Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 368

Chapter 368
Something New


"If that's Gerard, let me tell ya,"  Gamilla said through the door, in response to the gentle knocking, "I know we already done saw each other, but, we ain't gonna take no more chances today.  I''ll see ya at the church!"

"It's not Gerry, Gamilla."  Mr. Punch laughed.  "It's just me and Lord Colinshire."

"Oh!"  Gamilla hurried to open the door.

"Hope ya don't mind, I'm still in my dressing gown.  Miss Lennie and Vi was doin' my hair."

"You two are going to have to be quick,"  Lennie joined Gamilla at the door of the new suite.  "We have important things to do.  Bride things.  Don't we, Violet?"

"That we do."  Violet smiled, coming up behind Gamilla and Lady Fallbridge.

Robert chuckled.  "We won't keep you from your bride things."

"Oh, Vi was just teasin', Your Lordship."  Gamilla said.

"We know, Gamilla."  Mr. Punch grinned.

Gamilla paused, "Don't you two look handsome?  Like men of wax, you two.  I am so proud to have Your Grace escort me down the aisle, and you, Dr. Halifax, Your Lordship, you'll be more handsome than the groom, standin' at his side with Charles.  Well," She  blushed slightly, "almost as handsome."

"We thank you,"  Robert nodded.

"Tick tock, my dear brothers."  Lennie teased.

"Right,"  Punch nodded.  "We only came to give Gamilla this token of our affection.  See, I remember when I...when we...was a little boy and a little...Punch...in Yorkshire and one o' the girls from downstairs was wed, the other ladies spoke a poem, they did.  An old poem, maybe from Lancashire.  It starts, "somethin' old, somethin' new,"

Gamilla tilted her head to one side.

"It's...see...it's 'bout what a bride should wear to see that she has a happy life.  Somethin' old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in 'er shoe."

"How pretty."  Gamilla smiled.  "I already got somethin' new--that beautiful gown what you had made for me."

"That don't count."  Punch shook his head seriously, "Can't be the dress."

"What about the silk that Marjani gave me?"  Gamilla asked.  "That's new.  She made it special for me to wear on my marriage day.  There's still some of it in the gown."

"Can't be the dress, Gamilla."  Punch repeated.

"Oh,"  Gamilla smiled.

"So, here's something old."  Punch reached into his pocket, offering a small red leather box to Gamilla.

"Your Grace..."  Gamilla protested.  "You already done so much."

"It's tradition!"  Punch shook his head.

Gamilla grinned and opened the box to reveal a diamond ornament in the shape of a floral spray.  It was hung with pear-shaped diamond pendants and baroque pearls which shimmered as she removed the ornament from the box.

"It's to wear in your hair."  Punch said proudly.  "We wanted to give it to ya before Vi finished with your coiffure so she could add it in.  Quite old, it is.  Made in the Eighteenth Century.  It were once worn by our ancestors.  Now, I want you to have it."

"Your Grace, I couldn't."

"You can and you will."

"It's all too much."

"Gamilla, I know I speak for His Grace and Her Ladyship when I say that we all feel that you're an important part of this family.  I know His Grace was very excited to give this ornament to you."

"I am."  Punch nodded, his eyes wide and happily wild.

"Thank you, Your Grace.  I'm very humbled."

"Now,"  Robert spoke up, "Here's something new."  He, too, reached into his pocket and removed a box of black leather.

"Oh..."  Gamilla began to protest again.

"Now, now."  Robert shook his head.

Gamilla giggled, and opened the box to find a gold locket in the shape of a heart, a small diamond was set in the center.  

"This is from young Colin."  Robert explained.

"Look at the reverse!"  Punch chirped.

Gamilla turned over the locket and read:  "To Gamilla on the day of her wedding, with affection, C.M. 2 August 1852."

"When the man with the photography...ummm...things and such...is here later, he can take pictures what we can put in there.  Pictures of you and Gerard so you can wear 'em in the locket."  Punch grinned.

"That's so sweet.  I don't know how I deserve this."  Gamilla said humbly.

"You deserve much."  Lennie spoke up.  "Now, gentlemen, we really must return to our tasks."  She winked.

"Lennie, we've two more things."  Robert winked back.

"Do you now?"  Lennie teased her "brother."

"We'd planned this before..."  Robert explained to Gamilla.  "None of us had planned on the events of this morning."

"No, Sir."  Gamilla exhaled.

"You go, you go."  Punch tickled Robert's shoulder.

"Very well."  Robert said.  "This is to be your something borrowed."  Robert took the stickpin from his own cravat.  The pin was surmounted by a circle of turquoises around a small diamond, meant to represent a forget-me-not.  "This pin was the first gift that Punch...His Grace...ever gave to me.  "I thought you might wear it on the ribbon of your sash."

"I will take very good care of it, Your Lordship and make sure it is returned to you safely."  Gamilla said gratefully.  "And, look, it's also blue."

"No, no.  That's cheatin'."  Punch shook his head.  "Gotta do it right; that's the way to do it."  From his other pocket, he removed another red leather box.  "Now, when Her Majesty was married, I...well, these hands made for Prince Albert a brooch which he gave to his Royal bride.  I sent the very same design to my workshop and they worked very hard to make sure this were done for ya on time."

"Sir..."

"It's my gift to you for all ya done for us.  Please."  Punch held up his hand.

Gamilla opened the box and gasped at the large blue sapphire, surrounded by brilliant-cut diamonds.  

"It'll look fine on your gown."  Punch smiled.

"Your Grace, Your Lordship, I'm so...grateful."

"And we are to you."  Punch nodded.

"Very much so."  Robert added.

"One more thing,"  Lennie held out her hand.  "A silver sixpence to put in your shoe.  My contribution to the tradition."

"Oh, thank you, Lady Fallbridge."

"Now--you men out!"  Lennie demanded playfully.

"Can't we stay in the nursery with Colin?"  Punch asked.

"No!"  Lennie pushed the men into the day nursery where Ethel sat with Colin.  "Ethel has everything in her control."

Gamilla followed Lennie and the men.

"Sirs?  You might go and check on my Gerard for me."

"Charles has got him."  Robert smiled.  "But, we'll see how he is."

Just then, the door to the nursery opened and in walked Fern carrying a small spray of yellow rosebuds.

"I...I...think these were put in the wrong room."  Fern said softly.  "I can't imagine they're for me."


Did you miss Chapters 1-367 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back on Monday for Chapter 369.  

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 368

“Where are the two of you going?” Edward Cage bellowed at Robert and Marjani as they crept down the back staircase of his mansion. “You haven’t been dismissed. Now get back up there and tend to my wife. I won’t have you wandering all over this house.”

“We’ve done all that we can for Mrs. Cage,” Robert replied brusquely. “Now, we must depart.”

“You haven’t been looking around the house, have you?” Edward asked.

“No. Are you hiding something?” Robert asked pointedly, aware the Edward would soon realize that they knew that Julian’s nephew had been returned to the Cage’s.

“Of course not!” Edward snapped. “It’s simply that I won’t have you spreading my wife’s illness all over the house.”

“Her illness has already crept into every corner of the place.” Robert continued.

“It has,” Marjani nodded.

Mr. Cage’s face blanched. “I see.”

“Don’t you want to know how Mrs. Cage is?” Robert asked.

“Of course I do!” Edward spat. “Will she survive?”

“I think she will.” Robert sighed. “Though I know she wishes that she would not. Isn’t it strange how one man’s miracle is another’s nightmare?”

“I’ll thank you to spare me your quaint philosophies. Now, about this illness. Are the others in the house in danger?”

“Are you worried for your son?” Marjani asked.

“Hold your tongue, you impertinent…” Edward belched. “But, yes. Yes, I am. Orman is here with us.”

“He should be strong enough to resist it.” Robert smirked. “What about the other child?”

“Other child?” Edward flushed. “What do you mean? Who told you there’s another child here? My man—Odo?”

“Don’t you have custody of your niece, Edolie?” Robert asked.

“Ah, yes, of course, Edolie. No, no. She remained in Marionneaux.”

“Who did you think I meant?” Robert asked coyly.

“That’s what I thought you meant.” Edward lied.

“I don’t know in what health your servants are,” Robert continued, “but, if any of them are weak, I’d keep them from Mrs. Cage for awhile.”

“I’ll have Odo look after her.” Edward replied dismissively. “He’s strong enough.”

“Speaking of Odo,” Marjani began. “Do you happen to know where he’s gone?”

“No.” Edward frowned. “It’s not my place to keep after the servants.”

“Isn’t it?” Marjani hissed.

“Why do you want him?” Edward asked.

“We want him to fulfill the promise he made to us,” Robert spoke up.

“What promise is that?”

“He swore that if we came with him, he’d give us something in return.” Robert replied.

“What is it that you want? Coins? Take as many as you wish!” Edward snarled, removing a coin bag from his pocket and tossing it at them. “Take the whole lot! I don’t care.”

“No.” Robert shook his head. “We want something far more valuable.”

“Such as?” Edward narrowed his eyes.

“The child!” Robert roared. “We know you have the Duke’s nephew. Your man told us.”

“I’ll kill him!”

“If you can find him.” Marjani interjected.

Edward Cage’s eyes darkened and, as his lip quivered with rage, he leaned over like a beast about to pounce.

“I knew you were hinting at something.” Edward said with an eerie calm. “Listen to me. You will not get that boy out of this house. He’s mine! I won’t lose him again!”

“He’s not in the house,” Robert answered viciously. “Your man, Odo, has taken him into hiding somewhere.”

“Perhaps he’s not the fool that I think he is.” Edward smirked. “You’ll never get that child from me.”

“A ship departs for England tomorrow.” Robert threatened. “We will be on it—all of us! Including the child.”

“You’ll have to find him first.” Edward scowled.

“So will you!” Robert sneered before taking Marjani by the arm and leading her to the door. He turned quickly and glowered at Mr. Cage. “It’s a pity that such a fine and noble woman as Mrs. Cage must suffer through life with a man like you. In all my years of practice, I have never before wished that a patient would die. Death, however, would be preferable to a lifetime with you. Good night, Mr. Cage.”

With that, Marjani and Robert left the Cage’s house.

Alone in the corridor, Edward screamed at the top of his lungs. “Odo!” Hearing no response, he stormed out of the house. “You fool! I’ll destroy you!”

At that very moment, further up Royal Street, Gamilla’s hands trembled as she looked out the front door at the unexpected visitor who had some frantically knocked.

“What?” She said, trembling. “What you want?”

“Mercy,” Iolanthe Evangeline replied weakly. “I need help.”

“You come to the wrong house, Miss Iolanthe.” Gamilla said bravely though her body quaked.

“My hands,” Iolanthe whispered, holding her injured palms toward Gamilla. “I’m hurt.”

“You’ll find no mercy here.” Gamilla tried closing the door, but Iolanthe pushed her way into the house.

“You gotta get out of here, you trash.” Gamilla protested.

“This is the home of a doctor. Isn’t it?” Iolanthe groaned. “You may hate me, but he has taken an oath to protect and assist.”

“Not to the likes of you!” Gamilla came forward, trying to push Iolanthe Evangeline out of the house. “You’re nothin’ but trouble.”

“Let me go!” Iolanthe moaned. She shoved past Gamilla and staggered toward the parlor. To her left, she saw Julian/Mr. Punch on the floor—still unconscious.

“What’s this?” Iolanthe hissed.

“You know damn well.” Gamilla huffed. “You was there. You saw that Laveau woman strike this poor man!”

“Poor, indeed,” Iolanthe said, limping toward Julian.

“Stay away from him!” Gamilla shouted.

“What harm can I do him?” Iolanthe asked, holding up her wounded hands again.

“Miss, you don’t need hands for to hurt someone.” Gamilla grumbled. “Now you gotta get out of here.”

Iolanthe dropped to her knees on the floor beside Julian and put her wounded hands on his chest.

“Don’t you touch him!” Gamilla screamed.

“I’m trying to help him.” Iolanthe growled.

“You ain’t got no good in you!” Gamilla stormed forward.

“I have seen men die,” Iolanthe shook her head. “I know what suffering is. Let me put this man out of his misery. In doing so, we will all be free.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-367? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday, October 17, 2011 for Chapter 369 of Punch’s Cousin.