Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 227

Chapter 227
Ragged

“Johnny Donnan?” Lennie gasped. “Punch, how can you smile while holding the words of that foul man in your hands?”

“Because, Lennie,” Punch replied, “he’s gonna be just what we need, not only to keep Orpha at bay, but also to return the missing children to their mamas.”

“How could that brute possible be of any assistance? I thought he was long gone. And, who…who imagined he could write?!”

“We didn’t mention it until we were certain,” Robert interrupted, “but, late yesterday, we received a letter from Mr. Donnan—I think written for him by someone—stating that he was apologetic for his part in Orpha’s deception and that he was not only repentant, but eager to help us dispatch her.”

“I was convinced he’d disappeared with her.” Lennie mumbled.

“No.” Punch shook his head. “He’d gone after her.”

“So he says.” Lennie muttered.

“This Donnan man?” Gertrude spoke up. “Is he the groundsman from Grange Molliner? That rough chap with the scowl?”

“Yes.”

“He’s also, apparently, my father.” Lennie said softly.

“And, that’s just it, sister,” Punch replied gently. “He knows that he treated you horrible and he wants to make it up somehow. With Finlay dead, I think he feels alone for the first time.”

“He feels he has no one to abuse, is more likely.” Lennie frowned. “Eager or not, what can he do to help Gertrude and Lady Constance?”

“Johnny revealed to us that he knew Orpha was staying with Eudora and Hortence. I’m sure he wasn’t aware of our previous associations with the women, at first. However, he did mention that he knew of Eudora Stover through her father. It seems they had been imprisoned together at various points.” Robert explained. “It is with Mr. Stover that Johnny is staying. Mr. Stover has just been released and he is quite keen to see his own daughter punished.”

“Why?”

“It seems she let him take the blame for a theft she committed.” Robert said.

“They’re a lovely family, they are.”

“But, what of Eudora’s threats to you, Robert? You told me that when they tried to make it seem that you’d killed William Stover, that their father would come after you.” Lennie asked.

“Mr. Stover knows that it was Orpha who killed his son, not I. Johnny had gotten Orpha to admit it when he still thought that he was you.” Robert said.

“What of my children?” Gertrude asked impatiently.

“Johnny proposes that he and Mr. Stover pay Orpha, Eudora and Hortence an unexpected visit. The eldest Stover, if anyone, can convince his daughter and her friend to stop their torture of us, and Johnny insists that he’ll see to it that Orpha releases the children.”

“We been runnin’ poor Georgie ragged sendin’ letters back and forth.” Punch sighed.

“And you really think this will work?” Gertrude asked.

“I believe so.” Robert nodded.

“Me, too.” Punch smiled.

“Lennie?” Gertrude asked.

“I trust Punch and Robert, of course.” Lennie sighed. “It’s just that I don’t…well…I know he’s my own father, but the only times I’ve ever been with him, he was truly horrid. I…” She wiped her eyes. “If my brothers say that this will be our salvation, then, I must concur.”

“When can we get the men to begin?” Gertrude asked.

“After dear Punch and I return from the palace.” Robert replied.

“Very well.” Gertrude nodded. “What does Constance say of this?”

“She’s not been told.” Robert answered.

“No?”

“And, she ain’t gonna be.” Punch shook his head.



Did you miss Chapters 1-226 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 228.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 227

“You’re Charles’ brother?” Barbara asked.

“Don’t you see the resemblance?” Giovanni smiled, his voice thick with an Italian accent. “Though my brother may have styled himself as an obedient Dutchman, he cannot deny his Italian roots.”

“I didn’t realize that you were here.” Barbara said softly.

“I’ve only just arrived.”

“How did you find Charles?” Barbara wondered.

“Do you think that I don’t know where Carlo is at all moments?” Giovanni grinned. “We’re brothers. We have a special connection. Surely you can understand that, Lady Barbara.”

“Pardon me?” Barbara’s eyes widened.

“My dear, I never forget a beautiful woman. I know you quite well. Your mother was the Duchess of Fallbridge and your brother is now the Duke. I was quite well acquainted with your mother. I know exactly who you are.”

“Who I was,” Barbara shook her head. “I am no longer Lady Barbara.”

“You can call yourself what you like, my dear.” Giovanni laughed. “But, just as your ‘Charles’ will always be Carlo Iantosca, you will always be Lady Barbara no matter what name you give yourself.”

“What do you want?” Barbara frowned.

“I came here to retrieve Carlo.” Giovanni winked. “But, now that I’ve seen you, I have other diversions in mind.”

“Such as?” Barbara scoweled.

Giovanni stepped forward and put his hand on Barbara’s shoulder. “My dear, I’ve been on a ship for quite some time. I need some comfort.”

“You’ll not get it from me.” Barbara stepped backward.

“Yes, I will.” Giovanni grabbed Barbara by the waist.

She struggled, but his grip was too strong.

“Let me go!” Barbara squirmed.

“You’ll as much of a wildcat as your mother.” Giovanni purred.

“Unhand me!” Barbara pushed at the man, but his clutch was too fierce.

“I think not.” Giovanni laughed. “I should like to compare you with your mother.”

Meanwhile, Charles panted as he ran down the hotel stairs to the lobby. “Someone, please!” Charles shouted. “There’s been a murder!”

The hotel manager came out from behind the desk, shouting to a bellman. “Get the authorities, Pierre!”

Just then, Marjani came staggering down the stairs, covered in the artificial blood which Cecil had made in his workshop and carried to the hotel in cleverly-concealed flasks.

“It was Iolanthe Evangeline. I saw her do it!” she lied. “She done killed His Grace, the Duke of Fallbridge, Dr. Halifax and the little baby—oh, the baby!”

“That woman was in my hotel?” The manager gasped.

The bellman returned with an officer.

“This woman claims that Iolanthe Evangeline was the murderer.” The manager declared.

“Is that so?” The officer asked.

“She done took the bodies. Had her goons carry them out.” Marjani moaned. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and stumbled forward, clutching her stomach. This was real. This was not part of their predetermined pantomime.

“Girl,” The manager squawked. “What’s the matter with you?”

Marjani could barely speak. A fire burned in her stomach. “Marie…” Marjani croaked. “Marie…”

At that very moment, Robert, Punch, Adrienne and Cecil crept out of the hotel’s service entrance into the carriage that had been waiting for them.

Mr. Punch carried the child. “We’d best hurry.”

“I should say.” Cecil rasped. He thumped on the top of the carriage. “Driver! Let’s go!”

“As you wish, Sir,” The driver answered.

Little did they know that the driver was not the man from Dr. Biamenti’s house that Cecil had asked to help them. No, that poor man lay unconscious nearby them in the alley where he’d been dragged after being bashed on the head. The man driving that carriage was someone else entirely.

As he whipped the horses, Odo smiled. His yellow eyes crinkled at the corners as he thought about the reward he’d be given by his employer, Mr. Edward Cage. Wouldn’t he be quite the hero for bringing the missing child back to Mr. Cage? Perhaps, he’d even win his freedom. Perhaps…



Did you miss Chapters 1-226? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, April 25, 2011 for Chapter 228 of Punch’s Cousin. We’ll be taking a brief break Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Easter holiday, but Punch’s Cousin will return with new chapters next week.