Chapter 160:
“Someone’s been in here.” Robert whispered as he and Mr. Punch scanned the interior of the hunting cottage. “I can still smell the candles.”
“That stable boy—what were his name?” Punch asked.
“Pete.” Robert replied.
“Pete. Had a nose like a pig, that one did. Pig-nosed Pete. Nice bloke. Very interestin’, ain’t it? We’re all kind of the same thing. Wonder if he had a tail…” Punch trailed off for a moment. “You know, horses look like big dogs.”
“I know.” Robert nodded.
“What were we sayin’? Oh…Pete. He said he saw Johnny Donnan leavin’ here how long ago?”
“Less than an hour.”
“We could have caught him if not for Lady Constance stoppin’ us.”
“You handled that situation brilliantly, my dear.”
“Dunno.” Punch shrugged. “I tried to, at least, make ‘er feel that she were safe. Odd her thinkin’ the baron killed her ma.”
“It’s possible.” Robert continued. “We still don’t know how involved the baron is with Ellen.”
“And, we won’t know ‘til we can talk to Finlay.”
“Providing he’ll say anything.”
“I s’pect he will. I think, in the end, Finlay’s main concern is Finlay. If he thinks he can get our faith by betrayin’ his sister’s memory, he will. Not as if Ellen’s gonna say nothin’ to refute ‘im.”
“Hopefully.” Robert said softly.
“Chum—I killed her. I ain’t proud of it—‘specially knowin’ she were me kin. Well, Julian’s kin. But, it had to be done. I don’t ever want to hurt a soul, I don’t. But, I don’t think that one had no soul. She…she were a threat to you and Colin and the staff. She were bad. I hate that she were, I do. I truly do. But, I couldn’t let her keep harmin’ us. I didn’t have no choice. Nothin’ was gonna stop her. I had to do somethin’, and I did. It hurts me, it does. Truly. That ain’t the way I want to live me life. But, it’s my place to protect our family so that’s what I done.”
“Perhaps you didn’t kill her, dear Punch.”
“Gamilla saw her. I saw her. If there’s somethin’ both Gamilla and I both know –it’s death.”
“You could have simply stunned her and she dragged herself away.”
“Or, more likely,” Punch insisted, “her pa or, even, the baron came and carried her body off. Hittin’ folk ‘cross the skull is somethin’ I do well. Ain’t the thing I do best no more, but it’s somethin’ you don’t forget. Maybe I didn’t hit Finlay hard ‘nough, but I gave Ellen all I got.”
“I never thought I’d say this,” Robert sighed, “but I hope you did kill the woman.”
“As do I, Chum.”
Punch looked around the cottage.
“It’s empty.”
“Hold on,” Punch replied. “There’s a kitchen ‘neath here.”
“Where?” Robert looked for a staircase.
“Hidden behind that trophy case.” Punch pointed. He paused to light a nearby candle.
“How…interesting.”
“One o’ the other Dukes of Fallbridge had a penchant for architectural novelty. Were in about the late 1780s what this place were built, so it were him, I s’pect what wanted it. Think his name were Thomas or Cuthbert or…somethin’ with a “th” sound in it. Julian’d know. Can’t think of it now, I can’t.”
“How does it work?”
“Just tug on that scroll there…”
Robert reached out and pulled the cupboard forward, revealing a passage.
Together, they descended the narrow stairs and were shocked to see a lit candle, and, then the faces of Charles and Violet with a strange woman.
“Coo!” Punch chirped. “Here they are!”
“Your Grace!” Violet cheered. “Oh, thank God!”
“Poor Vi—your hair.” Punch said sympathetically. Realizing that, with a stranger in the room as well as Violet, he’d best speak in his Julian voice, Punch added more formally, “Still, hair will grow, and, you’’ll soon have your golden tresses back.”
“I know, Your Grace.” Violet sniffed.
“Are you hurt?” Punch asked.
“No, Sir.” Charles shook his head.
“Who is this with you?” Robert asked.
“I’m called Orpha Polk.” Lennie responded quickly.
“No you aint!” Violet snapped. “She ain’t, Your Grace. That’s not her name at all. She’s Ellen Barrett. The real Ellen Barrett—your sister, Sir.”
“Come again?” Mr. Punch squinted, forgetting to speak as Julian.
“It’s true, Your Grace.” Charles answered. “She’s a victim of the woman who has masqueraded as Ellen Barrett. We believe her.”
“How is this possible?” Robert asked.
“I’m sure that this woman will explain everything.” Charles replied.
Mr. Punch turned to Lennie and studied her. “You look like you could be.” He grunted. “Coo! How many sisters have I got? Don’t tell me that you’re a wicked wench, too.”
“Your Grace.” Robert whispered, trying to remind him to affect Julian’s mannerisms for the benefit of Violet and this newcomer.
“Oh…” Punch sighed. “Well, it’s too late for that, it is. This is the way I talk. You can accept it or not.”
Lennie began to whimper.
“Look—if you ‘xpect me to believe what you’re ‘bout to tell me, then, you gotta ‘ccept me as I am.”
“You are a determined man.” Lennie responded quietly. “Many often mistake determination for madness.”
“And, you?” Punch asked.
“I see it for what it is.” Lennie replied.
“Well, then, let me see you for what you are.” Punch smiled.
Did you miss Chapters 1-159? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 161 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.
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