“I might be,” Charles growled.
“Not if you go over there by your lunatic master.” Iolante hissed as she struggled to get up.
Punch smiled and pointed to Agnes Rittenhouse. “She ain’t dead, neither—she ain’t. See, look, she’s breathin’ and all.”
Iolanthe groaned as she stood up. “Your Grace, you’d do well to remember that you should not continue to strike people with blunt objects.”
“And, you’d do well to remember that you’re not supposed to sell babies and kill people.” Punch sighed.
“I can’t argue with that.” Iolanthe grunted.
“Now that you’re up,” Punch continued, “let me just tell ya, that this man and I are leavin’ and we’re takin’ Barbara Allen with us.”
“We’ve not finished our discussion yet, Your Grace.” Iolanthe said, rubbing her head where a bump was rising from the blow that Punch had delivered.
“Oh, I think we have,” Punch smiled. “We could keep talkin’ and I’d just end up hittin’ you again or you could let me get Barbara and leave.”
“You’ve forgotten one important thing,” Iolanthe winked.
“What’s that?”
“Does Barbara want to go with you?”
From the floor, Agnes Rittenhouse began to moan.
Charles started to go toward her but Iolanthe looked at him with warning in her eyes.
Looking helplessly at Punch for guidance, Charles whispered, “She’s suffering.”
“Not so terrible much.” Punch shrugged again. “She ain’t got enough feelin’ in her to suffer. Leave her be and she’ll right herself soon enough. Like a beetle what’s been overturned. She’ll flip over.”
Charles scowled.
“You didn’t answer my question.” Iolanthe smiled.
“I forgot what it were.” Punch sighed.
“Does your sister wish to go with you?”
“Don’t care what she wants.” Punch smirked. “Besides, Charles says she’s gone mad anyway. She don’t know what she wants.”
“And, you’re the best judge of sanity?” Iolanthe laughed.
“Just about as good as you are.” Punch chuckled.
“Go on, then.” Iolanthe pointed to the door. “I’ll take you to her.”
“I know where she is.” Charles shook his head.
“You have my blessing.” Iolanthe grinned. “If you can get her to go, so be it.”
“Help me,” Agnes groaned from the floor.
“Quiet!” Iolanthe spat. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Agnes moaned.
“You’ll be wanting to take your sister’s maid with you, too?” Iolanthe asked.
“No.” Punch replied firmly. “You can keep her. I don’t want her in me house—not even for a minute. And, I sure ain’t takin’ her with us when…” He stopped.
“When?”
“Nothin’?” Punch shook his head.
“Are you going somewhere, Your Grace?” Iolanthe said triumphantly.
“Never mind.”
“In such a hurry, too?” Iolanthe continued. “Are you running from something? Or should I say—are you running with someone?”
Did you miss Chapters 1-317? If so, you can read them here.
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