Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square Will Continue on Monday

Good morning, everyone.  You were expecting the usual Saturday chapter of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square to be posted here.  However, I've had a rather strenuous week, so, the next Chapter will be posted on Monday.  In the meantime, let's catch up a bit.

Well, well...we've had quite a lot happen in the household of No. 65 Belgrave Square.  In addition to already existing issues with Orpha Polk and the missing children of Lady Lensdown and Lady Constance, it seems that Mr. Punch and Robert had to host a whole new batch of crazy.  Actually, to be more accurate, it was an old batch of crazy.  Ulrika Rittenhouse!

Readers of Punch's Cousin as well as my novel, The Garnet Red, are familiar with this red-headed woman--a legendarily vicious and sadistic weirdo.  Our heros thought they'd heard the last of her when the left America, but, sadly, they were mistaken.  She's come to England (bringing her lover, Giovanni Iantosca--Charles' murderous brother who killed Punch's papa with her) and, one of her first stops was to Mr. Punch's door.  

Why?

Well, Ulrika has long had a history of being eager to join whatever cult is popular in New Orleans.  Her association with a new cult has decided that the new Messiah was born in London--a strange baby called Marduk.  And, Orpha wants to see him.

We met Marduk this week.  He's the son of brother and sister act Orpha Polk and the Baron Lensdown.  Today, we'd call him a conjoined twin, but in 1853, he was best described as a two-headed baby with three arms.  Let's just say mid-Nineteenth Century medicine wasn't too sympathetic to such things.  Orpha, of course, is quite thrilled with Marduk and calls him "Mummy's little monster," alternating between referring to him as "him" and "them."

Lady Constance as so shocked that she passed out when she saw Marduk.  This worked to her advantage as a repentant Eudora Stover hatched a scheme for Constance to escape with Fern.  But, I have a feeling that won't go as planned.  

Speaking of plans...Gamilla and Gerard posted their marriage banns.  But, the road to the altar isn't going to be easy for them.  They'll have to rely on Punch and Robert for help.

Of course, Punch and Robert certainly have their hands full.  They'll find help from two unlikely people (and I don't mean Johnny Donnan and his jailbird pal).  Look for a change in Ethel, and an awakening in Georgie.

There's a lot in store for you.  You won't want to miss a chapter, but if you do, you can always catch up in the Chapter Archive.  

Thanks for reading!