Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square, Chapter 71

Chapter 71: 
Otherwise 



“Ach, Girl.” Mrs. North clucked her tongue. “Your silence tells me more than any words.”

“Mrs. North,” Gamilla said quickly. “This boy here, he was adopted in New Orleans—in America. His mama and papa died from the Yellow Fever at the same time the Duchess of Fallbridge died. His Grace—he adopted the boy out of love and kindness.”

“Why do you lie to me, Girl?” Mrs. North smiled.

“It’s not a lie, Mrs. North.” Charles spoke up.

“No, Ma’am.” Gerard shook his head. “That’s the truth.”

“Aye, boys.” Finlay chuckled. “There won’t be any convincin’ of Mrs. North otherwise. Once she makes up her mind, lads, she’s unmovable. I’ll tell ya this—I’ve known this woman since I were born and there wasn’t one time, not one, then, that I can think of when she wasn’t spot on.”

Gamilla, Charles and Gerard exchanged glances.

“Look, lass, I’m only tryin’ to protect the master and the family.” Mrs. North sighed. “How’m I to do that without the whole story?”

“But, Mrs. North.” Charles began…

“You English…” She clucked her tongue again. “You and your denials.”

“I’m not English.” Charles snorted.

“Nor am I.” Gamilla smiled.

Gerard shrugged. “I am. But…”

“You’re all loyal to the master?” Mrs. North asked.

“Certainly.” Charles nodded. “We all came with him from America. You’ll not find a group of people more loyal.”

“’Cept maybe here, lad.” Mrs. North winked. “How’s this for loyalty? I spent me life in this empty house—bein’ visited by the old master maybe five times and even less by His Grace when a man. Day in and day out, we fight to keep the Grange from fallin’ into the ground. No one knows. No one cares. So, why do we do it? Loyalty! All you in your fine townhouse—you see the Duke every day. He sees how keen ya are to help him. He can thank ya for a cup of tea. He can praise ya for paintin’ the balusters. Us? We get a letter at Christmas thankin’ all of us at once. Yet, we do our jobs for we wish to see the Molliner name be one of great pride. Maybe we don’t hear the London rumors as they’re spoken, but they come to me nonetheless. You can shut the gobs of them pages and clerks in the pubs what talk of the Duke, lads. And, you, Girl, you can stop the girls at the market quick enough. Sure, and maybe you know the truth, so it’s easy for ya to stop them talkin’! What do we know? One day, we hear the Duchess is dead and the Duke is the heir. One day we hear he has a new ward. We hear he’s mad! We hear he’s all sorts of things! What do we got to fight with, then? Just our loyalty—that’s what.”

Charles bit his lip.

“Mrs. North,” Gamilla spoke up. “We don’t doubt that you’re loyal to His Grace…”

“Then, why won’t ya confirm what I can see plain ‘nough on me own?” Mrs. North growled. “This tot is a Molliner sure ‘nough.”

Mrs. Pepper stormed into the servants’ hall from the kitchen. “Now, I’ve heard enough. Mr. Speaight always tells us that it’s not our place to discuss our betters.”

“And, where’s your Mr. Speaight now, Pepper? In his room with a wet rag on his head! You English—you’re all so high and mighty.”

“I won’t be spoken to that way in my kitchen!” Mrs. Pepper barked.

“Ain’t your kitchen, woman! It’s my kitchen. You’re a guest here.”

“Any place the Duke brings me is my kitchen.” Mrs. Pepper snapped.

“Sure, it is.” Mrs. North laughed.

“Well, I never…” Mrs. Pepper snorted.

“Sure ya have.” Mrs. North howled. She pointed at Colin. “You mean to tell me, Pepper, that this boy don’t look like His Grace to you?”

“I never thought of it,” Mrs. Pepper replied stiffly.

“So, think of it now!” Mrs. North said.

“It ain’t my place, Mrs. North!” Mrs. Pepper shouted.

“Yes!” Gamilla yelled above the din of the two women arguing.

“Yes?” Mrs. North smiled.

“Yes. Colin is the child of the Duke’s sister.” Gamilla said softly.

“Gamilla!” Mrs. Pepper scolded.

“Mrs. Pepper, she’d have found out one way or another. Besides, she already done knew.”

“But, you can’t say that.” Mrs. Pepper hissed. “You don’t know.”

“I do know.” Gamilla shook her head. “I know all too well.”

“We all do, Mrs. Pepper.” Gerard shook his head. “’Specially Charlie.”

“I…” Charles grumbled. “I…had a friendship with…the lady. The child is hers.”

“Are you the father, then?” Mrs. North asked.

“Is this true?” Mrs. Pepper sniffed.

“I’m not the boy’s father, Mrs. Pepper.” Charles replied. “But, the child was born of Lady Barbara. His Grace adopted the boy in order to protect him.”

“And you three kept this secret all this time?” Mrs. Pepper nodded.

“We did, Mrs. Pepper.” Gerard mumbled.

“And, it’s fine that ya did.” Mrs. North interrupted. “And, what’s just been said in this room is still a secret—not to leave these walls. You hear me, Finlay!”

“Yes, Mrs. North.” Finlay smiled.

“I’ll make leather of ya if I hear you say a word.” Mrs. North continued.

“I understand.” Finlay replied.

“As for you, Pepper,” Mrs. North smiled. “I understand what you was sayin’. But, I gotta know the truth. It’s the only way for me to know how to best look after the master.”

Mrs. Pepper sighed. “You Scots…”

“But, ya understand?”

“I do.” Mrs. Pepper nodded.

“So, who’s the father?” Mrs. North grinned.

“No one knows.” Charles replied.

“Really?” Mrs. North nodded. “So, Lady Barbara turned out to be round-heeled?”

“She was a…” Gerard began. He stopped, thinking better of it.

“Was she paid for it, then?” Mrs. Pepper asked, blushing.

“Now, now, Pepper.” Mrs. North laughed. “I thought you didn’t ask questions about your betters.”

“Clearly, this girl was no better of mine,” Mrs. Pepper replied firmly.

“Yes, Mrs. Pepper.” Gerard said softly.

“Poor lad.” Mrs. Pepper shook her head, looking at Colin. “He must never know.”

“Aye, and he won’t.” Mrs. North announced. “Now, we’ll not speak of this again! Back to work, all of ya! The master and Dr. Halifax will be goin’ for their walk soon ‘nough. I want tea ready for them when they return—that means Finlay, you show Charles and Gerard where…”

“I know me job, Mrs. North.” Finlay grumbled.

“None o’ your cheek, boy.” Mrs. Pepper and Mrs. North said in unison. They paused, both smiling at one another.

“As for you, Pepper…” Mrs. North said after inhaling. “You’re all right. But, I don’t care for your Mr. Speaight.”

“Still, Mrs. North,” Mrs. Pepper began. “He is your equal.”

“Aye.” Mrs. North frowned. “I’ll check on him, then. And, let him know he can plan tomorrow’s outing.”

Mrs. Pepper nodded and the two women walked into the kitchen together.

“Come on, Charles,” Finlay patted Charles on the back. “I’ll show ya the pantry.”

“Sure.” Charles nodded, following the man.

Alone with Gamilla and Colin, Gerard smiled. “My sweet, you handled that really well. I’m proud of you.”

Gamilla shook her head. “Didn’t know what to do. That woman she was…she was peckin’ at me like a hungry hen.”

“Like you said, she’d already figured it out.”

“I reckon.” Gamilla shrugged.

“We can trust her, ‘Milla.” Gerard nodded. “I’m sure of it.”

“I hope so.” Gamilla sighed, hugging Colin. “Don’t know what I’d do otherwise.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-70? If so you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 72 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.