Chapter 195
Forever Grateful
“Good evening,” Robert smiled as he, Mr. Punch and Lennie descended the stairs into the servants’ hall. Punch carried Colin while Lennie was holding Dog Toby. Dr. Halifax held a sizeable package wrapped in gold paper and adorned with a brilliant silk ribbon of bright purple.
Led by Mr. Speaight who had made an appearance long enough to help Charles serve upstairs dinner, the staff rose from their places—except for Gerard who remained in the “nice” chair. They were quite surprised to see the masters and Miss Molliner appear in the servants’ hall.
“Did you require something, Dr. Halifax?” Speaight asked, his voice still weak. He looked over his shoulder and rasped, “Charles, did you forget to set out the cordial tray?”
“No, Sir.” Charles shook his head.
“We don’t need anything at all.” Mr. Punch interrupted. He spoke as Julian since Mr. Hutchinson was present. While the others were aware of his Punchinello tendencies, Hutchinson had never heard the Duke speak in his natural voice and Mr. Punch didn’t want to shock or confuse the man. “In fact, we’ve come to share something with all of you.”
Robert nodded, glancing down at the gift which he held.
“Shall I take that for you, Sir?” Charles asked.
“No, I think I’ve got it. Thank you Charles.” Robert replied. He walked forward and placed the box on the servants’ dining table.
“Please, everyone sit.” Mr. Punch smiled.
Charles hurried to the other side of the table and pulled out a chair for Miss Molliner who nodded her gratitude and sat with Dog Toby in her lap.
“May I take Master Colin, Your Grace?” Gamilla asked, stepping forward.
“For a moment,” Mr. Punch nodded. “Thank you.” He handed Colin to the woman. The baby gazed adoringly up at Gamilla.
“As you know,” Robert began. “His Grace and I were guests of Their Majesties this morning.”
“While we were speaking with the Queen,” Punch added, “Her Majesty presented us with this gift which she described as a token of her joy that we’d returned to London. Her Majesty stated that she hoped that it would bring much pleasure to our household.”
A low gasp rose in the hall as smiles appeared on the faces of the staff—even Mr. Hutchinson.
“So,” Punch continued, “since you are all valued members of the household, Dr. Halifax and I decided that we should open the box with all of you.”
“Imagine,” Mrs. Pepper cooed. “A present from the Queen ‘erself, sittin’ here on me own table.”
“That’s fine, Mrs. Pepper.” Mr. Speaight said softly.
“Well, it don’t happen every day, then, does it?” Mrs. Pepper smiled. “I think we all got a right to be…” She stumbled over her words.
“Mrs. Pepper,” Robert smiled. “I’m just as awed by this as anyone else. I agree with you wholeheartedly.”
“Ain’t that fine paper?” Ethel spoke up. She’d figured that since Mrs. Pepper had her say, there was no reason that she shouldn’t either—even if she was a scullery maid. “Your Grace, is it made of real gold?”
“I don’t think so, Ethel.” Mr. Punch smiled.
“I should like to have paper like that for me scrapbook. Wouldn’t it be that grand?” Ethel continued.
“I should say so.” Jenny nodded her agreement.
“Only gold you’re likely to get,” Georgie winked.
“You don’t know that, George Pepper.” Ethel smirked playfully.
“Indeed.” Mr. Speaight growled.
Ethel, Jenny and George fell silent.
Gerard couldn’t help but chuckle even if it did hurt him a little. Gamilla glanced at him affectionately over Colin’s fuzzy, auburn head.
“Ethel,” Mr. Punch began. “I shall see that I unwrap the package carefully so as not to tear the paper. If you’d like, we can leave the paper here so that you and Jenny and even Mrs. Pepper and Vi might share it.”
“Would you, Your Grace?” Ethel asked brightly.
“Of course.” Mr. Punch nodded.
“But, what if the doctor should want it for his-self?” Jenny whispered.
“I would much rather you have it.” Robert replied.
Jenny blushed.
“You and Jenny share it,” Mrs. Pepper nodded proudly. “That’s good girls.”
“Perhaps Violet would like to have the ribbon.” Mr. Punch suggested.
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Violet said shyly. “It’s too fine.”
“Well, since your name is Violet,” Punch grinned, “and the ribbon is violet, it should be yours.”
“I could put it on my Sunday hat.” Violet set, touching her cap lightly with her fingers, still self-conscious of her cropped locks. “There’s such a lot of it. Maybe Gamilla could use some, too. The color would be so pretty in her dark hair…oh, or on her Sunday dress—at the waist.”
“I shall leave it to you two to discuss the details.” Punch nodded.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Gamilla replied with sincere gratitude.
“It seems that the wrapping itself was quite enough of a gift.” Robert said playfully. “Maybe we’d just leave it at that.”
“Oh, no, Sir.” Mrs. Pepper said, forgetting herself. “Do open it.”
“Mrs. Pepper,” Speaight warned weakly.
“It’s quite all right, Speaight.” Robert spoke up. “I think His Grace should have the honor. After all, it is he who is truly the favorite of the Crown.”
“I don’t know about that.” Mr. Punch shrugged, almost abandoning his impersonation of Julian. “However, I’d be quite happy to open the box.”
Punch carefully undid the ribbon and removed paper, making sure not to tear it. He set both gingerly aside for the girls and revealed a polished, gleaming wooden case.
“It’s a casket.” Jenny whispered to Ethel.
“Well, there’s somethin’ inside it.” Ethel chirped.
Punch chuckled and lifted the lid of the casket. His eyes sparkled as he reached inside and removed a shimmering music box of ivory and gold set with jewels. The Queen’s cipher was mounted at the top of the box in diamonds with a surround of deep red Burmese rubies. A foliate design and gadroons of emeralds, diamonds and sapphires adorned the sides of the music box.
“Cor!” Ethel gasped.
The room was filled with happy mumblings.
“I do say,” Mrs. Pepper put her hand to her throat. “Ain’t it that lovely?”
“It certainly is, Mrs. Pepper.” Robert nodded, himself overwhelmed by the gift.
Punch opened the music box and the room came alive with light music.
“What is the song?” Mrs. Pepper asked.
“It’s the ‘Punchinello Quadrille.’” Robert grinned.
Mr. Punch burst into a ripple of laughter. The others in the room, except for Hutchinson, followed.
After the laughter subsided, they sat and listened to the music until the mechanism wound down. For a moment afterward, they enjoyed the silence together.
Finally, Mr. Punch spoke up.
“We shall place this in the library.” He declared. “And, I hope that we will all enjoy it’s music again together often.”
“I think I speak for the staff, Your Grace,” Speaight began, “when I say that we are most grateful that you’ve shared this with all of us.”
“As Dr. Halifax and I already said, the gift was for the household, and we are all…well, the household.” Mr. Punch replied.
“Now,” Robert added. “We shall leave you all to your evening.”
“I will carry the box up for you, Sir.” Charles said, springing up to place the music box back in its wooden casket so he could transport it.
“Thank you,” Punch nodded.
“Sirs, if you’d like, I can take Master Colin up to his bed.” Gamilla volunteered.
“Uh,” Punch paused. “Yes, that will be fine. We’ll be in shortly to kiss him goodnight.” He turned to face the staff again. “Good evening, everyone.”
“Good night, Your Grace.” Ethel called out.
Speaight considered chiding the girl, but thought better of it. Never before had he known a staff to be so fond of the master. Why, he wondered, would he wish to have that change.
Mr. Punch, Robert and Lennie—still holding Dog Toby—climbed the stairs.
“You really are wonderful with them.” Lennie smiled.
“No, Lennie.” Mr. Punch shook his head. “They’re wonderful with me. For that, I’ll forever be grateful.”
Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square will be on hiatus for a few days. New chapters will resume on Monday, November 26. Until then, you can catch up on any chapters you’ve missed in the Chapter Archive.
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