Mr. Punch snorted as Robert pulled him away from Ty Odo.
“Now, Chum,” Punch sighed. “I know what you’re gonna say.”
“Do you?” Robert raised his eyebrows in an effort to hide the affectionate grin that passed his lips. “I’m not quite sure that I know where to begin.”
“Well,” Punch muttered, “See, you’re gonna tell me that this man ain’t the sort what we ought to trust. I know it’s true, and I don’t trust him at all, I don’t.”
“Good to know.” Robert nodded.
“And, I don’t want him near us—neither. Sure I don’t want him to come on the ship with us only I don’t see as we got no other choice. After all, he bring the baby to us what the law says should have gone back to his master, he did. Now, I also know that I—what ya call it?—implied…that’s it…that I’d toss him overboard. I only done that for you. He don’t know what I were sayin.”
“I realized that.”
“I don’t gotta throw him overboard though I’d like to watch him punge into the icy sea—I ain’t gonna lie ‘bout it. But, I know how you feel ‘bout those sorts of things, bein’ a doctor and all.”
“Surprisingly, I’m not against the idea of throwing Odo into the ocean.” Robert winked. “I seem to have changed my opinion on such actions. However, I don’t think you have it in you to do that anymore. You’ve rather mellowed.”
“I ain’t mellowed so much!” Punch snapped. “I am Mr. Punch, still, I am. Remember, I struck that officer with a figurine. That ain’t the sort of thing what a mellow man does, is it?”
“Well, no.” Robert responded, biting his cheeks to keep from laughing.
“Still, you’re right, I ‘spose. Knockin’ a fella out is different that tossin’ ‘im into the sea to drown and die and such.” Punch frowned. “Still, it ain’t a bad idea.”
“I don’t disagree.” Robert nodded. “If not a lot of trouble.”
“True.” Punch squinted.
“Since you seem to know my thoughts before I do, what else do I wish to say to you?” Robert teased.
“That you’re not gonna let me go with Odo to make sure Mama Routhe is safe. You’re gonna say we come too far to leave the docks now and we can’t trust Odo to bring us back on time.”
“You’re correct.” Robert nodded.
“But, Chum,” Punch protested. “Mama’s been so kind to us, she has. She risked her life and all just to make sure we got Colin back. Not to mention that she put her family in danger, too. Now, we owe it to her to see that she ain’t in wicked hands.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Robert patted Punch on the shoulder. “I agree that we should see to it that she’s out of harm’s way.”
“Well, blood hell!” Punch grumbled. “What’d you want to talk with me ‘bout if you’re so agreeable?”
“I would prefer that you let me accompany Odo while you stay here with the others and wait for the ship.”
“No.” Punch said.
“On this I will not be swayed.” Robert shook his head.
“What if you don’t make it back?”
“I’ll take another ship.”
“No. You’re too important. We need you.” Punch said.
“While I appreciate that you feel that way.” Robert smiled. “That fact is that there’s no traveling without you.”
“Here, what for?”
“Though you are Mr. Punch inside—on the outside, you’re the Duke of Fallbridge. Since everything we have planned for the future hinges on that fact, we rather need you to be with our party aboard the ship.”
“But, we’re traveling—what’s it?—incontinently.”
“Incognito.” Robert corrected Punch with a chuckle. “Nevertheless, when we arrive in England, it’s the Duke of Fallbridge we need. What would I do? Walk up to Fallbridge Hall or even the house in Belgravia and say, ‘the Duke of Fallbridge sent me with these people, these children and these servants, so open the house and let us in?’”
“Oh.” Punch nodded. “That would be a kerfuffle.”
“Furthermore, you’re Colin’s blood relative and ergo his guardian. When we arrive in England, how would I account for my relationship to the child?”
“But, I need you here.”
“And, I need you.” Robert replied firmly. “So, just let me go with Odo. I’ll see to it that we get back in time. But, if we don’t for some reason—my absence would not be as damaging to the safety of everyone than would yours.”
“Here,” Punch said slyly. “Let’s send Cecil.”
“And potentially deprive my nephew of his father and Adrienne of her husband?” Robert shook his head.
“Fine.” Punch mumbled.
A look of inspiration crossed Robert’s face—a look that did not go unnoticed by Mr. Punch.
“What?”
“Why not send Gerry?” Robert brightened.
“Sure!” Punch whooped. “We can trust him. He can go with Odo and make sure that Mama Routhe is not in danger. And, he’s fast. He’ll make it back in time. Maybe he can even somehow lose Odo along the way and we wouldn’t have to worry ‘bout him no more, nor even have to mess with drownin’ him!”
“We’re not going to drown him either way.” Robert scolded.
“Can’t be sure of that.” Punch shrugged. “Things happen.”
“I said, no.” Robert clucked his tongue.
“You’re no fun.” Punch grumbled.
Robert signaled to Gerry who watched from a distance with the rest of the group.
“Think he’ll do it?” Punch asked, glancing at Odo who watched anxiously from his lone spot at the end of the docks.
“Which one? Gerry or Odo?”
“Odo.” Punch sniffed. “I don’t trust him.”
“Nor do I.” Robert sighed. “But, Gerry has a way with these people. After all, he managed Arthur well enough.”
“Did he?” Punch grumbled. “Seems to be the Yellow Fever had a better way with Arthur than did Gerard.”
Gerard eagerly joined Punch and Robert.
“We have a job for you, Gerry.” Robert said. “You’ll have to be quick about it. We need you to go with Odo and make sure that Mama Routhe is safe.”
“Sure, Sir.” Gerard nodded. “Only, you ain’t gonna leave me behind are ya?”
“No.” Robert smiled reassuringly. “That’s the last thing we want.”
“Where is Mrs. Routhe?”
“Odo says she’s with Marie Laveau,” Robert frowned.
“Oh, that rather makes it worse, don’t it?” Gerard sighed.
“It does.” Robert nodded. “Are you willing to help us?”
"Sure, I am." Gerard smiled.
"Thank you," Robert replied. "Odo!" He waved for the trembling man. "Come here, please."
Odo cautiously joined the three me. "Yes, Sir?"
"Gerard will accompany you to the spot where Mrs. Routhe is being held. You will show him that she is safe, and if possible, accompany here home, then, you'll rejoin us here."
"I can't, Sir."
"Here, you swore you'd prove to us that our chum ain't in no danger!" Punch shouted.
"Oh, I will. I will." Odo yelped. "But, I can't go with no servant. It's gotta be the Duke."
"Why?" Robert asked.
"It's just gotta be." Odo trembled.
Did you miss Chapters 1-428? If so, you can read them here.
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