Chapter 156:
Lennie
Charles and Violet reluctantly sat down around the small table in the cellar upon which the strange woman had placed the candle.
“I suppose you’ll want some sort of explanation.” The woman said softly.
“That might be a treat,” Charles replied drolly. “These last weeks we’ve been under the impression that the governess was who she claimed.”
“She isn’t.” The woman shook her head.
Violet snorted. “This is all too much for me.”
“How did this woman come to be called by your name, then?” Charles asked.
“She was, I thought, being kind.” The woman replied.
“You’ll need to explain yourself.” Charles frowned.
“I was a happy girl.” The woman began.
“We didn’t ask for your life story, Miss.” Violet grumbled.
“But, it’s all part and parcel.” The woman said, obviously offended.
“Continue, please.” Charles nodded.
“We weren’t wealthy by any means, but we were comfortable. I always found it strange since Father had no obvious profession. Still, I didn’t question it. Why would a happy girl question her own comfort? I enjoyed a pleasant home with my brothers. We even had a maid of all work. Orpha. She’d been a workhouse girl, but you’d never have known it. She loved to read and she spoke so beautifully. She and I were friends. We were close to the same age and I so enjoyed talking with her. She always had such interesting things to say. She’d taught herself to read, you see. And, read she did. Whenever she wasn’t working. We were all content. Our only sorrow was Roger, my brother.”
“We know Roger.” Charles smirked.
“He’d had an accident as a young man. I was never sure what had happened, but it left him…different. I was charged with caring for him. Usually, he was quite pleasant. But, every so often, he’d become quite wild. I was always able to calm him. Soon, Orpha was as well. You see, we resembled one another. It wasn’t a great resemblance—I was always so much thinner. However, it was enough of a resemblance that when Roger was in one of his rages, blinded by his own thoughts, he would think that Orpha was me. We carried on for many years. Soon, Father’s age began to show. He lost most of his sight. After that, he’d often confuse me for Orpha and Orpha for me.” The woman paused.
Charles and Violet looked at one another.
“I’m terribly sorry. It’s simply that I become quite sad when I speak of Father. My brothers—except for Roger—had lives of their own. They went off, as boys do. So, for the longest time, it was just me, and Father and Orpha.”
“Didn’t you have a mother?” Violet asked.
“She had long since passed.” The woman passed. “Father’s body soon began to fail him and he grew weaker and weaker. Not only did I have to look after Roger, but also him. Orpha suggested that she could be of assistance. She’d learned quite a lot about medicine by reading. And, so, I got Father to agree to employ her as a nurse and we contracted a new maid. Life was much smoother that way. Father would slip in and out of his senses from time to time, but I was used to it from what I’d seen with Roger.”
“That’s awful.” Violet nodded.
“Yes.” The woman sighed. “Then, Father became gravely ill. Just as he was dying, he told me something which shocked me to my very soul. He told me that he wasn’t my father at all. He told me that a Scotchman at Grange Molliner was my father and that my true mother was the Duchess of Fallbridge who was still living. He told me to go to her and claim what was rightfully mine.”
“What did you do?” Charles asked.
“I’d long heard of the Duchess of Fallbridge. Everyone had. Her cruelty was legend as was her excess and her sharp tongue. She wasn’t the sort of woman I cared to claim as my mother. I was shattered. To think that the boys were not my brothers. I love them so—even Roger. Father told me I should seek out my new siblings: Julian, Lord Fallbridge; and Barbara, Lady Fallbridge. Well, Lady Barbara was rumored to be just as her mother and Lord Fallbridge was said to be a kind man, if not strange and reclusive. Father told me that Lord Fallbridge was a favorite of the Crown and that he was a famous jeweler. Still, I didn’t care. I wanted no part of it. I wanted everything to be as it was. Comfortable. And, then, Father died.”
“I’m sorry,” Violet shook her head.
“Orpha was a great help to me, then. I shared all of my woes with her. She was my friend. With Father gone, I was afraid I’d have to dismiss her. I was never sure where our money came from, and, Father left us with so little. I could take care of Roger on my own. I cried inconsolably at the thought of losing Orpha and, also, from…well, from not knowing who I really was. To think that my brothers weren’t really mine and that somewhere in Yorkshire, I had other siblings—wealthy, famous siblings. I couldn’t dare think of contacting them. And, with all of that, I would lose my only friend.”
“Orpha told me that she would try to seek work as a governess, but she was afraid that she’d have no luck. What grand household would hire a governess who was a self-educated workhouse girl? Orpha told me that a girl like me would have no trouble. But, her, she feared—well, she’d fail. I told her that I wished I could give her my life as I no longer had a use for it. I was so ashamed. To think that I was…” The woman shook her head.
“So Orpha suggested that she use your name?” Charles asked.
“Yes.” Orpha nodded. “I was so disconsolate that I agreed. I would hire smaller rooms and care for Roger and she would carry on with her life and assist me as best she could. We grew up together. We were friends. I trusted her. So, she became Ellen and I became Orpha Polk.”
“And, then she started in on her scheme.”
“Yes. I’d heard rumors that the Baron Lensdown was having an…” The woman shook her head. “I’d hear much gossip. She stopped coming around. And, then, one day I read that Lady Barbara and the Duchess of Fallbridge had died while visiting America.”
Charles looked down.
“Is something the matter?”
“I…” Charles began. “I knew Lady Barbara very well.”
“I see.” The woman sniffed.
“Carry on.” Charles nodded.
“That’s when Orpha returned. She gave me a great deal of money and told me that she needed me to leave England. She presented me with a story that the newly ascended Duke of Fallbridge was mad and that he knew that I was his sister and that he’d come after me. I now know it was all a lie. She brought me to Scotland and promised she’d look after Roger. She told me that Roger would never know the difference. That much was true, I suppose. It breaks my heart.”
“Did she bring you here—the the Grange?” Violet asked.
“No, no.” The woman shook her head. “Just to the village. I got a job as a parlor maid. Then, a few days ago, Orpha came for me and…she was so rough. I…” She began to cry. “She brought me here and locked me in this cellar. I…”
“There, there.” Violet went to the woman’s side and patted her on the back.
Charles rose as well.
“I don’t know what to do.” The woman sobbed.
“We’re gonna get out of here, is what we’re going to do.” Violet said softly.
“Yes, we are. But, it’s going to take all three of us.”
“Then what will become of me?”
“We’ll take it one moment at a time.” Charles smiled.
“Here, what should we call you. Can’t call ya Miss Barrett—not while…”
“Call me ‘Lennie.’” The woman sniffed. “That’s what father called me.”
“Lennie,” Charles nodded. “Help me move that trunk over to the window.”
Lennie wiped her
eyes and went to work.
Did you miss
Chapters 1-156 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?
If so, you can read them here.
Come back tomorrow for Chapter 158.
