“What’s that tetched woman want with us anyway?” Marjani grumbled to herself. “She’s the one that brought all this bad luck on us in the first place. Now, she’s got to put the doctor in danger of bein’ found by the officers? Just cuz she wants to be pick a fight?”
At least Mr. Cage wouldn’t be a problem. Since Mrs. Cage shot him in the leg, that bought some time for all of them. Marjani grunted as she ran. She never thought she’d be relieved by someone else’s pain.
“The doctor’s gotta find his kin,” Marjan continued to think. “Mr. and Mrs. Halifax done gonna worry themselves sick over that poor baby.”
Before she knew it, Marjani reached the Routhe’s dress shop and raced around to the back of the narrow, jolly building. Without even knocking, she opened the rear door and flew up the stairs to the apartment above. Thrusting open the door, she was thrilled and relieved to find Mr. Punch seated on the floor with little Colin in his arms.
“Here! It’s me chum!” Punch whooped loudly, pausing for a moment to make sure he hadn’t awakened the child who slept contentedly in his uncle’s embrace.
“I jus’ knew you’d be here, Mr. Punch.” Marjani panted.
“Figured you would, I did. Only what’s happened with Robert? Is he safe?”
“He’s…well…” Marjani sighed.
“Come on, then. You can tell ol’ Punch. Did he, least, get ‘way from that awful Cage bloke?”
“He did. With Gerard’s and Gamilla’s help. ‘Cept now he’s gotta deal with your sister.”
“Ain’t me sister.” Punch grunted. “Well, fine. Buggery bullocks! What’s she want now?”
“I don’t rightly know, Sir.” Marjani shook her head. “The doctor done tol’ me to find you. Gerry, he’s done gone to pack up your things and the doctor’s. Gamilla’s gone to fetch Toby and your puppet. We’re all to meet at the docks at sun-up.”
“Coo!” Mr. Punch said. “He thought of everything he did. Only what of Cecil and Adrienne? Did they get Fuller back?”
“No, Sir.” Marjani replied, finally catching her breath. “We know that Miss Ulrika’s got Fuller. Gamilla thinks she’s on her way back to Marionneaux. Mr. Robert, he was gonna try to find his brother and Missus Adrienne so they could stop her, but Barbara got in the way.”
“Here, I’ll do it.” Punch said.
“No, Sir, you ain’t. You’re stayin’ here with me. Now I got ya, I ain’t lettin’ you outta my sight!”
“Marjani,” Mr. Punch sighed. “Listen, I gotta ‘sponsibility, I do. We gotta get Fuller back. We can’t leave for England without all of us!”
“You leave it to the doctor.” Marjani said. “If you’ll pardon me sayin’ it.”
“Please, you stay here with Colin. Mama Routhe’s in the back. She’ll make sure nothin’ happens to ya.”
“If you leave here, somethin’ awful will befall ya, Mr. Punch, Sir, you mark my words.”
“And, if I don’t, somethin’ worse will happen.” Punch pleaded.
Did you miss Chapters 1-402? If so, you can read them here.
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