A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 105

Chapter 105
Never Forgive


Punch gasped as his eyes opened and he saw Gamilla slump over onto Lennie's bed.

"What have you done?"  Gerard roared.  "You've killed her!"  

"I...I...I'm sorry!"  Punch cried.  "I heard George and...I heard him speak of Aunt Morgana.  I didn't mean to open my..."

"You broke the chain!"  Gerard screamed as he and Robert rushed to Gamilla's side.

"I didn't mean..."  Punch whispered, still holding Gamilla's hand in one hand, and Lennie's in his other.

"Let go of her, you daft...you stupid..."  Gerard grabbed Punch by the wrist and jerked his hand away from Gamilla.

"What is this?"  Mrs. Pepper moaned.  "What's happened?"

George began to shake and took his mother's arm.

"Come over here,"  Charles guided Georgie and Mrs. Pepper away from the scene at Lennie's bedside.  Violet joined them, gently pushing the two toward the back of the room.

"We only wanted to let His Grace and His Lordship know that George escaped, and that Miss Morgana is still in terrible danger, as is Perkins."  Mrs. Pepper stammered.

"We're all glad that Georgie is back with us."  Charles replied.

"We truly are."  Violet nodded.

"What's happening with Miss Lennie and Gamilla?"  George asked.

"We'll explain later."  Charles answered, glancing over his shoulder.  He saw Gerard frantically trying to awaken Gamilla.

"She's alive, Gerry."  Robert whispered.  "She's alive."

"You heard what she said!"  Gerard screamed.  "If the chain is broken--meaning if one of them stopped concentratin'--she could be lost forever!"

"What of Lennie?"  Matthew shouted.

"Everyone, do try to calm down!"  Robert insisted.

"Calm down?"  Gerard growled.  "My wife and child!  They...they could both be lost to me--all because HE..." He stormed toward Punch... "couldn't keep his eyes closed!"

"Gerard, stop at once!"  Robert took the man's arm.

"I'll never forgive you!"  Gerard howled at Punch.  "I'll never forgive you!"

"There must be a way..."  Punch whispered.  "There must.  We can find a way to bring them both back."

"How?"  Gerard snarled.  "By gettin' help from all the Voodoo priestesses that 'appen to live in Yorkshire?"

"Charles!"  Robert called out.  "Help Gerard.  You and Matthew both, help him into the passage and get him something...water...something.  I need to examine Gamilla.  I need quiet."

"I'm to be ordered about with your staff now?"  Matthew snapped.

"Yes!"  Robert shouted.

Matthew grimaced, but said no more. 

"Stay here with Vi."  Charles whispered to George and Mrs. Pepper.  He hurried to join Lord Cleaversworth.  They each took one of Gerard's arms.  

Gerard, however, shook them off.  "I will not leave her side!"

Punch stepped away from the bed.  "I'll...I'll see to Mrs. Pepper and George."

Robert nodded.

"I don't understand what's happened..."  Mrs. Pepper repeated.

"I'll try, I will," Punch began, "to explain it to you--if I can.  Oh, if only Marjani were here.  She knew Gamilla so well, and they both knew this...this practice.  Or--or even Naasir.  Naasir would have helped us.  But, Marjani is in America, and, my friend Naasir is dead."  He took a deep breath.  "Still, you're here George, and we're glad of that, we are.  Come with me, and tell me what's happened to you so that I might try--in some, small way--to begin to make things right."


Did you miss Chapters 1-104 of A Recipe for Punch?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 106.

Also tomorrow, come back for Part I of a two part "Treat of the Week."

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 105

Chapter 105: 

Low Spirits 

“It can’t be.” Gerard shook his head. “Gamilla would never touch a drop.”

“I can smell the alcohol on her.” Robert shook his head. “And,” he paused. “Something else…some antiseptic aroma.”

“But, Dr. Halifax.” Gerard protested, kneeling down next to Gamilla. “She wouldn’t.”

Robert sighed. “Speaight,” he said to the butler.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Would you please go inform the others that Gamilla has been found and that she’s quite all right?”

“Of course, Doctor.” Mr. Speaight nodded.

“If you would, please, wait in the Servants’ Hall. We may need your help carrying Gamilla up to her room.”

“Yes.” Speaight smiled.

“Thank you.” Robert nodded.

Once the butler had left, Mr. Punch looked to Gerard.

“Last night,” Mr. Punch began. “Did Gamilla find ya so she and you could talk ‘bout your argument?”

“No.” Gerard shook his head. “I’d gone to my room and was talking with Charles. I didn’t know she was lookin’ for me.”

“I had suggested that she should.” Robert sighed.

“Perhaps when she couldn’t find ya, she was upset after your argument and…”

“And, took a drink, Your Grace?’ Gerard shook his head.

“It’s possible.” Mr. Punch said softly. “Sometimes when folks is upset, they want to make themselves feel better and…”

“I of all people know all ‘bout that, Your Grace.” Gerard interrupted. “I drank ‘way my whole young days, but…not Gamilla. Where’d she even get any whiskey?”

“It’d be easy enough to come by,” Robert shrugged. “The whiskey tray and the cordial tray were in the drawing room when His Grace and I retired. If Finlay had brought them down and left them in the pantry, it’s possible that…”

Mr. Punch nodded. “She coulda jus’ grabbed a beaker, and, bein’ upset, decided she’d try to make ‘erself feel better.”

Gerard stood up and extended his hand. “Could I see the beaker, Sir?”

“Sure.” Mr. Punch nodded, offering the vessel to Gerard.

As Gerard took the stoneware beaker, Violet returned to the vestibule, followed by Finlay who carried a bowl of warm water for her.

“Here you are, Doctor.” Finlay nodded.

“Set it down on the table.” Robert pointed to the narrow wooden table which stood against the wall between the doors to the wine cellar and the silver vaults.

Finlay glanced down at Gamilla and clucked her tongue. “Poor dear.”

“Thank you, Finlay. That’ll be all.” Mr. Punch interrupted before the footman could continue. He made sure to speak as Julian would.

“Oh, Gerard, I see you found your beaker.” Finlay smiled as he walked past Gerard. “I meant to bring it to you last night, seein’ as you left it out all full like that. Thought maybe you’d like to have your cup o’ warmth when you turned in for the night. But, I forgot all about it.”

“Your mug?” Robert tilted his head to one side.

Gerard nodded. “It is mine.”

Mr. Punch squinted through the darkness at the beaker. In fact, he had seen Gerard with it before. The simple beaker had a transfer printed portrait of Queen Victoria on it—a souvenir of her 1852 Silver Jubilee. It was a favorite of Gerard’s who often kept it nearby filled with tepid tea and lemon.

“But, I didn’t leave it out. It were with my gear—my brushes and polish and such. Where I always keep it! And, I sure didn’t leave it out with nothin’ in it, ‘specially not whiskey.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Finlay smiled. “We’re all grown men. We all like a drop now and again.”

Violet cleared her throat, frowning at Finlay.

“Violet,” Robert said quickly. “Will you go warm Gamilla’s bed, please? We’ll bring her up shortly.”

“Of course, Dr. Halifax.” Violet sniffed, exiting the vestibule. She cast a final derisive glance at Finlay as she left.

“Finlay,” Robert began once Violet had left, “are you accusing Gerard of drinking?”

“I’m not accusing.” Finlay replied plainly. “I don’t see how it’s any great crime if the man likes a drop now and again. We all do.”

“I haven’t had a…” Gerard fumed, so angry he could barely speak.

“It’s no concern of mine.” Finlay continued. “Even if Gerard likes to put a few drops of med’cin in his whiskey. Not like it does ‘im any harm.”

“What medicine?” Robert asked.

Finlay put his hand over his face as if he’d made a mistake. “Oh, nothing, Sir. I don’t know what I’m sayin’.”

Robert looked at Gerard who was clearly livid.

“Finlay,” Mr. Punch began, in Julian’s voice, “please explain yourself.”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.” Finlay shook his head.

Gerard took a deep breath. “Dr. Halifax, Your Grace, when Charles broke his wrist, I took some of the medicine you gave him for the pain. I took it for a few days without you knowin’. Charles and Gamilla knew ‘bout it, and, they made me stop. The bottle was returned to you because I knew I was wrong in doin’ it. I was just curious, is all. But, I stopped.”

“I see.” Robert nodded.

“How did you know about that, Finlay?”

Finlay cleared his throat.

“It happened long before we left for Scotland.” Gerard added.

“I musta heard Charles talkin’ about it with Gerard or somethin’, Your Grace.”

“Is that it, Finlay?” Robert asked.

“Well, Sir.” Finlay looked at the floor. “Maybe I seen him slip a few drops in his mug.”

“You did not!” Gerard bellowed. “You’re a liar! Like when you said I was drunk the other morning! I wasn’t!”

“Well, Gerard.” Finlay shook his head again. “You’re awfully clumsy for a sober man. And, now, here’s your girl—passed out on the floor with your beaker filled with whiskey and God knows what else.”

Mr. Punch rubbed his forehead with his left hand. He noticed Finlay glance at his rings. Punch frowned. “I think that will be all for now, Finlay.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Finlay bowed his head before exiting.

“Your Grace, Dr. Halfax,” Gerard began urgently. “I ain’t had a drop o’ drink in I don’t know how long, and ‘cept for them few days in London, I didn’t touch that medicine. I knew I done wrong and I ain’t done it ‘gain. And, even if I did, I wouldn’t have left my beaker out full of liquor and medicine, and ‘specially not where Gamilla woulda drunk from it. I wouldn’t do anything ever to hurt Gamilla. Not ever! You gotta believe me.”

“We do believe you.” Mr. Punch spoke up. “Don’t we, Chum?”

Robert sniffed. “We need to carry Gamilla to her room.”

“Dr. Halifax?” Gerard gulped.

“Gerry, I know how you feel about Gamilla. I truly do. I know you wouldn’t harm her.”

Gerard nodded.

“However, this isn’t the first time Finlay has accused you of drinking.”

“But, I haven’t!”

“Of course you haven’t.” Punch said soothingly.

“I can see why Gamilla would drink from your beaker. But, I can’t understand why it was filled with whiskey.”

“Finlay done it!” Gerard said. “He wants me to look bad. He probably filled my beaker with whiskey do he could ‘find’ it and try to make me look like a rummy. But, Gamilla got at it first. She ain’t got no experience with spirits like that and it made her sick before she even knew what she were drinkin’. I could kill him for hurtin’ her!”

“Now, now…” Robert said. “Why would Finlay want you to look bad?”

“He wants my job!” Gerard argued. “He wants to be close to you and His Grace like me and Charles are. He wants a nice, soft job in London. You said yourself how he was jealous.”

Robert smiled. “You’re right.” He patted Gerard’s shoulder. “But, we don’t know that it was Finlay who filled the beaker.”

“And we don’t know that it wasn’t.” Mr. Punch added.

“You gotta believe me…” Gerard began.

“Gerard, I believe you.” Robert said finally. “However, I have to say, I’m disappointed to learn about the medicine.”

Gerard looked at his shoes. “I know. I’m terrible sorry ‘bout that.”

“Sure you are, Gerry.” Mr. Punch said gently. “We know.”

“For now, however, let’s worry about Gamilla.”

“Yes, Sir.” Gerard said softly.

“Let’s see if we can’t get her to her room.” Mr. Punch suggested.

“I’ll carry her, Sir. She’s so small and light.” Gerard gulped.

As Gerard bent down to lift Gamilla, she moaned slightly—her eyes fluttering.

“Let’s turn her over.” Robert said.

The three of them helped to roll Gamilla onto her back.

“Oh…” Gamilla moaned. “My head.”

She opened her eyes slightly and squinted.

“Where am I?” She asked throatily.

“You’re quite safe,” Robert replied. “You’re at Grange Molliner. In the cellars.”

“How’d…” She coughed. “Oh, my head. What happened?”

“You seem to have had some spirits.” Punch whispered.

“Spirits?” Gamilla muttered. “I don’t…”

“Do you remember?” Mr. Punch asked.

“I…” Gamilla groaned. “I just…”

“Who gave you the whiskey, Gamilla?” Robert asked.

“Gerard did.” Gamilla mumbled.

Punch and Robert looked at Gerard.

“I didn’t, Sir.” Gerard shook his head. “I didn’t.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-104? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday for Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 106.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 105

Mr. Punch paced the floor, followed closely behind by Toby whose little paws tapped on the wood floor. Punch mumbled as he paced, glancing periodically at his puppet who stared back at him from a chair in the corner.


“What’s he doing?” Cecil whispered to Adrienne who sat nearby—with Fuller on her lap—in the drawing room of the Royal Street mansion.

“He’s thinking,” Adrienne said softly. “Let him be.”

Cecil looked quickly at Robert who was sitting by the fireplace. They made eye contact. Robert shrugged.

After awhile, Mr. Punch stopped pacing and muttering and sat down on the floor in the exact place where he’d been standing. Toby flopped over onto his side and tapped Julian’s knee with his paw. Punch absent-mindedly scratched the dogs stomach.

“Everything all right with you, dear Punch?” Robert asked.

“I ‘spose.” Mr. Punch grumbled. He paused and looked at the dog. “Here, this dog’s got four feet.”

“That’s the required number for a dog,” Adrienne smiled.

“How many toes does it got?” Mr. Punch asked, gently taking one of the dog’s paws in Julian’s hand and examining it. “One, two, three, four…and this thing in the back. Is that a toe?”

“I’m not sure if you could call any of those toes, per se.” Cecil answered.

“Don’t know if you got toes or not,” Mr. Punch whispered to the dog. “Here, what about this?” He pointed to the joint in Toby’s front leg. “Is that his elbow or his knee?”

“I don’t really know.” Cecil smiled. “I’m not well-versed in the proper language of canine anatomy. I don’t think that the names for human body parts necessarily apply to animals.”

“Got a head, don’t he?” Mr. Punch muttered.

“Yes,” Cecil nodded.

“Got a stomach, too.” Mr. Punch continued. “Those are two things what people got.”

“He also has a tail.” Cecil replied. “None of us has a tail.”

“No.” Mr. Punch shook Julian’s head. “Though it’d be interestin’, wouldn’t it?”

“Rather cumbersome, I think,” Adrienne chuckled.

Mr. Punch sighed. “For as much as we know, we just don’t know nothin’. We don’t know nothin’.” He rose and started pacing again. Toby sprung up and followed Punch back and forth.

“Mr. Punch, why don’t you entertain us with a puppet show?” Adrienne asked quickly. “I know that Fuller would enjoy it.”

“Really?” Mr. Punch paused, one foot still off the ground.

“I’m sure he would.” Adrienne nodded.

“Ain’t gonna be a proper show. Ain’t got a swazzle. It’ll have to be me own voice.”

“What better?” Adrienne said. “Mr. Punch voiced by Mr. Punch himself.”

“I’m just a Mr. Punch, I’m not the only one.” Punch sighed.

“You’re the only one with a beating heart and an intelligent mind.” Robert said affectionately. “While there are, no doubt, dozens of puppet Mr. Punches, you’re the only one that’s a man.”

“I ‘spose that’s true.” Punch said, retrieving his puppet from the chair and sitting next to Adrienne and Fuller.

He gently put his hand into the puppet’s glove-body and made the figure stand tall in front of the baby.

“Dum-de-dum,” Punch hummed as he made the puppet dance.

Fuller clapped his hands and squealed.

“What ho?” Punch said in a theatrical voice. “What’s this, then? A baby, is it? Funny thing ‘bout babies. They’re just little blokes what drool a lot.”

“Not unlike the men in your club, Cecil.” Adrienne smiled.

“I say,” Cecil grimaced.

“I think this baby is a fine man.” Mr. Punch continued. “Would this fine man like to help ol’ Mr. Punch?”

The child cooed.

“Mr. Punch has to defeat the devil!” Punch continued. “In a battle of fire and ice…” His voice trailed off.

“Here,” Mr. Punch said after a moment. “I don’t want to disappoint the little man, but I feel cold, I do. Maybe we could play another time.”

“Of course, Punch.” Adrienne nodded, showing her concern. “Why don’t you go sit by the fire with Toby.

“Better still,” Robert stood up. “How about you and I go upstairs? I’ll have Naasir prepare a nice warm bath for you.”

“Wouldn’t mind a bath.” Mr. Punch said. “That’s one good thing ‘bout bein’ a people. Can’t take a bath when you’re made of wood and paper.”

“Come along, then, bring your puppet.” Robert said, gently placing his hand on Mr. Punch’s shoulder. He looked to Adrienne and Cecil. “We’ll say good night now.”

“We’ll play more tomorrow,” Punch said. “I promise.”

“Of course we will,” Adrienne smiled understandingly. “Good night, dear Mr. Punch.”

“Yes, good night, old chap.” Cecil nodded.

Robert led Mr. Punch to the stairs. “Now, then, you go up to your room. I’ll fetch Naasir and will join you momentarily.”

Punch stopped in front of the stairs and moaned. He put Julian’s arms around Robert and whispered in his ear. “She’s here. I feel it.”

“You’re shaking,” Robert said, hugging the man.

“I’m cold, I am.” Mr. Punch said softly.

“Who’s here?” Robert said, releasing Punch and looking him square in the eyes.

“His mother…” Punch said. “I can feel her.”

At that very moment, the Duchess of Fallbridge sat across from Iolanthe Evangeline at a dimly lit table at a restaurant.

“Tell me, Miss Magdalena,” the Duchess said, referring to Iolanthe by the name she’d been using with the Duchess, “now that I’ve responded to your letter and traveled all the way here, where is my son? In your missive, you stated clearly that you knew where he was.”

“I’ll take you there very soon, Your Grace.” Iolanthe smiled.

“Miss Magdalena, I’ve not come all this way to sit in this fetid place and eat this vile food. I’ve come to secure my dimwitted son who seems to have failed in the one simple task I’ve given him. Now, tell me where he is.”

“You need to keep up your strength,” Iolanthe said. “Such a beautiful woman must be strong.”

The Duchess smiled. “Do you think you can charm me? I am impervious to charm. I am also impervious to lies. Will you, then, tell me who you really are? In your letter, you describe yourself as a concerned gentlewoman. You’re no gentlewoman. The lines of your throat tell me otherwise. Who and what are you? And, what do you know of my son and daughter?”

“So many questions, Your Grace.” Iolanthe laughed.

“I recommend that you begin to answer them.” The duchess growled.

“First, Your Grace, answer a question for me.” Iolanthe winked. “Why did you order the murder of your husband?”



Did you miss Chapters 1-104? If so, you can read them here. Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Punch’s Cousin will not be posted. Come back on Friday, November 26, 2010 for Chapter 106.