The Lady and the Gunner
Chapter 6 – A Bitter Farewell
The trial was over. Mr. Kennedy, a young man who had been fatally wounded confessed to the crime of pushing his captain. However, he did not live long enough to make it to the gallows. Hornblower was with him as he died.
Even Hobbs had to admit it was a brave thing to take the blame for his comrades, though he died from a battle wound. Hobbs stood looking out at the bay. His wife was still sleeping in the bed. He was to leave her today. He was to join the crew of the Retribution, the ship that Hornblower had been given command of. She was a sloop-of-war and would need an expert gun crew. He had asked for Hobbs to be placed on his crew as a lead gunner. Pellew accepted though he wished to keep the man out of harm's way, he knew better that post him somewhere completely out of danger. It would be too obviously favoritism to a member of family.
He looked down at his orders. He felt somewhat prideful that he could read them himself. He was to appear onboard at noon. It was nearly ten. The Commodore had given his permission for him to remain in port while the ship was getting ready to say his goodbyes to his wife whom he would not see for six months and perhaps never again.
Elizabeth herself was to travel back to England with her uncle to Portsmouth where she would remain until Hobbs returned to her. Hobbs was grateful her family would look after her. He was the son of a whore and did not have any family he knew of. She would have gone back unfriended and lonely. This way, she would be among her family and peers.
She stirred and he turned back to her. She looked up at him. "Jami. What time is it?"
"Ten in the morning."
"Why did you not wake me?" She asked looking at him startled. "I should have…." She sat up too quickly and felt her stomach lurch. She closed her eyes and panted, suddenly pale and sweat was on her brow.
He came to her. "Lizzy?" He asked. He rubbed her back and pressed his hand to her brow.
"I am fine." She managed as she opened her eyes. "I need to eat something…bread? Tea."
"Of course." He rose from the bed and went to the breakfast table. He returned to her and watched her eat the small breakfast slowly. "I should have let you sleep longer, Lizzy. You do not look well."
"It will pass." She said.
He watched her unsure, but she had gained back some color. "I wanted to remember you sleeping. You look like an angel. When I think about you, I want to remember you that way."
She nodded. "Better than me ill."
"Are you ill?" He asked concerned.
"No." she said. "My stomach just does not do well in the morning."
He nodded as she rose to her feet to dress. She pulled on a simple dress and slippers on her feet.
They ate together after a while of sitting together. Neither of them spoke. At lunch she finally spoke. "I hear the Retribution is a new ship."
"Yes." He said. "She has been refurbished from a prize ship. She was Spanish I believe. The paint is hardly dry, but they are sending her back out to see with 600 souls aboard."
"How many are on a ship?"
"Depends on the ship. Frigate will have 800 or more. A seventy-four will have 700. Sloop will have 600 or so souls. Man-of-war would need over a 1000 with all the guns on her."
"And the Renown was a seventy-four."
"Indeed. So you have been paying attention." He smiled at her.
"I cannot imagine so many guns on a broadside. It is a wonder you can still hear me."
He chuckled. "My hearing is less than it was before due to it."
It was eleven when they walked together to the dock. Hobbs was in his full uniform, his sword at his side, his clothing looking smart because of his wife. His small box for his clothing an items such as her miniature and a lock of her fiery hair had been taken to the ship already.
At the dock a boat was waiting. He sighed and looked at his wife, taking her small hands in his. "I guess this is goodbye." He said. He looked about. It smelled like rain.
She shook her head. "No, Mr. Hobbs. Only farewell. Goodbyes are forever and I am expecting you home in six to eight months."
He smiled. "I love you. Remember that." He kissed her mouth tenderly as he held her. He stood back rubbing her thin arms. "Farewell it is then, Lizzy. I will come home to you. I promise."
"I know." She needed to tell him more. Something. Anything to keep him from doing something stupid.
He turned and she bit her lip and then took hold of his arm. He turned back to her. "Yes?"
She lifted his hand to her belly and pressed it to her. There was the hint of a swell there. His fingers flexed as he looked at her still wondering why she had stopped him. "I know now. I am carrying your child."
He looked at her startled. He stepped back his eyes searching hers. "Truly?" He knew then she was and he smiled in delight. A child. She was carrying his child. The best gift she could give him was in her belly.
"Yes. I went to the doctor while you were seeing to getting your orders." She smiled her voice cracking. "It will come near Christmas." She looked up at him pressing her small hands to his cheeks. "Don't get yourself killed." She smiled even as tears started down her cheeks. "I need you, Jamison Hobbs. I love you so much." She hugged him. Her tears came in earnest then.
He sighed into her hair. He pulled her back enough to kiss her and then his eyes were bright. He pressed his brow to hers and sighed as he caressed her belly. "I will return." He said. He pressed a last kiss to her mouth and then stepped away before he could not.
She watched him get on the small boat and she stood watching as he was taken to the Retribution. Tears flooded down her cheeks as she stood shaking. A soft rain had started to fall, matching how she felt. She looked skyward as the rain fell before looking back at the ship.
"He will return to you, Bess." A soft voice came into her thoughts. She was dripping, but refused to move. She turned her head as she shivered a little. Sir Edward Pellew stood there. He sighed and removed his great coat and put it over her small shoulders. "Good God you are drenched. It is not good for someone of your condition, Bess." He looked at her. "He would not want you to catch your death from a fever."
The sails raised and the Retribution lifted anchor. She lifted her hand for a moment and then let it drop a sob coming from her lips. The Commodore collected her and then led her away. "Come then. I will send for your things." He said gently. "We must get your out of those clothes."
She shivered. "Thank you uncle."
He took her to his apartments and then sent two men to have her things brought. The girl looked up from where she sat by the fire. "Bring Maybelle as well." She said.
Pellew nodded and then summoned a maid to find a dry dress and some tea. She was hesitant, but the commodore's coin soon had her going at a run. Pellew dropped into a seat next to his niece. "I do not think I have never seen a pair so much in love."
"Are you still angry with me?"
"I never was angry, Bess." He said. "I know you could do better, but I can see he is the right one for you." He smiled and touched her cheek. "Rest now. I will have a doctor sent to look you over."
"That is not necessary."
"It is. I will have you healthy for our voyage in two days, my dear."
She nodded.
She slipped into the new dress and sipped her tea before the doctor came. The doctor looked her over while Pellew paced.
"Well?"
"She is carrying a child, sir." He said. "She also should rest. The cold has taken a toll."
"She does not have a fever?"
"No." He said.
Pellew nodded. The men returned with her chest and Maybelle. The quadroon looked at the commodore and then saw the pale lady come into the room and sit down on the divan. "You sent for me?" She asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "Do you have family here?"
"No. My mother was sold to the colonies and my father does not acknowledge me."
Elizabeth nodded. "I am in need of a maid. I was wondering if you would like the job."
"But Miss…I work for the hotel and…"
"I garentee you will make more as her maid." Pellew said smiling at her. "Indeed you shall likely make more than many of those fighting in His Majesty's navy, girl, I dare say. What say you then?"
"I could be packed within the hour sir."
"See you are." He said smiling. "My lady niece will need attending."
"Sir." She said and disappeared.
"She is a pretty thing. Where did you find her?"
"She was sent by the hotel." Elizabeth shrugged. "I wish I had her skin. Such a lovely color."
"Praise God you do not. Quadroons never have easy lives gotten between peoples and cultures."
"Aunt Jane's maid is mulatto, is she not?"
"Indeed."
Z+Z
Two days later they boarded a seventy-four called the Defiant. Elizabeth was about to navigate around far better than Pellew expected. He had taken the captain's quarters and ordered two more hammocks be hung, one for his niece and one for the maid.
He told them they were not allowed to leave unless they needed to or when he could escort them on deck or one of the senior officers. The captain's quarters were quiet luxurious and there was room for all three and the main room where the officer dined would be available still.
Maybelle took some time to be used to walking on a ship having never been on one. She did not get seasick, but she sometimes lost her footing on the rolling waves. She helped the steward, Douty, with meals. He was intrigued by her as she sang songs in Creole and made dishes that were full of flavor. She even used cuts that would not normally be for the captain's table, but it came out a gorgeous dish. All the officers were impressed by her. Several did not even realize she was a quadroon and treated her as any woman should be treated, a change for the girl and Pellew knew it, but was glad to see it. She was often when not on duty to her mistress, was in the company of Lieutenant Leroy, a good young man to be a second lieutenant, but he was always a gentleman and even appeared to be courting the maid a little. Pellew had impressed upon the crew that if anyone so much looked at his niece of the maid wrong, they would swing.
Elizabeth herself liked to read on deck and would often be perched on a gun as the ship moved and she read or she would watch the waves. Of course as a gunner's wife she knew more than she should about the guns and even spoke to the men who were working about her. They seemed amazed she would speak to them, but they were honest with her.
Pellew watched her. Her hand would often touch her swell. It took two months to return to England and by then she was showing visibly, though she still could hide it under layers of cloth, though for not much longer. She saw no reason to on the ship and had even started to waddle.
Pellew was amazed. She was not far along and yet she was showing quite a bit. He wondered if Hobbs had fathered twins on her. That was dangerous for the woman and she would need extra care in the coming months.
He found it interesting she never got seasick and in fact had once climbed up to the crow's nest to look up with the captain. It surprised him, but she navigated the ropes very well, even with her swollen belly. If anything it kept her weight forward to the ropes as she moved much like a small spider.
They met up with a frigate half way to England who would carry them the rest of the way. The HMS Boadicea would take them to Portsmouth. The frigate was not as smooth in the water and the three of them were quite cozy in the captain's quarters, but Pellew insisted the women use it as much as they needed and were to summon him when he could return.
Their arrival in Portsmouth was overcast, but not raining currently. The young women sat aft whole Commodore Pellew sat forward of the small runner boat. On the dock a wave caught Elizabeth by surprise and she had cut herself on the dock.
She walked to the carriage thinking it only a scratch and ignored the stinging pain. The maid and her uncle climbed in and they headed to her uncle's home after their chests were loaded. It was the porter who noted the blood on the lady's dress.
Pellew got out and lifted his niece's skirt to reveal the long cut along her shin that was bleeding more than it should. Grunting he lifted her down and then swung her into his arms, despite her protests, and carried her into the house calling for water and a doctor to be summoned.
She was set down on a chair in the parlor and he noted that the two maids appeared with water and towels. He lifted the girl's skirt up and then looked at the cut. "Why did you not say anything?"
"I thought it was a scratch maybe a bruise."
He grunted and nodded to her maid to wash it.
Lady Jane walked into the room and gasped seeing her niece laying back with the maid rinsing a very bloody piece of linen. "What the devil happened, Sir Edward?"
"She tripped on the dock."
"Have you summoned a doctor?"
"Of course Madam." He said.
Lady Jane noted the girl's swollen belly and looked at Edward. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked shrilly. "I invited the Major for tea and his bride has her belly under her chin and is bleeding."
"There are days you are too efficient, Madam." Pellew said. "I had hoped to allow her to gain her land legs back before we had him come."
"He has been worried and was so thankful when he heard of her being returned to us. How will we explain her belly?"
"How you should explain it aunt." Elizabeth said looking up at her. "I am already wed and I carry my husband's child."
"What?!"
Pellew lifted a hand and sighed. "Sit down my dear before you have a nosebleed." He looked at his niece and then back to his lady wife. "She is correct. She is wedded, bedded, and has a child on the way."
"And her husband?"
"Is serving in my navy." Pellew said and left it at that.
She nodded and sat down. The doctor made sure the girl was well and saw to the cut. It was thankfully not deep, but bleed a fair amount. He suggested boiling nails and making the girl drink it with tea to help her body. Meanwhile, the two maids helped the girl upstairs to her bed.
The doctor followed with Pellew and then also listened to her belly and looked at Pellew. "I cannot tell if she has twins, but her belly would indicate it if you are correct in the months."
"She is a little over four months by my reckoning."
"Indeed. We shall have to keep a close eye on her. At the very least the baby will be large. Was your husband a large man, my lady?"
"Yes." She said looking up at him.
Pellew sighed. He heard the bell. "That would be the major. Thank you Doctor." He looked at his niece. "Are you going to hide here or will you come down?"
"You do not think he will be offended?"
"Certainly since your aunt did not warn him, but I will see that you are not harmed."
She nodded. He walked downstairs. She heard her uncle greet the man she despised.
Z+Z
She finally came down the stairs, her clothing whispering on the wooden steps. Her cut ached a little, but did not impede her walking. She sighed and entered the parlor. She wore a dress that did nothing to hide her condition and perhaps even enhanced it. She waddled in and the men stood up.
"Ahh there you are, Bess." Sir Edward said holding some claret. "She still looks so beautiful does she not?"
"Is this some sort of joke, Sir Edward?" The major asked as she sat down beside her uncle. His handsome face twisted. "What is that in her belly?"
"I believe it is a child, Major unless pirates are feeding their prisoners better these days." Pellew said in amusement as he sipped his wine before sitting down.
"My wife…was taken by pirates?!"
"I was never your wife, sir." Elizabeth put in. She looked at him levelly.
"Then whose baby is it?"
"My husband's." She said a somewhat self-satisfied smile on her face.
"I beg your pardon? You were promised to me. You disappeared two years ago and here you are as bold as brass with another man's child and you tell me you are married."
"Yes and happily." She said sipping her claret.
"Who is he? He should know better than to…"
"Harm him I will kill you with my own hands."
"Bess." Pellew said in warning. "The major is just making conversation." He looked at the Major.
The major coughed. "Of course Sir Edward. Have you met her husband?"
"Indeed I have. A great man, large from all his duties on his ship."
"His name?"
"Mr. Hobbs."
"Mr. Not Lieutenant, captain, sir, or lord?" The major sneered.
Elizabeth's eyes flared. "No, but he is twice your size in all things, Major." She said. "I would love to see you handle a gun of a seventy-four."
"He is a gunner?"
"Yes. And a good man. After all he married me before he knew who I was."
"And you did not make her put it aside?" The major said to Pellew.
"And shame her further?" Pellew asked. "With a man's child in her womb it would be hard enough to get her here and marry her to you before you noticed." He sighed. "I approved of the marriage. The man is a credit to His Majesty's service."
"He should be flogged for rape not congratulated." The major said.
"You cannot rape the willing." Elizabeth smiled. "And since I was more than willing. Every time he had me I thought how much of a relief it was that it was not you." She said rising to her feet.
"Bess!" Pellew gasped. Women did not say such things. What the hell was wrong with her?
"Good day, uncle, aunt. I assume you can see the major out. I am tired. The journey has warn me."
"Very well." Pellew said. She kissed his cheek and then walked toward the door after casting the major a look.
"Why you little whore…"
"Major that is enough." Pellew hissed.
"How do you expect me to take that insult sir?"
"You will take it like a man and not slander my niece, sir. Good day to you. I am sure you can find your own way out."
"Edward…" Jane protested.
The major left and Jane looked at her husband. "She gets her spirits from your side of the family Edward. Your sister was the same. Hoydens." She shook her head. "She must learn to curb that temper of hers in society."
Pellew looked at her. "Perhaps society should have a taste of what it is to be English. Her husband is a gunner and I have seen for myself what his education has done to her language. However, to her credit, Bess taught him to read and write. He has to be the only gunner in the Service who can do that."
"But he is a gunner." Jane protested. "A gunner." She looked up. "What is a gunner?"
"A man in charge of the guns. He has several crews and he makes sure the guns are kept up."
"He is an NCO. A nobody…" She hissed. "He is a nobody married to a viscountess."
"Indeed, but she remains titled. She could by him a commission if he wished, but I am not sure he would do well in command of more than a gun deck."
She scoffed and walked away from him shaking her head.
Pellew smiled as he reflected. His niece had insulted the son of a powerful man. Unlike her husband if the major was put in command he would lead the men to disaster since he could likely not figure out which side of a map was which. No, he was proud of his niece for sticking to her guns, so to speak.
He heard a creak upstairs and knew she was in her room with her maid. He would make sure the Retribution came back to Portsmouth for repairs and new orders and spent Christmas here where Hobbs could be with his wife and child when it came. God help him if were twins.
Pellew chuckled. Twins. That was all the family needed. A set of fiery haired twins running amok, and yet he would enjoy every moment of it since his own family would be there as well. His youngest was only four now.