An Unwilling Alliance

by Lynn Bryant

  Wilson did not reply. Paul gave a pleasant smile. “Why were you demoted, Wilson?”

  “Court martial, sir.”

  Paul met the man’s eyes. “The charge?”

  “Drunk on duty while in command of a vessel, sir.”

  “That’s a fairly serious charge, Wilson. Which vessel?”

  There was a long and pointed silence. “The Flight, sir.”

  “I see. Who reported you, Wilson. It definitely wasn’t me.”

  “Lieutenant Durrell of the Iris, sir. He took command of the vessel that day…”

  “Did he? I’ve met Mr Durrell. He looks like an officer who knows his duty, Wilson. What was the first thing I said to you when I arrived aboard the Flight that evening?”

  He had caught the man off guard. “Sir…not sure.”

  “The second thing?”

  “I…”

  “How many men did I have with me?”

  “I don’t know…a few. You were angry, sir. And they had guns…”

  “I sincerely hope they did, Wilson, they’re soldiers. The man who escorted you to the cabin - what did he look like?”

  Wilson was lost and he knew it. “I don’t know. I was scared. They were pushing us around…”

  “They were holding you up, you could hardly stand,” Paul said quietly. “You have no idea what happened that night, you were too drunk. And I’m told those sick men hadn’t been fed for two days. No further questions.”

  He returned to his seat, trying hard not to look at the members of the court although he was aware that several of them were writing furiously. Ryder was also writing his transcript. Eventually he looked up.

  “You may step down, Mr Wilson,” he said.

  The next two witnesses, Enys and Muir were both members of Wilson’s crew. Ryder kept his examination of them brief and Paul suspected that he had lost interest in them as witnesses. Like Wilson their memories of the evening, when asked specifics, were sketchy. Like Wilson they admitted to having been found guilty at a court martial of being drunk on duty.

  The next witness was one of the marines from the Iris who had accompanied Kelly on board. Marine Parker’s replies to Ryder’s questions were short and very factual and he made no attempt to embellish his story although he readily admitted that Paul’s men had pointed guns at their captain.

  Paul came forward when invited. “Marine Parker. At ease, lad, this is not that scary, it’s not you on trial here, it’s me.”

  He saw a flicker of amusement in Parker’s pale blue eyes. “Yes, sir.”

  “I was in a right temper that night, wasn’t I?”

  Parker almost grinned then caught himself. “Yes, sir.”

  “Sorry,” Paul said. “Did you think my lads were going to shoot you?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Were you worried they were going to shoot your captain?”

  “No, sir.”

  “What did you think they were doing there?”

  “On watch, sir. No marines on board and the crew were all ale-bitten…sorry, sir, I mean drunk. Nobody else to do sentry duty until we came aboard and took over.”

  It was perfect and Paul was sure the man had been coached. “Did they - or I - use the correct navy terms to challenge an unknown boarder, Marine?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Why do you think that was?”

  “I don’t suppose they knew them, sir. But they got their point across.”

  There was a ripple of laughter through the court. Paul smiled and straightened. He saluted the marine.

  “Thank you, Marine. No further questions.”

  Parker saluted back. “Yes, sir.”

  It had been an unnecessary piece of pantomime and Paul knew it, but he had not been reprimanded for it which suggested that it had worked. He sat down and waited patiently while Ryder went through the same process with the second marine. He then rose and asked the same questions, receiving very similar answers. Paul wondered if Kelly had paid them.

  The court broke for an hour at midday and Paul was led to a small parlour where he was offered refreshment. He could not have contemplated food but he asked for water and it was brought with raised eyebrows. Paul smiled inwardly and wondered if he should tell them that he never drank before going into battle.

  When the afternoon session was convened, Ryder called Lieutenant James Morris of the flagship Prince of Wales. Morris answered questions readily about his brief interview with Paul about the Flight. His answers were honest and Paul had no questions for him. Apart from a level of sarcasm which Morris could hardly complain of in a senior officer, he had done nothing wrong during that interview. Paul was tempted to ask if Morris had obeyed his order to pass the message on to Popham but it did not seem fair on the boy. Morris’ testimony could only be good for him since it proved that he had made more than one attempt to inform the navy of his concerns.

  “The court calls Captain Hugh Kelly, RN to the bar.”

  Paul looked up from his notes as Kelly walked into the room. The Manxman looked as relaxed in this alien setting as he did on the deck of the Iris and Paul found his presence very reassuring. He had not spoken to Kelly since his departure from Copenhagen more than two months ago although Jenson had delivered a short note from his wife a few days ago wishing him luck at the trial.

  Kelly was sworn in, the slightly mellow tone of his accent a contrast to the very English voices around him. He did not look at Paul but concentrated his attention on the Judge-Advocate who was asking him questions about his rank and service at the time of the Copenhagen campaign.

  “Captain Kelly, how did you discover that there was a problem aboard the Flight?”

  “I had a visit from Lieutenant Perkins of the Tobias, sir. He’d heard something going on over there. His commanding officer wasn’t aboard and he wasn’t sure what to do so he came to me.”

  “And what did he tell you?”

  “I honestly can’t remember exactly. I gained the impression that the Flight had been boarded. I didn’t think it could be much, but I did wonder if a small Danish boat might have rowed in, perhaps to sabotage one of our outlying ships. It’s why I took the marines with me.”

  Ryder was frowning. “Did Mr Perkins not tell you it was the army?”

  “I don’t remember, sir, sorry.”

  “Very well. What did you do?”

  “As I said, I took a dozen of my marines and rowed over to have a look. When we got there a small boat was tied up and there were two infantrymen in it, standing guard. One of them challenged me. I think I was a bit short with him, actually, couldn’t imagine why I was being challenged at a navy vessel by an army man. Somebody shouted from above and the private called up that I was there and I went up, followed by Marines Parker and Glover.”

  “And what happened on deck, Captain.”

  “We were challenged by two riflemen, sir. I don’t think they’d heard the exchange. A moment later Major van Daan came over and told them to stand down.”

  “Did they threaten you?”

  “They challenged me, sir.”

  “Did Major van Daan threaten you.”

  “Not that I remember, sir.”

  “Did you ask Major van Daan if this was mutiny?”

  Kelly grinned. “I think I did say something of the sort, sir. He didn’t laugh, but then he’d seen what was going on below decks and I hadn’t at that point. Ten minutes later I’d stopped making jokes.”

  Paul listened in astonished silence. He had never been particularly good at prevaricating or lying. Sir Arthur Wellesley had always told him that his emotions were too easily written on his face. Paul had never really seen it as much of a disadvantage, but listening to Captain Hugh Kelly’s masterful retelling of the incident, he was genuinely impressed. He could not have accused Kelly of a single actual lie but the story sounded very different to the one Paul remembered.

  When Ryder was done, Paul got up and came forward, saluting. Kelly returned the salute, a gleam of amusement in the
slate-grey eyes.

  “Was I rude to you that evening, Captain?”

  Kelly laughed aloud. “Major, you went off like one of Congreve’s rockets and you know you did,” he said amiably. “But it had nothing to do with me and I know it. You apologised five minutes later and I accepted your apology. You saved lives that night. I wish you’d come to me first; you could have saved yourself all this, but you’re young and you’re new to your rank and you’ll have learned from it.”

  Paul felt himself smile. “Thank you, sir. And I am genuinely sorry.”

  “I know you are, Major. You’re a good officer, I wish there were more like you.”

  Paul sat down and Ryder rose. “Just one or two more questions, Captain. Did you know Major van Daan before this incident?”

  “Not really. We’d met briefly at army headquarters over at Hellerup. There was a horse loose in the stables and he went out to bring it in, I lent him a hand. We exchanged a few words, nothing more.”

  “I see. Thank you, Captain.”

  It was growing late and Paul could sense a restlessness in the room. He was not surprised when, after a brief consultation with the president, the Judge-Advocate declared the court adjourned until the following day.

  Jenson was waiting by the carriage as Paul climbed in. He said nothing on the short journey back to Curzon Street. He had known it was unlikely to be over in one day but the thought of another day of it depressed him. Still, the thought of Hugh Kelly made him smile.

  His brother, with considerable tact, had arranged to dine out that evening. Paul pushed food around his plate for a while and then went through to the small parlour which the family used in the evening when there were no guests. The butler appeared with a tray and Paul smiled at him.

  “Is that brandy, Gregory? You are a life saver.”

  “Yes, sir. Also, a gentleman has called. I told him that you would probably not be home but he asked me to bring his card.”

  Paul took it, looked at it and smiled. “Send him in, will you, Gregory?”

  Captain Johnny Wheeler appeared moments later and closed the door, saluting. “You can kick me out if you want to, sir,” he said.

  “I don’t. Sit down and get a drink, I’m too tired to move.”

  Johnny did so, studying him sympathetically. “I’ve not seen you look this tired since Assaye,” he said. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know. You were in there, Johnny. What do you think?”

  “I don’t think they’re going to cashier you, Paul. I wouldn’t have said that before today but it went bloody well. Especially Kelly.”

  Paul laughed and sipped the brandy. “He is a very good lad,” he said. “Another man in his position would have hung me out to dry. It’s going better than I thought it would.”

  “You’re very good at it, Paul, you’ve surprised me. You look so contained up there.”

  “I don’t feel it, my stomach’s in knots, I’ve not been able to eat. Do me a favour, Johnny?”

  “Anything.”

  “Pretend I’m going to get off and come back to my battalion, will you? Tell me the gossip and make me laugh.”

  Wheeler leaned back in his chair with a grin. “Want me to start with the latest from that pretty little idiot Mr Kent married?” he asked.

  He had been there an hour when the butler reappeared.

  “My apologies for disturbing you, Major.”

  Paul raised his eyebrows. “What is it Gregory? Not another visitor? I’ve been here for weeks and not seen a soul and now…”

  “Not exactly a visitor, sir. A person has called at the servants door and asked to speak to you. I have told him that is not possible but he asked me to deliver this. He said it was urgent.”

  Paul took the note, bewildered, and Johnny got up. “I’m going anyway,” he said. “And you need to see him, Paul. It’s Michael.”

  “Michael? What in God’s name is he doing in London?”

  “I gave him permission,” Johnny said quietly. “He came down with me on the stage.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you bring him in, Johnny?”

  Captain Wheeler laughed. “I wanted to see how you were,” he said. “Good luck, tomorrow, sir. You’ll be all right.”

  Gregory’s face was a vision of disapproval. “Should I show the man into the book room, sir?”

  Paul grinned. “No, Gregory, bring him in here, will you?”

  His sergeant came in, with no visible sign of embarrassment, saluted and waited until Gregory had closed the door, his back rigid.

  “Does he always walk like that, sir?”

  “Poor Gregory. He hates it when I’m home, he never knows what’s coming next.”

  “I wasn’t sure I should come, sir, but the captain insisted.”

  “I’m very glad he did. Sit down and have a drink and stop playing Paddy the village idiot, will you, he’s gone now.”

  His sergeant laughed aloud and sat down, accepting the glass Paul handed him. “Thank you, sir. Although your brother would have a fit.”

  “He’s out, won’t be back until late. How are you, Michael?”

  “Very glad this particular campaign is over,” his sergeant admitted, sipping the brandy. “It was a bastard of a voyage home, did the captain tell you?”

  “No, he was determined to be positive. What happened?”

  “Storms in the Kattegat. They lost some of the captured ships and a transport went down. A lot drowned.”

  “Not our men, Sergeant?”

  “No, sir, although Grogan was so sick I honestly thought he might die. He couldn’t march for days, Mr Swanson hired a farm cart for him but that made him sick as well.”

  Paul laughed aloud. “Poor bastard, I’ve never seen anybody as bad as he is. All well in barracks?”

  “Yes. Are we not talking about it, sir?”

  “The trial?”

  “No. What happened in Koge?”

  Paul had been expecting it. “It’s up to you, Sergeant. Do we need to?”

  Michael set the brandy glass down with a wry smile. “Sir - you and I both know you’ve no obligation to tell me anything, I’m an NCO.”

  “Oh bollocks, Michael, you have never felt inferior to me in any way and I’ve never treated you as if you were. Pour another drink and stop it, I’m not in the mood.”

  His friend reached for the decanter. “I keep telling myself you wouldn’t have done it.”

  “Of course I wouldn’t have done it. But they didn’t know that, and they weren’t supposed to.” Paul leaned back in his chair. He was more tired than he could ever remember being. “I’m sorry, Michael. I should have thought first before giving you that order. I knew it ten seconds later but it was too late. But if you’re asking if I’d do that again, then I would. I needed them out of there before the bloody Highlanders came back through town and decided to go in with bayonets and take no more prisoners. I hated that whole battle - in fact that whole fucking campaign - and I wanted it over. It worked. They survived. I’m sorry if you find it hard to live with that, but I’m sleeping fine with it.”

  His sergeant was silent for a long time. Finally he said:

  “You haven’t slept properly in weeks.”

  “Months actually.”

  “Guilty conscience? You found yourself a girl yet?”

  “No, I bloody haven’t, stop reminding me. Why is my sex life so interesting to you lot?”

  “You’re the only one who can afford a sex life, sir, we’ve not been paid.”

  Paul was laughing. Suddenly it was right again although he had no idea why or what he had said, but the relief of it swept away some of the tension in his body.

  “You are such a cheeky bugger, O’Reilly, I don’t know why I put up with you.”

  His sergeant smiled, and for the first time since Koge it reached his eyes. “Habit, sir,” he said conversationally.

  The visit helped, and Paul slept for a couple of hours, arriving back at Chelsea earlier than necessa
ry, heavy eyed and tired. When the court was settled and ready, Ryder stood up.

  “My next witness was to have been Captain Sir Home Riggs Popham,” he said. “The captain has sent a message to say that he has been unavoidably delayed for a short time but will be with us this afternoon. I propose that we adjourn proceedings until…”

  “Do we need to adjourn?” Sir John Moore asked.

  “It is usual to complete the prosecution case first, sir…”

  Moore smiled. “I have presided at more than one such trial, Mr Ryder. Ordinarily I would agree with you, but it is a matter of precedent, not written procedure. In this case, there appears so far to be considerable similarity between the accounts of the prosecution and the defence. Major van Daan, how many witnesses have you called?”

  “Five, sir, but most of them will only require a few questions.”

  “Very well. As it happens several of the bench have other pressing engagements within a day or so and I would like to see this finished. Do you have any objection to beginning your defence, Major, and returning to the prosecution when Captain Popham arrives?”

  “None, sir.”

  “Excellent. Proceed then, Mr Ryder.”

  Paul had chosen to call his minor witnesses first. In quick succession he called Privates Carter and Cooper and Corporal Grogan to give their accounts of the night in question. He then called Jenson to confirm his movements on the day he had spent chasing around trying to report his concerns about the Flight.

  His next witness was Lieutenant Carl Swanson who gave an unemotional and very moving account of the conditions they had found on the Flight and of his conversations with Captain Kelly. Ryder addressed one or two sharp questions to him about his recollection of events and broke against Carl’s immovable calm.

  “The court calls Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley.”

  Wellesley took the stand with the faintly bored air of a man who felt his time was being wasted. Paul questioned him briefly about his own attempts to report to him and Wellesley’s absence then thanked his chief and sat down.

  “I have no questions, Sir Arthur. You may step down.”