As he passed by the parlor, Adrienne called to him.
“Robert,” Adrienne said, “Might we bother you for a moment?”
“Of course,” Robert mumbled, “but, I do need to return to Naasir.”
“I know,” Adrienne said softly, “but, will you help us convince Nellie that she should stay the night.”
“I appreciate you askin’.” Nellie argued. “You know I can’t do it.”
“We can’t let you go back.” Adrienne said firmly. “Can we, Robert?”
“Go back where?” Robert asked, squinting.
“To Iolanthe Evangeline’s.” Cecil explained.
“Is that where you’re from?” Robert raised his eyebrows.
“Oh, so now you’re going to judge me?” Nellie bellowed, “Mr. High and Mighty Doctor!”
“Of course not,” Robert sighed. “I’m the last person to judge anyone. To be honest, I wasn’t thinking of you just now.”
“Thanks ever so much,” Nellie frowned.
“When I heard Iolanthe mentioned,” Robert continued, ignoring Nellie’s sarcasm, “to be honest, I was thinking of my companion.”
“Ah,” Nellie nodded. “I’m beginning to understand. This Julian fella…Mr. Punch, as you call him.”
“He’s at Iolanthe’s right now—trying to help someone.”
“Good luck with that,” Nellie smirked.
Robert turned to Adrienne. “My dear sister-in-law, if this young lady wants to return to her…” He stammered. “Her…home, well, then, we can’t stop her.”
“She came to us for help. She wants to be free from Iolanthe. Robert, you know very well that we can’t send her back there.” Adrienne argued.
“I think we can.” Robert said firmly. “And, should. And, furthermore I think Cecil should escort her there.”
At that very moment, Mr. Punch cringed as the footsteps in the next room grew closer.
He bent over Mala again and patted her face. “Now, you poor little gargoyle, open your eyes. Mr. Punch’s gotta get outta here, he does. Come on, then. Only hit ya with a lamp and didn’t hit ya hard.” He patted her face again. “Listen, I had a whole stable fall on me and I lived.” He grunted, looking frantically around the room.
For a moment, he considered rolling Mala under the bed, but thought better of it.
“Poor little thing. Ain’t your fault you’re mean and ugly.” He muttered.
“Julian…” the Duchess moaned again.
“Quiet, you bleedin’ nuisance.” Mr. Punch whispered. “Me chums were right, they were. I shoulda left ya here, but, no, I had to come and rescue you cuz you’re me master’s mum. ‘Spose it were the best thing to do. Still, I hadn’t counted on hitting the little goblin.”
Punch heard the rattle of the door handle.
He leaned over Mala. “Had to go skulkin’ ‘round, didn’t ya? Makin’ trouble for Mr. Punch!” He pressed his lips together and thought. “Cripes, better stop talkin’.”
Mr. Punch stooped behind the side of the bed farthest from the door as it opened and peered up, trying to hide behind the folds of the Duchess’ skirts.
“It’s no good, Julian.” Barbara said as she hurried into the room, “I can see your maniac eyes. If that weren’t enough I heard you talking to yourself. You’ve got to hurry, Iolanthe will be up here any minute now and she’s wild with anger. You must…” She stopped when she saw Mala lying on the floor.
Barbara shook her head. “What have you done now?”
“Hit her with a lamp.” Punch said, standing up. “Wasn’t plannin’ to do it or nothing’. She grabbed for me, she did, when I was tryin’ to carry yer mum out. Just habit, I guess, to hit somethin’ what bothers me. Didn’t even know who it was, ‘til after it were done.”
“I do wish you’d talk like a gentleman, Julian.” Barbara sighed.
“Said the whore.” Mr. Punch frowned.
Barbara scowled and knelt down beside Mala, checking the woman’ s pulse.
“Did I kill her?” Mr. Punch gulped.
“No.” Barbara sighed. “More’s the pity. She’s a hateful creature. You’ve just stunned her. I will deal with this, you take Mother and be gone.”
“You sure?” Mr. Punch said. “You can come, too, you know. Ain’t gonna let you in me house. Not gonna let yer mum in me house neither. I’ll put you both somewhere safe.”
“Julian, she’s your mother, too.”
“I ain’t gonna argue with you,” Mr. Punch said. “You comin’ ‘r not?”
“There’s no time. Just take Mother and go.” Barbara spat.
“Listen, Barbara,” Mr. Punch began. “I remember when you were a little girl and Julian would sit with you on his knee. It were me what sang songs to ya. You remember?”
Barbara shook her head. “I almost feel pity for you. You are terribly ill. Aren’t you?”
“Not ‘specially. I got a home and folk what love me. What have you got? A job on yer back and a murderous husband what carries on with other women. I’d say I were the healthier o’ the two of us. But, you can be well, too. Come with me, let’s forget that I don’t like you much. Let’s forget what awful things ya done and come away. You can go off on yer own, you can. Change yer name again and be somethin’ new. You done it before. Why not again?”
Mala began to sputter as her eyes fluttered.
“Julian,” Barbara said quickly. “You must go now!”
Mr. Punch frowned. “You had yer chance, you did.” He rose and picked up the Duchess who moaned loudly as she tried to put her arm around Julian’s neck.
“Here, Your Grace, I don’t think you’re quite as weak as you let on. I think you’re playin’ this up. You got some heft to ya. Can’t see that losin’ some blood would knock you out so much.”
“I am weak,” the Duchess grumbled.
“Ah.” Mr. Punch grunted.
Without saying a word, he carried the Duchess into the adjoining dressing room and fumbled with the door to the passage. When he finally opened the door, his heart sank when he saw Iolanthe Evangeline on the other side. Her gown was stained with sweat and her usually perfect coiffure was disheveled, her false curls hanging precariously as if they might drop from her head at any moment.
Though her eyes were wild with rage, she spoke softly and slowly. “Are you stealin’ from me, mad Lord?” She stepped closer to Mr. Punch. “Are you? I don’t like when people steal from me. You and your folk already done stole from me once tonight. Took away my son’s chance to be like everyone else. Are you gonna steal this fine lady from me, too? I think that’s what you aim to do.”
“Step aside, Miss Evangeline.” Mr. Punch said firmly.
“No,” Iolanthe smiled eerily. “Not this time.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-124? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, December 20, 2010 for Chapter 126 of Punch’s Cousin.
6 comments:
I love the way Punch is talking to Mala! Like someone said yesterday, he's so forthright about his feelings.
Thanks, Book Gurl.
Robert isn't insensitive enough to send Nelli back to her place of employment without a motive. At least I hope not.
As to Evangeline, I think Punch ought to just throw the Duchess at her and run like hell.
I rather like the idea of throwing the Duchess at Iolanthe. That's pretty funny. You're correct about Robert. He has his reasons. Thanks, Dashwood!
I think Robert is right not to trust Nellie. There's something funny about the way she turned sarcastic so quickly when she was so sweet just minutes before.
You're absolutely right, Darcy. : )
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