“Ask your husband,” Robert spat.
“I knew you would blame me,” Cecil growled. “It’s easier than examining your own role in all of this. If you had simply taken the time to understand what I was saying to you, Punch wouldn’t have crept out!”
“Keep your voices down!” Adrienne whispered fiercely. “There are three children in this house who are trying to sleep and I don’t think either one of you is prepared to soothe them when they awake in tears at the confusion the two of you are creating.”
“My apologies, Adrienne,” Robert replied softly.
“Now, will you kindly explain to me what’s happened?” Adrienne asked, leading her husband and her brother-in-law into the parlor.
Robert explained the message from Marie Laveau and the news from Gerard that Charles was in trouble at the Place Congo.
“And Mr. Punch and Robert thought it was best to risk our chances of escape in order to help these people.” Cecil concluded.
“They were correct.” Adrienne nodded.
“Adrienne, you surprise me.” Cecil snapped.
“And, you surprise me, husband.” Adrienne replied sternly. “I would have thought you to be more compassionate.”
“I am compassionate,” Cecil sniffed. “But, not at the exclusion of my family’s safety.”
“The people who work for us are part of our family.” Adrienne sighed. “They are our responsibility. They live in our homes, they handle our belongings. In many ways, they are closer to us than anyone else. Should we reward their loyalty by leaving them to the wolves?”
“How has Charles been loyal to us?” Cecil argued.
“Did he not return Punch’s nephew to us?” Adrienne raised her eyebrows. “When we needed him, did he not help us to try to defeat Iolanthe and the others? What is his crime? His loyalty to Barbara? What’s wrong with that? Though we may not think she deserves his love, he feels differently. Are we to tell him who to love? Are we? What if someone had told you not to love me? I’m not so different from Barbara!”
“You never hurt people. You never endangered the life of your child! You never aligned yourself with the Devil!” Cecil retorted.
“Still, our marriage was hardly one that would have been condoned by polite society. A celebrated artist and a cast-off, fallen French girl from a brothel!”
“I will not hear such talk from you.” Cecil snorted.
“Why not? It’s true.” Adrienne replied. “And, truly, would you object to the union of Barbara and Charles if you didn’t think him superior to her? For that, you must hold him in some regard. So, why not help him?”
“Because the well-being of my family is at stake!” Cecil shouted.
“Quiet,” Adrienne urged her husband. “It’s a moot point anyway as Punch has already taken it upon himself to be of assistance, and rightly so. So, now he’s gone to that wild place where he’s in God knows what kind of danger. Meanwhile, you two are here arguing about the appropriate ways of helping while he and Marjani are fending for themselves. Is that the way to protect your family? Isn’t Punch part of the family?”
“Of course he is. He’s like my brother,” Cecil sighed. “We’ve done all of this for him.”
“I’d be lost without him.” Robert said quietly, looking away. “Both he and Julian.”
“And what of Marjani?” Adrienne asked.
“Of course!” Robert nodded.
Cecil did not answer.
“How many times has Marjani come to our rescue?” Adrienne questioned her husband.
“I don’t deny that she’s important to all of us.” Cecil sighed.
“And, so, you’d leave her in peril?”
“Certainly not!” Cecil snapped.
“Well, then, put your pride aside and stop your sibling argument so that you may go to their aid. And, not just the two of them, but Charles, too. And, Barbara if need be. Mon Dieu! Even Ulrika Rittenhouse deserves our aid in this matter. In this, we are all equal. Our past arguments can be put aside.” Adrienne continued.
“I’ll dress quickly,” Cecil rose from his chair. He looked at his brother. “I am terribly sorry.”
“As am I.” Robert nodded.
As Cecil went to the parlor door, he was interrupted by Meridian.
“Has Mr. Punch returned?” Robert asked eagerly.
“No, Sir.” Meridian shook her head sadly.
“What is it, then?” Cecil asked briskly.
“You have a visitor.” Meridian replied. “Agnes Rittenhouse.”
“Julian’s former nanny?” Cecil snorted. “Destitute cousin of Ulrika and her kin?”
“And, Barbara’s present maid.” Robert added.
“Yes, Sir.” Meridian nodded.
“Whatever does she want?” Cecil asked.
“She says she wants His Grace.” Meridian responded.
Did you miss Chapters 1-336? If so, you can read them here.
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