Chapter 235
Mrs. Pepper, Speaight, Georgie, Violet, Jenny and Ethel stood around the long wooden table at the center of the servants’ hall—their eyes all fixed upon a package wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string.
“Oh, Your Grace,” Mrs. Pepper said, bowing her head slightly as Punch, Robert and Lennie came into the hall, followed by Speaight.
The others nodded accordingly.
“Speaight tells us we got some mysterious whatnot.” Punch said, relieved that he could speak so freely in front of the staff.
“It’s addressed to you, Your Grace.” Speaight explained.
The staff stepped aside to let their masters examine the package.
“I know the hand,” Lennie frowned.
“Orpha?” Robert asked.
“Yes.”
“Coo!” Ethel exclaimed, “That witch still…”
Speaight shot her a stern look, sending the girl into silence.
“Yes, Ethel,” Mr. Punch said softly. “She is still.”
“Don’t open it, Your Grace.” Mrs. Pepper urged.
“It’ll be all right, Mrs. Pepper.” Punch replied affectionately.
“Who brought the package?” Robert asked.
“A messenger, Sir.” Georgie answered. “Came to the area door. Didn’t think nothin’ of it at first only Mr. Speaight said it were a queer lookin’ package. I hadn’t seen it at first…”
“What hadn’t you noticed, George?” Robert asked.
“Shall I turn the thing over, then, Mr. Speaight?” Georgie asked.
“I don’t want ya to touch it, love.” Mrs. Pepper interrupted.
“I already done. It’ll be fine, mum.” Georgie replied. He reached forward and flipped the package over to reveal a carefully drawn skull on the reverse.
“Ah.” Punch sighed, “Yes, that is rather queer.”
“We ought to have Charles here…” Jenny whispered. “Where is he?”
“In the dinin’ room.” Ethel replied softly. “I think we ought to get him. We need a younger man than Mr. Speaight here case it’s somethin’ that hor’ble.”
“I could go get ‘im.” Jenny said bravely, but quietly.
“Jenny,” Speaight snapped. “Are you running the household now?”
“No, Sir.” Jenny replied, her voice shaking.
“Then, you’ll leave the first footman’s assignments to me?”
“Now, now…” Punch interrupted patiently. “No one meant any harm. We’re all just a tad on edge. We ain’t gonna let this upset us. Now, Vi, will you hand me that knife?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Violet nodded, doing as instructed.
“Do be careful.” Lennie urged softly.
Punch cut the string and began to unwrap the paper slowly. From the package rolled a long lock of light brown hair, tried with a black ribbon.
Violet gasped. “Just like they done to me.”
Mrs. Pepper put her arm around the girl.
“Whose is it, Your Grace?” Ethel asked.
“Ethel…” Speaight warned.
“There’s a note with it.” Punch picked up a crisp piece of paper upon which a message had been scrawled in dark red ink. He handed it to Robert who studied it.
Robert scowled. “The hair belongs to a child, a little girl called Fern.”
“What’s she got a little girl for?” Ethel asked. “Who’d give that woman a child to look after?” Ethel then suddenly blushed, realizing that the Duke and the doctor had initially hired the woman as Colin’s nurse, though to their credit she was masquerading as someone else.
“Don’t worry, Ethel.” Punch smiled.
“What’s the note say, Dr. Halifax?” Georgie asked.
“Would that I could tell you, George, but the contents, I’m afraid, contain information which is private and isn’t ours to reveal.”
“’Course, Sir.” Georgie replied.
“May I?” Lennie asked.
“Certainly,” Robert handed to letter to Lennie whose face went stark white as she read it.
Punch, Robert and Lennie exchanged glances. Robert quickly picked up the lock of hair and the paper wrapping and nodded. “I’m so terribly sorry that this intruded on your evening. Pay it no mind.”
“Thank you, Speaight, for bringin’ it to our ‘tention.” Punch nodded. “We three’d best get back upstairs.”
“Will Your Grace be wantin’ dinner served now?” Mrs. Pepper asked.
“Well…as much as I hate to, we’d best wait a bit. If it won’t in convenience you, Mrs. Pepper.”
“No, Your Grace. In fact, it’ll give the roast more time to get that nice rich flavor what you like so.”
“Fine.” Punch smiled slightly. “Why don’t all of you take your dinner first. Then, we’ll ring for ours. Speaight, if you’d run up and fetch Charles down here, we’d appreciate it.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Speaight bowed his head.
“Oh…and nursery dinner?” Punch asked
“Already served and eaten.” Mrs. Pepper said proudly.
“Excellent. Well, then, good evening.” Punch answered quickly.
With that, he and Robert, followed closely by Lennie made their way up the stairs.
“Somethin’ ain’t right, Morris.” Mrs. Pepper said softly as she walked by Mr. Speaight.
“All we can do is wait until we’re told to act.” Mr. Speaight whispered.
Ethel, Jenny and George stepped aside while Violet set the table for their dinner.
“Cor…” Ethel said in a hushed tone.
“Ain’t it?” Jenny nodded.
“What’re you two goin’ on ‘bout?” Georgie asked.
“Well…Georgie, ain’t it your evenin’ off?” Ethel began.
“Sure.”
“What’re you doin’?”
“Thought I’d take a walk.” Georgie shrugged. “That is, if Charles don’t mind me leavin’.”
“Take us with ya.” Ethel smiled.
“What for?” Georgie frowned.
“We ain’t gonna let no witch like that make the masters sad, are we?” Ethel grinned.
Did you miss Chapters 1-234? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 236 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.
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