The Wooden World, Part 29.
Luckily, he didn't have to wait longer than two weeks for the return of the summoned captains that would sit upon the panel, and the arrival of Lieutenant Watts. While he didn't see him at any time, he knew that George must have arrived once he was told the courtmartial would commence the next day.
So, in the morning, he was taken out of his cell and allowed to clean up properly and dress in his best. He felt much more like himself this way, and that would be a help in getting through what he knew was going to be an ordeal. He was at once excited and terrified to see his old friend at the proceedings; he had wanted to see George again for months, but not under these circumstances. He didn't know if he could even really look at him without embarassment... something that would definitely appear misleading to the panel.
He was taken to a rather large chamber, without irons, he was grateful to note; he was allowed to wear his dress sword also, since the odds were poor that he would use it to fight his way out of the room, and the propriety afforded to an officer was generally more important than such considerations anyway.
George was there, sitting on a side bench with a Marine guard, as was Lieutenant Howard. He took this in briefly, not gazing into their faces long enough to read their expressions, and simply looked straight ahead from his position in the center of the floor. In front of him, and to the sides, were tables for the twenty-odd captains and Commodore Peyton. He maintained his posture, rather rigidly, since he was afraid that the slightest release of form would cause him to collapse utterly.
The introduction was mercifully short, as was the reading of the accusation; the assembly wasted no time in bringing out the summoned witnesses to his character, beginning with Lieutenant Elliot.
"I noticed there was something wrong shortly after the taking of the first Prize," he was saying. "Lt. Howard had made a close friendship with the Captain, and I preferred to keep our relationship strictly to business. Since then, the Captain ignored my position, calling Howard to duty at every opportunity. It was when I heard more about Captain Rothwell from some of his previous associates upon the Valiant."
A strange curiosity came over Rothwell as he listened. He couldn't very well interrupt or respond, and he was starting to wonder exactly how Elliot was going to proceed with all of this.
"I was told that he never preferred the company of women... this, good sirs, I can vouch for myself... and would often be alone in his cabin with Lieutenant Watts, or they would both be in the cabin of Lieutenant Watts. There had been rumors about the nature of their association at the time."
Rothwell had never heard those rumors. Had he been so deaf?
"So I began to suspect what was going on. Now that I was paying more attention, I heard many... er, noises, sirs, at the door of the Captain's Quarters when the Captain was alone with Lieutenant Howard. I am certain you can ascertain my meaning."
This had to be sheer falsehood. Rothwell rarely even laughed aloud, much less made random 'noises' that could be mistaken for something carnal. It was clever of Elliot though, since he could always claim to be mistaken if this matter turned on him. Proving it a lie would be impossible.
Crewmembers and officers from the Valiant were also brought out, who said that there were indeed rumors to that effect during Rothwell's duty on that ship. As those testimonies were collected, the common thread remained: Rothwell was not only never in the company of women, but seemed repulsed by them. Many assumed he had to be doing something to relieve the tension, and since this was never witnessed, the entire thing was coming across as highly secretive and suspicious.
It had never occurred to him that his own honorable behavior could be used against him, even inadvertently, in such a way; that it could be seen as the opposite of what it was. A cold feeling began to creep through his body as he realized that without any proof to the contrary, there was actually a chance that he could be found guilty based upon the very characteristics that he thought would be his salvation. He searched the faces of his fellow captains, failing to find any certain hope there.
The letter from Admiral Norris was read. It said he was from good stock and had a good record. That really was all that Norris could say, but it wasn't anything that anyone didn't know already. It was certainly not enough to clear his name.
"What have you to say for yourself, Captain Rothwell?" Peyton asked, settling back in his chair as if already wearied by the entire proceeding.
"I can only say on my behalf," Rothwell began, speaking clearly and directly, "That I have never committed the crime of sodomy, nor has the notion ever occurred to me. I am an honorable man, and have simply tried to live an honest and praiseworthy life. The man that accuses me may well have motive to remove me from command, as I had planned to have him transferred from the Worthy due to his inability to fully accept my position as Captain."
There was little else to be said. Watts and Howard said much the same thing, but that would have been expected of them, whether the protestations were truth or lies. He had no idea what was going to happen now; the verdict could be anything, and it seemed as if his heart was being squeezed by a cold fist.
Just as the captains were preparing to deliberate, a marine entered the chamber and bowed, holding out a document. "I have been asked to deliver this message to the Council, Commodore, Captains, assembled Gentlemen." When Commodore Peyton beckoned, the man stepped forward, and handed the document over.
Rothwell had no idea what this thing could possibly be, or if it could help his position in the slightest. The moments of waiting were absolutely interminable and a true test of his patience and training. At least the latter held, if not the former.
Peyton finally returned the paper to the marine, and indicated that he should bring it to Rothwell. "Read it aloud, Captain Rothwell," he said by way of explanation.
The paper was rather crumpled, and had a few ink smudges on it. He read it slowly, for he was unsure of the words due to the spelling:
"Youre Lordships:
We hope to tell you of our gret rispect for oure Captain Rothwell, who has made of oure Frigate the finist of vessles to chasse a Pyrate or Spaniard. Never hadde he done what he is sayd to have done for he is of fyne charicter and we have all sayd we wish to serve under him the rest of our dayes."
Beneath this statement were names... apparently, all of the names of the men aboard his ship. He knew for a fact that many of them were not literate and could not sign their names before, but must have made a special effort in order to present this statement to the board. He stared at the paper, not quite believing what he was seeing.
In fact, when he was taken from the room in order for the Captains to deliberate, he was still quite dumbfounded, but he attempted not to dwell upon the matter at all until the proceedings were done. When he was returned to the verdict of acquittal, he felt as if the blood had finally returned to all his limbs due to his heart resuming its natural beat, thawing from its frozen state.
Good God, the men loved him. He had cared only that he gave them good morale, as his duty and for the sake of theirs, but he had never anticipated such a gift in return. He had no idea if his acquittal was based upon lack of evidence or this statement by the ship's company, but that was hardly the point.
He could not fail them now.
And Lieutenant Elliot was going to need a transfer immediately, to avoid coming to mischief at the hands of a crew that would now despise him for casting doubt upon their captain and by extension, their ship.