A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 47

Chapter 47
To Be Welcome



"Come...come in."  Morgana said.

"Miss Morgana,"  Gamilla smiled as she entered the Vermillion Suite.  "Oh, Violet.  I didn't know you were still here."

"I have been having such a lark chattin' with Miss Morgana..."  Violet smiled.  "We've been fixin' her hair."

"And, don't she look jus' beautiful?"  Gamilla nodded.

"Do...do...I?"

"You really do, Miss."  Violet nodded.

Morgana studied herself in the glass.  "I've never had my hair...like this."

"I think the curls suit you."  Violet smiled.  "And, M'Lady's tea-gown looks ever-so fine on ya."

"It does."  Gamilla agreed.

"You could barely see that I...I have a...hump."  Morgana's smile faded.  "Now, if we could just hide...these..."  She held up her pincers.

"Ain't no need to hide 'em, Miss."  Gamilla shook her head.  "They're part o' ya.  Don't bother no one here."

"His Grace always says it's them things what's different about a body what's the most beautiful."  Violet added.

"He would say something kind like that."  Morgana looked down.

"Gamilla, have you come to measure for dress patterns?"  Violet asked.  "I can help ya.  M'Lady wanted me to fetch her when we started."  Violet grinned.  "Miss Morgana, when Gamilla was married to Mr. Gurney, Her Ladyship and I, and Maudie and Ethel, we helped with her first wedding gown.  We like to work together on these things."

"First gown?"  Morgana asked.

"I had two."  Gamilla nodded.  "The first was ruined."

"How?"  Morgana asked.

"Miss Fern."  Violet frowned.

"Fern?"  Morgana asked.  "Oh, yes, she's the other child that my nephew and Robert adopted.  The one who is away at school."

"Fern went through a spell when she was doin' some naughty things, Miss Morgana.  Her mama done just died and...well, it all worked out as it should 'ave.  Poor girl."  Gamilla explained.

"My nephew seems to collect poor souls."  Morgana nodded.

"He collects folk he loves,"  Gamilla smiled.

"I'll go and fetch Her Ladyship."  Violet inhaled.

"Not quite yet, Vi."  Gamilla shook her head.  "That ain't why I came."

"No?"

"No."  Gamilla continued.  "His Grace and His Lordship just come up to the nursery.  His Grace is gonne sit with Colin and Dog Toby for a spell and His Lordship has asked for Gerard and Charles to help him with somethin'.  They wondered if you wouldn't mind goin' to see Her Ladyship in her rooms."

"Has something happened?"  Violet asked.

Gamilla just smiled.

"Something has happened."  Morgana shook her head.

"Miss Morgana, I come to have that talk with you.  The one we spoke of last night."  Gamilla continued.

"About my...sister?"

"Yes."  Gamilla nodded.

"Is Her Ladyship all right, Gamilla?"  Violet asked nervously as she straightened her apron.

"She'd benefit from your steady voice and sweet manner."  Gamilla replied.

"Thank you."  Violet said.  "I'll go to her.  Oh, and with the Earl comin' today..."  She took a final look at Morgana, "Oh. Miss, I so enjoyed our morning."

"I, too...thank you...for...for talking with me."

"It was my pleasure."  Violet nodded.  "I shall look in on you soon."

Nodding her good-bye to Gamilla, Violet hurried to Lennie.

"Now...that...that the child has left,"  Morgana began, "You can tell me.  I trust you will tell me...what is wrong."

"I don't know exactly.  His Grace did not say.  I know only that the masters and her Ladyship are most upset.  This, I can tell you, Miss Morgana, there was evil in this house to begin with, and now, it is more powerful than ever.  Greater, and stronger!  It's coming for you, Miss.  You, His Grace, Miss Lennie and young Master Colin."

"We cannot let them be...harmed.  I do not care what...what happens to me.  I will not have the innocent be...harmed."

"You are just as innocent."

"I have lived my life...and...and I have no..."  She paused.  "Gamilla, were I to die today, I would do so happy.  For once, I know what it is to...to be loved and...welcome.  I will give my life to protect those who gave that to me.  You will tell me how to do that."

"I will see no harm come to you either, Miss."  Gamilla shook her head.

"Mr. Punch was...accurate.  You are loyal."  Morgana nodded.  "What is this evil, then?"

"It is Pauline, the late Duchess of Fallbridge."

"My sister."  Morgana squinted.  "She's...dead."

"She is here, Miss.  In this house.  I feel it."  Gamilla explained.  "She will overpower you.  It is you, Miss, that she will take first."

"Let her...let her, if it will spare the others."

"It will not."  Gamilla shook her head.

"Well, then."  Morgana stood.  "How do we stop her?"


Did you miss Chapters 1-46 of A Recipe for Punch?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back on Monday for Chapter 48.  

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 47

Chapter 47:

With this Baggage

“You got Gerry settled-in?”  Mr. Punch asked as Robert slipped into his bedroom.

Robert nodded.

“And, he still ain’t got no idea what happened to  ‘im, then?”

“Not even the slightest bit.”  Robert sighed, sitting on Punch’s bed.  “The best I can tell, he was attacked from behind, but he has no idea how, when or by whom.”

Mr. Punch snorted.  “Terrible night.”

“I concur.”  Robert grunted.  He smiled at Mr. Punch who wore his nightshirt over his breeches and stockings.  After such a stressful evening, Robert was glad to laugh a little.

“What are you wearing?”  He asked his companion.

“Well,” Mr. Punch smiled sheepishly.  “I managed to get me waistcoat, shirt, collar and vest off on me own, but without Charles, I couldn’t handle the rest of it.  Just put this nightshirt over the whole lot.  Figured no one would notice.”

Robert chuckled.  “No one is quite as helpless as an English nobleman.”

“This is true.”  Punch sighed.  

“So, Charles is upstairs?”  Robert asked.

“Sure.  He and Miss Barrett are stayin’ with Mr. Barrett in case he wakes up.”

“He won’t.”  Robert shook his head.  “Not until the morning.  So, they found nothing at Roger’s rooms?  No evidence of a struggle?”

“None.”  Punch shrugged.  “Just a note from Scottie sayin’ he’d be back in the mornin’.”

“I can’t believe that the man would leave Roger alone like that—knowing that he’s escape.”

“That’s why we wanted to replace the man.”  Punch grumbled.  “Wish we’d done it sooner.”

“It’s a moot point now.”  Robert said softly.

“Why?”  Punch asked.

“You know why, my dear.”  Robert said, rising from the bed and walking over to his companion.

“Chum, we can’t.”

“We don’t have a choice.”

“We can’t send Mr. Barrett to the constable.”  Punch said quickly.  “It ain’t right.  They’ll send him to an asylum and we promised Miss Barrett we wouldn’t let that happen.”

“That was before all of this.”  Robert argued.

“We don’t have no proof, we don’t.  We have no evidence that Mr. Barrett killed William Stover.”

“He entered our house unlawfully and was found by a maid covered in blood and hair.”  Robert threw up his hands.

“His own blood and hair.”  Mr. Punch shook his head.

“It’s highly likely he attached Gerard just as he attacked you the day you met him.”

“It’s also likely that he didn’t, Chum.”  Punch smiled.

Robert grunted. 

“Chum, ain’t too  long ago what I were tossin’ blokes over the sides of ships and hittin’ police officers over the head with statuettes.”  Punch began.

“Dear Punch…”  Robert frowned.

“No—it’s true, it is.”  Punch said quickly.  “You know it is.”

“What has that to do with anything?”

“Well, just like Mr. Barrett, it would be easy for anyone to look at anythin’ I done in the past and decide that I done this to Mr. Stover when we both know that I ain’t done nothin’.”

“Except no one is going to blame you.”  Robert replied.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”  Robert said firmly.  “You’re the Duke of Fallbridge.  You are relatively protected by your relationship with the Crown.”

“And you’re my companion.”  Punch smiled.  “You share in that protection.”

“No.”  Robert shook his head.  “I don’t. Dear Punch, don’t you see?  I threatened the man publicly.  I was the one who had a previous relationship with him.  I’m the middle class doctor whose position as companion to the Duke of Fallbridge would be threatened by this man.  I had motive.  I had opportunity.  And, furthermore, it’s easy enough to find out that my father was a debtor and my mother a mad woman.  Everything is against me.  Did you hear the constable?  He told me that I was ‘lucky’ to be with the Duke of Fallbridge.  They already suspect me.  It’s just a matter of time before they come for me.”

Mr. Punch’s eyes widened.  “You want to pin this on Mr. Barrett so it’ll be done with, then?  He’ll be put away and the issue will be closed.  No one would think to look at you.”

“It sounds infinitely cruel when you say it that way.”

“It is cruel.”  Mr. Punch sighed.  “That ain’t the way you are.”

“I’ve never been threatened like this before.”  Robert answered emotionally.  “I can’t risk losing you or Colin.  I will not survive without you.  I’ve I’m blamed for this murder, I’ll have no chance to live out my life with the two of you.”

“You…you… won’t lose us.  They can’t blame you for somethin’ you didn’t do!”  Punch said.

“Roger is dangerous!”  Robert argued.  “It won’t make a difference.”

“The same could have been said ‘bout me, Chum.  I could be in the same position, I could!”

“But, you’re not.”  Robert put his hands on Punch’s shoulders. 

“Chum, I see what you’re sayin’, I truly do.  But, I can’t let you blame Mr. Barrett for killin’ Mr. Stover.”

“So, you’re willing to wager our future to protect a stranger?”

“He ain’t a stranger.  He’s the brother of our friend…”

“Our governess.”

“Our friend what we promised to help.  You’re the man’s doctor!  You got an oath, you do.  You promised to protect him.”

“More importantly, I swore to protect our family!”  Robert shouted.  “I’ve already lost one family.  I can’t stand the idea of losing you.  You’re my world.  You and Colin.  Without you, I’ll die…” 

Mr. Punch embraced his companion.  “You ain’t gonna lose us.”

“How can I be sure?”  Robert moaned. “And, think…think…I treated Countess Hamish so horribly the other night.  She’ll talk.  She’’ll say I’m unstable.  It won’t be long before word gets out, dear Punch.  I assure you that I will be the primary suspect.”

“And if you are, I will protect you.”  Punch said comfortingly.  “Don’t you got no faith in me, Chum?”

“Of course, I have.”

“We got all the money in the world.”  Punch smiled.  “I have a close relationship with the Sovereign.  Chum, most of all I got all the love in the world—for you, for Colin.  I swear to you that nothing will happen to jeopardize our future.”

“I wish I could be sure.”  Robert coughed.

“Look at all we been through already.” Mr. Punch grinned.

“True.”  Robert nodded.

“We survived worse than this.”

“I’m so tired, Punch.”  Robert shook his head.

“So let me be your strength.”  Punch helped Robert sit down.  “Tomorrow, we’ll get Mr. Barrett back to his rooms and we’ll get a new caretaker for him.  And, then, we’ll got on ‘bout our life.  Whatever comes, we’ll see it together.  And, should anythin’ else arise from this William Stover business, we’’ll take care of it.  We don’t gotta sacrifice no one.  And, we ain’t gonna lose nothin’.  I promise you.”

“You’re right.”  Robert nodded.

“Course I am.”  Mr. Punch winked.  “Ain’t I usually?”

“I’m truly sorry.”  Robert shook his head.

“For what?” 

“For bringing this sadness into our lives.”

“You didn’t.  You didn’t invite William Stover here.  He came by himself, he did.”

“I also hope I haven’t disappointed you.”  Robert whispered.  “What I wanted to do with Roger…”

“Nah.”  Mr. Punch grinned.  “Only thin’ that disappoints me is that I can’t figure out how to unlace these breeches.”

“I think we can figure that out.”  Robert laughed.

“Then, we got not worries, Chum.”  Mr. Punch ruffled Robert’s dark hair.

“I don’t know why I ever doubted it.”  Robert answered softly.

As the two embraced, downstairs, Speaight was putting on his jacket as he climbed the stairs to answer the front door.

Opening the door, Speaight frowned immediately upon seeing Hortence, Eudora Stover and Tom.

“Mr. Speaight, ain’t it tragic?”  Hortence asked.

“What are you doing?”  Speaight snapped. “How dare you come to the front door with this baggage?  And, you, Tom, what are you doing with the likes of these women?”

“This one’s me ma!”  Tom spat.

“That I am, Mr. Speaight.  And, a good friend of your Hortence, too.”

“She’s not my Hortence.”  Speaight snarled.  “Now, get out of here—the  lot of you—before I call for the beadle.  And, Tom, consider yourself dismissed!”

“Not so fast, Mr. Speaight.”  Hortence smiled.  “You’re welcome to call for the beadle, if you like.  But, not for the reason you think.”

“We want to see your masters.”  Eudora smiled.

“Why?”

“To discuss the death of my brother,”  Eudora said.  “And just how the Duke intends to help me.”

Did you miss Chapters 1-46 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back on Tuesday for Chapter 48.  

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 47

The carriage jerked as a wheel rolled over a rock. The first sensation of which Julian was aware was hitting his head on the cushioned sidewall of the carriage’s interior.


“Oh!” He sat up, startled.

“Hello Julian,” Robert smiled.

Julian blinked rapidly and looked down. His clothes had been changed from what he remembered wearing. Clearly, it was a different day. But which?

“Glad to have you back.” Robert nodded from his seat across from Julian in the small carriage.

“I don’t know what to ask first.” Julian sighed.

“Let me see if I can just clarify everything for you at once.” Robert winked. “You’ve been absent for a little over a day. In the meantime, Punch took Naasir out to Iolanthe Evangeline’s house and managed to almost get both of you killed when he decided it was a good idea to try to stab ‘The Elegant Ogress’.”

Julian slouched into the carriage’s bench.

“Iolanthe recognized some sort of spiritual threat in Naasir and had intended to burn him alive at her ‘altar.’ We did not have any success in finding Lady Barbara, however, I was able to talk the ‘Elegant Ogress’ out of doing any harm to you or Naasir.”

“Thank you,” Julian whispered.

“My pleasure.” Robert laughed. “Presently, we’re on our way to Marionneaux to the home of my brother. I had to promise Iolanthe Evangline that we’d leave New Orleans.”

Julian sat silently for a few moments and tried to process what he had just been told. “I tried to murder Iolanthe Evangline?”

“No. Mr. Punch did. And, I don’t think that it was murder that was his motive as much as he was trying to get the answers he wanted by the only means he understands. This is, after all, an entity whose main defense is to club anything that gets in his way. It’s all he knows.”

“Still, it’s rather problematic.” Julian replied glibly. “Thankfully, once again, you came to my rescue.”

“Well, that is rather what I’m meant to be doing. Isn’t it?” Robert grinned.

“You hadn’t bargained on this when you made arrangements to visit your brother.” Julian sighed.

“As it turns out, I will see my brother after all.” Robert nodded. “So, truly, it’s all working out.”

“And Naasir will be able to see his family.” Julian added. “Wait! Where is Naasir?”

“He’s up top with the coachman.” Robert pointed upward. “He wanted to ride in the fresh air.”

“Ah.” Julian nodded, shivering.

“Are you cold?” Robert asked. “I think there’s a rug here.”

“No.” Julian shook his head. “I’m tired. And, I’m confused…and worried. We’re leaving New Orleans and I haven’t found my sister.”

“We’ll go back to New Orleans. Don’t worry. I just knew that the ogress would be keeping her eye on us. However, I suspect that your sister is not in New Orleans.”

“Where is she, then?” Julian asked.

“As we were walking back to Royal Street last night, Punch recounted what had transpired between himself and Iolanthe Evangeline. She had told him that Lady Barbara wasn’t there and that she was taking care of some business. Punch was puzzled by a question that Iolanthe asked him.”

“Which was?”

“She asked if he knew the cost of a human life. A fresh, new human life.” Robert answered.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not quite sure. However, Adrienne, my brother’s wife, had told him that when one of Iolanthe’s girls would become with-child, Iolanthe would sell the baby to wealthy childless couples.”

“Do you think that Iolanthe has helped Barbara sell her child?” Julian asked, wide-eyed.

“I think it’s a possibility.” Robert nodded. “I’m hoping that Cecil and Adrienne will be able to give us some information that may be useful.”

“But, how could Barbara…” Julian muttered. He stopped, knowing that Barbara was capable of anything.

“We shall see.” Robert said gently.

“Where will we stay?” Julian asked.

“I sent a messenger on ahead of us.” Robert said. “I’ve let Cecil know that we’re on our way. Cecil does quite well as a sculptor. They have a fairly large home on a hill there in Marionneaux—La Colline Cramoisie.”

“The Red Hill.” Julian nodded.

“Yes.” Robert smiled. “I’ve told them to make rooms ready for all of us.”

“Thank you.” Julian said sincerely. “However, I do hope I won’t be an imposition.”

“Nonsense.” Robert waved his hand. “Cecil will adore you. You’re both artists, after all. He sculpts in wax, you sculpt with gems.”

Julian smiled. “I’d almost forgotten about that part of my life.” He twirled the ring on his index finger. “It seems so far away—my house in Belgravia.”

“It is far away.” Robert said softly. “But, you’ll return one day. Now, close your eyes and try to rest. We still have far to go.”

They arrived in Marionneaux just as the sun began to set. The town was bordered by a large, wine-colored bayou lined with towering oak trees. A grand fountain marked the crossroads of the town’s major streets. To the west, a row of shops curved into the distance. To the east, modest homes nestled together for comfort. In the center, a winding road clung to a rolling hill with soil the color of crushed garnets. At the crest of the hill, sat a tremendous house with massive white columns which lined the perimeter of the entire building like soldiers standing guard.

The very sight of the mansion and the sprawling fields of sugar cane which surrounded it, made Julian shudder. As they passed by the gate, Julian squinted in the fading light to read the name which was scrawled in wrought iron across the mighty arch.

“Rittenhouse.” Julian read aloud.

For a fleeting second, Julian could have sworn he smelled dried rose petals. Suddenly a sharp pain darted though his head. As the pain cut through him, it carried with it long-lost words which trailed behind like the tail of a comet.

“Her Grace must never know!” Julian heard the words echo in his head.

The pain subsided as the world grew dark around Julian. The inkiness flooded his eyes and Punch yawned himself awake.

Did you miss Chapters 1-46?  If so, you can read them here.