Chapter 253
Marriage Banns
“Well, well, if it isn’t the bride to be and her eager groom,” Charles smiled as Gerard and Gamilla returned to the Servants Hall of No. 65.
Charles had been trying to be as cheerful as possible since they returned from the funeral—with little success. He was relieved that Gamilla and Gerard had announced their engagement. Though he felt Jenny’s loss deeply, and, like Mr. Punch, felt responsible for not protecting the girls better, he wanted very much for the household to find some sense of peace again. And, so, he tried to remind everyone of the good things to come.
Sadly, however, Gamilla and Gerard did not look too pleased.
“Were you able to enter your banns with the vicar at St. Peter’s?” Charles asked, still trying to be light.
Gerard nodded. “We did.”
“Then, why the long faces?”
“Because everyone bleedin’ feels like they oughta give us lectures.” Gerard snapped.
“Gerry,” Gamilla smiled. “It ain’t that bad.”
“Sure, it is.” Gerard shook his head. “But, I don’t even care ‘bout that so much as the way he looked at ya, ‘Milla. I coulda…well…if he wasn’t a vicar.”
“What’d he do?” Charles asked.
“It was nothin’, Charlie.” Gamilla shook her head. “Now, come and sit by the fire, Gerry, and we’ll tell our friends all ‘bout it.”
“Mrs. Pepper’s got some nice cold plates for you.” Charles said. “We’ve all been waiting.”
“She oughtn’t done that.” Gamilla said. “She should be resting.”
“I know me-self.” Mrs. Pepper said as she came out of her kitchen into the vestibule by the area door. “Come on, Gerry. Come sit. Mr. Speaight said that Dr. Halifax was most firm you should go back to bed after this only I don’t think no one will mind if you have a bit to eat, first. Besides, we need some cheer, and there’s not much more cheerful than a weddin’. Come tell us, you two. Vi and Georgie are waitin’ in the ‘all.”
“Mr. Speaight’s gone to valet for Dr. Halifax tonight.” Charles added.
“I should be doin’ it, me-self.” Gerard shook his head as they all walked into the cozy parlor at the rear of the servants’ hall.
“Dr. Halifax says you can come back to work next week.”
“Yeah?” Gerard’s eyes brightened.
“That’s what he said.” Charles nodded. “His Grace said the same thing when I was drawing his bath just half an hour ago.”
“Wait!” Gamilla interrupted. “Vi’s here!”
“What of it?” Violet shrugged.
“Who’s with the baby?”
“Not to worry, Gamilla.” Charles said quickly. “Colin’s with His Grace in the Morning Room. His Grace is puttin’ on a puppet show for the little fellow who is quite happy. After his Grace had his bath, he said that he wanted to spend some time with his son and that Violet should come downstairs and rest. Dr. Halifax will join them once he’s dressed. They’re most firm that we’re all to take the evening to ourselves.”
“Oh.” Gamilla exhaled with relief. “How’s poor Ethel?”
Charles shook his head ever-so-slightly. He glanced quickly at Mrs. Pepper.
“Now, come on, you two, tell us all about your visit to the church.” Mrs. Pepper nodded. “And, come and have your dinners, then.”
“Well,” Gerard said, pulling out Gamilla’s chair so she could sit at the table. Once she was seated, he, took his place next to her. “Ain’t much to tell.”
“But, your banns is entered, then?” Mrs. Pepper asked impatiently.
“They are, Mrs. Pepper. The first readin’ will be at Sunday’s service.” Gamilla smiled
“Then, after two more Sundays, we can be married.” Gerard said.
“So, it’s settled!” Charles declared. “And you both came in with such long faces…”
“That vicar sure had a lot to say,” Gerard scowled.
“It weren’t nothin’ to get so upset ‘bout.” Gamilla shook her head.
“Tell us what happened, dearie.” Mrs. Pepper reached across the table and patted Gamilla’s hand.
“Do, Gamilla,” Violet nodded, joining the group. Georgie Pepper followed.
“The vicar was concerned because I have got no surname. At first, well, he was not gonna enter our banns because of it. Said all ladies gotta have a surname.”
“He was just makin’ trouble because you’re African.”
“Is it…is it not legal?” Georgie asked innocently.
“It’s legal!” Gerard roared. He blushed. “Sorry, Georgie, mate, I reckon I’m a trifle sensitive today.”
“We all are, Gerry.” Georgie smiled. “But, even though this mornin’ was all sadness, we’re all so ‘appy for ya. Jenny would be, too. Wouldn’t she, mum?”
Mrs. Pepper nodded sadly. She changed the subject back to the couple. “But, he posted the banns?”
“Of course.” Gamilla smiled.
“So, there ain’t a problem.” Mrs. Pepper said firmly.
“I had to give ‘em a surname, is all.”
“What name did ya give?” Violet asked.
“Well, I went through a whole bunch o’ names in my head—all quick like. First I thought I’d say, Molliner or Punch or Halifax, but then I looked up at the church and remembered how just hours ago our Jenny lay under that same ceilin’. So, I wanted to honor her.”
Mrs. Pepper dabbed her eyes. “I think that’s lovely.”
“So, I gave the name Gamilla Linnet. Just like Jenny’s name was.” Gamilla said.
“Just lovely.” Mrs. Pepper nodded.
“Then, it’s done.” Charles declared. “We’d best start planning the…”
“Well, then, there’s Gamilla not bein’ Church of England…” Gerard interrupted.
“But, I tol’ him that I done been goin’ to services there ever’ Sunday since I been here, and, that softened him up.” Gamilla nodded.
“And, then, he said folk would frown on us.” Gerard shook his head.
“We knew they would, honey.” Gamilla whispered.
“But, folk don’t need to keep tellin’ us.” Gerard frowned.
“It’s jus’ somethin’ we gotta accept.” Gamilla smiled.
“I don’t see why it’s such a bother for people.” Georgie shook his head.
“But, it is, my dear,” Mrs. Pepper sighed. “It just is. For some reason…” She looked at Gerard. “Is that what’s worryin’ ya, Gerry? You think when the banns is read aloud them three times, someone will object?”
Gerard thumped his fist on the table. “If anyone dares, I’ll…”
“No, you won’t, honey.” Gamilla shook her head. “Ain’t nobody gonna say a word.”
“That’s right.” Mrs. Pepper nodded. “Now, eat your dinner. I’ll fetch ya a nice bit o’ cheese to go with it.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pepper.” Gamilla smiled.
“Sure, Gerry,” Georgie said, “We’re all real ‘appy for ya both.”
Gerard tried to smile, but as he looked up, he noticed Charles and Gamilla exchanging a concerned glance.
“Ain’t nothin’ gonna keep me from bein’ a husband.” Gerard said.
“Certainly not.” Charles nodded.
Still, Gerard knew that something very well could.
Did you miss Chapters 1-252 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 254.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the bride to be and her eager groom,” Charles smiled as Gerard and Gamilla returned to the Servants Hall of No. 65.
Charles had been trying to be as cheerful as possible since they returned from the funeral—with little success. He was relieved that Gamilla and Gerard had announced their engagement. Though he felt Jenny’s loss deeply, and, like Mr. Punch, felt responsible for not protecting the girls better, he wanted very much for the household to find some sense of peace again. And, so, he tried to remind everyone of the good things to come.
Sadly, however, Gamilla and Gerard did not look too pleased.
“Were you able to enter your banns with the vicar at St. Peter’s?” Charles asked, still trying to be light.
Gerard nodded. “We did.”
“Then, why the long faces?”
“Because everyone bleedin’ feels like they oughta give us lectures.” Gerard snapped.
“Gerry,” Gamilla smiled. “It ain’t that bad.”
“Sure, it is.” Gerard shook his head. “But, I don’t even care ‘bout that so much as the way he looked at ya, ‘Milla. I coulda…well…if he wasn’t a vicar.”
“What’d he do?” Charles asked.
“It was nothin’, Charlie.” Gamilla shook her head. “Now, come and sit by the fire, Gerry, and we’ll tell our friends all ‘bout it.”
“Mrs. Pepper’s got some nice cold plates for you.” Charles said. “We’ve all been waiting.”
“She oughtn’t done that.” Gamilla said. “She should be resting.”
“I know me-self.” Mrs. Pepper said as she came out of her kitchen into the vestibule by the area door. “Come on, Gerry. Come sit. Mr. Speaight said that Dr. Halifax was most firm you should go back to bed after this only I don’t think no one will mind if you have a bit to eat, first. Besides, we need some cheer, and there’s not much more cheerful than a weddin’. Come tell us, you two. Vi and Georgie are waitin’ in the ‘all.”
“Mr. Speaight’s gone to valet for Dr. Halifax tonight.” Charles added.
“I should be doin’ it, me-self.” Gerard shook his head as they all walked into the cozy parlor at the rear of the servants’ hall.
“Dr. Halifax says you can come back to work next week.”
“Yeah?” Gerard’s eyes brightened.
“That’s what he said.” Charles nodded. “His Grace said the same thing when I was drawing his bath just half an hour ago.”
“Wait!” Gamilla interrupted. “Vi’s here!”
“What of it?” Violet shrugged.
“Who’s with the baby?”
“Not to worry, Gamilla.” Charles said quickly. “Colin’s with His Grace in the Morning Room. His Grace is puttin’ on a puppet show for the little fellow who is quite happy. After his Grace had his bath, he said that he wanted to spend some time with his son and that Violet should come downstairs and rest. Dr. Halifax will join them once he’s dressed. They’re most firm that we’re all to take the evening to ourselves.”
“Oh.” Gamilla exhaled with relief. “How’s poor Ethel?”
Charles shook his head ever-so-slightly. He glanced quickly at Mrs. Pepper.
“Now, come on, you two, tell us all about your visit to the church.” Mrs. Pepper nodded. “And, come and have your dinners, then.”
“Well,” Gerard said, pulling out Gamilla’s chair so she could sit at the table. Once she was seated, he, took his place next to her. “Ain’t much to tell.”
“But, your banns is entered, then?” Mrs. Pepper asked impatiently.
“They are, Mrs. Pepper. The first readin’ will be at Sunday’s service.” Gamilla smiled
“Then, after two more Sundays, we can be married.” Gerard said.
“So, it’s settled!” Charles declared. “And you both came in with such long faces…”
“That vicar sure had a lot to say,” Gerard scowled.
“It weren’t nothin’ to get so upset ‘bout.” Gamilla shook her head.
“Tell us what happened, dearie.” Mrs. Pepper reached across the table and patted Gamilla’s hand.
“Do, Gamilla,” Violet nodded, joining the group. Georgie Pepper followed.
“The vicar was concerned because I have got no surname. At first, well, he was not gonna enter our banns because of it. Said all ladies gotta have a surname.”
“He was just makin’ trouble because you’re African.”
“Is it…is it not legal?” Georgie asked innocently.
“It’s legal!” Gerard roared. He blushed. “Sorry, Georgie, mate, I reckon I’m a trifle sensitive today.”
“We all are, Gerry.” Georgie smiled. “But, even though this mornin’ was all sadness, we’re all so ‘appy for ya. Jenny would be, too. Wouldn’t she, mum?”
Mrs. Pepper nodded sadly. She changed the subject back to the couple. “But, he posted the banns?”
“Of course.” Gamilla smiled.
“So, there ain’t a problem.” Mrs. Pepper said firmly.
“I had to give ‘em a surname, is all.”
“What name did ya give?” Violet asked.
“Well, I went through a whole bunch o’ names in my head—all quick like. First I thought I’d say, Molliner or Punch or Halifax, but then I looked up at the church and remembered how just hours ago our Jenny lay under that same ceilin’. So, I wanted to honor her.”
Mrs. Pepper dabbed her eyes. “I think that’s lovely.”
“So, I gave the name Gamilla Linnet. Just like Jenny’s name was.” Gamilla said.
“Just lovely.” Mrs. Pepper nodded.
“Then, it’s done.” Charles declared. “We’d best start planning the…”
“Well, then, there’s Gamilla not bein’ Church of England…” Gerard interrupted.
“But, I tol’ him that I done been goin’ to services there ever’ Sunday since I been here, and, that softened him up.” Gamilla nodded.
“And, then, he said folk would frown on us.” Gerard shook his head.
“We knew they would, honey.” Gamilla whispered.
“But, folk don’t need to keep tellin’ us.” Gerard frowned.
“It’s jus’ somethin’ we gotta accept.” Gamilla smiled.
“I don’t see why it’s such a bother for people.” Georgie shook his head.
“But, it is, my dear,” Mrs. Pepper sighed. “It just is. For some reason…” She looked at Gerard. “Is that what’s worryin’ ya, Gerry? You think when the banns is read aloud them three times, someone will object?”
Gerard thumped his fist on the table. “If anyone dares, I’ll…”
“No, you won’t, honey.” Gamilla shook her head. “Ain’t nobody gonna say a word.”
“That’s right.” Mrs. Pepper nodded. “Now, eat your dinner. I’ll fetch ya a nice bit o’ cheese to go with it.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pepper.” Gamilla smiled.
“Sure, Gerry,” Georgie said, “We’re all real ‘appy for ya both.”
Gerard tried to smile, but as he looked up, he noticed Charles and Gamilla exchanging a concerned glance.
“Ain’t nothin’ gonna keep me from bein’ a husband.” Gerard said.
“Certainly not.” Charles nodded.
Still, Gerard knew that something very well could.
Did you miss Chapters 1-252 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 254.
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