Chapter 28:
A Lovely Chat
Gamilla knocked
softly on the door to Miss Barrett’s small, but pretty, bedroom off of the
night nursery. Ellen rolled over in her
bed and mumbled, “Enter.”
Gamilla opened
the door and, then, picked up the silver tray she had carried from
downstairs. The smell of the food on the
tray, at once, nauseated Ellen and made her hungry. She shuddered slightly.
“Oh, Miss,”
Gamilla sighed. “You’re still dressed.”
“I am,” Ellen
smiled weakly. “I was too tired to
undress.”
“You shoulda
rung for me, Miss.” Gamilla said
softly. “I’d a come to help ya.”
“At two o’clock
this morning?” Ellen shook her head as
she sat up. “Gamilla, you’re allotted so
little sleep as it is.”
“But, them stays
have gotta be pinchin’ ya.”
“No more than
usual.” Ellen smiled. “Gamilla, thank
you for bringing up that beautiful tray, but...”
“You gotta eat
somethin’.” Gamilla interrupted. “And,
that’s not comin’ from me. It’s comin’
from His Grace. He asked Mrs. Pepper to
make up a special tray for you.”
“I’m sure she
was thrilled.” Ellen sighed
sarcastically. “She’s here to feed the
men of the house and, then, downstairs—and on schedule, too. Not to make up trays for the sad governess.”
“Ain’t true,” Gamilla shook her head and smiled. “Mrs. Pepper was happy to do it. Fact, she done tol’ me that she’s prayin’ for
ya and whatever troubles your family done got.
See, Mr. Speaight—he didn’t say nothin’ but someone in your family was
doin’ poorly and that you was takin’ care of him. And, sure, neither Charles nor Gerard ain’t
gonna say no more ‘bout it. Mrs. Pepper—she
meant it. She’s prayin’ hard and we all
is. So, you eat up. Ya hear?”
“I hear.” Ellen smiled.
“Everyone has been so kind to me here.
I’m not sure what to make of it.
I’m really not accustomed to such good treatment.”
“Well, you
better get used to it, Miss.”
“That reminds
me,” Ellen’s eyes widened happily. “Those
are for you.” She pointed to a small,
painted porcelain vase of fresh white roses and greenery which sat on the small
table by her bed.”
“For me?”
“Certainly.” Ellen nodded.
“I promised you that, on my day off, I would bring you some roses. Well, here they are. The vase is for you, too. I thought you’d like it. It’s rather pretty, I think—nothing special,
but pretty.”
Gamilla’s eyes
filled with appreciative tears. “With
all your troubles, you done thought ‘nough of me to take the time to do this?”
“I did make a
promise, Gamilla.” Ellen said
modestly. “And, really, it was no
trouble. I already had the vase and as I
made my way back to Belgrave Square, I happened upon a flower girl who was setting
up her barrow. She looked so sad. I paused to talk with her and we had a lovely
chat. Well, there you are…”
“Thank you so
much, Miss.” Gamilla replied
emotionally.
“Well, it is I
who should thank you. You’ve been so
kind to me, and, well, I can never repay you for picking up my duties yesterday
while I tended to my…my situation.”
“Ain’t nothin’.” Gamilla shook her head.
“It certainly
is.” Ellen waved her hand.
“Now, Miss, you
gotta eat. Let me bring you the tray.” Gamilla hurried to the bureau upon which she’d
set the tray and carried it to Miss Barrett.
Mrs. Pepper had,
in fact, created a lovely spread for Ellen—freshly-baked bread, assorted
cheeses, strawberries, cold meats, butter and jam as well as a lovely, little
pot of tea.
Ellen eyed the
tray. “Have you ever been sick to your
stomach and hungry at the same time?”
“Yes, Miss.” Gamilla nodded, counting on her fingers. “Many times.
When me and my kin was brought to America. When my sister was sick. When His Grace was havin’ dem troubles with
folk who wanted to hurt him. When Dr.
Halifax had a terrible fever once while we was in Marionneaux. When my friend Meridian was poisoned. When Gerard got himself beaten by some bad
folks…”
“You care very
much about your friends.” Ellen smiled
gently.
“I do,
Miss. They’re all I got now. Lost my mama when I was born. My papa died on the ship from Africa.” She paused to swallow. “Them men was awful to him. My brother was shot in Louisiana. The master thought he was stealin’, but he
wasn’t. I thought everything was finally
better when Dr. Halifax’s brother bought me to work on his place. But, then, my sister…she got the Yellow
Fever. And…” She shook her head. “Aw, but you don’t need to hear ‘bout my
troubles.”
“I’m sorry you’ve
had any troubles at all, Gamilla. I
truly am. Neither you nor your family deserved any of those
terrible things. But, I don’t mind
hearing about them. If I can offer you
some comfort, I’d like to. I know that—just
in being yourself—you’ve been such a comfort to me. I’m so glad to call you my friend.”
“It’s my
pleasure, Miss.” Gamilla nodded. “Can I ask ya? How is your brother?”
“The duke
managed to calm him down. It was a
herculean task, too, I might add. I have
such respect for His Grace. He was
masterful. He and Dr. Halifax helped me
bring Roger back to the rooms where he lives with his hired companion. And, they stayed, Gamilla. They stayed for many hours to talk with him
and soothe him. I will forever be in
their debt.”
“They’re fine
gentlemen, Miss. Ain’t no others like
them. To be true, Miss, in all the world
no two folk never loved each other as much as Mr. Pun…errr…like His Grace and
Dr. Halifax do. And, that love they got
for one another somehow makes them love everyone else all the better.”
“I think that’s
very true.” Ellen nodded, taking a bite
from one of the wedges of cheese which Mrs. Pepper had so neatly arranged on a
bright china plate. “Dr. Halifax is with
Roger’s hired companion right now, talking about the best ways to care for him.” Ellen’s eyes flashed. “Oh, dear!
What time is it?”
“Near tea, Miss.” Gamilla smiled.
“I’ve been
sleeping all this time?” Ellen yelped
nervously. “Oh, dear!”
“Now, you just
settle yourself down, Miss. Everyone in
this house wants you to get the sleep you need.”
“But,
Colin! He’s…”
“He’s with his
pappy down in the library. And, they’re
having a fine time, too! Last I saw they
was on the floor and His Grace was tracing the lines of Colin’s little hands on
paper. Jus’ sittin’ there on the floor
wit’ Dog Toby. They’s havin’ a grand
time. So, you just eat your supper and,
then, you take a nice bath and change your clothes. I’ll help ya.
I done all my duties for the day.”
“But, surely,
when Dr. Halifax returns he’ll want to take tea with His Grace. I’ll need to take Colin to the nursery and…”
“Now, Miss. Ain’t my place, but the Duke himself said for
you to eat and rest. He’s got Colin and
they’re pleased as…well…pleased as Punch.”
Ellen chuckled
loudly. “Bless them…”
Gamilla tapped
the tray with her finger. “I ain’t
bringin’ no empty dishes down to Mrs. Pepper, so you gotta eat all that. Meanwhile, I’ll get a bath goin’ for ya.”
Ellen
sighed. “Thank you so much.”
“Ain’t nothin’,”
Gamilla nodded.
Ellen looked up
to the ceiling of her comfortable room.
“You all right,
Miss?” Gamilla asked, noticing. “You stiff from sleepin’ in your corset?”
“Well, yes.” Ellen giggled. “But, I was just asking God to protect the
people in this house. May nothing ever
happen to upset the joy here.”
“Nothin’ ever
could, Miss.” Gamilla shook her
head. “Not one thing.”
Meanwhile, quite
a way from the luxury of Belgrave Square, William Stover knocked on the grubby
door of a sooty, brown, battered, narrow, mean row house.
A chubby woman
with thinning blonde hair answered the door.
The lines on her face belied her youth.
On her hip, she carried a sticky infant with a distended belly and ruddy
cheeks.
“Well?” The woman growled at William.
“As charming as
always, Eudora.” William sighed as he entered the house, nearly gagging on the smell
within.
“I don’t gotta
be charmin’ to ya, Willy.”
“You could smile
for your brother.”
“Willy—ain’t no
woman’s smile gonna do nothin’ for ya.”
Eudora cackled. “So, did ya see
your ol’ friend?” She winked.
“No,
Eudora. He was not in.” William scowled.
“Then, did ya
see the loon?”
“He doesn’t seem
like a lunatic.” William shrugged. “He’s a very articulate…”
“What?”
“He’s
well-spoken, ‘Dora.” William snorted.
“What’s he look
like, then? Wild-eyed with a shock of
wiry hair?”
“No. He’s quite handsome. In fact, he’s terribly handsome.”
“Course he
is! See, then? All that Fallbridge gold! Course he looks handsome. If I had that money, I’d be as pretty as a
picture, me-self. So, he saw ya, then?”
“He did.”
“What’d he say?”
“He was very
kind.”
“Them kind
always is to a gent.”
“Shut your gob,
Eudora.”
“So…he didn’t do
nothin’ barmy?”
“Not at
all. He welcomed me into his home and we
spoke of Dr. Halifax.”
“She says he
looks all nice and sane, but he’s really a wild man.”
“I saw no sign
of it.”
“You will!”
“No, Eudora, I
won’t. She’s your friend, not mine. I have no quarrel with the Duke of
Fallbridge.”
“Don’t ya? Took your…friend…from ya. Ya dirty little pig.”
William frowned
at his sister.
“Oh, now you’re
high and mighty. Well, if you heard some
of the things what Hortence told me, you’d be laughin’ outta the other side of
your face!”
“I want nothing
to do with your friend’s scheme. Dr.
Halifax was once my friend. He’s happy
in that grand house with the Duke. And,
why shouldn’t he be?”
“He rejected ya,
didn’t he?”
“That’s no
reason for the man to suffer.”
“All men should suffer.” Eudora growled.
“I wish you’d
never told Hortence that I knew Dr. Halifax.”
“Do ya,
then? How could I not? When my dear friend came cryin’ to me about
the awful way she was treated by that man…well, how could I keep it from
her? I didn’t know that the doctor in
the Duke’s house was the same bloke what broke me baby brother’s heart ‘til she
said his name. Only ever called him ‘the
doctor’ them other times what I seen her while she were there. How was I to know? Well, when I learned it, Willy, I had to tell
her what I knew. And, brother dear, if
you heard the things she tol’ me, you wouldn’t be so quick to protect neither o’
those men. The things that go on in that
house! Hortence says she saw…”
“Do you know
what I saw, Eudora? I saw a kind,
wealthy man with an elegant home who clearly has nothing but affection in his heart. From what I saw, he loves his companion and
his son and has respect for the household staff. Your friend Hortence is nothin’ but a whining
liar. And lazy and cruel, too. You know
it to be true! She’s always been a hag,
that one. I don’t know why you bother
with her other than the fact that she nicks wine for you from her masters’
homes. Wine and the occasional spoon.”
“Like them rich
folk ever miss it!” Eudora snapped. “Them’s what’s got oughta give to us what don’t.”
“If you could
stay off of your back for a few minutes, you’d have a lot more than you do!” William snapped.
“Willy! You break my heart! Your own sister’s heart.”
“Good.” William grumbled. “I did what you asked. And, I’m grateful for it. Now I know that Robert is in a happy
home. Sure, I was envious and jealous
when I read ‘bout him in the news and when I heard those rumors. And, sure, when you told me that your beloved
Hortence had worked in that fine house, I was curious. But, what I saw was a good, joyful place
lorded over by a gentleman. He didn’t
have to speak with me! He knew I was
once a friend of his companion. Any
other man would have been cruel to me or sent me away. But, this one, though he didn’t want to talk
with me—I could see it—he was kind and polite.
If Robert is happy, I think we should let him be. Besides, this isn’t the first time your
Hortence has been sacked for being a bleeding cow. Each time she is, she does this! She cries and threatens. Yet, she never gets any further than she ever
is.”
“This time she
will.” Eudora sniffed. “Do you hear me? That man—the handsome Duke—is a loony and we
all know it. All of London knows
it! And, my Hortence is gonna finally
get what she’s owed. We’re gonna see to
it, and you’re gonna help us. So help me
God, you’re gonna help us! I see all
them fine folk what’s got theirs. Where’s
mine, then? When do I get mine? Oh. You’re gonna help me get mine,
Willy. Me and Hortence, too! You owe me this!”
“Why? How do I owe you?”
“It were your
mate what gave me this child!” Eudora
smirked, hiking the infant on her hip. “Had
I not met him at your place, I’d not be in this mess.”
“What about the
other four children?”
“Them’s me own
business.” Eudora muttered.
“Even if it were
my responsibility, I owe nothing to Hortence.”
“Don’t ya?”
“No!”
“You promised
her a job, you did! One that would get
her out of service and into her own home!
She coulda been a lady.”
“No job would
make that bitch a lady!”
“You watch your
tongue, you little…” Eudora snapped.
“I gave Hortence
a job at the factory and she lasted less than one day. In five hours she managed to break three
times more figures than she was able to paint.
If she failed it was her own fault, not mine!”
“You never gave
her proper trainin’. You never showed her what to do!”
“A trained
monkey could have painted the rims of those figures without breaking as many as
she did!”
“You lie. You’re a liar, Willy. Always were!
Now, you help us!”
“You would
really do this? You would wish to ruin a
man who always showed you kindness? When
Dr. Halifax and I were acquainted, he came here many times to help you without
charge. He was kind to you and your
bastard children.”
Eudora
gasped. “Fine way to speak of your
nephews and nieces! And your precious
doctor didn’t give us no better treatment than a farmer would give a mule.”
“How fitting!” William laughed.
“You hold your
tongue!” Eudora spat.
“Fine.” William scoffed. “I’ll hold my tongue as I leave. Good evening, sister dear.”
“Stop right
there, Willy.” Eudora warned.
“Why?”
“Cuz if you don’t
do what I say, I’m gonna go see pa.”
Will they let
you visit him in gaol?”
“Oh, they will.” Eudora smirked. “And, when I see him, I’ll tell him his only
son is a…”
“What good would
that do?”
“Wouldn’t do no
good.” Eudora laughed. “But, when pa finds out and he gets out of
that prison—and he will—he’ll make sure to bathe in your blood. You know he will. He won’t want no son of his livin’ the way
you do. You’re a sinner. Our pa ain’t gonna want to know that his only
boy is a sinner! And, when he does, you’ll
die for your sins, you filthy beast!”
William’s ruddy
face went pale.
“That’s right,
Willy. Now, what do you say?”
Did you miss Chapters
1-27 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If
so, you can read them here. Come back
tomorrow for Chapter 29.
