"You did not seem to object."
"No." He agreed. He smiled a little as he looked at her from under the brim of his hat. She had worked all night making sure it was ready for him. She had shined everything from the buttons to his shoe buckles. He had been mending a shirt when she had noticed. She never would have guessed such big hands could make such delicate stitches. He was a constant surprise.
They had spent much of the night talking while they worked together. It was oddly relaxing for him to have his wife working to make him look as sharp as she could for him to be at court. She had finally fallen asleep as he held her against him while he was reading to her as she sewed. Her head had dropped against his breast and she relaxed.
He had smiled and shifted. She woke, only a little as he rose to his feet and lifted her small body in his arms. He thought, not for the first time, how much her body reminded him of a child. She was lithe and beautiful and almost athletic in her build, but her breasts, hips, and backside were definitely well portioned to his tastes. She had gained a little weight since she had wed him. It had only helped her curves a little.
"What will you tell the court?"
"What I know about the mutiny and my captain." He said evenly.
"You surely will not condemn someone will you?"
"I would see that lot of officers hang for that they did." He said, more harshly than he meant. He looked at her look and then swallowed. "Forgive me. There are things that you were never told about the ship."
"I look forward to hearing them since I found all the officers to be gentlemen."
He smiled a little. "My little dove, always sees the good in everyone." He said. He lifted her hand to his lips.
"Unfortunately I do it often."
"It is not a mark against you, let me assure you."
She decided to change the subject. "Will you read to me when we get home?"
He smiled. He knew full well that it was her way to help him learn, but also to hear his voice. Hell he could be reading in Latin and she would not care, he suspected.
They walked to the courtroom and Hobbs nodded to the guard. "Go right in, Mr. Hobbs. The court be waiting for ya." He said. He then lifted a hand as Hobbs moved to walk in with his wife. "The lady, I need to see your papers."
"She is my wife, sir." Hobbs said.
"It is all right, Jami, I brought them as a precautionary measure. Go on. I will meet you inside. Save me a seat." She smiled.
He nodded and walked in after brushing a kiss to her brow.
She turned to the guard. "My papers sergeant."
He looked at them and gasped a little. "Lady Wellesley. It is an honor Miss."
"Mrs." She corrected. "I am Mrs. Hobbs."
"You are with an enlisted man, Mrs. Hobbs?" He seemed startled.
"He offered." She shrugged.
"Go on in, then. Your husband is to testify."
"I know. I am here to support him."
"Very good." He said.
She walked into the very full courtroom and found her husband seated in a chair near the back of the room. She walked to him and squeezed passed his knees and sat down beside him looking about.
The tribunal walked in and all rose to their feet. Sir Edward Pellew was between the others. The girl well knew Captain Hammond, a hot blooded Irishman, and the other she did not know. She squeezed her husband's thigh gently. He looked over at her as he took a deep breath. She smiled encouragingly at him. He nodded.
Pellew rapped the gavel on the stone. "This court is now in session. We call Gunner Hobbs of the HMS Renown to the stand to bear witness."
"Good luck." Elizabeth hissed to him as he rose.
"Thank you." He said. He walked to the bar and nodded to the tribunal.
"You know why you are here." Captain Hammond said. "To support the evidence of Mr. Buckland."
"I do sir." Hobbs said. "I would've gone through hellfire for Captain Sawyer." He said.
"Yes, yes." Pellew said.
"In my book he was equal to Nelson himself."
The tribunal looked uncomfortable. "Nelson, yes." Hammond said. "But to the matter at hand, Mr. Hobbs."
"Sir."
"Who pushed him?" Hammond asked. "Who pushed your captain into the hold?"
Hobbs took a moment as he stood with his hands behind him at the stand. "My captain." He began. "Was a leader of men. And he died in battle." He sighed. He looked straight at Hornblower. "But I am afraid I cannot tell you who pushed him." There were gasps in the crowd.
"What?" Hammond asked.
"Sir." Hobbs added looking forward again.
Buckland looked deflated and Hornblower looked all the more confused. The tribunal looked at each other.
"Very well Mr. Hobbs. Do you have anything else?"
"No. I will remember Captain Sawyer as he should be remembered, not as these men paint him to be." He said.
"Very good. You may step down." Hammond said. "Thank you, Mr. Hobbs."
Hobbs nodded and then walked back to his wife. She smiled up at him proudly. He sat down taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles before holding the delicate fingers in his hand on his thigh.
"Well I think this requires a short recess, gentlemen." Pellew said looking at the other two.
They nodded and Pellew hit his gavel against the table and the people in the courtroom began to move about. Hobbs smiled and helped his wife to her feet.
Pellew looked out and noticed her for the first time. The petite woman who was hauntingly familiar. He watched her leave with the gunner, smiling at him and walking with her hand on his arm. Pellew looked at the other men with him. "Excuse me a moment, gentlemen."
They nodded and he walked to the back of the courtroom. He walked outside and saw the pair walking slowly toward the town away from the garrison. She had a sun umbrella and had her arm threaded through his. His hat was on and they were speaking together.
She paused as her slipper came off and she looked back a step. Hobbs smiled and went back to fetch it and then knelt, pressing it onto her delicate foot again as she stood there. She looked up and Pellew's eyes narrowed. There was no mistaking those freckles, that fiery hair, and stature. Her laughing eyes were all her mothers. Pellew sighed. "Oh sister…" He whispered.
The pair walked out of sight and he moved back to the sergeant. "Sir." The man saluted.
"The lady at court today."
"Yes sir."
"What was her name?"
"The pretty red headed Irish girl? Her name was Elizabeth. Elizabeth Wellesley. Must be coincidence that she shares a name with the Duke of Wellington, no?"
"God in heaven." Pellew moaned.
"Sir?"
"It isn't a coincidence, my good man." Pellew said. "If she returns, bring her to me."
"Of course sir, but may I ask why sir?" The man cocked his head. "The little lass seemed quite taken with her husband so she did."
"Husband?!" Pellew rounded on him. "Good God man, she is only seventeen."
"She gave her name as Mrs. Hobbs sir."
"Did she?"
"Indeed sir."
"Well, well." Pellew said. "There is more to Gunner Hobbs than meets the eye it would seem."
Z+Z
After the court was dismissed for the day, Sir Edward Pellew made inquiries after his lady niece. He found out she was staying at a hotel near the port. She had been there sometime. Also his informant was quick to mention that there was often a man with her. Pellew's temper flared, but he let it cool. Perhaps Mr. Hobbs was seeing to her welfare and such.
If he had touched her in any way, Pellew would have him on a yard arm by sundown.
And that was a promise.