Chapter 190
Exodus
“There it is!” Punch chirped, leaning forward in the carriage. He pointed so that Colin—who was seated in his lap—would look out the oval window next to his head. The filtered sunlight of a London morning fell upon the child’s soft dark curls, bringing out the strands of shining auburn which Punch was always delighted to see—after all, it confirmed their genetic connection and made them more so father and son.
“He’s looking,” Robert smiled.
“Do ya see your house, little chum?” Punch asked excitedly. “There it is, gleamin’ white with all it’s brothers. No. 65 Belgrave Square.”
“I can’t tell you,” Lennie began from her spot in the carriage across from Robert, Punch and Colin, “how many times I’ve walked this square and admired these handsome houses.”
“Well, now you’re gonna live in one” Mr. Punch grinned broadly. “You’re gonna like it, you are. Very comfortable, it is.”
“I’m sure that it is.” Lennie nodded, pausing to scratch the ears of Dog Toby who sat next to her.
“Dog Toby likes you quite a lot,” Robert commented.
“Yes, I think he does.” Lennie replied.
“Dogs is very smart.” Mr. Punch added brightly. “They know when folks is good and when they ain’t. Toby was always a bit shy with…” he paused.
“It seems like a bad dream, doesn’t it?” Lennie asked, recalling the moment when she, Robert, Charles and the Duke had hurried to Gamilla’s room to stop Johnny Donnan from doing any harm to his impostor daughter. They found the room empty. A thorough search of the Aberdeenshire estate proved futile. The two had simply disappeared, leaving no trace of their existence behind. Many days past, and, still, there was no sign of either of them. Robert thought that, perhaps, when Finlay’s bloated, blue body was finally retrieved from the well, that Johnny, at least, would resurface. But, he did not.
“It does.” Robert said softly. “A terrible nightmare.”
“But, like most nightmares,” Punch sighed, “traces of it remain. S’pose it’s up to us to make them into somethin’ better.”
“It must sound strange to you,” Lennie shook her head. “But, I’m looking forward to seeing Roger again. I wonder if he’ll even know that I’m not the woman with whom he’s been speaking these past months.”
“That’s rather difficult to say.” Robert replied.
“He often confused me with Orpha—even before she took my name and my life.” Lennie took a deep breath. “Hopefully, he’ll feel that no time has passed and continue to think of me as his sister though I’m not really.”
“Cousin or sister, it don’t matter.” Punch began hopefully. “He’ll know that you’re there to help him and that you care. I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Do call me ‘Mr. Punch.’ After all, I’m kin to ya.”
“I shall.” Lennie nodded. She glanced out the rear window, over the heads of Robert and Punch. She could see the two carriages that carried the staff. “I do hope they’re sleeping. They must be exhausted.”
“Poor folk—here I had them brought to Scotland for a holiday and that’s the last thing they got.” Mr. Punch frowned slightly. “Them last days at the Grange saw them workin’ their fingers to the bone. All them unhappy folk what had been stuck there with no explanation. All of ‘em hungry and confused.”
“Still, in the end, they understood.” Robert was quick to respond. “I was very touched to see most of them turn out for Mrs. North’s funeral, and the lovely floral tribute that Lady Lensdown sent was so touching.”
“It was.” Lennie agreed.
“We must pay a call on her,” Punch shook his head sadly. “To think she’s been back here with that husband of hers for a day. She’s a nice lady and I don’t like thinkin’ of her trapped with the baron.”
“I’m sure she knows how to manage him.” Robert suggested.
“Dunno.” Mr. Punch shrugged as the carriage stopped outside of No. 65. “Seemed he was spendin’ more time with Lady Constance than he was with his own wife.”
“They were thick as thieves.” Lennie squinted. “At first, I thought that the Lady Constance was his wife. I rather thought that he must have been helping her with the transportation of the Countess Hamish back to London for her funeral.”
“Ain’t a helpful man, the baron.” Mr. Punch shook his head. “There’s much more to it than that.” Punch eagerly reached forward to open the carriage door, but remembered that he was to wait for Charles or Speaight to release him.
“To think that he’s the man who caused Roger’s injury…how he can be allowed to marry and live freely…” Lennie mumbled.
“Very often,” Robert interrupted, “I’ve seen that those who do the most harm live lives of freedom. However, eventually, they are made to pay for what they’ve done.”
“I tend to agree though,” Lennie added. “We should en sure that Lady Lensdown is not being ill-used.”
“We shall, of course.” Robert said. “But, first, we must tend to ourselves, I think. Not even counting the terrible ordeals we’ve just survived, we’ve also endured quite a journey these last few days.”
“Coo! Sad as it was to leave the Grange, ‘specially as it was—with no housekeeper and in the wake of a tragedy, I’m awful glad to be home.”
“As am I.” Robert nodded. “And, dear Punch, don’t worry about the Grange. While we cannot replace Mrs. North, we’ll find a suitable housekeeper to run the estate.”
“I hope so.” Punch said.
“I can try to assist in augmenting the staff, Mr. Punch.” Lennie volunteered.
Punch grinned happily, pleased that Lennie used his name. “I thank you.” His smile faded slightly and he looked over his shoulder out the window. There, he could see Charles helping Speaight and Gamilla out of the next carriage. Gamilla hurried to the following carriage. Punch was sure that she was going to assist in getting Gerard—who was still quite pained—to his room.
A slight gasp escaped Punch’s lips as the carriage door opened. Lennie, Punch and Robert turned to see Mr. Hutchinson at the door. He offered a hand to Lennie.
“Welcome home, Miss.” Hutchinson bowed slightly, unsure of how to address Lennie.
“Thank you,” Lennie nodded as she stepped out of the carriage.
“I’m Hutchinson, Miss.”
“I’ve heard much of you,” Lennie smiled at the man.
Robert picked up Dog Toby and climbed out next. He offered his hand to Mr. Punch who carried Colin onto the sidewalk.
They all looked up at No. 65. Punch couldn’t help but smile. He looked to Hutchinson. “Is all well here?”
“Nothing has changed, Your Grace.” Hutchinson replied.
“I thank you for looking after everything for us.” Mr. Punch nodded, affecting his “Julian” voice.
“It’s my pleasure, Your Grace.” Hutchinson smiled slightly. “Their Majesties were kind to send maids to remove the covers from the reception rooms and tidy the house for your return. You’ll find a handsome basket of fruit and large floral arrangement in the Morning Room from Her Majesty to welcome you home.”
“How kind,” Punch answered. He looked to his right.
“I’ll take the baggage.” Hutchinson bowed his head. “So Charles might help Gerard to his room.”
“Thank you,” Punch nodded.
“Oh, Your Grace, one more thing. Her Majesty sent word through one of the Royal footmen that should you require a temporary man for the doctor while Gerard recovers, she’d be happy to send a man from the palace.”
“Her Majesty is very thoughtful.” Punch replied, still speaking as Julian. “However, we’ve spoken with young George Pepper. He will fill-in for Gerard with Charles assistance to valet for Dr. Halifax until Gerard is well enough to return to his post.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Hutchinson nodded.
Punch could feel someone looking at him. He looked to his left and noticed Lennie studying him. He smiled.
Lennie blushed. After Hutchinson walked away, Lennie began. “I’m sorry to stare.”
“You ain’t seen me play the Duke.” Mr. Punch said.
“You do it so well.” Lennie replied.
“Well,” Punch shrugged. “For as much as I’m Mr. Punch, I’m also the Duke. I gotta do what needs doin’ to see that our family is comfortable and that Society don’t look at us any different than they do already.”
“We are a rather different family, aren’t we?” Lennie chuckled.
Robert smiled. “Yes, we are.” He emphasized “we.”
Lennie caught herself.
“That’s the first time you referred to bein’ part of the family.”
“I can’t help but feel so,” Lennie shook her head. “You’ve both made me feel so welcome.”
“That’s because you are.” Robert nodded.
Punch added, “All the folks in this house are family of sorts. We’re two families joined together. Upstairs, me and Robert and now, you. And our other family downstairs.”
“And, now, we can rest assured that our downstairs family is also happy and honest.”
“Sure,” Mr. Punch smiled. “This is a fine lot of folks.”
“Have you had trouble with staff in the past?” Lennie asked.
“A couple of folks—a maid, Hortence, who were no good and a page—Tom.” Punch sighed. “Not to mention Ellen. But, this is a happy day. We don’t need to even think o’ them no more.”
“We certainly don’t.” Robert shook his head. “We’ve got much to be glad of.”
“Now, let’s get inside,” Punch chirped. “I wanna show you the house!”
“Let’s.” Lennie replied.
From a distance, hidden in the shrubbery in the central park of Belgrave Square, three pairs of eyes watched Punch, Colin, Lennie, Robert and Dog Toby climb the steps to No. 65.
“Who’s the woman?” Eudora Stover grumbled.
“Dunno, Mum.” Tom shrugged. “New Governess?”
“She’s no governess,” Hortence growled.
“We’ll see what Ellen says about this.” Eudora scowled.
“When’s she comin’, Mum?” Tom asked
“She’ll be at our place ‘round noon or so said her letter.” Eudora responded.
“Hope she don’t cheat us this time,” Hortence croaked.
“She won’t.” Eudora spat. “Not this time. First time weren’t her fault. Ellen’s true to her word.”
“I’ll see that she is,” Hortence smirked. “I’ll see to it myself.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-189 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 191.
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