Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will continue on Monday

Last week, in Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, the day after his birthday celebration, Punch, Robert, Colin, Ellen, Charles and Gamilla visited Coven Garden to watch one of the Punch & Judy shows.  The plan was for them to all watch the show and, then, Mr. Punch/the Duke, Robert and Ellen would go to see Ellen’s ailing brother while Gamilla and Charles did some shopping and took Colin home.  While there, Robert and Charles spotted William Stover watching them, and Robert ended the outing quickly.

At home, Gamilla and Charles discussed Gerard’s strange behavior.  Charles later realized the Gerard was taking the medication which Robert had given to Charles after breaking his wrist in a fall.  Meanwhile, Punch volunteered to pay for better care for Ellen’s brother.

As Charles was about to tell Dr. Halifax about Gerard and the medication, Robert received an urgent letter stating that an accident had happened at the Stover Porcelain Company.  Robert hurried off, causing Charles to keep his news to himself.  When Robert arrived at the porcelain concern, he saw that he’d been tricked.  There was no emergency.  William, who honestly did not know what was going on, lied to Robert who blasted his old acquaintance in a threatening way Later Eudora and Hortence—who had sent the letter—told William not to concern himself with the situation. 

As Robert was venting to Mr. Punch, who had already privately threatened William, Charles, Ellen and Gerard all stated that should anyone interfere with their household, the interloper would be punished severely.

Charles confronted Gerard about the medicine and Gerard agreed not to take it anymore, swearing that he’d return it to the doctor.  Charles also stated that the Countess Hamish had sent a letter of apology for her rude behavior on the evening of Punch’s birthday, once again, inviting Punch and Robert to a dinner party, but Punch declined.

The following day, Punch and Robert lunched with Prince Albert at Buckingham Palace.  The Prince suggested that Robert might examine the very-pregnant Queen Victoria.

Upon returning to No. 65, Punch and Robert noticed a dirty heap on the front stairs and quickly realized that it was a man.  Robert declared the man dead just as Punch realized that the deceased was none other than William Stover!

Now, finding a dead man on your front steps is never a good thing, but especially when you’re a high-ranking nobleman like the Duke of Fallbridge.  It’s especially bad when that Duke is rumored to be mad.  And, it’s even worse when the dead man is none other than an “old acquaintance” of the supposedly mad Duke’s companion.

Come back on Monday for Chapter 42 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.  Who could have killed William?  Nearly everyone said that they would if they needed to.  Was it one of the residents of No. 65?  Could Mr. Punch have reverted back to his old, head-hitting ways?  After all, he seemed certain that William wouldn’t bother them again.  Or, was it someone far more sinister who took the man’s life?  And, what does this death mean for our heroes?

You won’t want to miss a chapter as this mystery unfolds.  And, remember, all past chapters and summaries of each are available in the Chapter Archive.