Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 210

Chapter 210
A New Place 


“Now, Violet,” Mr. Punch began.

“Your Grace, I know what you’re gonna say. Don’t think me rude, Sir, only…”

“No. You don’t know what I’m gonna say, Vi.” Punch shook his head.

Violet widened her eyes.

“If you want to leave here, you certainly can. Dr. Halifax and I ain’t gonna stop ya. Are we, Chum?”

Robert shook his head, wondering what Punch was up to.

“You won’t?”

“No.” Mr. Punch replied. “Here, I understand. You been hurt by Mr. Hutchinson. Think it’s safe to say we all been disappointed by ‘im.”

“He treated Your Grace terrible bad.” Violet said emotionally.

“He done you wrong, too, Violet. Now, I dunno if he made any promises to ya, but seemed to us that you two had some sort of understandin’.”

“So I thought.” Violet sighed, wiping her eyes.

“Gotta be hard for ya, and we—Dr. Halifax and me—feel awful ‘bout that. We don’t want ya to be sad. And, if bein’ here makes ya sad, you ought to leave. We’ll do whatever we can to help ya. We can ask Mr. Speaight to help find ya a new place and everythin’. Ain’t no good you stayin’ here, bein’ downstairs where he was, where he sat and where he ate. Seein’ all them things what remind ya o’ ‘im.”

“That’s just it, Your Grace.” Violet nodded. “Everything reminds me…”

“Sure, it does.” Mr. Punch said gently. “We gotta get ya ‘way from all that.” He looked at Robert. “Don’t we, Chum?”

“Uhh…” Robert squinted. “Yes.”

“See?” Mr. Punch smiled. “We understand.” He stood up. “You’ll excuse me, then?”

“Sir?” Violet looked nervous.

“I’m just gonna pop up to me room and get your wages for ya. I think we’ll give ya an extra two months. Is that fair?”

“Your Grace?” Violet shook her head. “It’s more than fair…but,”

“Somethin’ wrong?”

“Well, I…did you want me to leave now?”

“We don’t want ya to leave at all. But, we want what’s best for ya. It’d be better, if you’re gonna leave, to do it now.”

“I…I see.” Violet nodded. “I’ll just go down and say goodbye, then.”

“No, no. Mustn’t do that.” Punch shook his head.

“Why not, Your Grace?”

“Well, it’d just be too hard. How does a girl leave her family in any easy kind of way? Better just to leave.”

“Leave my family?”

“Sure. Ain’t that what everyone here is, in a queer kind of way. All them folk downstairs, they’re your family. Up here, too. Look how comfortable Dr. Halifax and I are with ya. Why, I’m even speakin’ in me own voice just like I do with Dr. Halifax. Any other gentleman would have to be careful with the servants. But, see, we trust all of ya so much, I don’t gotta worry that none of ya are gonna speak gossip ‘bout the mad Duke of Fallbridge. Sad enough for Dr. Halifax and me to see ya go. If we didn’t know it was what you really wanted, we’d be beside ourselves. Think how Jenny and Ethel will feel. And Georgie, he likes ya so. And, Charles is fond of ya. Oh, and poor Gamilla. We seen how you two been talkin’ more lately. Specially with Gerard down like he is, the girl’s really been helped by your friendship. Nah, it’ll be too hard for all of ‘em. Goodbyes hurt. Best if ya just leave.”

“Where will I go?” Violet asked softly.

“I’m sure that Miss Molliner can suggest a good women’s hotel.” Robert spoke up, finally aware of Punch’s clever scheme to make the girl stay.

“She’s just upstairs. I’ll ask her when I go fetch your wages.” Punch suggested. “We’d be happy to put you up somewhere ‘til we get ya a new place.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to bother Miss Lennie.” Violet shook her head.

“Don’t be silly. She likes ya an awful lot, Miss Lennie does.” Mr. Punch smiled. “Remember, it was you and Charles what rescued her in Scotland. You got a history together. There’s nothin’ more special than that. I’m sure she’d want to help ya, too.”

“Your Grace,” Violet began slowly, “do you really think that this would be the best for me?”

“It’s what you want, ain’t it?” Mr. Punch smiled.

“But, Sir, do you think…”

“What I think is that you been hurt. When a body is hurt, she wants her family ‘round her to help her through it and see the good times. That’s what I think.”

“I agree.” Robert nodded.

“But, if leavin’ is what you want…” Mr. Punch shrugged.

Violet smiled. “I’m bein’ foolish.”

“Nah.” Mr. Punch shook his head. “You’re bein’ people.”

“Thank you, Your Grace…Dr. Halifax.”

Robert nodded again.

“Your Grace, can we just forget about all of this?”

“I think I already forgot.” Mr. Punch smiled. “Now, Miss Molliner’s gown for dinner wants layin’ out, and, I think my sister has decided she wants to try a new coiffure this evening. She’d said that only you could help her with it.”

“I’ll go up right now, Your Grace.” Violet rose from her chair. Hurrying to the door, she paused and turned around. “I truly am grateful.”

“What for?” Punch smiled. “All we done is talk ‘bout getting’ ready for dinner.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-209 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 211.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 210

Ulrika grinned at Charles. “You’re a nice looking boy.”


“Thank you, Miss.” Charles nodded.

“Why waste your time with the likes of Miss Allen? I can give you so much more.” Ulrika purred.

“Do you ever shy away from stealing my men?” Barbara spat.

Even in the darkness, the women could see that Charles was blushing.

“I’m quite content where I am,” Charles said firmly.

“I could make you more so content.” Ulrika said. “I can give you the world. All I ask is that you do something for me.”

“Go to Blazes, Ulrika!” Barbara shouted.

“I will.” Ulrika laughed. “And, I’ll see you there.”

Charles rose, “I’m sorry, but Miss Allen has suffered too much today, I must ask you both to leave.”

“How gallant.” Ulrika chuckled. “Really, Iolanthe, isn’t he gallant? So chivalrous.”

“He’s a prince among paupers.” Iolanthe frowned. “And, he’s wasting my time. Come along, Ulrika, we don’t need him. Nor her. We know what we’re after and we’ll find it.”

“Isn’t it curious?” Barbara smirked.

“What’s that?” Ulrika asked.

“When the last I saw the two of you, I could have sworn that Iolanthe was about to toss you into the sea, Ulrika.” Barbara replied. “Now, you’re as thick as thieves.”

“We are thieves, Barbara.” Ulrika smiled. “All of us.”

“I find it peculiar that you two now have this allegiance.” Barbara answered.

“We have an arrangement.” Ulrika smiled. “It’s none of your concern.”

“I hope you enjoy your arrangement.” Barbara said. “How long will it be before one of you betrays the other? Again.”

“Ulrika knows what will happen if she does.” Iolanthe answered curtly.

“As does Iolanthe.” Ulrika frowned.

“Ah, there’s already distrust.” Barbara grinned.

“Barbara, we’ve banded together in a crisis. A child’s best interest is at stake. All other things pale when compared to that.” Ulrika said.

“Well, how touching.” Barbara chuckled.

“Enough chatter!” Iolanthe stamped her foot on the ground. “We’ve business! Come, Ulrika.”

“You’d better go with your mistress,” Barbara clucked her tongue.

Ulrika’s rage was evident.

“Come, Ulrika.” Iolanthe repeated.

Ulrika grunted. “By the way, Barbara, if we see Marie Laveau—and I’m sure we will—I’ll make a point of telling her where you are. I’m sure she’s looking for you—probably so very concerned, really.”

“Do what you want,” Barbara shrugged.

“I always do,” Ulrika winked as they walked off.

Once they were alone again, Charles settled onto the bench next to Barbara again. “This isn’t good.”

‘No.” Barbara shook her head. “You don’t suppose they’ll find my brother?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.” Charles answered plainly.

“We have to stop them.” Barbara replied. “While I’m not a proponent of the idea of Julian raising my son, I’d much rather Colin lives with him than be returned to Edward Cage—or worse, falling into the hands of any of those three women.”

“How can we get word to His Grace and Dr. Halifax?” Charles asked.

“You’re his valet. You’re bound to find out where he is.” Barbara sighed.

“I just want you to know, Miss Allen, that my first allegiance is always to you.” Charles replied softly.

“Call me Barbara.” She answered.

At that very moment, in the hull of a dark, rocking ship, Arthur screamed as his fist struck a much larger man.

“You make a huge mistake,” The man laughed, coming toward Arthur.

Arthur shrieked wildly. “You ain’t gonna stop me! I’m gettin’ off this ship and goin’ back to my wife!”

“Not if you die!” The man smirked.

“Listen to me!” Arthur pleaded. “I got connections. My wife’s brother—he’s a duke. Let me go and I’ll make us both rich beyond our wildest dreams. He owes me—the lunatic.”

Meanwhile, in their musty hotel room, Robert raised his eyebrows. “What is it, Marjani?”

Marjani picked up the baby from Robert’s lap and began pacing the floor with the child in her arms.

“You’re worried that them folk will try to get this poor baby back.” Marjani said quietly. “There’s a way to get them to stop looking for you.”

“Coo…what?” Punch asked.

“Well, Mr. Punch, folk can’t look for what’s not there no more.” Marjani said.

“But, we are here. We missed the ship and there’s not another for quite some time.” Mr. Punch replied. “There’s no other way out. They’re gonna keep looking.”

“Not if you’re dead.” Marjani smiled.



Did you miss Chapters 1-209? If so, you can read them here.