A Recipe for Punch, Chapter 65

Chapter 65
A Cup of Tea


"Come to me," a familiar voice rang to Ivy Blessum as the shackles which held her to the wall sprung open and the door to the attic cell groaned wide, "come into my light."

"M'Lady." Ivy moaned.  "I knew you would come for me.  I knew it."

"You have been true to me, Ivy."  The specter intoned through its immobile mask.  

"Always, M'Lady.  Always."  Miss Blessum fell to her knees.  "That madman, your son, he dishonors Your Grace's memory.  He has made your home a den of sin.  He must be destroyed."

"He shall be."  The shade replied. 

"You must live again, Your Grace."

"I shall."  The phantom answered.  "With your help."

"I will do anything M'Lady wishes."  Ivy nodded.

"Bring Morgana to the parsonage.  Do whatever you must to get her there.  Jackson and Quick will know what to do.  Hargrave and Causer will assist you if needed.  Just do not harm her face, and do not kill her.  By no means tell Gregory what you're about.  He is not to be trusted now."

"Yes, Your Grace."  Ivy answered obediently.

"Now, rise."  The spirit commanded.  "Be fast, Ivy."

Ivy bowed.  "I will, Your Grace."

When she looked up again, the vision had vanished.

Grasping her heart, Ivy hurried from the attics.

Meanwhile, in the library, Robert, Punch and Matthew rose and Lennie entered the room.

"I say,"  Matthew stammered.  "You look lovely.  I...I've never seen you look lovelier."

"Thank you Matthew."  Lennie smiled.

"I have felt your absence most keenly."  Matthew continued.  "I say, I have been beside myself with missing you."

"Oh, Matthew, we've only been apart for four days."  Lennie nodded.

"Well, yes, but..."  Matthew trailed off.

"Yet, I've missed you, as well."  Lennie added quickly.

Matthew brightened.  "Well, then."  He looked to Punch and Robert.  "Pardon all the sentimental rot, old chaps."

"Never mind."  Robert shook his head.

"I'm sorry to be so long in coming downstairs."  Lennie sat.

The gentlemen sat as well.

"You see, I very much wanted to show Auntie Morgana my new gown."  Lennie continued.

"You've taken to this new aunt very quickly, then."  Matthew nodded.

"We all have,"  Punch spoke up.  "It's as if she's always been with us, it is.  She's fitted right in with us."

"Indeed she has."  Robert agreed.  "In many ways, she's become the maternal figure which has been sorely...lacking in our lives."

"Quite true."  Punch nodded.  "We had our fair share of motherly advice from downstairs in the form of our Mrs. Pepper, only it's nice to have Auntie Morgana with us upstairs."

"A maternal figure?"  Matthew raised her eyebrows. 

"You seem dubious."  Lennie frowned slightly.

"It's my understanding that this is a woman who has been living amongst...well, I say, how do I put it?  Carnival people.  What sort of advice could she offer?"

Punch scowled.

Matthew didn't seem to notice.  "Now that I think of it, I recall visiting one of those Curiosity Shows once.  Yes, yes--I saw a woman with hands--well, now, they weren't hands.  They called her, 'The Lobster Girl!'  What a sight!  Oh, I was quite taken aback!  Do you think it could have been your..."

"Stop at once!"  Punch insisted.

"Oh dear."  Matthew shuddered.  "I've gone and put my foot in it."

"I should say you have."  Lennie rose.  "Do you know something?  Whilst we waited for you to arrive, I worried about how we would explain Aunt Morgana to you.  I should have been more concerned about how we would explain you to Aunt Morgana."

"Quite right."  Matthew hung his head.

"My aunt cannot help what she is."  Punch said firmly.  "You, sir, can help how you behave."

"I apologize most sincerely."  Matthew replied softly.  

"We've made quite a fuss about how accepting you've been of our 'peculiar' family."  Lennie continued.  "Yes, yes, my brother is quite different from most men.  His mind is divided in ways others are not.  And, yes, he and Robert have made a life together where most men would take a wife.  My circumstances are different, all of our circumstances are different.  Yes, yes, we're all aware of it.  However, we've never made a study of your circumstances nor how accepting we've been of you."

Matthew looked away nervously.  "I know that I'm not necessarily the best match for you, Lennie.  I'm too old.  While comfortable, my family is no match to the Fallbridge's vast power with its many holdings and ties to the Crown.  I realize that I'm quite dull and..."

"Matthew, please."  Robert interrupted.  "We're all quite tired and, I think, it's best we say no more lest we say something we'd regret."

"I only wish to add that I meant no harm.  I am sure that your Aunt Morgana is a lovely woman.  Your devotion to her is testament enough to that.  If I offended you, I am most terribly sorry."

"Let's say no more about it."  Punch answered stiffly.

Lennie nodded.

"Tea, I think will revive us all."  Robert smiled uncomfortably.

"I'll ring."  Punch suggested, cheering a little at the thought of a meal.

"A cup of tea solves everything."  Matthew nodded.

"Yes."  Lennie muttered, settling back into her chair.  'Everything."


Did you miss Chapters 1-64 of A Recipe for Punch?  If so, you can read them here.  Come back tomorrow for Chapter 66.

Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 65

Chapter 65: 

No Right


Charles returned to the Duke’s bedchamber with a very confused Miss Barrett.

“Why won’t you tell me what this is all about?” She hissed at Charles as they approached the Duke’s door.

“It isn’t my place,” Charles grumbled. “I was sent to fetch you and that’s what I’ve done.”

“Is His Grace worse?” Ellen croaked.

“Let’s just go inside, then.” Charles frowned. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Miss Barrett,” Robert began immediately. “Do, come in.”

“Good evening, Doctor.” Ellen said hesitantly. “Good evening, Your Grace. I trust there’s nothing wrong.”

“There’s much wrong.” Robert snapped. “Miss Barrett, I have a question for you.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Has Colin been given any sugar cubes?”

“Sir?”

“Sugar cubes!” Robert yelled. “At nursery tea! Have you given any sugar cubes to Colin?”

“No…no, Sir.” Ellen stammered nervously.

“Are you certain?” Robert barked.

Ellen looked from face to face—from the doctor, to the Duke to Gerard to Charles.

“Don’t look at them.” Robert said firmly. “Answer me. Think carefully. Are you certain?”

“I am.” Ellen nodded.

“Good.” Robert sighed.

“Why?” Ellen squinted. “May I ask why, Sir?”

“Miss Barrett,” Mr. Punch spoke up wearily, “it’s just that we been thinkin’, we have. And, it seems like maybe I’ve not been sick like we thought, but rather, maybe I been poisoned.”

“Poisoned?”

“Yes,” Robert narrowed his eyes. “Poisoned.”

“I…I…c…can’t believe it,” Ellen replied nervously. “Who would do such a thing?”

“You ask who?” Robert snapped. “Since you’ve lived in this house, what have you seen? You’ve seen threatening letters, you’ve seen contentious countesses, you’ve seen vicious maids and vengeful pages, you’ve seen a man murdered and left at our door. And, yet, you ask who would do such a thing.”

“It’s simply that I cannot imagine that anyone would wish to hurt His Grace.” Ellen answered softly.

“Nor can I.” Robert bellowed.

“Chum…” Punch whispered. “She’s scared, she is.”

“With good reason.” Robert snorted. “Miss Barrett, you say that you can’t imagine that anyone would hurt His Grace, yet did not your own brother put his hands around my companion’s throat and try to squeeze the life from him?”

“Sir…” Ellen spoke up.

“I’m not finished!” Robert said.

“And, what…what was his reason for doing this?” Robert continued.

“I…I don’t know, Sir.” Ellen answered emotionally. “As best I can figure, Roger thought that His Grace was someone else. The poor man doesn’t even know his own mind, how is he to recognize another man? He has no idea what he’s doing, Sir.”

“I disagree.” Robert shook his head. “I think that there are times when your brother knows exactly what he’s about.”

“Sir?”

“I think that when your brother was in this house—the day that William Stover was killed, the day that Gerard was attacked and injured right here in our area, the day that he terrified Ethel in the scullery—I think that he crept into our pantry and poisoned the sugar cubes.”

“Sir, how would Roger know that only His Grace used the sugar cubes?” Ellen snapped.

“It’s something that you seem to know.” Robert scowled. “So, why would he not? I imagine that he knows what you do. Or, perhaps he didn’t know. Perhaps he didn’t wish to murder only His Grace, but instead wished to see us all dead in our beds.”

“Where would Roger get poison?”

“Miss Barrett,” Gerard spoke up. “A man can get anything he wants if he wants it bad ‘nough.”

“I wasn’t speaking to you, Gerard.” Ellen snarled.

“Don’t shout at him,” Charles spoke up. “Fact is, we all know that your daffy brother jumped poor Gerry in the area. Probably murdered that Stover bloke, too! What a lot of trouble when all these gents have done is try to help you! And, you ask where he could have gotten poison? I was at his flat, Miss, I saw all the medicines and chemicals there. And, whatever happened to his first caregiver, Miss? We still don’t know.”

“How dare you?” Ellen growled. “I won’t be spoken to in such a manner by a servant!”

“Stop!” Mr. Punch howled mournfully. “Stop all this shoutin’! Stop at once!”

Robert put his arm around Punch’s shoulders, sitting next to him on the bed.

“Me head’s splittin’ open with pain, it is, and all you’re all doin’ is shoutin’.” Punch moaned, his eyes filling with tears. “I want me dog. Where’s me Dog Toby? And me puppet! I just want to be still.”

“I’m sorry, dear Punch.”

“Just protectin’ me, you are.” Punch whispered. “I know it. And, Miss Barrett’s upset cuz it’s her brother what she’s tryin’ to protect. Now, I don’t know if he’s the one what poisoned me or not. I don’t. To be sure, I don’t think he’s got ‘nough sense to do somethin’ so…intricate. We don’t even know that it’s the sugar cubes what’s been poisoned. We’re just guessin’.”

Gerard and Charles looked at the floor.

“I don’t know what to do, Punch.” Robert said softly.

“You’re tired, Chum.” Punch smiled. “Tonight, you sleep.”

“Should we send for the beadle?” Charles asked.

Ellen scowled at him.

“I dunno.” Punch sighed. “I’ll think on it. But, there is somethin’ I want you to do for me—you and Charles. Tomorrow, I want you to start packin’ for us, for yourselves.”

“Packing?” Charles squinted.

“We’re goin’ to Grange Molliner.” Punch smiled. “My father’s ancestral home in Aberdeenshire. You and Gerry, Miss Ellen, Speaight, Mrs. Pepper and Gamilla. And, of course, me and Dr. Halifax, Colin and Dog Toby.”

“We are?” Gerard smiled.

“Yes.” Punch nodded. “Unless you object, Chum?”

“I do not.” Robert replied. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“Fine.” Punch concluded. “I want to leave in two days. Charles, please tell Speaight that we’ll discuss this with him first thing in the morning.”

“Yes, Sir.” Charles nodded.

“Well, then, that will be all for tonight. You’re dismissed.” Punch coughed.

“All of us?” Ellen asked.

“All of you.” Punch nodded. “Dr. Halifax and I must talk now. We will see you in the library at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Make arrangements for Gamilla to watch Colin.”

“What will we discuss?” Ellen asked cautiously. “My brother? Because I’m sure he’s not poisoning…”

“You’ll know tomorrow.” Punch interrupted her, “First, as I said, Dr. Halfiax and I gotta talk.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Ellen replied.

“Good night.” Robert said tersely.

“Good night, Sir.” Ellen answered, scurrying out of the room behind Charles and Gerard.

“Still cheeky…” Charles hissed at Ellen. “I’ll bet it is your brother…”

“Don’t speak to me.” Ellen snapped, turning her back on the footmen.

“You got no right, Miss.” Gerard added. “You got no right to…”

“Go pack for our trip,” Ellen chuckled as she walked away. She climbed the stairs to the nursery, her grin growing with each step.

Once inside the night nursery, she pressed her back against the door and squealed. “It worked! Thank God, it worked!”



Did you miss Chapters 1-64? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 66 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 65

Robert coughed violently. “Julian, tread lightly.”


“No worries, Robert.” Julian whispered.

Julian walked over to his sister and bowed courteously. “Lady Barbara, have you met my friend, Dr. Robert Halifax?”

“I have no interest in meeting your friend, Julian. You know rather well that he and I have met before. I have the scars to prove it.” Barbara spat. “And, I am no longer ‘Lady Barbara’ as you well know.”

“You’ll always be Barbara, Lady Fallbridge.” Julian shook his head. “No matter how much you try to disguise yourself.”

“I left that behind.” Barbara frowned. “Here, I’m Barbara Allen.”

“Blonde hair doesn’t suit you.” Julian smiled. “You should remove your hairpiece.”

“Stop smirking at me.” Barbara growled.

“Why are you here, Barbara?” Julian asked.

“I came to see if the man was dead yet.”

Julian heard Mr. Punch pleading with him from somewhere inside his body. “Master, please. I know what’s gonna stop her.”

“Patience.” Julian muttered.

“What?” Barbara snarled.

“Barbara, I think you mistake my meaning. Why are you in this place? This town? What is it called? Marionneaux.”

“That’s none of your affair.” Barbara answered flatly.

“It is most assuredly my affair. I’ve been dispatched to fetch you. Now that I’ve found you, I intend to return you to Mother.”

“Return me to Mother?” Barbara chortled. “Do you think that Her Grace will accept a whore into Fallbridge Hall?”

Julian’s face fell.

“That’s what I am, as you well know. Among other things.”

“You could return to England. No one would be the wiser.” Julian said quickly.

“No?” Barbara glanced toward Robert. “You don’t think anyone knows? Ask your ‘friend.’ He knows. He brought my…that thing…that child into this world.”

“Robert will keep your privacy.” Julian said.

“Yes, he will. Dead men tell no tales. Isn’t that right? Arthur isn’t talking, is he?” Barbara laughed.

“Arthur had no tales to tell.” Julian frowned.

“No?” Barbara laughed.

“Where is the child now, Barbara?” Julian asked.

“We’ve already discussed this. Or, don’t you remember? I see you’re still playing that little game of yours.”

“Game?” Julian asked.

“The voice, the rough language, the wild look in your eye. Really Julian, a man your age should stop childish play.”

“It isn’t play.” Julian shook his head. “I’m not well. And, I can see that you’re not either. We can help one another.”

“I offered to help you, earlier. You refused. Now, I intend to help myself.”

“How do you intend to do that?” Julian asked.

“In the same manner that you helped yourself.”

“Barbara, I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you? Idiot! Shall I remind you, again, about Arthur?” Barbara grimaced.

“What is your preoccupation with Arthur? I never witnessed you having interest in any of the servants before.” Julian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“I’m interested in the father of my child!” Barbara hissed.

Julian staggered backward. “Arthur?”

“Of course.” Barbara grinned wickedly. “Why not? He was good looking. Wasn’t he? The child has his eyes. Piercing eyes.”

“I want to see them. I want to see this baby.” Julian said as calmly as he could.

“You can’t.” Barbara laughed. “It isn’t mine to show.”

“Where is the child?” Julian asked again.

Barbara grinned. “Nowhere you’ll find him. Perhaps he’s with your precious doll,” she taunted him. “Was my big, brilliant brother, the famous jeweler, upset to find his precious glove puppet missing?”

“You’ll never know how upset.” Julian said softly.

“Well, hurry, then, perhaps you’ll still be able to find pieces of it in the fields—that is, unless the crows have used it for their nests.”

Julian grasped his head in his hands and sat on the edge of Robert’s bed.

“Don’t you think I enjoyed tearing that thing to pieces?” Barbara laughed cruelly, “I remembered all the times when I was a child and you’d make me look at that ugly thing. I saw you, Julian. I saw you. I saw you talking to it. A grown man talking to a puppet! I saw you!” She shrieked.

“Stop.” Robert rasped. “Please, stop, Barbara.”

“Julian, I saw you. I laughed when I took it! I laughed! I knew it would kill you. You cherished that bit of wood and papier mache and cloth more than you cherished anything! I knew it would kill you! And by killing you, I took the one thing that would set me free. You see, Julian, I’m free. That diamond—just a rock—gave me my independence and in the process I destroyed you and I showed Father just what I thought of him. The Molliner Blue! Ha! Everything in that house was the property of Mother. Everything was seared with the name of Fallbridge! No, not me. Not anymore! So, go, Julian, go find the shreds of your puppet! I’ll keep what’s mine and I’ll love every moment of it.”

Julian moaned.

Robert tried to sit up to comfort him, but he didn’t have the strength. “Julian,” he rattled, “Julian, come here.”

Julian’s arms raised high above his head and thrust down onto the bed loudly.

“Shred me!” Mr. Punch shouted through Julian’s mouth. “Shred me, did ya! Proud of yerself, you are, too. Not a trace of remorse in ya.” Mr. Punch propelled Julian’s body to leap from the bed.

Barbara stepped backwards, but continued to look defiant. “You’re a lunatic.”

“Ain’t no lunatic.” Mr. Punch growled. “I’m the sanest of the lot of ya.”

“Mr. Punch, please.” Robert groaned.

“Mr. Punch?” Barbara laughed. “You feed his insanity.” She turned to Julian. “All the more reason to destroy him.”

“Here! You ain’t gonna hurt nothin’ no more.” Mr. Punch hissed. “Not me nor me chum nor me master. Nor even that baby what’s got Arthur’s eyes or so you say. See, whore, you didn’t destroy me when you ripped me body to pieces. Got a new body, I do, what I share with me master and together in it, we got love, see. Love and good things which are stronger than you. I’m learnin’ things, I am. Learnin’ to be a proper human what’s got a family. Prayed, I did. Do you know what that means? Made a wish and got me chum to live. I got power you don’t. I know things that you’ll never know. I know love, trollop! I know what’s good and what ain’t. I’m stronger than you.”

“Honestly, Julian, stop this foolishness. Stronger than I? You barely weigh ten stone.”

Mr. Punch grabbed an oil lamp from the bed stand. “Don’t matter how much a fella weighs.” He raised the unlit lamp over Julian’s head. “Not when he’s got somethin’ to hit with.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-64? If so, you can read them here.