Chapter 268
Logic of Kindness
“My darlings, my sweet, dearest, darlings!” Lady Lensdown sobbed as she tightly embraced her children. “I can hardly believe what I am seeing. Are you real? Are you really here?”
“Yes, Mummy,” the youngest of the pair replied.
Robert, Punch and Lennie smiled as they watched the reunion of mother and children in the center hall of No. 65 Belgrave Square.
Robert cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would like to take the children to the morning room so that you all might sit and talk. I’ll have Mrs. Pepper prepare trays for the children who must be starved.” He waved to Speaight who stood at a distance at the end of the hallway. Speaight nodded that he understood.
“Yes, yes,” Lady Lensdown gulped. She didn’t release her affectionate grip on the children.
“Mummy, will we go home?” The youngest asked.
“Soon, we will.” Lady Lensdown smiled. “First, you will rest here at the Duke’s home, and when you’re quite strong again, we will go home.”
“To Papa?”
Lady Lensdown paused. “If your Papa is there, yes.”
“Mother,” The elder child spoke up. “The woman who held us captive. She was ‘Nanny.’ The nanny we had before this most recent one. The one Father seemed so fond of.”
“I know.” Lady Lensdown nodded.
“She was ever-so changed.” The boy continued. “Not at all the sweet woman I recall from when I was small. It was she, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Lady Lensdown answered softly.
“Yet, she hardly seemed to know us.” The boy answered. “Why?”
“You’ve grown so since she saw you last. And, she hardly knew your sister when she left our house. She was more familiar with your older brother, you know. Before he went to Eaton.”
“But, she knew our name, Mama.” The girl said. “She called us Lensdown.”
“Yet, we might as well have been strangers. She was so…changed.” The boy repeated.
“Was she cruel to you?” Lady Lensdown asked.
“She was sharp,” The boy answered thoughtfully. “Yet, she did not strike us. She did strike the other two women. She quite viciously harmed one of them. Tried to blind her. We…” The boy looked at the floor. “We were fortunate. She cut the hair of another girl. A girl called Fern. And, we saw her…hurt a young woman.”
Mr. Punch clenched his hands into fists. He interjected. “You’re free of her now, young man. Now, you must think of good things and not of those women who kept you from your mother.”
“The other two weren’t so bad,” The boy said quickly. “At first, they were, but, they softened.”
“They were nicer to us, Mama. The ladies called Eudora and Hortence.” The girl added. “’Specially Eudora. She didn’t make us look at the monster.”
“Monster?” Lady Lensdown exclaimed.
“Yes, Mummy. A baby, but not quite.”
“I don’t understand.” Lady Lensdown knelt down.
“It was as if two babies had been joined together.” The boy explained.
Lady Lensdown looked to Mr. Punch. “What is this?”
“We shall explain later.” Robert spoke for the pair. “For now, let’s enjoy your reunion.”
Gertrude nodded. She looked to her children. “So, you say that the woman named Eudora protected you?”
“It was she who released us and told us to run as fast as we could to the home of the Duke of Fallbridge. She said Lady Constance told her that you were here. The other children, I think they were hers, went with a plump woman who guided us to Westminster.” The boy answered. “We ran very fast, Mother. I’m quite spent.”
Lady Lensdown looked up again to Mr. Punch who nodded. “Do take them to the morning room. Be comfortable.”
Lady Lensdown smiled. “I don’t know how to thank you, Your Grace.”
“We did nothing,” Mr. Punch shook his head, being careful about how he spoke in front of the two children, especially the older one. “These two brave youngsters found you all on their own.”
“Mummy, I’m hungry.” The girl whispered.
“You shall have something very soon.” Robert reassured the girl. “Now, you must go and be with your mother.”
Lennie, Robert and Punch watched the trio go into the morning room.”
Punch sighed, sputtering slightly, and, with his fingers, brushed the wavy auburn fringe from his forehead. Robert nodded absent-mindedly and Lennie shifted her weight nervously.
None of them were sure what to say, or even, what to think.
Finally, Lennie could stand the silence no longer. “Why would Eudora release the children? I don’t know the woman; I only know what you’ve told me of her, but…”
“I think we may have misjudged Miss Stover,” Robert said. “Her behavior upon the death of her brother was rather beastly, but, now, as I recall from the few times that I met her with William…” He looked at Punch who frowned at the mention of Robert’s previous association. “She was crude, but gentle.”
“Hortence, on the other hand,” Punch added, “is just a pig.” He looked slightly ashamed. “Sorry, but it’s true, it is.”
“I don’t disagree. Still, whatever Orpha’s done to her seems to have mellowed her a tad, I’d wager.” Robert nodded.
“I’m glad these children have been reunited with their mother, yet, I can’t help but feel that their return is a symptom of some, greater, threat to our household.” Lennie spoke up.
Punch shook his head. “I know ‘xactly what you mean, Lennie.”
“Would it be wise to see them return to their own home as quickly as possible?” Lennie asked. “Not to seem uncharitable, but I can’t help but worry that we’ve already incurred enough of Orpha’s wrath without having them here as well.”
“As it is, she hates us, and, now, we have Fern.” Robert nodded. “There’s little we can do to soften the vicious contempt she must feel.”
“We can’t send Lady Lensdown and them two little ones out on their own. Send ‘em back to the baron? The baron whom Orpha wants to punish? Her brother and former lover? It’s sure to end bad for ‘em.”
“Brother dear,” Lennie said softly, “you’ve already sheltered Gertrude for days. You can’t be expected to protect her forever. After all, her woes aren’t your fault.”
“No? I’m the one what hired Orpha. I’m the one what ‘lowed her to get deeper into everyone’s lives.”
“Orpha was known to them already. When she’d finished with me, she went to the baron’s household, bent on revenge, determined to punish her brother.” Lennie shook her head. “That’s not your doing.”
“Certainly not, dear Punch.” Robert agreed. “We’ve been pawns in all of this. Furthermore, we’ve no obligation to Lady Lensdown. We’re no relation to them.”
“We’re no relation to Fern neither, yet we all knew we had to take ‘er in.”
“That’s not quite the same,” Lennie replied. “She has no one else in the world.”
“Nor does Gertrude.” Punch answered plainly.
“Punch, you know how fond I am of Gertrude. Aside from you and Robert, she’s become my closest friend. I’d never wish ill on her nor her children, however, I must insist that she, unlike Fern, has a family who can shelter and keep her and her children.”
“Lennie’s correct. Lady Lensdown has a sizeable and powerful family right here in London.” Robert responded. “They can protect her and her children.”
“That timid woman?” Punch shook his head. “Do you think she’d ever ask her kin for a thing?”
“I’m sure she could.” Robert answered. “They are more obliged to her than we.”
“Chum, do you have an obligation to the sick folk what you bring back to health?” Punch asked.
“Certainly, I do, dear Punch.” Robert replied.
“Even though they ain’t related to ya?”
“Well, of course. I took an oath to do no harm. Anyone who comes to me seeking assistance…” He trailed off.
Punch smiled.
Lennie chuckled. “He is clever.”
Robert nodded.
“I know you’re worryin’ ‘bout our own family, both of ya. Don’t ya think I am, too? Nothin’ means more to me than the safety of the two of you and Colin.” Punch shrugged. “And, now, Fern, I s’pose. Only Gertrude came to us and pleaded for help, an act what had to have been terrible hard for her. As long as we got somethin’ to give, we can’t turn ‘er out. She ‘erself is no threat. Lady Constance, rest her soul, brought her own trouble into our ‘ousehold. She had to be sent out, but, none o’ this is Lady Lensdown’s doin’.”
“You’re absolutely correct, dear Punch.” Robert smiled, embracing his companion.
“Lennie?” Punch asked, over Robert’s shoulder.
“How can I disagree with your logic of kindness, brother dear?” Lennie smiled softly.
“It’s all gonna be fine.” Punch said confidently. “Can’t be nothin’ worse than what we already seen.”
Before Lennie or Robert could respond, they all started at the sound of piercing screams coming from above.
“It’s Ethel!” Lennie exclaimed, heading for the stairs.
“We’re coming with you.” Robert took Punch by the hand and, together, they followed Lennie to the terrible sound.
Did you miss Chapters 1-267 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 269.
“My darlings, my sweet, dearest, darlings!” Lady Lensdown sobbed as she tightly embraced her children. “I can hardly believe what I am seeing. Are you real? Are you really here?”
“Yes, Mummy,” the youngest of the pair replied.
Robert, Punch and Lennie smiled as they watched the reunion of mother and children in the center hall of No. 65 Belgrave Square.
Robert cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would like to take the children to the morning room so that you all might sit and talk. I’ll have Mrs. Pepper prepare trays for the children who must be starved.” He waved to Speaight who stood at a distance at the end of the hallway. Speaight nodded that he understood.
“Yes, yes,” Lady Lensdown gulped. She didn’t release her affectionate grip on the children.
“Mummy, will we go home?” The youngest asked.
“Soon, we will.” Lady Lensdown smiled. “First, you will rest here at the Duke’s home, and when you’re quite strong again, we will go home.”
“To Papa?”
Lady Lensdown paused. “If your Papa is there, yes.”
“Mother,” The elder child spoke up. “The woman who held us captive. She was ‘Nanny.’ The nanny we had before this most recent one. The one Father seemed so fond of.”
“I know.” Lady Lensdown nodded.
“She was ever-so changed.” The boy continued. “Not at all the sweet woman I recall from when I was small. It was she, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Lady Lensdown answered softly.
“Yet, she hardly seemed to know us.” The boy answered. “Why?”
“You’ve grown so since she saw you last. And, she hardly knew your sister when she left our house. She was more familiar with your older brother, you know. Before he went to Eaton.”
“But, she knew our name, Mama.” The girl said. “She called us Lensdown.”
“Yet, we might as well have been strangers. She was so…changed.” The boy repeated.
“Was she cruel to you?” Lady Lensdown asked.
“She was sharp,” The boy answered thoughtfully. “Yet, she did not strike us. She did strike the other two women. She quite viciously harmed one of them. Tried to blind her. We…” The boy looked at the floor. “We were fortunate. She cut the hair of another girl. A girl called Fern. And, we saw her…hurt a young woman.”
Mr. Punch clenched his hands into fists. He interjected. “You’re free of her now, young man. Now, you must think of good things and not of those women who kept you from your mother.”
“The other two weren’t so bad,” The boy said quickly. “At first, they were, but, they softened.”
“They were nicer to us, Mama. The ladies called Eudora and Hortence.” The girl added. “’Specially Eudora. She didn’t make us look at the monster.”
“Monster?” Lady Lensdown exclaimed.
“Yes, Mummy. A baby, but not quite.”
“I don’t understand.” Lady Lensdown knelt down.
“It was as if two babies had been joined together.” The boy explained.
Lady Lensdown looked to Mr. Punch. “What is this?”
“We shall explain later.” Robert spoke for the pair. “For now, let’s enjoy your reunion.”
Gertrude nodded. She looked to her children. “So, you say that the woman named Eudora protected you?”
“It was she who released us and told us to run as fast as we could to the home of the Duke of Fallbridge. She said Lady Constance told her that you were here. The other children, I think they were hers, went with a plump woman who guided us to Westminster.” The boy answered. “We ran very fast, Mother. I’m quite spent.”
Lady Lensdown looked up again to Mr. Punch who nodded. “Do take them to the morning room. Be comfortable.”
Lady Lensdown smiled. “I don’t know how to thank you, Your Grace.”
“We did nothing,” Mr. Punch shook his head, being careful about how he spoke in front of the two children, especially the older one. “These two brave youngsters found you all on their own.”
“Mummy, I’m hungry.” The girl whispered.
“You shall have something very soon.” Robert reassured the girl. “Now, you must go and be with your mother.”
Lennie, Robert and Punch watched the trio go into the morning room.”
Punch sighed, sputtering slightly, and, with his fingers, brushed the wavy auburn fringe from his forehead. Robert nodded absent-mindedly and Lennie shifted her weight nervously.
None of them were sure what to say, or even, what to think.
Finally, Lennie could stand the silence no longer. “Why would Eudora release the children? I don’t know the woman; I only know what you’ve told me of her, but…”
“I think we may have misjudged Miss Stover,” Robert said. “Her behavior upon the death of her brother was rather beastly, but, now, as I recall from the few times that I met her with William…” He looked at Punch who frowned at the mention of Robert’s previous association. “She was crude, but gentle.”
“Hortence, on the other hand,” Punch added, “is just a pig.” He looked slightly ashamed. “Sorry, but it’s true, it is.”
“I don’t disagree. Still, whatever Orpha’s done to her seems to have mellowed her a tad, I’d wager.” Robert nodded.
“I’m glad these children have been reunited with their mother, yet, I can’t help but feel that their return is a symptom of some, greater, threat to our household.” Lennie spoke up.
Punch shook his head. “I know ‘xactly what you mean, Lennie.”
“Would it be wise to see them return to their own home as quickly as possible?” Lennie asked. “Not to seem uncharitable, but I can’t help but worry that we’ve already incurred enough of Orpha’s wrath without having them here as well.”
“As it is, she hates us, and, now, we have Fern.” Robert nodded. “There’s little we can do to soften the vicious contempt she must feel.”
“We can’t send Lady Lensdown and them two little ones out on their own. Send ‘em back to the baron? The baron whom Orpha wants to punish? Her brother and former lover? It’s sure to end bad for ‘em.”
“Brother dear,” Lennie said softly, “you’ve already sheltered Gertrude for days. You can’t be expected to protect her forever. After all, her woes aren’t your fault.”
“No? I’m the one what hired Orpha. I’m the one what ‘lowed her to get deeper into everyone’s lives.”
“Orpha was known to them already. When she’d finished with me, she went to the baron’s household, bent on revenge, determined to punish her brother.” Lennie shook her head. “That’s not your doing.”
“Certainly not, dear Punch.” Robert agreed. “We’ve been pawns in all of this. Furthermore, we’ve no obligation to Lady Lensdown. We’re no relation to them.”
“We’re no relation to Fern neither, yet we all knew we had to take ‘er in.”
“That’s not quite the same,” Lennie replied. “She has no one else in the world.”
“Nor does Gertrude.” Punch answered plainly.
“Punch, you know how fond I am of Gertrude. Aside from you and Robert, she’s become my closest friend. I’d never wish ill on her nor her children, however, I must insist that she, unlike Fern, has a family who can shelter and keep her and her children.”
“Lennie’s correct. Lady Lensdown has a sizeable and powerful family right here in London.” Robert responded. “They can protect her and her children.”
“That timid woman?” Punch shook his head. “Do you think she’d ever ask her kin for a thing?”
“I’m sure she could.” Robert answered. “They are more obliged to her than we.”
“Chum, do you have an obligation to the sick folk what you bring back to health?” Punch asked.
“Certainly, I do, dear Punch.” Robert replied.
“Even though they ain’t related to ya?”
“Well, of course. I took an oath to do no harm. Anyone who comes to me seeking assistance…” He trailed off.
Punch smiled.
Lennie chuckled. “He is clever.”
Robert nodded.
“I know you’re worryin’ ‘bout our own family, both of ya. Don’t ya think I am, too? Nothin’ means more to me than the safety of the two of you and Colin.” Punch shrugged. “And, now, Fern, I s’pose. Only Gertrude came to us and pleaded for help, an act what had to have been terrible hard for her. As long as we got somethin’ to give, we can’t turn ‘er out. She ‘erself is no threat. Lady Constance, rest her soul, brought her own trouble into our ‘ousehold. She had to be sent out, but, none o’ this is Lady Lensdown’s doin’.”
“You’re absolutely correct, dear Punch.” Robert smiled, embracing his companion.
“Lennie?” Punch asked, over Robert’s shoulder.
“How can I disagree with your logic of kindness, brother dear?” Lennie smiled softly.
“It’s all gonna be fine.” Punch said confidently. “Can’t be nothin’ worse than what we already seen.”
Before Lennie or Robert could respond, they all started at the sound of piercing screams coming from above.
“It’s Ethel!” Lennie exclaimed, heading for the stairs.
“We’re coming with you.” Robert took Punch by the hand and, together, they followed Lennie to the terrible sound.
Did you miss Chapters 1-267 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 269.
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