Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 344

Chapter 344
Bended Knee


"Well, uh..."  Matthew stammered.

"Perhaps I should exit and enter again."  Lennie smiled.  "I seem to have taken you by surprise."

"Not at all."  Matthew shook his head.

"Lennie,"  Punch interrupted.  "I think you look very lovely this evening.  You're wearing one of your new gowns, yes?"

"I am, and I thank you for it, brother dear."  

"Aw."  Punch raised his hand.  "I like to see ya lookin' as you should.  After all, you're Lady Fallbridge.  Wouldn't do to have you dressed in nothin' less than the latest fashion."

"How you ladies manage to get about in those tight corsets,"  Matthew blurted out, "is just beyond me...I...well, I say, if I had to wear one, I think I'd..."  He blushed and trailed off.

Punch squinted uncomfortably.

"Lennie, do sit."  Punch gestured to her favorite chair.  "Robert should be about shortly."

"The poor dear."  Lennie sighed.

"Your brother was telling me that Lord Colinshire was treating that monstrous child..."

"He's not monstrous."  Lennie said firmly, recalling the conversation she had earlier shared with her brother.  "He cannot...well, to be more accurate, they, cannot help what nature has dealt them."

Punch smiled.

"I...I...I apologize."  Matthew replied.

Lennie blushed.  "I didn't mean to be harsh, Matthew."

"I think it's fine of you to be so aware of the feelings of all."  Matthew nodded.  "It's one of many fine qualities of which you are in possession."

"You're too kind."  Lennie shook her head.

"Ah,"  Punch rose again.  "Here's my Robert.  Hullo Chum.  Don't you look smart in your dove velvet?  My favorite of your suits.  Come join us, my dear."

"I'm terribly sorry to be so late."  Robert smiled as he walked toward Punch.  "Good evening, all.  Matthew..."

"Good evening, Lord Colinshire."

"Robert."  Robert smiled.

"Yes, yes, of course."

"What are we discussing?"  Robert asked as he sat next to Punch.

"My sister's many fine qualities.""A worthy subject indeed.  May I add that your new gown is stunning?"

"Oh, thank you."  Lennie grinned.  "My brothers treat me as if I'm a great beauty.  I worry about their eyesight."

"Oh, but you are."  Matthew said quickly.  "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Lennie opened her mouth slightly, unsure of what to say.

"I'm...I...I shouldn't have said that."

"Why not, Matthew?"  Robert chuckled.  "I think it's a very fitting description for our Lennie."

"I say,"  Matthew blushed again, "it's simply that you're such a fine person, Your Ladyship.  It's not just your handsome face, but the honest affection and caring spirit that you have.  Even the smallest words and gestures are endearing.  That you refer to both His Lordship and His Grace as your brothers, that you would defend a poor, ill child, the way you show such genuine excitement about the wedding of a servant.  You're...well, certainly, you're the grandest, most gentle woman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.  I..."

Matthew suddenly rose and reached into his pocket.  

"I...I...I've spoken to your brother."  Matthew began.

Lennie looked quickly at Punch and returned her gaze to Matthew, looking at him as if she couldn't believe what was happening.

"You see, well...I say, this is rather more difficult to say.  I've rehearsed it many times, alone in my rooms, but...well..."  He removed a box from his pocket.  "I've carried this with me the last three times I've visited here."  He turned to Mr. Punch.  "I'm sorry, old man, but I...I had to go to Garrard & Co."

"I understand."  Punch smiled.

Lennie's eyes widened.  She took a deep breath.

Matthew stumbled forward a bit, and then, dropped to one knee before Lennie.

"Oh...oh..."  Lennie mumbled.

"Lady Fallbridge..."  Matthew began.  Would you...I say, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"  He opened the box to reveal a large, glittering canary yellow diamond ring.

Robert and Punch exchanged happy glances.  Punch nodded his approval of the stone.

Lennie opened her mouth and made no sound again.

Matthew's hand began to shake.

"Oh, Matthew...I..."



Did you miss Chapters 1-343 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?   If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 345.  

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 344

Marjani broke free of the iron grasp of the man who restrained her and rushed, once again, toward Mr. Punch—this time, his body, or more accurately Julian’s body, unconscious.

“You done struck him!” Marjani screamed at a laughing Marie Laveau.

“Did I?” Marie chortled. “Maybe a blow to the head will put him right.”

“How could you do such a thing?” Marjani cried, kneeling down next to Punch. She looked up at Barbara Allen’s slumped figure and shouted, “And you, have you no sympathy for your own brother?”

Barbara only babbled incoherently.

Marjani ran her fingers across Julian’s head, looking for injury or traces of blood, but found none.

“That ain’t good. That ain’t good.” Marjani muttered. She knew that if Julian had not been visibly hurt, chances were that he was injured internally.

“You can have him now.” Marie snorted. “Take him out of here.”

Marjani, as she’d done before, lifted Julian’s body in her arms and carried him away from the fire. Her small frame didn’t strain under the weight of the man. Once again, she showed a strength that one would never expect from her.

“Go on!” Marie snarled. “Take him from here. I got what I needed from him.”

Marjani wondered if Marie thought that Julian was dead. Either way, she wasn’t going to argue.

“You’ll come back to us,” Marjani whispered to Julian’s limp body. “From wherever you are.”

Marjani would never have guessed where Julian was. While Mr. Punch yelped and whimpered in confusion from his lonely spot somewhere inside Julian’s body, Julian—or his spirit, or thoughts, at least—were elsewhere guided by an unlikely presence, Albert, the Prince Consort.

Prince Albert looked wearily at Julian who strained to hear what was going on outside of him.

“I asked you a question, Your Grace,” The Prince snapped.

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Julian replied politely. “I’m attempting to assess the situation outside.”

“That doesn’t matter presently.” Albert barked.

“I fear that it does. I suspect something has gone awry.”

“More has gone awry in here than out there. Now, will you answer my question?”

“Will you repeat it?”

“Are you ready to move forward?”

“I suppose. You said that in order to do so, I’ll need to go backward. You’re not suggesting something tawdry like revisiting the people and places of my past, are you?”

“In a manner of speaking.” The Prince grinned.

“Like Mr. Dickens and his Ebenezer Scrooge? Such sentiment failed to move me ten years ago when I first saw it. Do you think I’ll be moved by it now? Are you a spirit, Your Majesty?”

“I detect an attempt at humor.” Albert smirked. “When I was a boy, I was often given over to humor. I enjoyed trickery and jokes.”

“And, now?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry.” Julian replied softly.

“And you should be. However, your apology should come, not for your humor, but for being a liar.”

“I beg your pardon, Sir.”

“A liar, I said. How many times in the last decade have you secretly re-read those pages by Mr. Dickens? Do you not weep for poor Scrooge? Are you not overjoyed when he hoists the boy upon his shoulders and promises to be true in his life? Are you not, yourself, Scrooge? No, you’re not, perhaps, a miser with your wealth. In fact, if anything, you’re far too generous. You, Sir, are a miser with something far more precious than gold. You are a miser of spirit and affection. That’s a sin far greater than greed.”

“I had never given it thought, Your Majesty.”

“And, now, you shall.” Prince Albert grinned. “Whether you like it or not. Follow me.”





Did you miss Chapters 1-343? If so, you can read them here.