Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 378

Chapter 378
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"Mrs. Pepper, you've outdone yourself."  Robert grinned, gesturing to the tall cake which the hired servants had carried out with much flourish.

"Oh, Your Lordship, thank you."  Mrs. Pepper blushed, looking away.  "I couldn't 'ave done it at all without Maudie.  It was her idea to make the colorful sugar flowers.  She made most o' 'em on 'er own, she did."

"I must congratulate her on a job well done,"  Robert nodded.

"Me chum's spot on, Mrs. Pepper."  Punch said, happily.  He was relaxed and relieved that the wedding went off without further complication, and, so, since he was in his own home spoke freely and in his own voice even though Matthew was nearby.  "I'll make sure to tell Maudie how pleased I am with her progress.  But, I gotta say, though she 'elped, it's clear the genius behind this beauty is all our Mrs. Pepper."

"You're too kind, Your Grace."  Mrs. Pepper replied.

"Now, the real test is in the tastin'."  Punch winked, elbowing Robert.  "When we gonna cut into it so we can offer up some more praise for the best cook in Belgravia?"

"I'm afraid that's not our decision,"  Robert chuckled, "however, I'm just as eager to have a piece.  We'll have to wait until Gerard and Gamilla have finished with the photographer."

"Coo."  Punch muttered.  "I didn't think they was doin' that 'til just before they left for their weddin' trip."

"I didn't either."  Robert shrugged.  "However, they're with him now."

"Oh, I know 'bout that,"  Mrs. Pepper said proudly.  "Just when I was talkin' to Gamilla and Gerry, right as they came back from wherever they snuck off to--to steal a kiss, no doubt--that man with the photo machine came and told Gerard he'd another appointment and asked if they could do their time with him soon."

"I see."  Punch nodded.

"Your Grace, you'll be happy to know, their first thought was of you.  Gamilla said, "Oh, I'm sure it can wait.  His Grace will want to see us cut the cake."

"Ain't that kind?"  Punch smiled.  "By the way, Mrs. Pepper, we made sure that the cake was photographed."

"Did you, Your Grace?"

Punch nodded.

"Wait until I tell Maudie!"  Mrs. Pepper exclaimed.

"There she is."  Robert gestured with his chin.  "His Grace and I must go and talk with Her Ladyship, if you'll excuse us."

"Oh, please and thank you."  Mrs. Pepper gushed.  "I 'ppreciate all them kind things you said.  Looks like Miss Lennie...I mean, Her Ladyship, could use some company, sittin' all by herself.  I'll go and tell Maudie about the phot...o...graph."  She smiled, pleased she'd said the word correctly.

"We shall see you again shortly,"  Robert nodded.

"Oh, yes, Your Lordship."  Mrs. Pepper said.

As Punch and Robert walked away, Robert looked with affection at his companion.

"You seem very happy."

"I am."  Punch nodded.  "Even with all the 'orrible folk in the world, we got the kindest ones here."

He waved to Lennie who nodded and met them in the middle of the Drawing Room.

"Hullo, sister dear."  Punch smiled.  "You seemed kinda glum over there.  Anything wrong?"

"Not exactly."  Lennie inhaled, forcing a smile.

"Where's Matthew?"  Robert asked.

"Taken his pipe into the garden."  Lennie answered.

"Oh?  He's welcome to smoke in here."   Punch shrugged.

"He wanted to be alone for awhile."  Lennie replied.

"Why?"  Punch raised an eyebrow.  "Did you two have words?"

"In a manner of speaking."  Lennie hedged.

"I don't mean to pry, I don't, only..."  Punch began.

"If something's troubling you, Lennie, I do wish you'd tell us."  Robert finished the thought.

"Nothing is troubling me at all.  I'm afraid, however, that Matthew is displeased."

"Ain't he enjoyin' the party?"  Punch asked.

"He is, brother dear.  Of course.  He's not enjoying the fact that I've told him that I'm in no hurry to set a date for our nuptials."  Lennie confessed.


Did you miss Chapters 1-377 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can catch up here. Come back on Monday for Chapter 379.

Punch’s Cousin, Chapter 378

Odo ran until he thought his lungs would burst and his brittle, scrawny legs would snap like dry twigs. He didn’t even pause to go around to the rear of the Hotel Triumph. Instead, he ran straight through the gilt bronze doors into the lobby.


“Hey!” The desk clerk shouted. “You can’t come in here, Boy!”

Odo didn’t stop. He sprinted for the stairs, unsure if he was even breathing. His tiny, claw-like hands were slick with cold sweat and slid across the deep mahogany banister of the hotel’s theatrically proportioned staircase.

His mind raced even faster than his putrid, little body. “What am I gonna tell the old bitch? I don’t got no diamond. I gotta get that baby back to Mr. Cage before he notices…”

But, Edward Cage had noticed. Ferociously storming through the house, Edward Cage hollered for Odo. “Odo! You skeleton! Where’s my boy!” Edward burst into his wife’s boudoir, forgetting for a moment that Corliss lay suffering from the Yellow Jack.

He loomed over the miserable, frail woman and belched. “Where’s Holt? Where’s my boy.”

Corliss pulled back her lips to reveal gums and teeth that were thick with deep, purple blood.

“Where did Odo take the boy?” Edward bellowed.

“Odo?” Corliss croaked.

“Yes, woman!”

“Odo didn’t take that boy,” Corliss said, unaware of what had really happened.

“Who did, then?”

“His rightful family.” Corliss growled, flecks of bloof flying from her lips.

“What did you do?” Edward demanded.

“I told the doctor to take that boy,” she paused and coughed viciously, her poor, sad body gripped in pain. “I told him to bring the boy back to his uncle, the Duke.”

“You sow!” Edward screamed.

Corliss smiled. Sadly, she had no idea that Robert and Marjani had not gotten to the child in time and that Odo had left him with Agnes Rittenhouse.

“I ought to kill you myself.” Edward hissed. “But, I don’t have to. You’ll die all on your own.”

“No.” Corliss whispered hoarsely, the perspiration on her brow flickering in the firelight like diamonds. “Not this time, I won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Edward spat as he rushed from the room.

Meanwhile, at the hotel, Odo finally reached Agnes Rittenhouse’s room where he found the door ajar. He could hear the clerk’s footsteps following in fast pursuit.

Odo burst into Agnes’ room and when he saw the bloody scene before him, he recoiled—contorting his mouth into a silent scream.

Paralyzed with fear, Odo didn’t even notice when the clerk entered the room behind him until he heard the man speak.

“What did you do, Boy?” the clerk shouted in terror, grabbing Odo by the shoulders.

“I didn’t do it!” Odo rasped. “I didn’t do it!”

At that very moment, as Edward Cage lumbered out of his house into the night, he was startled by a familiar whisper.

“Mr. Cage,” Iolanthe Evangeline grinned—her pallid face made all the more ghostly in the cold moonlight.

Edward turned to see Iolanthe standing behind him holding the two boys.

“You got him back.” Edward reached for the child. “You magnificent beast!”

Iolanthe handed the baby to Edward. “Did you doubt me? No one should ever doubt Iolanthe Evangeline. And, I don’t want you thinkin’ that they should.”

“Bless you,” Edward replied emotionally. “How can I ever thank you?”

“You can thank me by takin’ this other boy, too.”

“Whose is he?”

“Yours if you want him. He’s a fine, fat little thing. Ought to grow up nice and strong.”

“I see that,” Edward smiled.

“You want him?”

“Not until I know to whom he belongs.”

“Adrienne and Cecil Halifax.” Iolanthe laughed.

“I’ll gladly take him.” Edward chuckled. “Gladly.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-377? If so, you can read them here.