A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 23

Chapter 23
Knowledge


"Mr. Jackson,"  Mrs. Pepper called out from her kitchens.  "I'd like to speak with you."

"As would I like to speak with you."  Mr. Jackson said from the doorway of his pantry.

"Well, then, come along here and bring Miss Blessum."  Mrs. Pepper said.  She looked nervously over her shoulder at Maudie and her son, George.

"Hope this works, Mum."  Georgie whispered.

"You come here, Mrs. Pepper."  Jackson snarled.

"Very well, if you don't mind upstairs pudding being late."  Mrs. Pepper shrugged, wiping her hands on her apron.  "And, downstairs dinner bein' off."  She stepped forward.  "Dinner down here don't matter.  As for upstairs, I'm sure the Duke won't mind his puddin' bein' late.  Though, at home, we take pride in our household and the timin' of things.  I s'pose that just don't matter up north.  Country folk are different.  I should 'ave known."

"Mrs. Pepper, I shall meet you in your kitchens."  Mr. Jackson barked.  "Just give me a moment."

"Fine, and bring Miss Blessum, then."  Mrs. Pepper nodded.  "Since she's the problem."

With that, Mrs. Pepper closed the door to her domain and exhaled.

"Now, then."  She said quickly, the moment those two walkin' beasties come in here, I want the two o' you to get to his pantry and make sure Charlie and Vi get out safe.  Quick sticks, hear me."

"Sure, Mum."  Georgie nodded.

"Yes, Mrs. P."  Maudie said.

"I didn't know what to do."  George continued.  "I didn't expect Mr. Jackson back down during upstairs dinner."

"None o' us did."  Mrs. Pepper shook her head.  "I s'pose his Grace 'ah 'nough o' the man.  Rightfully so, I'd say, too.  Sent 'im on 'is way, he did.  There was no way you coulda stopped 'im, dearie.  Only now, we gotta stall those two long 'nough for our Charles and Vi to get outta that pantry."

"That was quick thinkin' o' you, Mrs. P.--tellin' that Miss Blessum you'd not make up a tray for her."  Maudie smiled.

"I knew it'd rile 'er up and she'd go straight to Mr. Jackson.  Thought it might be a good way to get 'em both outta the way.  Furthermore, it was a queer request.  Wasn't it?  Who does she think she is?  Askin' for a tray and not tellin' me who for?  What's she like?  Never 'ave I worked in a household where I didn't 'ave to say where every scrap o' food went.  Never was there a more generous man than His Grace.  He likes to see every man, woman, child and animal well fed, but, I'd not dare give a morsel o' food to a soul without 'im knowin'."  She clucked her tongue.  "Ain't me place, and, sure it ain't the place o' that dried up ol'...well..."  She shook her head.  "I'll give 'em whatever they want if it'll get 'em outta the way long 'nough for Charlie and Vi to get back upstairs."

"I hear 'em comin', Mum."  George whispered.

The kitchen door swung open and Jackson and Ivy swept in.

"Now, Mrs. Pepper, what is this about your refusal to provide Miss Blessum with the tray which she requested?"  Mr. Jackson demanded.

Maudie and George quietly crept out of the kitchen unnoticed.

"Mr. Jackson,"  Mrs. Pepper replied stiffly.  "It is my job to provide an accounting for the food in this house.  I like to know who I'm feeding.  Just tell me who the tray is for and I'll gladly make it up for Miss Blessum."  She smiled.

"It's none of your concern, woman!"  Ivy shouted.

Mrs. Pepper narrowed  her eyes.

"Miss Blessum, please."  Jackson hissed.

"It isn't her business."  Ivy squawked.

"Well, then, there's to be no tray."  Mrs. Pepper said firmly.

"Let's not have an argument."  Jackson said quickly.  "The tray is for..." he paused, "the kitchen maid."

"Maudie will eat with us."  Mrs. Pepper said.

"Not your kitchen maid."  Mr. Jackson said.

"The one who works under our usual cook.  As you know our cook recently bore a child.  Well, her maid, at the same time had...had...an accident and she's recuperating."  Jackson said haltingly.

"Oh?"  Mrs. Pepper said.  "What sort of accident?"

"It's...a private matter."  Jackson answered.  "That's why Miss Blessum didn't wish to say anything."

Mrs. Pepper nodded.  "Very well.  I'll make up a tray."

"Fine."  Jackson said.

Panicking, Mrs. Pepper feared that George and Maude hadn't enough time to get Charles and Violet out of the pantry.

"Mr. Jackson," she began, "what sort of dinner would..."

However it was too late, Jackson and Ivy had already left the kitchens.

"How ever did you come up with that one?  Kitchen maid? An accident?"  Ivy whispered in Jackson's ear.

"It was as if Her Grace spoke it to me herself."  Jackson beamed.  His smile faded and he gestured forward.

There, in the servants' hall, they found Maudie, George, Charles and Violet quietly sitting near the fire seemingly looking at a colorful book of chromolithographs.

"Isn't that nice?"  Ivy scoffed.  "All of them pretending they can read."

"We can read."  Violet looked up.  "All of us."

"You'd be surprised how much we know."  Charles smiled.



Did you miss chapters 1-22 of A Recipe for Punch?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 24. 

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 23

Chapter 23:

Quite a Coincidence

Mr. Punch slowly climbed the stairs, running his hand over the smooth curve of the railing.  The cool wood felt good under his overheated hands and he savored that moment of peace.  He looked up to Charles who still stood in front of the library door.  “He still in there?”

“Yes, Sir.”  Charles whispered, nodding.

“Any noise?”

“No, Your Grace.”  Charles responded.  “The only talking I heard was when Mr. Geddes told Gerry that he knew Gerry was staying in there to watch him.”

“Nothin’ after that?”

“No, Sir.”  Charles shook his head.

“I got that Lady Constance outta here.”

“I saw, Sir.”

“She wanted to invite me and Dr. Halifax to dinner, she did.” Mr. Punch grumbled.

Charles frowned.

“It don’t sound too pleasant, do it?” Punch chuckled.

“Not to me, Sir.” Charles responded, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“Well, I’d best get this over with, then.” Punch said sadly.  “Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Sir.” Charles replied, stepping aside so that he could open the door for the Duke/Mr. Punch.  “I’ll announce you, Sir,” Charles whispered.

“His Grace, Julian, Duke of Fallbridge.”  Charles said grandly as Punch stepped into the library doorway.

Mr. Punch felt his ears go hot.  The man—with his shock of bright orange hair above pale, freckled skin—did not rise from the armchair where he sat in Punch’s library.  Instead, he scowled as Mr. Punch entered the room.

“I don’t appreciate being kept waiting so long,” Victor Geddes spat in a low, deep voice.

“And, I don’t appreciate the intrusion of uninvited strangers interrupting my household before breakfast.” Punch replied in Julian’s voice, shocking himself with the forcefulness of the statement.  Feeling bold, he continued.  “I’ll thank you, since you’ve already been so rude, to not compound it with further impudence as I’ve been kind enough to honor your request despite the fact that you are unknown to me, Sir.”

Charles, who still stood at the door, and Gerard, who stood at attention by the papier mache screen at the corner of the room, exchanged startled, yet proud, glances.

Mr. Geddes’ face fell and his pale cheeks flushed.  “I apologize, Your Grace,” his voice was not as deep that time.

“Well you should,” Mr. Punch responded, still speaking as Julian.  He glanced at Charles and then at Gerard.  “You may leave us, but stay at your posts, please.”

Gerard nodded, exiting the room.  Charles closed the door behind them and the two men chuckled.

“Well done, Mr. Punch,” Gerard whispered.

Charles nodded as they stood outside the library door.

Meanwhile, inside the library, Mr. Punch frowned, remaining standing.  “For what reason have you insisted on seeing me today, Mr. Geddes?”

“Sir,” the man replied nervously.   “I have come to inform you of a danger to your household.”

“Continue,” Mr. Punch said firmly.

“You have, in your home, Sir, a fallen woman.” The man answered weakly.

“Have I?” Mr. Punch scowled.

“Yes.  Your governess, Miss Ellen Barrett.”

“What proof have you of this?” Mr. Punch growled, still maintaining his Julian voice.

“Sir, the woman was involved in an inappropriate relationship with her former employer, the Baron Lensdown.”

“Is that so?” Mr. Punch leveled his eyes at the man.  “Again, I ask you what proof you have.”

“I cannot tell you that, Sir.”

“Then, why have you come?”  Mr. Punch asked.  “Is your interest in protecting my household or is your interest in furthering some slanderous scheme of the Baron Lensdown?”

“I wish to protect the reputation and sanctity of your home, Sir.”  The man replied weakly.

“How interesting.” Mr. Punch answered sarcastically.  “I’d have thought your answer would be the latter.”

“Why, Sir?”

“You share a name with the Baron.  Do you not?”

“Sir?”

“You gave your name as ‘Victor Geddes.’  Did you not?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that the name of the Baron Lensdown?”

The man looked confused, his face growing redder and redder.

“I…”

“Well, then, man?  What is your name?  Out with it!”

“Victor Geddes.”  The man answered in a curiously high-pitched voice.  “I am called Victor Geddes.”

Mr. Punch began to feel quite ill-at-ease though he couldn’t quite tell why.  “Yet, you are not the Baron Lensdown.”

“No.”  The man replied, his hands trembling terribly.

“However, you share a name?  That’s quite a coincidence.  Don’t you think?”

“I don’t know, Sir.”

“And, you’ve come here to inform me of some slander against my governess?  Yet you have no proof.”

“She’s a fallen woman, Sir.” The man shouted, his voice shaking queerly.  “Fallen and disreputable.  She’s evil!”

“Don’t you think you’d best explain yourself?”

“I cannot, Sir.”

Mr. Punch considered, again, striking the man with a nearby figurine, but thought better of it.

Meanwhile, outside in the hall, Ellen came down the stairs from the nursery and spotted Charles and Gerard standing in attention outside the library door.

“What’s this?” Ellen asked, squinting.

“Miss, you’d best go back to the nursery.”

“Why?”  Ellen asked nervously.

“His Grace is in there with a visitor.  We’re not sure what he’s about, this man, Miss.”

“Whatever do you mean?”  Ellen asked.  “Is this man dangerous?”

“We don’t know.”  Charles responded. 

“Who is he?”

“Said his name was…” Gerard paused, recalling the flowers that Ellen had received. “Victor…Victor Geddes.”

“Pardon me?”  Ellen’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Miss.”  Gerard nodded.  “That’s the name he gave.”

“Let me in there.”  Ellen said plainly.

“Miss?”  Gerard’s eyes widened.

“Please.”  Ellen begged.

“We can’t, Miss.” Charles said.

Suddenly, from within the library, they heard Mr. Punch shout.  “Let me go!”  He screamed, “Charles!  Gerard!  Help me!”

Gerard opened the door quickly and he and Charles rushed in to find the man who called himself Victor Geddes with his hands around Mr. Punch’s throat.  Punch swatted at the man, striking him around the head and neck.

Ellen screamed from the doorway.  The man looked at her and grinned.

“Roger!”  Ellen screamed.  “Stop this at once!”

“I can’t, Ellen.”  The man moaned.  “I gotta do it!”

“Roger—let him go!”  Ellen wailed.  “You must listen to me!  I’m your sister!”

Did you miss Chapters 1-22 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back on Monday for Chapter 24.

Punch's Cousin Chapter 23

“I don’t understand.” Robert rubbed his narrow chin. “Your mother is not on this ship. She is at Fallbridge Hall.”


“Pauline? The Duchess of Fallbridge?” Laughter spilled from Julian’s mouth as Punch became wildly amused. “That one? She’s Julian’s mother! Not mine.”

“Punch, earlier you referred to your father being Sir Collin Molliner. You and Julian share more than a body, it seems you believe that you share a father.” Robert said in an even tone of voice so as not to upset Punch.

“That’s right. Molliner is my father for he’s the one what got me in the first place.” Punch said. “But, it were the other one who’s my mother.”

“Who?” Robert asked.

“Nanny, of course.” Punch winked. “The old cow.”

“Julian’s former Nanny is on this ship?” Robert leaned forward.

“Course she is. I smelled her, I did. Smelled of roses that one—rotting roses. By the time I’m done with her, she’ll smell of the sea. She wants to see me, she does. Well, to be fair, she wants to see Julian. But, it’ll be me that she sees. Julian wouldn’t open the door when she came. See, I will.” Punch continued.

“Why do you hate this woman so? Especially since you refer to her as your mother…”

“She’s the one what made me come up. She’s the one what made me be in two places at once. I was just a puppet…once. But, no. That bloomin’ sow lets little boys get eaten. So, now the sea will eat her! I’ll show her what it’s like to be eaten. She’s the naughty one, she is.”

“Mr. Punch, I wish to speak to Lord Fallbridge.” Robert said nervously.

“I already told you this isn’t no bleedin’ parlor trick,” Punch sighed. “Julian’ll be back when it’s time for him to be back. Not before.”

“Have some more sandwiches,” Robert said, handing another plate to Punch in the hopes that he could be distracted.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Punch said.

“At least he’s eating.” Robert thought. He took a deep breath. How could he make Punch subside and Julian reappear? Punch was of no use to Robert. He watched Julian eat to feed the puppet’s hunger. And what was this nonsense about his nanny. Could she really be on the ship?

They sat in silence for several minutes while Punch ate his sandwiches. Robert hoped that Julian might resurface if Punch was kept very calm.

The quiet in the room was shattered by a knocking on the door.

“Roses…” Punch hissed.

“Lord Fallbridge, I must see you…” A woman’s voice whispered through the door. “It’s a matter of the utmost urgency.”

“Let her in,” Punch grinned.

Robert sat still.

“Let her in, you!” Punch demanded.

Robert shook his head as the woman knocked on the door again. “Mr. Punch, I can’t. Not while you’re here. I’m sorry. However, I’ll only open the door if it’s Julian who’s in the room with me.”

“Lord Fallbridge?” The woman whispered again.

Robert stared at Punch whose eyes widened in anger. Suddenly, the doctor had an idea. Perhaps it was the only way to rid themselves of Punch—if only for a moment.

“I’m sorry to do this to you, Punch.” Robert said as he walked toward Julian’s body and Punch’s face. “I don’t mean to shock you.” Robert extended his arms.

Punch stepped back—suddenly not so tough—“What are you going to do?”

The woman knocked on the cabin door again—this time more frantically. “Sir, I know you’re in there. I hear you.”

“You’ll choke me!” Punch howled at Robert. “You’ll split my head!”

Robert took Julian’s arms and stared into Punch’s eyes.

“Unhand me! Julian don’t like to be touched!” Punch wriggled.

“Stop squirming, Punch, old chap.” Robert smiled. “You’ll only make this more difficult.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-22? If so, you can read them here.