“Please, Edward.” Cecil said firmly, “Step aside.”
“No.” Edward shook his head. “Not until you explain yourself.”
“There’s nothing to explain.” Cecil responded.
“No?” Edward growled. “Did you three not just cause a scene? What was that spectacle? And, getting Iolanthe Evangeline all riled up! Marie Laveau! In my museum! The whole crowd is in an uproar, people are leaving. This was supposed to be a grand affair, not a freak show. And, it all started with your little panto! What were you thinking?”
“Damn it!” Robert spat. “Don’t you realize that the Duke of Fallbridge has been abducted by those two witches? Stop your belligerence, and let us pass, you self-important imbecile!”
“Cecil, you’d do well to remind your brother to whom he’s speaking!” Edward grunted.
“My brother doesn’t need to be reminded of anything,” Cecil answered steadily. “Listen to me, Edward. I know you have some sort of arrangement with Iolanthe. Deny it all you want, but we all know that the child that you call ‘Holt’ was purchased from that woman. But, you also know what other sins she’s committed. She’s hurt my family for too long, and we had hoped that by exposing her tonight, in front of all of these people, we’d finally capture her. We did not expect Marie Laveau. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“So, it was justice that you were after?” Edward Cage muttered. “Well, did you have to do it here? Did you have to turn my ball into a circus?”
“It was the only way. We figured that we’d have safety in the crowd.” Adrienne argued.
“This is for the men to discuss, Mrs. Halifax,” Edward said dismissively.
“Why?” Adrienne asked. “It involves me. It involved your wife, and, frankly, every woman in this room. All of us are potential victims of Iolanthe’s cruelty.”
“Fine, Mrs. Halifax,” Edward grinned. “Since you want to be involved, perhaps you can pass a message on to your husband.”
“Stop it, Edward.” Cecil grumbled.
“No, no.” Edward shook his head. “Mrs. Halifax, you can tell your husband that his services are no longer required. As of this moment, his employment with me is terminated.”
“Good,” Cecil laughed.
“Thank God,” Adrienne nodded. “I wouldn’t like to think that my family would have a further association with yours.”
“When you go home tonight,” Robert added, “Mr. Cage, when you stop to glance in on your ‘son,’ you can tell him that the woman from whom you purchased him murdered his natural grandmother, and quite possibly is torturing his uncle right now!”
“Good evening, Dr. Halifax!” Edward spat, walking away.
“Mon Dieu,” Adrienne sighed. “Where could they have taken Mr. Punch?”
“I don’t know.” Cecil said, taking his wife by the arm and hurrying toward the museum’s exit. Robert followed closely behind. “I’d guess back to Iolanthe’s.”
“We’ve got to get to him before…” Adrienne began.
“Don’t say it,” Robert interrupted her, pulling the wig from his head. “Don’t.”
Once outside, Cecil signaled for their carriage driver, but found that he’d already left. Little did he know that another couple had bribed the driver to take them to Iolanthe’s house.
While Edward Cage had been chastising them, Ulrika and Arthur had already gone off to search for Mr. Punch. Their reasons for wanting to find him, however, were much different than those of Robert, Cecil and Adrienne.
“We’ll walk,” Robert said quickly. “Perhaps we can find a cab along the way.”
“Adrienne,” Cecil said, “Darling, perhaps you should stay here.”
“No.” Adrienne protested.
“You’re wasting time,” Robert shouted. “Just come along!”
“Steady on, old man.” Cecil answered firmly.
“Steady on?” Robert groaned. “This—this is…” She moaned loudly. “If anything happens to him…I don’t know. I promised him that I wouldn’t let any harm come to him. I’m supposed to be protecting him!”
“He’s quite resourceful,” Cecil said reassuringly. “I’m sure he can outwit Iolanthe.”
“And Marie Laveau?” Robert screamed angrily. “Really? He’s a child! Mr. Punch is a child! And, Julian is not equipped for this! I swear to God, if anything has happened to him, I will…”
“Please, dear Robert,” Adrienne said gently as they hurried along. “Don’t…”
“I’m sorry for shouting,” Robert whispered.
“I understand,” Adrienne responded softly.
“It’s just that…” Robert began, his eyes welling up with tears.
“No.” Adrienne shook her head. “Robert, I understand.”
At that very moment, Mr. Punch looked up at Barbara Allen helplessly. “All you gotta do is open the door, Barbara.”
“And, then what?” Barbara laughed anxiously. “Wait for her to murder me? Wait for her to find you again? She will find you again, Julian.”
Mr. Punch shook his head. “You don’t have to stay here neither.”
“But, I do.” Barbara smiled.
“I don’t understand.” Mr. Punch mumbled.
“I know you don’t.”
“She killed our mother. She’ll do the same to you if you stay. Open the door and we’ll both go. We been here before, we have. You chose to stay then. You and Her Grace both! And look what it’s got ya!”
“It’s more complicated than you realize.” Barbara sighed.
“It don’t have to be!” Mr. Punch shouted.
“Quiet, Julian.” Barbara whispered. “Someone’s coming.”
They heard the door to the room jiggle before it creaked open.
Silhouetted in the dim light from the passage, two figures entered the room.
“Miss Iolanthe, can’t you see in your heart that…” Barbara began.
“Barbara,” A deep voice responded as the two people came into the room. It was then that Julian and Barbara realized that it wasn’t Iolanthe and one of her henchmen who’d entered.
“Isn’t this nice?” Ulrika Rittenhouse smiled. “It’s a reunion! Husband and wife. Valet and master. Friends and enemies.”
“How did you get in here?” Barbara asked.
“Please,” Ulrika laughed. “You don’t think that the homely woman at the door is immune to Arthur’s charm, do you?”
“I’ve missed you, Pet,” Arthur smiled at Barbara.
“I’m sure you have.” Barbara sniffed.
Mr. Punch rose, eyeing the open door.
“Really, you don’t think that you’re leaving, do you?” Ulrika smiled.
“Well, yes,” Mr. Punch responded.
“Why are you here?” Barbara asked wildly.
“Because, Iolanthe’s got some things that belong to me. My diamond, you, and your lunatic brother.”
“I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to no one!” Mr. Punch shouted.
“Not for long,” Ulrika smiled. “Arthur?”
“Yes,” Arthur grinned, pulling a pistol from his coat and aiming it at Mr. Punch.
“Now’s as good a time as any.” Ulrika nodded.
As Arthur pulled the trigger, Barbara leapt forward. The sound of the shot rang throughout the brick walls of the room as both Barbara and Mr. Punch fell to the ground.
Did you miss Chapters 1-150? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, January 24, 2011 for Chapter 152 of Punch’s Cousin.
2 comments:
You simply cannot get two Fallbridges with one shot. And yet again we're at a dead-end until Monday.
Thank you for what has been some of the most exciting moments in this whole week.
There's a whole lot of evil in Iolanthe' house at that moment. Perhaps some of that wickedness will backfire. Thanks for reading!
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