A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 6

Chapter 6:
Uneasy




Robert stretched and plopped into an armchair, inelegantly disarranging the array of petite-point pillows which had sat upon it for decades.  "I cannot believe the vastness of the estate."

"Nor I."  Lennie shook her head.

"Oh, you ain't even seen a quarter of it yet."  Punch chuckled.

"It rather makes Grange  Molliner look like a modest farm."  Robert raised his eyebrows.

"A fact which Mother never let Father forget."  Punch sighed.

"Until today, Grange Molliner was the largest expanse of land owned by one man I'd ever seen."  Lennie exclaimed.  "I simply cannot fathom any of this."

"You will.  In time."  Punch replied.  "The estate is vast, it is.  Thankfully Hargrave 'as been takin' care of it for...oh my...at least twenty-five years."

"He's the...I forget the term."  Robert shook his head.

"Land Agent."  Punch answered.  "He and 'is bailiff, Causer, collect the rents from the tenants and manage the cottages and the few shops.  We'll look at those tomorrow, we will.  They also work with the parson from the parish church.  Mother apponted 'im, too--Mr. Quick."

"Quick?"  Lennie squinted

"Quick."  Punch nodded.

"So, this Hargrave manages the estate?"

"With a tight fist.  Never thought the tenants cared for 'im much, neither 'im nor Causer.  Nor Quick for that matter.  Only, Mother adored 'em all.  So, they stayed.  They are efficient, I'll give 'em that.  Now, I'm 'ere, I s'pose, I'll 'ave t' make a point to see just how well the place is run really."

"I had no idea that all of this went on here,"  Robert shook his head.  "Until today, I rather imagined this to be like Grange Molliner--land filled with trees and deer.  I did not think of all the people who lived on and worked the land."

"Oh...this is a workin' duchy.  The estate makes money and quite a lot of it.  'As since the time of the Tudors.  That's when all this started and Mother's family grew in power.  Fallbridge Hall's the symbol o' all of it--standin' up 'ere with its towers and pointed arches."

"It makes my head spin."  Lennie shook her head.

 "I think you're all startin' t' see why I prefer Belgrave Square."

"I do, dear Punch."  Robert nodded.  He rose to join Punch on the sofa. 

Lennie took Robert's chair.

"As do I.  However, brother dear, it's all so beautiful here.  I know...I am seeing it through new eyes and through the eyes of someone unaccustomed to such a world."

"As am I."  Robert nodded.  "I, too, find it beautiful, but..."  he paused.  

"Go on, Chum."  Punch urged his companion.

"There's something...well, I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Something just beneath the surface?"  Lennie nodded.

"Yes."  Robert nodded.

"Something uncomfortable?"  Lennie continued.

"Quite."  Robert said.

Punch sighed.  "You sensed it sooner than I thought ya would."  He straightened up from his slouched position on the sofa as the door to the library opened.  Seeing that it was only Ethel bringing Colin to them, he returned to his comfortable position.

"There's our lad."  Robert said brightly.

"All pink-cheeked from his time 'round the estate."  Ethel giggled.  "He's 'ad his snack and he wanted his papas and his auntie.  So, I 'ope Your Grace doesn't mind, but I thought I'd bring 'im down."

"I never mind,"  Punch reached for the child.

"I also thought Gamilla and Gerard might like some time to settle in on their own.  Ya know..."  Ethel smiled.  "Without me hangin' 'bout."

"Probably so."  Lennie chuckled.  "Ethel, why don't you stay and talk with us for awhile?"

"Could I?"  Ethel asked.

"You do at home,"  Punch smiled, "No reason ya shouldn't 'ere."

"Well, that butler frowned at me terrible wicked when he spotted me on the stairs just now."

"He ain't the master o' the 'ouse, now is he?"  Mr. Punch winked.

"No, he ain't, Your Grace."  Ethel laughed.

"What do ya think of it here?"  Punch asked.

"It's big."  Ethel nodded.

"That it is."  Robert smiled.

"And, a little scary."  Ethel confessed.

Punch nodded.

"M'Lady?"  Ethel turned to Lennie.  "Whose this woman what's in so many portraits 'round the 'ouse.  Even in statues and such?"

Lennie licked her lips and paused.  "I don't exactly know, Ethel."  She looked to her brother.  "Is she our mother?"

"Yes."  Punch nodded.  "Ethel, that's Pauline, the Duchess of Fallbridge.  She were the mother of me and Lady Fallbridge."

"Oh..."  Ethel inhaled.  "I can see a bit of her in the shape o' your face, Your Grace.  She were terribly beautiful."

"She was that."  Punch answered.  "I take after the Molliner side of my family, however.  That's where I get my dark eyes and auburn hair.  Lady Fallbridge's light eyes are very much like our mother's."

"Are they?"  Lennie asked.

"They are."  Punch nodded.  "Only in shape and color.  Yours sparkle with sweetness while hers were lit by a different fire."

"Well, Your Grace, there sure are a lot o' pictures o' your mum 'round 'ere."  Ethel said.

"Pauline liked to look at herself."  Punch answered.

"Only we ain't got even one of her at home."  Ethel continued.

"I don't like looking at her very much."  Punch smiled.

"Oh."  Ethel nodded.

"Ethel,"  Robert spoke up, "do you think Colin likes his new nursery?"

"I think he likes to be wherever we all are."  Ethel grinned.  "Though he were callin' out 'Punch, Punch, Punch.'  That's why I brung 'im down."

"It was good of you."  Lennie replied.

"I s'pose I oughta leave you gentlefolk to your talk."  Ethel said politely.  "Lest that butler come in and look at me again."

"Don't  be afraid of him Ethel."  Punch answered.  "You remember--always--our household, wherever we are, is what we make it.  You are part of our family and you are always welcome with us.  Remember.  No matter what anyone else here says or how they look at ya."

"I will, your Grace."  Ethel grinned.  "I'll come back for Master Colin before teatime."

"That'll be fine."  Mr. Punch replied.

"Thought maybe I'd take Dog Toby for a quick walk, if I might."  Ethel continued.

"Only if you take Georgie with you."  Robert nodded.  "I'd prefer you always take George or Maudie or someone with you when you leave the house."

"Yes, Your Lordship."  Ethel replied.  "Thank you."  The girl hurried out.

"She's uneasy."  Punch mumbled.

"What's that, brother dear?"  Lennie asked.

"Oh, nothin', Lennie."  Punch forced a smile.  "Come 'ere by the fire and let's play with this sweet boy, shall we?"


Come back tomorrow for A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 7.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

Childhood Friends

Ellen folded her hands in her lap and listened attentively as Dr. Halifax began his tale.

“For reasons that I don’t fully understand,”  the doctor started, “His Grace is…”  He paused and smiled, looking at the Duke who chuckled.

“I’m more than one person,”  The Duke interrupted cheerfully.

Ellen nodded slowly, trying to understand what they were saying to her.

“You see?”  The Duke asked with wide eyes.

“Not exactly, Sir.  I’m sorry.”  Ellen shook her head.

“Oh.  Bugger.”  The Duke sighed, clapping his hand over his mouth when he realized what he said.  “Oh, pardon me.”

“Not to worry, Your Grace.” Ellen chuckled.  “I have brothers.  I’ve heard many words that would make a lady blush.  It doesn’t bother me.”

Dr. Halifax cleared his throat.  “I don’t think we’ve explained ourselves very well.  You see, when His Grace was a boy, within his mind, another entity developed.  Whereas you and I awaken each morning knowing who exactly we are, his Grace could be one of two different people.”

“Or more,”  The muttered.

“For purposes of this discussion, we’ll just say, ‘two,’ dear Punch.”  Dr. Halifax smiled, patting his companion’s hand.

The Duke looked down at the child he still held.  He smiled.  “See, look how peaceful Colin is.  I’m so happy for it.  Only I never had that nor did me master…”

“Your master?”  Ellen asked.

“Julian—the Duke of Fallbridge.”

“Aren’t you the Duke?”  Ellen asked.

“Not entirely.”  The Duke replied.  “I’m ‘Mr. Punch.’”

“Ah.”  Ellen nodded though she didn’t understand.  “Where’s the Duke, then?”

“In here,”  Mr. Punch tapped his chest.

Ellen looked at Dr. Halifax who sighed again.  “The man you see before you—the physical body—is that of the Duke of Fallbridge.  And, as  such—as well as to avoid confusion in Society and downstairs—we refer to him as if he were the Duke.  However, the mind is that of a being known as ‘Mr. Punch.’”

“I understand,”  Ellen smiled.

“Do you?”  Dr. Halifax asked.

“Indeed, I do.”  Ellen replied.  “Sir, if you’ll pardon me for saying so, when I first met the Duke, I thought that he was like a man who was caught in between two thoughts, two worlds…”

“I am.”  Mr. Punch smiled.

“Your Grace, many of us—all of us, in fact—have different facets of our beings, our souls.  Sometimes we’re joyful, sometimes we’re silly, sometimes we’re angry or maudlin.  It’s as if these facets are different people.  As I see it, in you, these facets are more prominent, more developed—so much so that they have names and natures of their own.”

“Coo!  She does understand!”  Mr. Punch chirped.  “I gotta say, Miss Barrett, not many people do.  Ain’t that somethin’?”

“Yes,” Robert nodded with relief.  “And, I’m grateful for it.”

“May I be impertinent, Sir?”  Ellen asked.

“Given what we’ve just told you, I think that would be acceptable.”  Robert laughed.

“I see that His Grace is a decent, loving man.  Some might say that he’s mad for what you’ve just told me, but I don’t think so.  I think he’s, perhaps, more evolved than the rest of us.  Perhaps we’re the ones who are mad.”

Mr. Punch laughed loudly.

The doctor grinned.  “Perhaps.”

“I like to think that I am a good judge of people, gentlemen.”  Ellen continued.  “I can see the affection and devotion that you share and the love you feel for the child.  I will do whatever I must in order to protect the sanctity of that.”  Ellen said.  She blushed.  “I hope you don’t mistake my honesty for rudeness.  It is my downfall—this desire that I have to speak my mind.”

“Not at all.”  Robert shook his head.  “I respect you for it.  I’m glad that you’re the person to whom we’ve entrusted the care of our Colin.”

“Here, I am, too.”  Mr. Punch replied.  “Thank you.”

“Thank you for trusting me, Your Grace.”  Ellen replied.  “I will keep your secret.”

“Gamilla, Charles and Gerard know already.”  Robert nodded.  “The others do not.  We didn’t see any need to tell them.  As you say, some would think His Grace mad for this nature.  I saw need to risk such an error.”

“I shan’t mention it to anyone.”

“You can call me, ‘Mr. Punch,’ then.  When we’re not with the others,”  The Duke exclaimed joyfully.

“Well, Sir, I might.  However, I think it best that I adhere to protocol.  No matter your spirit, you are still the Duke of Fallbridge and should be treated with the respect owed to the station.”

“Oh,”  The Duke/Mr. Punch nodded.

“I agree, dear Punch.”  Dr. Halifax added, softly.

The Duke sighed.  Both the baby and the Dog Toby looked up at their “papa” to see if he was quite all right. 

“May I ask one final question, Your Grace?”  Ellen said quickly, so as not to lose her nerve.  

“I know, I shouldn’t ask.  I just can’t help myself.”

“Please,”  The Duke nodded.

“Why Mr. Punch?  Of all the other minds in the world that could have developed within you, why…”

“Why a puppet?”  His Grace grinned.

“Yes.”  Ellen nodded shyly, blushing.

“Hmmm…”  The Duke mumbled.  “I don’t know for certain, but when Julian were a little one—not that much older than Colin here—he had a friend that were a gift from our pa…”

Ellen squinted, trying to keep up.

Robert noticed that she wasn’t following.  “When His Grace was a boy, his father—Sir Colin Molliner, the explorer and archaeologist, gave him a puppet figure of Mr. Punch.”

The Duke nodded eagerly.  “That’s it.  He was me friend, he was, that puppet.”

“Is this the puppet?”  Ellen asked, pointing the figure which sat in the chair adjacent to hers.

“Oh no,”  Mr. Punch shook his head.  “That one, like I said, were a gift from me chums Cecil Adrienne and Marjani.  The first puppet—he was killed…lost…when I went to America.  But, me chums made me this one and I love him just as well.  But, that first puppet…well, little Julian, he’d talk to him, he would.  See, folk weren’t too nice to Julian.  He had a terrible nanny…”

Ellen’s eyes widened.

“Not at all like you,”  The Duke added quickly.  “That’s why we picked you.  See, I was awful fearful that Colin’d have a bad nanny, too.  So we was awful careful to make sure the governess were a nice lady like you.”

Ellen smiled.

“But, see,”  The Duke/Mr. Punch continued, “the nanny were terrible cruel to Julian, she was.  And, well…there was other folks what were also vicious.  And, Julian—we would talk to the puppet for it was his only friend.  Well, after awhile, the puppet—I  guess that’s me—began to talk back, I me master’s thoughts and such.  And, soon, I was there all the time, lookin’ out for Julian, me master, and makin’ sure that the things what could hurt him stayed far away.”

“How awful for you—both of you.”  Ellen answered, genuinely upset for the man.

“Julian weren’t even aware of it for a long, long time—not ‘til me chum here told him.”

“It’s true.”  Dr. Halifax smiled.  “I’d met His Grace on the ship to America.  However, I knew I’d met him before.  I had doctored him after he was attacked in Covent Garden, but when I did, he didn’t act as he did on the ship.  I realized that he was, in fact, two different people in one body.”

“Robert, he explained it all to me.”  Mr. Punch nodded.  “And, since then, we’ve been…”

“Inseparable.”  Robert completed the sentence. 

“I think that’s just lovely—truly, Sirs.”  Ellen sniffed, wiping a tear from her eyes.  “My eldest brother…”  She paused.

“Go on.”  Mr. Punch grinned.

“Well, let’s just say that he, too, has a companion—just like the two of you.”

“Oh!”  Mr. Punch exclaimed.  “How nice!  Is he two men in one as well?”

Ellen chuckled.  “No—he’s quite dull.  Just one man in one body.”

“Too bad,”  Mr. Punch clucked his tongue.

Robert glanced at the clock.  “It’ll be time for tea soon.”

“Oh, sure!”  Punch’s eyes widened hungrily.  “I love them wee sandwiches Mrs. Pepper makes.”  He let out a long, low laugh.  “Mrs. Pepper!  Ha!  Oh, I’ll never not find that amusing.”

Robert and Ellen chuckled, too.

“I shall take Colin to the day nursery.”  Ellen rose.

“Thank you,”  Robert nodded.  “Will you have nursery tea or join the others downstairs?”

“In the future, I’ll join the others, Sir.  And, I’ll certainly take supper with them. However, I think it’s best that I have nursery tea until Colin’s a little older.  I want to spend as much time with him as possible.”

“I think that’s just fine.”  Robert smiled.  “Miss Barrett…I don’t need to tell you…”

“No, Sir.”  Ellen shook her head.  “You do not.”

“Thank you,”  Robert grinned.

“Here, Ellen…sometime you should let me come up and have nursery tea with you and Colin.  I think that’d be just a lark!  Coo!”  The Duke chirped.

“You are always welcome in the nursery,  Your Grace.”  Ellen nodded.  “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Right!”  The Duke replied.

“Good afternoon, Miss Barrett.”  Robert replied. 

On her way out, Ellen paused to take the list of Colin’s likes and dislikes from the japanned center table.  She folded it neatly and placed it in her apron pocket.  She, then, carefully and gently collected Colin from the Duke.  Holding the child close to her bosom, as she left the room, she could hear the Duke chattering to the doctor.

“I think we done right in tellin’ her, Chum.”

“I agree, dear Punch.”

“She’s a nice one, she is.  I think she’ll be a good friend to our Colin.  He’ll have the friend me master and I never had when we was little.  I think that’s fine.  Makes me happy, it does.”

“It pleases me, too, dear Punch.”  The doctor responded.

“And, it pleases me as well…”  Ellen whispered to herself as she walked up the stairs to the nursery.  “I shall be the best friend I can be.”

Did you miss Chapters 1-5?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back on Monday for Chapter 7 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.  And, on behalf of His Grace/Mr. Punch, Robert, Ellen, Colin, Dog Toby, Mr. Speaight, Mrs. Pepper, Gamilla, Charles, Gerard and the rest of the staff at No. 65, I’d like to wish you a very Happy Easter!

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 6

The dirt floor of the folly pressed against Julian’s wet cloak in aching clumps. He gasped, sputtering as he inhaled a lungful of dust. His hands flew to his throat and he rubbed it gently, making sure the skin wasn’t broken. Darkness crushed his eyes like heavy weights. He felt a tickling trickle on his forehead and was unsure if it was the rainwater from his hair or blood from his collision with the beam.


“Sir?” Someone shook him.

Julian pushed the hands from him and sat upright.

“Lord Fallbridge, are you hurt?”

Arthur. Julian sighed, his eyes, again growing accustomed to the dark. He could see the silhouette of the footman—a faint glow from his slick teeth.

“I’m fine.” Julian said, slowly rising to his feet, careful not to hit his head.

“But, you,” Julian began, gently dusting himself off, “you shouted. I heard a crash…”

“I stumbled over some loose stones on the landing.” Arthur said. “I’d have thought it bad luck, Sir, only I found this.”

“What is it?” Julian grumbled as Arthur thrust a wet piece of crumpled paper into his hands.

“A note…in Lady Barbara’s hand, Sir.” Arthur cooed. “I could barely make it out, but it’s sure to be Lady Barbara’s hand.”

“So, she has been here.” Julian sighed. “I knew it.”

He rubbed his throat.

“Something wrong, Sir? Why were you on your back like that?” Arthur asked.

“I hit my head on a beam.” Julian responded, his shoulders rising in tension to his ears as he felt the uneasy feeling of someone’s gaze on his back.

“You said something, Lord Fallbridge, when I heard you fall.” Arthur probed. “Sounded like you were saying, ‘Punch.’”

“No.” Julian rasped as he felt the throbbing in his neck. “Tell me, could you make out what the note says? It’s too dark down here for me to read it.”

“It seems to be a name. A French name, Sir. Something ‘Evangeline.’ And, then, it says, ‘New Orleans.’”

“New Orleans?” Julian squinted. “In America?”

A faint, high laugh pierced Julian’s ear.

“Did you hear that?” Julian asked.

“Hear what, Sir?” Arthur said with his false politeness. Even without seeing him, Julian knew the footman was smirking.

Julian drew in a breath. “Nothing, Arthur.”

“You were clever, Sir, to know Lady Barbara must’ve been here. Only, she’s long gone by now.” Arthur took Julian’s arm. Julian wanted to shake the man’s hand off, but didn’t.

“We’d better go. Lucky you didn’t hurt yourself worse, hitting your head like that.”

“Yes, lucky.” Julian mumbled. His mind raced as quickly as his heart. This—this—was what happened when you left your rooms. Outside was nothing but blood, rough hands and sharp stings. He longed for his aubergine chair, his fire, the comfort of the bones of his room—the proud pediment protecting him in its triangular embrance.

For a second, Julian thought he felt Arthur’s hand brush into the pocket of his cloak. But, it couldn’t have; the footman had moved his hand to Julian’s back. He felt the thick rough fingers of the man’s hand move down his spine and rest on his hip.

“I’ll help you, Sir.” Arthur whispered. “The rain is letting up. I don’t hear it like I did before.”

“I can manage myself, thank you.” Julian moved away from the footman.

Still dizzy, Julian walked toward where he suspected the folly’s wooden door stood waiting. Though he didn’t want to leave the safety of the enclosed space, he longed to have a distance from Arthur.

Fumbling against the rough wall, Julian found the door handle and pulled with all his force. The door yawned open with a wooden belch and Julian stumbled from the folly, letting the cool air rush into his chest.

Mercury stamped at the ground—his liquid brown eyes showed a sympathy that no human could. Horses, dogs…far better company than people, Julian thought.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt, Lord Fallbridge? You seem out of sorts.” Arthur said, taking Julian arm again.

This time, Julian did jerk his arm away from the footman.

“Quite fine.” Julian answered, mounting the horse.

“Where will we go now, Sir?” Arthur asked.

“Just a moment, please,” Julian answered, unfolding the paper that Arthur had handed him. Though the rain had turned to a fine mist, the moonlight still cast enough of its ice-blue glow to read his sister’s writing which had begun to bleed in smoky pools into the paper.

“Iolanthe Evangeline.” Julian read aloud. “38 Jouet Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The Vieux Carré.”

Julian crumpled the damp paper in his hand.

“We are going to America, Arthur.” Julian sighed.

“Sir?”

“But, first, back to Fallbridge Hall.” Julian gently tapped Mercury with his heel. The horse trotted toward the hall. “We have much to prepare.”

As they trotted home, Julian stuffed the wet paper into the pocket of his cloak. As he did, he felt something metallic with the tips of his fingers.

Without looking, Julian knew exactly what it was. He’d toyed with it so many times in his life. He jingled it in his pocket and was at once terrified and soothed by its sound. He clutched it in his hand to stop the sound and shivered. How cool it felt in his wet palm—that little brass bell from the tip of Punch’s cap.

“I’ll see you in America, Punch, old chap.” Julian thought as they rode toward Fallbridge Hall. “We shall all be reunited there.”

Did you miss Chapters 1-5?  If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday for Chapter 7.