Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 377

Chapter 377
Mr. Shakespeare


"Gerry, they'll miss us."  Gamilla giggled.

"I won't keep ya long, Mrs. Gurney."  Gerard winked, leading Gamilla into the morning room.

"Mrs. Gurney."  Gamilla sighed happily.  "Gamilla Gurney.  Mrs. Gerard Gurney."

"I like the way that sounds."  Gerard nodded, closing the door behind them.

"Gerry, honey.  We can't be away from the party.  It's for us."

"Like I said, my love, this won't take long."  Gerard smiled.

"I just don't want His Grace and Lord Colinshire to think we don't appreciate all that they done for us."

"They know how we feel 'bout it.  And, 'bout them.  And, they also know how we feel 'bout each other."  Gerard said.  "Besides, I knew you'd worry, so I told his Grace I was gonna steal ya away for a minute so I could give ya somethin'."

"What'd he say?"

"What did you think he said, Love?"

"He prob'ly said, 'Coo!  Ya go on and have yerself a time!'"  Gamilla chuckled.

"That's just 'bout exactly what he said."  Gerry nodded.

Gamilla smiled.  "You gonna give me a present?"

"I am."  Gerard replied.

"Well, I got one for you, too.  It's up in my room.  Let me run and get it."  Gamilla said.

"Not yet."  Gerard shook his head.  

"But..."

"No, Love.  Let me just give you mine first."  He rubbed his hands together.

"All right, honey."  Gamilla smiled.

"Now, ya know, I ain't got much money."  Gerard said softly.  

"You got as much as I do, honey."  Gamilla laughed.

"If it were up to me, I'd give ya a beautiful diamond like that what I bought me-self, not one given to my by His Grace for ya.  And, I'd give ya a fine party and the gown and the jewels.  I'd 'ave given ya all of that myself, if I coulda."

"My Gerry, I know.  Just as I'd 'ave given you a fine suit of clothes and a fine pocket watch like the masters gave ya.  As much as these are fine things, and as much as I love the masters for givin' 'em to us, they ain't the most important things.  Just long as I got you.  Honey, that's all I need."

"That's how I feel, too."  Gerard hugged his new wife.  "So, that's why I wanted to give ya somethin' special.  Somethin' just for us.  Just from me."

He reached into his pocket and removed a small piece of pink paper which he had cut into the shape of a heart.

"I...I know how ya like poetry."

"Oh, I do."  Gamilla nodded.  "Did you copy down a poem for me?  You're so sweet."

"No, I wrote one o' me own for ya."

"Oh, Gerry."  Gamilla gushed.

"May I read it to ya?"

"I hope you will!"

He began:

Gamilla, my love, you are my life.
Thank  you for saying you'd be me wife.
I will always love and always cherish
You until the moment we both perish.
And even after, forever and ever.
No one is finer.  No one.  Never.


Blushing, Gerard looked down and handed the poem to Gamilla.  "I know I ain't Mr. Shakespeare, but I mean it."

"It's the finest...the sweetest gift ever."  Gamilla brushed a tear from her cheek.  "I love you, Gerard Gurney."

"And, I love you, Mrs. Gurney."  Gerard squeezed her.  "But, we best get back upstairs.  No use makin' the Duke wait for Mrs. Pepper's cake."




Did you miss Chapters 1-366 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can read them  here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 378.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 376

Chapter 376
In His Place


"Must be grand bein' married."  Ethel sighed, watching Gamilla and Gerard at the center of the long banquet table which had been erected in the drawing room of No. 65.  

"I'll wager."  Maudie nodded.

"What's so grand about it?"  George Pepper smiled.

"Look about ya, Georgie."  Ethel gestured with her hand.  "Look at all these flowers.  I'd say His Grace hired to florist to bring...well thousands of 'em."

"And all that food from the chefs His Grace hired so Mrs. P. and me'd not have to work today.  So, we could come to the party with everyone."  Maude added.

"Well, sure, I ain't sayin' the day ain't pretty.  It was a grand ceremony and Gamilla looked like a princess and all.  And, this party sure is fine.  But, that's just one day.  When it's over, what's left but havin' to clean it all up.  I'm just glad we don't have to do it."

"It ain't about the party.  It's about spendin' the rest o' your life with the person ya love."  Ethel frowned.

"Right."  Maudie nodded.  "And, that starts for 'em today.  It's just the start, it is.  They got their weddin' trip what they're leavin' for tonight after that bloke with that machine makes photographs o' em.  And, then, they'll come home and be together.  Forever."

"You girls."  Georgie laughed.

"I don't care what you say,"  Ethel snorted, turning dramatically and snatching a coral-colored rose from one of the many massive arrangements which lined the drawing room.  "We're at this fine party like we was proper ladies and gentlemen.  That's twice what His Grace and His Lordship let us attend a party with the ladies and lords, and I'm gonna enjoy me-self."

"As am I."  Maudie grinned.  "Here, Ethel, is this the kind of weddin' ya think you'll have."

"Dunno."  Ethel giggled.  "I don't gotta wealthy Duke in me family to pay for it.  So, I don't think it'd be quite as fine."

"His Grace ain't kin to Gerard and Gamilla, yet he paid for this."  Maude suggested.  "Maybe he'll give us weddin's...if...if the time comes.  Ethel, do you think you'll ever get yourself married."

"Got a better chance now I'm outta the scullery."  Ethel shrugged.  "You...you as a cook's assistant.  There's lots of men would marry you.  But, nobody'd want a scullery."

"Ethel, don't say that, you're so pretty."  Maudie shook her head.  "And sweet."

"Well, I thank you.  But, it's true.  A scullery maid ain't the first girl a man looks at.  Now I'm a nursery maid and maybe some man will have me."  She looked quickly at Georgie and, thinking he might look back, she turned away quickly.

"Do ya think you''ll one day be a governess like Gamilla?"  Maude asked.

"Who knows?  Could be now.  Thanks to the masters."  Ethel blushed.  She turned the attention from herself.  "What 'bout you, Our George Pepper.  What sort of girl will you marry?"

"I ain't."  George shook his head.

"Sure you are."  Maude laughed.  "You gotta."

"Why?"  George teased.  "Lots of men don't.  They're called 'bachelors.'  Look at the masters."

"Uhhh..."  Ethel squeaked with amusement.  "Georgie, are you suggestin' that the Duke and His Lordship are bachelors."

Maude laughed.

"They ain't married."  George replied.

"They're married."  Ethel laughed.  "Maybe not in a church or by law.  But, they're married to one another.  Are you sayin'  you're like the masters?  Are you a bloke what fancies other blokes."

"No!"  George scowled.  "You know I ain't like that.  Fine.  The masters was a bad example.  But, I mean there's lots of blokes what fancy ladies what don't marry.  Look at Charlie."

"Oh...Charlie what's sittin' so close to Vi he might as well be in her lap?"  Maude teased.

"Maybe so.  But, I don't see no ring on 'er finger."  George pouted.

"What ya got 'gainst marriage, George?"  Ethel asked.

"Nothin'.  It's just..."  He sighed.  "Me pa died so young and I remember mum bein' so sad for so long.  I'd...well..."

"I know you and your ma miss your pa."  Ethel said softly.  "You know, she talks 'bout 'im to us, all the time."

"She does?"  George asked.  "She never says a thing to me 'bout 'im."

"Maybe she don't wanna make ya sad for missin' 'im."  Maude suggested.

"But, ya know what she told me?"  Ethel asked.  "She said it were the best thing she ever done--marryin' your pa."

"Is that so?"  George asked.

"Sure it is."  Ethel nodded.

"Well, maybe one day, I'll think of it--marryin' I mean."  George nodded.

"And, when ya do?"  Maudie asked.  "What sort o' girl will ya pick?"

George looked quickly at Ethel and glanced away.  "Dunno.  One that'll keep me in place."



Did you miss Chapters 1-375 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 377.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 376

"Hurry up, you old beast.". Iolanthe growled as Agnes Rittenhouse struggled to pick up Julian's nephew.


"You can do things quickly or you can do things correctly.". Agnes spat.

"For the love of God!" Iolanthe moaned, pushing past the old woman.

"Watch what you're doing!". Agnes shouted.

Iolanthe bent over the two sleeping babies. "Which one is it?"

"The smaller one is the one Odo brought." Agnes shrugged. As she watched Iolanthe lift the baby in her injured hands, Agnes frowned. "Now you got him, where's what's due me?"

"What?"Iolanthe squinted.

"What's due me." Agnes repeated slowly. "When you saw Odo, didn't he give you my payment."

"Oh, that." Iolanthe said quickly, unsure of the terms of Agnes's arrangement with Odo. "He'll bring that to you himself."

"Well, then, you aren't taken that baby away from here until he comes."

"You old fool!" Iolanthe snarled. "The Duke and his insipidly faithful companions are on their way here right now. Do you really want them to see this child?"

"Coming here?" Agnes trembled. "Why? How do they know where I am."

"Same way I knew." Iolanthe grumbled, heading for the door. Agnes blocked her way.

"Who told them?" Agnes spat.

Iolanthe just laughed.

"Odo? You mean he...you...you're not working with him? You tried to fool me? Odo betrayed me?"

"Of course! Don't you know you mean nothing to any of us?"

"I was betrayed!" Agnes gurgled as she reached for the baby. "I will not be betrayed! Piggies--all of you. Someone must pay for this!"





Did you miss Chapters 1-375? If so, you can read them here.