“Thank you,” She whispered. Though her voice was low, it still echoed throughout the empty Cathedral.
They walked as quietly as they could, but their footsteps resounded throughout the sanctuary.
“We’ll wait here,” Barbara said quietly, “until the rain stops.”
“And, then what?” Charles whispered.
“We have yet to decide that.” Barbara replied, glancing down at the child in her arms.
“Barbara, I love you,” Charles began.
“I love you, too,” Barbara smiled.
“But, we must…”
“Don’t say it.” Barbara shook her head. “If you love me, your loyalty is to me and to my son. Not to my brother—the man who cast me aside.”
“What choice did her have?” Charles asked.
“And, you say you love me?” Barbara frowned.
“I do.” Charles argued, trying to keep his voice low. “That’s why I’m urging you to do the right thing. Barbara, I know what it’s like to live a nomadic life. It’s not safe for a baby. He deserves a chance to grow—healthy, free, fed and loved—not bustled about from one shelter to the next.”
“I can protect my son just as well as anyone else—better.” Barbara spat. Her voice bounced across the cathedral’s tall, vaulted ceiling.
“With the Duke and Dr. Halifax, Colin will live a life of luxury and wealth. He’ll have opportunities for education, comfort and happiness that we can’t provide him.”
“If you feel so, then you should leave me and return to my brother and his companion. My child and I will remain here—together.”
“Barbara, I can’t leave you.” Charles sighed.
“Then, you will cease your talk of my sainted brother the lunatic duke.” Barbara nodded.
Charles took a deep breath. “I’m trying to protect you—both of you.”
“I know,” Barbara nodded. “And, don’t think that I don’t appreciate it. I understand what you’re saying. It’s simply that—I can’t explain it. I’m…”
“You’re acting from a maternal drive.” Charles smiled.
“I am.” Barbara said.
“However, most mothers don’t have to face the obstacles that stand in your way.”
“They are myriad.” Barbara answered.
“There’s Iolanthe and Ulrika, Edward Cage, Marie, and let’s not forget your husband, Arthur…”
“I’ve not forgotten Arthur.” Barbara scowled. “He’s not the child’s father. He told me that he wasn’t. I thought that he was, but…”
“He’s still your husband.” Charles interrupted.
“In name only, my dear.” Barbara’s face brightened. “In name only.”
At that very moment, Arthur lay on a make-shift mattress of hay and horse blankets in the stables behind Dr. Biamenti’s Royal Street mansion. Robert and Marjani stripped the man while Gerard and Mr. Punch hung back near the doorway.
“Is he gonna be all right?” Gerry asked Mr. Punch.
“I shouldn’t think so.” Mr. Punch said plainly.
“You hate him, don’t you, Sir?” Gerard asked.
“I do.” Punch nodded. “He’s a devil. He hurt lots of people, he did. But, still, that don’t mean that I wish him to die this way.”
“That’s kind of you, Sir.” Gerard muttered.
“He’s a bad man,” Punch continued. “You’re well to be rid of him.”
“Bad though he is, Your Grace, he’s me only friend.”
“Is that so?” Punch asked. “So, then, you’re a bad man, too?”
“I done bad things, Sir.”
“We all done bad things,” Punch replied brightly. “But, in your heart, are you bad?”
Gerard thought for a moment. “I don’t think so, Sir. It’s just when a man is hungry, he…he…”
“Tries to fill himself up?” Punch asked.
“Yes, Sir.” Gerard nodded.
“You don’t gotta be hungry, Gerard.” Punch replied.
“I don’t?”
“Not if you don’t want to be.” Punch shrugged. “I learned a lot, I have. I’ll tell ya, you can make somethin’ of yourself if you want to. You just got to think that ya can.”
“Huh,” Gerry grunted.
“You watch, Gerry.” Mr. Punch pointed to Arthur who lay sputtering in the hay. “You watch the man you call your only friend vomit up the last of his vile life and you tell me what you decide. You got choices, Gerry. You do. You can be Arthur or you can be Gerard. You don’t gotta be what you are now.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-298? If so, you can read them here.
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