“Sir…” Marjani shook her head—pointing to the balcony above them.
There stood Corliss Cage, shivering and sputtering, weakly leaning against the mahogany railing—a pistol in her hand.
Corliss body rocked with coughs and she—with considerable effort—pointed to the door.
Gerard rolled off of Edward Cage, spotting blood on his britches and feeling his legs for injuries. He quickly realized that it was Edward, not he, who had been shot.
“Come!” Robert snapped.
“I can’t!” Gerard protested. “Gamilla’s in the kitchen!”
“No, I ain’t.” Gamilla said as she and Zettie rushed into the foyer.
“My God!” Zettie shrieked upon spying the blood on the floor and Edward Cage moaned in agony.
“The bastard shot me!” Edward howled.
“No, I didn’t.” Gerard said quickly.
“He didn’t!” Marjani nodded, pointing to Mrs. Cage who had begun to slump further on the balcony.
From his position on the floor, Edward looked up to see his ailing wife, holding a pistol.
“You…” Edward began.
“I heard a noise and thought there was a prowler,” Corliss rasped, repeating the very same statement that Edward had given as an excuse to murder Robert and his friends.
“There is!” Edward shouted, not realizing what his wife had done.
Zettie looked from Mr. Cage to Mrs. Cage—unsure what to do.
Robert knelt at Edward side and examined the man’s leg. “Flesh wound.” He looked to Zettie—clean it and wrap and it get Mrs. Cage back in her bed.
“Which first?” Zettie asked.
“Mrs. Cage.” Robert nodded as he rose. He took Marjani by the arm and signaled for Gamilla and Gerard to follow him.
Together, they hurried from the house into the cold night.
“What we gonna do, Doctor?” Gamilla asked.
“Gamilla, I need you to go home. If anyone comes to the house—you know nothing! Tell them nothing! Do you understand?”
“I do.” Gamilla nodded.
“When you’re there, I need you to do the following. Check on Meridian and make sure that one of them stablemen will keep an eye on her until Dr. Biamenti arrives home. Then, gather up the dog Toby and the Duke’s puppet. Then, pack up Marjani’s things and have one of the men carry them to the docks. Meet us at the docks at daybreak with Toby and the puppet. We can still make the ship. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” Gamilla responded.
“Gerard,” Robert continued, “ I need you to pack my duds and the Duke’s. Make sure to take his jewel chest separately. I’m trusting you with this. If you let me down…”
“I won’t, Sir.” Gerard shook his head.
“Keep the jewel chest with you and have the men bring our trunks with Marjani’s to the docks. We’ll meet you there at sun-up.”
“You’re takin’ me with you?” Gerard said.
“Well, of course, we are,” Robert muttered.
“Now, Marjani, I must find my brother and Mrs. Halifax. We must assist them in locating Fuller.” Robert rubbed his temples. “But, then, there’s the issue of Mr. Punch. I have no idea where he’s gone with Colin.”
“I do.” Marjani said.
“How?”
“I just gotta feelin’ that he’s gone somewhere safe—Mama Routhe’s.” Marjani replied.
“Splendid.” Robert sighed. “Will you go there and find him? Once you do, make sure he finds some disguise. He should also meet us at the docks.”
“I will, Sir.” Marjani smiled.
“Now, everyone has their orders.” Robert nodded. “Oh! Cecil’s and Adrienne’s things…”
“I already done packed up all their duds and such.” Gamilla smiled. “Ain’t nothin’. I’ll get ‘em there.”
“You’re wonderful.” Robert smiled. “All of you.” His smile quickly faded. “If only we knew where Fuller was.”
“I got an idea.” Gamilla spoke up. “Didn’t have a chance for to tell ya. He’s with Miss Ulrika.”
“Where on earth could she have gone?” Robert groaned. “Not to Iolanthe’s, I hope.”
“Or to that Laveau woman.” Gerard added.
“No.” Gamilla shook her head. “Miss Ulrika, she don’t want nothin’ to do with Marie Laveau. I can tell ya that. Iolanthe’s—maybe, but I don’t think so. I known that woman since she was a girl who liked to come over to our land and steal apples. Whenever she got what she wanted, she’d run home like her feet was on fire.”
“Run home?” Robert snarled. “Of course, she’s going to try to take the boy to Marionneaux. I’ve got to stop her. Thank you, Gamilla.”
“One more thing, Doctor,” Gerard said. “What of Charles and Miss Barbara. They’ll be back at the house, waitin’.”
“I don’t bloody well care what happens to either of them!” Robert snapped. “Charles has proven disloyal to anyone except Barbara and, frankly, she’s been nothing but a thorn in my side since I first saw her…”
“Is that so?” Barbara roared as she stormed toward them, quickly followed by a very concerned looking Charles.
“Have you been watching us all this time?” Robert asked.
Barbara didn’t answer, instead beginning a diatribe of her own. “I’ve been a thorn in your side? What about when you sliced me open to take the child from my belly?”
“We don’t have the time for this.” Robert shook his head. “Everyone go on. You have your orders.”
“No!” Barbara spat. “You will speak to me now!”
Did you miss Chapters 1-401? If so, you can read them here.
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