Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 332

Chapter 332 
A Perfect Day 



“Is Mr. Barrett comfortable, Your Ladyship?” Gamilla asked.

“Yes, he’s in the library with His Grace,” Lennie nodded, “enjoying a puppet show.”

“Ain’t that nice.” Gamilla smiled. “I reckon he’ll be goin’ back to his rooms soon.”

“Yes,” Lennie replied. “As soon as we can secure a new custodian for him while the other poor man recovers. Dr. Halifax thinks he can have someone quite dependable within the day.”

“I’m glad to know it. Thank goodness for Lord Colinshire.”

“Oh, I’m not used to these titles yet.” Lennie sighed.

“Mr. Speaight was very clear we should address you proper.”

“I confess, I’m rather going to miss hearing you call me Miss Lennie. I like the way it sounds with your gentle accent.”

Gamilla smiled. “Well, Miss Lennie, maybe when it’s just the two of us, I can still call you that.”

“Thank you.” Lennie replied. She looked around. “Where’s Ruthy?”

“Just in the night nursery, givin’ Master Colin his bath.”

“Do you think you can leave your post for a few minutes?” Lennie asked.

“I don’t see why not.” Gamilla answered. “Did ya need me for somethin’?”

“I do, something very urgent.” Lennie replied.

“Well, then, let me jus’ tell Ruthy where I’m goin’.” Gamilla looked curiously at Lennie.

A few moments later, Gamilla returned to the day nursery and nodded. “I got a few minutes, Miss Lennie. How can I help ya?”

“I need you to come with me to my room. If you don’t mind…”

“Not at all.” Gamilla answered.

The two women retreated to Lennie’s room where a large package, wrapped in white paper with a bright pink ribbon sat on the bed.

“What’s this?” Gamilla asked.

“Open it and see.” Lennie grinned.

“Is it?” Gamilla’s eyes widened. “Is it my…dress?”

“It is.” Lennie giggled. “It just arrived. I had Charles bring it in here. I know it’s selfish, but I couldn’t wait to see it.”

“Neither can I!” Gamilla hurried to the package. With shaking hands, she untied the ribbon, pausing to notice the label. She stopped and read it aloud. “To the future Mrs. Gerard Gurney. No. 65 Belgrave Square.” Her voice trembled. “I…”

“I know.” Lennie nodded. “Now, open that package before I die of curiosity!”

“Yes, Miss.” Gamilla laughed. Taking the lid off of the box, she gasped.

“Oh…is that a good reaction or a bad one?” Lennie asked nervously.

“Good, Miss Lennie. Very good.”

“Let’s see it, then!”

Gamilla lifted the gown from the box.

“Oh, my…” Lennie pressed her hand to her heart.

“It looks just like the one that was ruined. Look how well they done matched the silk to the color Marjani made for me.”

“It’s magnificent. Oh, and the little blossoms made from ribbon…”

Tears welled in Gamilla’s eyes. “It’s like it’s the dress I done dreamed of. How’d they know? How’d they know to match it so well to what we done made? I didn’t think I described it well at all when we was there.”

“You did a very fine job of it, Gamilla.”

“Miss Lennie?” Gamilla grinned slightly. “Did you…did you have an’thing to do with this?”

“Well, perhaps I sent a little note afterwards, just to give the dressmaker a sense of what I recalled of the original.”

“Oh, Miss.” Gamilla shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Gamilla, you’re as much a part of this family as I am. In fact, maybe more so. You’ve been here longer than I. His Grace and Baron Colinshire and I simply want your day to be as perfect as possible.”

“It will be, Miss.” Gamilla sniffed. “If all of you are there to witness it.”

“We’d be nowhere else.”

“Oh, dear, I’m sure Ruthy’s finished Master Colin’s bath by now. I’d best get myself back to the nursery. If I ain’t there to tell her, Ruthy never knows what to do next.”

“She is rather dependent, isn’t she? But, she’ll learn soon enough.” Lennie said. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take this to your room and lay it out so it won’t wrinkle.”

“No, Miss. I’ll do that. Wouldn’t be fit for you to do that.”

“Nonsense, I want to.” Lennie replied. “It’s not everyday I get to lay out a wedding dress.”

“Soon enough, I’ll be arrangin’ yours.”

“Oh, you’ve been listening too much to my brothers. There is no wedding for me in the offing.” Lennie chuckled.

“Don’t be so sure, Your Ladyship.” Gamilla grinned. “And when that time comes, if you’ll let me, I’ll be right there to see that your day is perfect, too.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-331? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 333 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 332

Gerard walked into the kitchen of the house on Royal Street. As he did, his mind was muddied by the memories of what he had just seen at the Place Congo—the burning bodies of Arthur (his one-time companion) that woman he didn’t know and the man he assumed was a relative of Marie Laveau. He recalled Barbara’s blood-curdling cries as Marie’s men wrapped long snakes around her body and the ensuing quarrel between Iolanthe Evangeline and Ulrika Rittenhouse with Marie who laughed at their protests as a bowl was filled with Charles’ blood which was then thrown upon the fire along with a fistful of his hair.

Gerard cleared his throat and grabbed the porcelain pitcher with sat on the large wooden table in the center of the kitchen. He drank directly from the pitcher and was saddened to learn it was only water.

“We like to use a glass when we drink in this house,” Meridian said from the corner of the room.

Gerard jumped. He hadn’t seen Meridian in her rocking chair by the kitchen fire when he first entered.

“Didn’t mean for to startle you,” Meridian smiled.

“Sorry,” Gerard said sheepishly as he put down the pitcher. “Want me to wash it for you?”

“No.” Meridian shook her head. “His Grace and Mr. Halifax are waitin’ for you in the front parlor. Marjani’s in there, too.”

Gerard nodded.

“Did you find Charles?” Meridian asked.

“No.” Gerard lied.

“I see,” Meridian nodded slowly. “That’s too bad. You think he’ll come back before ya’ll sail?”

“I don’t know,” Gerard shrugged.

“Maybe Marjani’ll know,” Meridian smiled.

“How’s that?” Gerard asked.

“Well, Gerry, don’t you know? Marjani’s got a sense ‘bout things. She can see through all the falseness in the world and see what’s gonna happen. Sometimes, she just knows things without seein’ ‘em first.” Meridian explained.

“Oh.” Gerard nodded. “I didn’t know that.”

“It’s true. Even Dr. Halifax has got a bit of that sense to him.”

“Uh huh,” Gerard frowned.

“So, is there anything you want to tell me before you go in to see those fine gentlemen who took a chance by lettin’ you stay here with us? Those men who showed you such kindness when most would have just thrown you out on the street.”

Gerard sat down at the table. “I know that they been kind to me. I’m grateful, you know. More grateful than I think anyone can see.”

“That’s right fine,” Meridian nodded. “So, I’m sure you’ll show them the respect they’re do and tell them the truth.”

“I want to tell them the truth,” Gerard nodded.

“Then, that’s what you should do.” Meridian answered firmly.

Gerard sat still.

“You sure there’s nothin’ you want to tell me?” Meridian asked.

“Miss…” Gerard began.

“Meridian.”

“Meridian, you ever know somethin’ what’ll hurt someone and think that it’d be better if they didn’t know?”

“I think we all have, honey.” Meridian answered.

“What’d you do?”

“I told them anyway.” Meridian replied gently.

“Ah,” Gerard sighed.

“Go tell them men what you saw, honey.” Meridian said sweetly.

‘I’d best.” Gerard said, standing up. “Thank you.”

“I ain’t done nothin’.” Meridian chuckled. “Now, you go and talk to them before His Grace wears a hole in the carpet with his pacin’.”

Gerard nodded and walked toward the front parlor.

“Gerry!” Punch said, leaping toward the door. “Did you find the fake Dutchman?”

“I did.” Gerard answered quietly. “And, your sister, too, Your Grace. And, Arthur as well.”

“What’s this?” Robert tilted his head to one side.

“At the Place Congo.” Gerard continued.

“Marie,” Marjani muttered.

“That’s it,” Gerard nodded.

“What’s that witch done now?” Mr. Punch growled.

“I don’t know for sure, but Miss Iolanthe and Miss Rittenhouse were there too—all standin’ ‘round a fire.”

“Fire,” Punch sighed. “Just like Naasir said.”

“Punch?” Robert asked.

“Naasir said that ‘The Great Man of the Rocks’—which were me—would battle the monsters before a terrible fire. I ‘spose the time has come.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-331? If so, you can read them here.