Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 205

Chapter 205
A Little Sick 


“Stop this at once!” A stern female voice called from a recessed archway in the courtyard at Buckingham Palace where the Duke’s carriage had stopped.

At first, Mr. Punch thought that the Queen herself had deigned to come down. However, judging by the responses of the guards, he knew that the voice belonged to another lady.

“You must understand,” Mr. Punch pleaded with the guards. “I’m the Duke of Fallbridge. Our driver is dangerous, and he must be apprehended.”

Hutchinson smirked from atop the carriage.

“Do as His Grace orders.” The female voice shouted.

Punch and Robert turned to see a woman, slightly disheveled and panicked, racing into the courtyard. Punch knew her at once as Jane, Marchioness of Ely—one of the Queen’s more recently appointed Ladies of the Bedchamber—upon whom Her Majesty relied greatly , especially since the Baroness Lehzen had been banished to Germany by Prince Albert.

“You have your orders,” The marchioness commanded.

“That we do, Mum,” one of the guards replied. “Orders from Prince Albert himself.”

“Who is your Sovereign?” Marchioness Ely snapped. “Not the Prince Consort! I come with strict instructions from Her Majesty.”

The guards stood still.

“Do you hear me? Your mistress has instructed that His Grace and Dr. Halifax be taken to the Yellow Drawing Room. They’re to be made as comfortable as possible.”

Two footmen emerged into the courtyard.

“Your Grace, Her Majesty begs your forgiveness for this misunderstanding and asks that you, please, retire to the Yellow Drawing Room where she will join you forthwith. I shall escort you.”

“Thank you, Marchioness.” Mr. Punch bowed, affecting his best Julian voice. “We do have, however, a bit of a dilemma. Our driver, it seems, has shown his true traitorous colors.”

“Come down here at once,” The guards ordered Hutchinson.

Before Hutchinson could react, two of the guards climbed atop the carriage and seized Hutchinson.

“Hold him,” The marchioness ordered, “until you’re given further instructions.” She turned to Mr. Punch. “Your Grace, if you’ll please follow me.”

Robert and Punch followed the woman through the winding, vaulted corridors of the lowest floor of the palace.

“I’m afraid that Your Grace has been somewhat caught in the middle of a marital discussion between Their Majesties.” The marchioness continued.

“I see.” Punch nodded. “I take it that the Prince Consort was somewhat put out by our tardiness.”

“I imagine so.”

“We were forced to be late,” Robert spoke up.

“I’ve no doubt of that. Her Majesty understands completely.” The marchioness replied airily. “One believes that the Prince Albert was irritated by the fact that he must entertain a merchant.”

“So, the gemologist is still here?” Robert asked.

“Oh, certainly. His Grace is to meet with him at his convenience.”

When they reached the Yellow Drawing Room, the marchioness bowed her head slightly. “Gentlemen, your queen will join you shortly. Do make yourselves comfortable. I’ve taken the liberty of having a light luncheon brought up for you. I hope it will be to your liking.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Punch smiled.

“Of course,” the marchioness replied before departing.

Alone in the drawing room with Robert, Punch relaxed. “For a minute there, I thought we was done for.”

“As did I.” Robert sighed.

“It’s a constant struggle between them, it is.” Mr. Punch shook his head.

“What’s that?”

“The struggle for power. Albert is torn. It’s the only household in Britain where the husband must defer to his wife.”

“The prince’s temper doesn’t help matters.” Robert replied.

“No, it does not.” The Queen smiled as she entered the room.

“Your Majesty,” Robert and Punch said together, bowing in unison.

The Queen moved across the room and sat in a plush, golden chair. She gestured for Robert and Punch to sit as well.

“I hear we’ve had some chaos this morning.” Her Majesty said.

“Indeed, we have, Your Majesty.” Mr. Punch replied.

“Oh, I do wish you’d speak in your adorable manner. You can be unguarded with me, Mr. Punch.” the Queen smiled.

“Sure,” Mr. Punch nodded.

“We’ve had considerable chaos on this floor as well.” The Queen sighed. “My dear Albert, sometimes…well, he’s imbued with the Coburg stubbornness.”

“’Course, he is, Your Majesty.” Mr. Punch said.

“While he’s considerably more English than he was when we married, the Coburg blood does swell in his veins. It does in mine as well, I suppose. However, I have control of it.”

“You must pardon our being late,” Robert said softly.

“I’m sure you’ve a good reason for it.” Her Majesty replied. “In fact, you both look a little sick.”

“In a way,” Mr. Punch sighed.

“Then, you must tell your Queen all about it.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-204 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 206.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 205

“Let’s go, then,” Mr. Punch said, climbing out of the bed and hurrying to the wardrobe.


“No.” Robert shook his head. “I don’t mean you. Cecil and I will go.”

“Chum,” Mr. Punch frowned, “You can’t just sit here and declare that we need to go to the cathedral—just out of the air like it fell into your mouth without you knowin’—and then tell me I can’t go with you.”

“You’re still as weak as…”

“As what, Chum?” Mr. Punch answered. “As a baby? Like me nephew? I gotta go. He needs me! He’s out in the cold somewhere. If anyone’s gonna find him, it’s me. Gotta be scared, he is. What must that place look like to him? Like some kind of monster’s castle.”

“I don’t even know why I think we should go to the cathedral,” Robert argued. “The thought just came to me. There’s no point in dragging you out into the cold night for a random idea that I’ve had.”

“It ain’t no random idea!” Mr. Punch said forcefully. “It’s Marjani, it is! You said yourself she followed Charles. It ain’t the first time she’s sent you a thought from there. You remember when you knew to go to the cathedral to find me when I were shot? Well, it was Marjani what let you know that.”

“And, maybe my mind is playing tricks on me.” Robert shook his head again.

“And, maybe it ain’t!” Punch said, putting on Julian’s pants. “Now, are you gonna help me get dressed or ain’t ya?”

Robert looked sternly at Mr. Punch.

“Coo!” Mr. Punch shouted. “Come on!”

“Very well,” Robert grunted, going to the wardrobe to fetch a shirt, waistcoat and coat for Mr. Punch. “However, Cecil is coming with us.”

“And leave Adrienne and Fuller here alone? What if Edward Cage comes back?”

“Edward.” Robert moaned. “I forgot about Edward. He’s got every door of this house being watched. “No doubt, his men will see us leave and follow us. We’ll never get out of here unnoticed.”

“Don’t be so sure, Chum.” Mr. Punch winked. “Let’s remember, I’m Mr. Punch. I beat the Devil, I did.”

Meanwhile, behind St. Louis Cathedral, Marie Laveau grunted as she sat on the ground next to Barbara and her child.

“We don’t have time for games, Miss Laveau,” Charles said quickly.

“Listen, Boy,” Marie grinned. “We got all the time in the world. You know, I like it here. See how pretty the cathedral looks. So much better than it used to. Do you think it’ll stay like this always? Do you think that in one hundred years, or two hundred, people will come to New Orleans and stand right here where we are and see the same view that we see right now?”

“What are you talking about?” Barbara groaned.

“Permanence, Girl.” Marie spat. “Permanence.”

“Permanence.” Barbara shook her head.

“Sure, Miss Allen.” Marie laughed. “Don’t it worry you?” She smiled. “It worries me. Permanence. What’s gonna happen when we’re gone? Who’s gonna keep the traditions alive? Who’s gonna carry on when we can’t no more?”

“Miss Laveau,” Charles began.

“Quiet, boy, I’m talkin’.” Marie chuckled.

“See, Girl, it falls on our children to keep us alive.” Marie nodded.

“And, I’m sure your children will ensure that your work lives forever.” Charles answered.

“Do you think?” Marie sighed. “I worry. Will folk remember ol’ Marie Laveau?”

“Who could forget you?” Barbara muttered.

“Your daughter,” Charles said. “She’s the spit and image of you. She’ll give you eternity.”

“Are folk gonna take a colored girl seriously?” Marie asked. “Boy, that ain’t the world we live in.” She smiled, “but folk’ll take a white gentleman seriously.” Marie narrowed her eyes at the baby in Barbara’s lap. “Oh, yes, they will.”

At that very moment, Marjani crept out from behind the bushes and made her presence known.

“Miss Allen,” Marjani said quickly. “You gotta walk away from this woman. Come with me and Charles. Come now.”

“And go into another kind of slavery?” Barbara growled.

“What do you know about slavery?” Marjani answered angrily.

“More than you realize.” Barbara said. “My shackles with Iolanthe were just as real as any that you may have worn!”

Marjani frowned. “Let your fine brother give this boy a chance at a real life.”

“This don’t concern you.” Marie stood up.

“Hush, you witch!” Marjani spat.

“Who you callin’ a witch?” Marie smiled. “Just lookin’ at ya, I can tell you’re the same as I.”

“Oh, no, Marie.” Marjani shook her head. “I ain’t.” She stepped closer. “I don’t give my power to the snakes and the beasts that slither in the mud. I don’t share my spirit with the dirt and the fire.”

“That’s why you ain’t got the power I got.” Marie laughed. “One thing I know ‘bout dirt, Girl. Dirt don’t burn!”

“But, evil does!” Marjani growled, reaching into the pocket of her apron. She withdrew a clear glass orb which was filled with blue liquid. “Miss Allen, Charles, stand back!”

Marjani raised her arm above her head and hurled the orb at Marie’s feet.

Marie Laveau screamed as the orb shattered.

The baby began to shriek as a blue vapor began to cloud the air around them.

Barbara gasped as blood trickled onto the stones of the courtyard.



Did you miss Chapters 1-204? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, March 28 for Chapter 206 of Punch’s Cousin.