As Robert labored to save Gerard's life, the Duke of Fallbridge had collapsed to the floor upon learning that not only had Mrs. North been murdered at the Servants' Ball, but the Countess Hamish had as well.
Of course, Robert knew that such moments of unconsciousness usually signaled a switch in personalities. Yet, he also knew that Gerard's life hung in the balance if the footman's wound wasn't sutured. So, Robert left Charles to watch both the Duke and the baby while he tended to Gerard.
Charles wasn't aware of the battle that was going on within the Duke's body. Inside, Punch found himself again at odds with another of the personalities, Mr. Scaramouche. While "Guignol" offered support for the Duke, and, Julian--who appeared to have faded considerably--did as well, Scaramouche insisted that Punch had made a mess of the Duke's life and should be destroyed. Scaramouche wasn't going to back down and, much to the surprise of Punch, Guignol and Julian, unleashed a new--unknown--personality...Kasperl.
When the Duke's eyes fluttered, Charles leapt to attention and knew at once that the person who was controlling the Duke's body was unknown to him. Kasperl made it quite clear to Charles that he wanted no part of Punch's life and that his main goal was to destroy the Duke's body. Unsure of what to do, and without the aid of the doctor, Charles struck the Duke--knocking him, again, unconscious.
Hearing the crash, Robert came in and was shocked to see what had happened. He listened to Charles' explanation, and, though upset, said he understood. Alone with the seemingly lifeless body of his companion, Robert spoke aloud and told Kasperl that he had a fight on his hands.
Meanwhile, downstairs, as the party guests were shown to their rooms, Lady Constance managed to get Baron Lensdown alone. Lensdown again accused Lady Constance of killing her mother, but she denied it. Constance insisted that Victor listen to her and he showed no interest until she revealed that she knew who Ellen really was, and, worse about the Baron's affair with Finlay. Constance further shocked the baron by telling him that she knew all about the "accident" on the tower which had occurred when they were all younger. She informed the man that the boy who fell from the tower wasn't dead at all--that he'd gone mad, and, yes, that he was Ellen's brother.
This week promises to be explosive. You will want to come back every day to see what will happen next. If you do miss a chapter, remember you can catch up in the Chapter Archive.
Thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment