Marjani assisted Robert to gently push Julian’s body onto his right arm. Julian continued to cough and sputter, but did not regain consciousness.
“Robert!” Cecil shouted from across the room. “What’s happening to him?”
“I don’t know,” Robert snapped. “If I knew, I’d stop it. Wouldn’t I?”
Cecil frowned but said nothing further.
“Julian,” Robert whispered into his friend’s ear. “Can you hear me?” He sighed. “Mr. Punch?”
The only response was a series of raspy wheezes.
“It’s as if he’s drowning.” Robert muttered.
Adrienne rushed into the parlor. “I hear coughing. Is Julian…” She studied the scene before her. “Dear God.”
“Perhaps you should not watch this,” Cecil said gently, putting his arm around his wife.
“And, why shouldn’t I?” Adrienne shook her head. “Maybe I can help.”
“Maybe I can.” Agnes Rittenhouse barked, coming into the room behind Adrienne.
“Miss Rittenhouse, please,” Adrienne shook her head. “I asked you to stay out of here.”
“He was always doing this as a child.” Agnes clucked her tongue. “Having these sorts of fits…especially around bath time. We just learned to ignore them. He only wanted attention.”
“Bath time?” Robert scowled, looking up. “He would thrash and sputter like a drowning man at bath time?”
“Always overdramatic.” Agnes shook her head. “He could never get enough attention.”
“Is that so?” Robert rose from the floor. “Why would a child behave as if he were drowning at bath time?”
“Who can say?” Agnes shrugged. “You’re no stranger to him. You know he’s quite mad. Always was.”
“Something brings madness.” Robert snapped, recalling his own mother. “It is not something which just happens like tears.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.” Agnes smirked. “Just walk away from him and he’ll stop his fit soon enough.”
“I will never walk away from him.” Robert replied sharply, kneeling down again.
“That’s your funeral.” Agnes sighed.
“Get her out of here,” Cecil whispered to Adrienne.
“Come with me, Miss Rittenhouse.” Adrienne quickly took the old woman by her arm.
“You know,” Agnes began as Adrienne ushered her out of the room. “He’s only doing this so to stall from getting Lady Barbara. All eyes on Julian. That’s the way it has always been.”
At that very moment, within their shared body, Julian dropped to his knees, his face turning scarlet.
“You should try breathing,” Prince Albert grumbled.
“Look how weak you are.” The vision of the Duchess of Fallbridge cackled. “My weak son.” She turned to the phantoms of Agnes Rittenhouse and the child Julian. “Let him up.”
Agnes’ specter released her grasp and allowed the boy to rise above the surface of the boiling water. He gasped for air as did the image of the adult Julian.
“Have a proven my point?” The Duchess smiled.
Julian did not respond as he tried desperately to catch his breath.
“Don’t fight them,” The child Julian croaked to his adult self. “They will always win.”
“No,” Julian cracked, slowly pulling himself up. “No, they won’t.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-349? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, September 26, 2011 for Chapter 351 of Punch’s Cousin.
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