A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 121

Chapter 121
Toil


Once Matthew had learned of Lennie's desperate and rash moment with the paper knife,  there was nothing that would have kept him from his fiancee's side.   Not even his friendly loyalty to Punch was enough to convince the man to continue to assist with the search.

As Matthew rushed back to the Hall, Charles leaned in and whispered in Robert's ear.  "It's for the best, Sir.  Poor man meant no harm only he was just in the way."

"I've often wondered,"  Robert shook his head.  "How it's possible that the man had such a successful career in the military, inept as he is."

"Money, Sir."  Charles answered.  "Gold makes a success of everyone."

"Gold."  Robert muttered. 

"Not to fear, Your Lordship.  We will find His Grace."

Robert nodded slowly.

"That groom, Eli, has told me about some of the more hidden parts of the estate where he's seen Causer and Hargrave before.  Seems there's a place east of the stables where the two have been known to take some of the more round-heeled farmer's daughters."  Charles explained.

"I can't imagine Hargrave wanting to bring His Grace to his trysting place."

"If he thought he could hide the Duke away there..."  Charles answered.

"I suppose."  Robert sighed.  "Do you know where to go?"

"I do, Sir."  Charles replied.

The two men walked toward the stables.  

"What of the folly?"  Robert asked.  "That's where Morgana had been kept.  She's told me that that's where Jackson and Blessum had stashed the bodies.  Perhaps we should start there."

"We've already been, Your Lordship."  Charles shook his head.  "It's empty of anything except dirt and cobwebs."

Robert scowled.  He reached out and grabbed Charles by the shoulder to stop him from walking.

"What do  you think, Sir?"  Charles asked.

"I think we should pause a moment, and reconsider what we're doing."  Robert said quickly.  "We have considered this from our own manner of thought.  Our conclusions are suppositions are based on our own logic.  We must, instead, try to think like these mad people.  While we cannot call their thoughts logical, they are nonetheless what we must adopt."

"I think I understand."  Charles replied.  "For we can conclude that, as you said, Hargrave would not carry His Grace to the place wherein he entertains his female conquests.  After all, he would not care to spoil the place."

"Correct.  Hargrave considers these barbaric acts part of his work, his duty.  He carries out the orders given him by Quick and Jackson.  Yes, he is part of this...cult...this cabal which worships the beastly duchess.  However, he is not one of the leaders.  His belief is based on his own comforts and maintaining them.  It's not as fierce and all encompassing as the others.  Hargrave knows only that he can benefit from it.  Since this is nothing but another duty to him, Hargrave would have taken my dear Punch not to a place where in spends happy, intimate moments, but to a place of toil and work."

"Where might that be, Sir?  I do not know  the place well enough."

"Nor do I."  Robert shook his head.  "However, I know how we might deduce such a place."




Did you miss Chapters 1-120 of A Recipe for Punch.  If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 122.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 121

Chapter 121: 

Sure 



“Colin,” Mr. Punch yelped like a wounded animal. He staggered around the nursery, whimpering and looked up at Gamilla who stood helplessly at the door. “He ain’t here!”

“They gotta be somewhere.” Gamilla said quickly. “Maybe Mrs. North took him to her room. Or maybe she done took him for his bath.”

“He already had his bath!” Mr. Punch replied desperately. “Before the ball.”

“Maybe he needed cleanin’.” Gamilla suggested.

“No.” Punch shook his head. “Somethin’s wrong, it is. You know it as well as I do. Mrs. North were told to take Colin here and stay with him, not to go off anywhere else.”

“Could be he was hungry and Mrs. North took him to the kitchens.”

Punch, with trembling hands, pulled on his cravat to loosen it. “No.” He gulped. “Please, Gamilla, do as I said. Go get Dr. Halifax.”

“Yes, Sir.” Gamilla nodded.

“But, don’t rush down the stairs or look like somethin’s afoot. I don’t want to upset the guests.”

Gamilla nodded again and hurried off.

Alone in the nursery, Mr. Punch moaned and looked about the room. He went to Colin’s cradle and felt the blankets. They were cool to the touch. “He ain’t even been in here.” Punch took a deep breath and, then, decided that he’d best check his own chamber.

Walking briskly to the door which separated the two rooms, Punch flung open the door and went inside. Dog Toby, who had been sleeping on the bed, awoke with a start and looked with confusion at his master.

“Oh, Toby, Toby.” Punch wailed. “Where’s Colin?”

The dog stood up and walked across the bed—his ears alert and his eyes eager to understand.

“Thought maybe Mrs. North brung him in here, I did.” Punch confided in the terrier who, as Punch reached forward, licked his master’s hand.

“Here, I gotta calm me-self. Sure Colin’s safe, he is. He’s with Mrs. North. Many’s a time when she would look after Julian when her were Colin’s age, and he never suffered for it—least not from her.”

“Damn it!” Punch scowled. “Where’s Robert?” He looked at the dog. “Stay here, Dog Toby. Ain’t nothin’ to worry ‘bout. Sure our boy is safe. Sure it’s just what Gamilla said. Mrs. North probably took her to the kitchens for some milk or a biscuit. Sure.”

He sat down on the bed beside the dog. “Robert’ll be here in a tick and we’ll be jus’ fine.”

Dog Toby settled in next to Punch and put his head on Punch’s knee.

“Sure, it’ll be just fine.” Punch muttered. “Just fine. Just fine. He’s with Mrs. North, and Robert’ll be here just now.”

Of course, we know that Colin was not with Mrs. North. Mrs. North was quite dead—left in the silver vault under a stiff, itchy blanket. Colin was still with Ellen who, upon hearing Gamilla and Punch approach had hidden in the wardrobe at the farthest end of the nursery. When Punch left the nursery, Ellen had slipped out—baby in her arms—and hurried down the corridor.

Ellen Barrett—dressed as Mrs. North—was not eager to be caught with the child, certainly. However, she was even less eager to be spotted with handfuls of the Duke’s jewelry stuffed into the front of her bodice.

Suddenly, she regretted sending the Baron Lensdown away on his errand to lure Finlay to the top of the tower. Frankly, she thought, she could have used the assistance of either or both of her mistrusted accomplices.

She cursed quietly under her breath as she turned into an unused passage. She should have known that the Duke would have wanted to check on the baby. Still, she’d thought her task would have been completed by then.

Now what was she to do? When the doctor arrived, he’d surely embark on a quiet search of the castle. What if he found Mrs. North’s body too soon?

“I have no choice.” Ellen sighed in irritation as she turned around and headed for the narrow, stone staircase which led to the roof of the central tower.



Did you miss Chapters 1-120? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 122.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 121

Meridian hurried into the room where Adrienne sat talking with Marjani while Columbia played with little Fuller.


“Beggin’ your pardon, Mrs. Halifax, but there’s a woman in the front hall for to see ya.” Meridian said breathlessly.

“Oh?” Adrienne sighed, fearing that they’d had another visit from either The Duchess of Fallbridge or Barbara Allen. “Did she give a name?”

“Says she’s called ‘Nellie,’” Meridian answered.

“Nellie?” Adrienne’s face flushed.

“What’s wrong, Honey?” Marjani asked. “Somethin’ troublin’ you?”

“No.” Adrienne responded quickly. “It’s just that I knew someone named Nellie once, but, that was before I…before I married Cecil.”

Marjani smiled weakly. “I understand.”

“I suppose everyone in Marionneaux knew about my past.” Adrienne sighed.

“Well, Honey, to the folk that really count it’s only the good works ya do and the good works we know you’re gonna do that matter.” Marjani said softly.

“Is it wrong of me not to wish to see this woman?” Adrienne asked softly.

“No, Honey.” Marjani shook her head.

“You want I should send her away?” Meridian asked.

“No, Meridian.” Adrienne said. “I’ll see her. If she’s come to find me, she must have a reason. I’ve been so fortunate. It’s only right that I should try to extend the same kindness to others.”

“I left her settin’ in the hall,” Meridian said.

“Thank you,” Adrienne stood up. “Meridian, would you like to stay here and keep Marjani and the children company while I tend to my visitor?”

“Sure would.” Meridian grinned.

“I’ll return shortly,” Adrienne nodded.

Adrienne slowly made her way through the house to the entry hall, all the while wondering just what Nellie could want, and just what she’d say to the woman. They had been so close once. When Adrienne lived and worked at Iolanthe Evangeline’s Bawdy House, she and Nellie had become almost like sisters—sharing their dreams and their secrets, their complaints and their pains.

Nellie jumped to her feet when she saw Adrienne. Without saying a word, the woman rushed to Adrienne—tears flowing down her face.

“You’ve got to help me,” Nelliw sobbed.

“I’ll do all that I can,” Adrienne responded gently, putting her arms around her old friend.

At that very moment, Ulrika Rittenhouse stood in a dim alley, fuming at Arthur. “Who do you think you are to speak to me that way?”

“I’m the man what you’ve been poisonin’.” Arthur growled. “I’m the man what you’ve been teasin’ with talk of riches and diamonds.”

“You shall have all that I promised,” Ulrika frowned. Her eyes lit up and her frown faded as she tried to look seductive. “And, you shall have me.”

“I don’t want you.” Arthur snapped, grabbing Ulrika by the shoulders.

“Let me go!” Ulrika struggled.

“Give me the diamond.” Arthur hissed.

“You haven’t met your end of the bargain yet.” Ulrika smiled through her pain.

“Ain’t gonna be no bargain!” Arthur shook Ulrika ferociously.

“Go on and kill me.” Ulrika said hoarsely. “But, I warn you. Without me, you’ll have nothing!”

Meanwhile, Cecil, Robert and Mr. Punch grimaced as Mala opened the door to Iolanthe’s house.

“What you want?” Mala grinned.

“You know very well what we want.” Cecil said fiercely. “Where’s the man that you lured away from us?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Mala pulled her hideous face back into something that resembled a grin. “You three’d best go on now.”

Cecil pushed past the homely woman and walked into the house. Robert and Mr. Punch followed.

“Now, you get out of here.” Mala screamed.

“Not until we get Naasir,”’ Robert demanded.

“Boys!” Mala shouted for help.

“Where’s Iolanthe?” Robert asked.

“She’s got company.” Mala spat.

“He’s here, he is,” Mr. Punch said, walking toward a door which was partially covered by a crimson velvet drape. “I can feel ‘im.”

“Don’t go in there!” Mala screamed. “Boys!”

Mr. Punch opened the door and was met by the smell of fire. Smoke lazily billowed through the passageway.

“Chums!” Mr. Punch shouted. “Hurry!”

The sound of a horrific scream pierced their hearts as they ran into the dark corridor, following the smoke.



Did you miss Chapters 1-120? If so, you can read them here.