Chapter 169:
Kin to Me
“I hadn’t seen her in years.” Finlay said softly. Robert and Georgie had helped the man—still bound—sit up so that he could lean his back against the wall and speak to the group.
“And how did she introduce herself?” Robert asked.
“She wrote to me from London after her father died.”
“My father.” Lennie mumbled.
“I couldn’t have known that, then, could I?” Finlay snarled. “Besides, he wasn’t your father neither. He was your uncle. Your pa is the same as mine.”
“I thought he was my father.” Lennie replied.
“Is she gonna talk over me this whole time?” Finlay snapped. “If she is, I got nothin’ to say.”
Mr. Punch looked with sympathetic eyes at Lennie.
She nodded her understanding.
“Continue, Finlay.” Robert said.
“I received a letter. It said that it was from Ellen Barrett. I remembered the scandal. I knew what had happened. She said she’d been told of her true birth and that she wanted to know her real brothers. She asked if she could meet me, and, I said that I’d like to meet her. She’d just gotten work with Baron Lensdown and told me that when the Baron and Baroness came to Aberdeenshire, she would look in on me. And, she did. She looked just as I thought she would. She knew all the things she should know. I’d no idea she was a fraud nor reason to even think she would be. She told me how she’d been the baron’s lover and I shared my own…experience with him. She told me that we should get our revenge. I liked the idea. She also told me that you, Your Grace, was rumored to be a recluse and that she had an idea that might separate you from some of your fortune.”
“What was her plan?” Mr. Punch asked.
“That kept changing, Sir.” Finlay explained. “All her early plans were altered when she learned of the deaths of the Duchess of Fallbridge and Lady Barbara. She doubted the stories of Lady Barbara’s death, but seemed to feel that the Duchess was truly gone, leaving Lord Fallbridge to ascend as the Duke. Then, we’d heard you were returning to London. By that point, she’d been dismissed by Lady Lensdown. When she’d heard that you were coming home with a son, she decided to try to insinuate herself into your household as governess. In the meantime, I was to help her find proof of her true birth. I’d located some documents suggesting it, but it wasn’t until Ellen could look for herself that she found indisputable proof that she was the Duchess’ daughter.”
“And, in order to get back here to do it, she had to poison me, she did.” Punch grumbled.
“She’d have done anything that she could, Sir.” Finlay nodded. “All she wanted was to get you in a position where she could control you. She tried to get the doctor away from you—many times.”
“By trying to make it appear that I’d committed murder.” Robert frowned.
“Yes, Sir. She knew that Stover bloke’s sister—knew that he’d been…that he knew you. With the rumors of the Duke’s madness and with your known protection of him, either way…”
“She’d get between us.” Robert sniffed. “It didn’t work.”
“No, Sir.”
“Not once did she mention me?” Lennie interrupted.
“No, and why would she, lass?” Finlay laughed.
“Don’t speak to me in such a manner.” Lennie hissed.
“Why not?” Finlay smirked. “You’re kin to me, ain’t ya?”
“I’d rather not think of it.” Lennie said softly.
“Well, on the one side, you got me. I ain’t no prize, but then, neither is your other brother—the Duke.”
“That’s enough.” Robert snapped.
“Doctor, I’ll admit, the man is handsome, but you’re the only one that seems to think he’s as fine and grand as all that. Everyone else knows he’s mad! He thinks he’s a puppet for the love of Christ!”
“I don’t think that I am a puppet ‘xactly. Not now. I know I’m a man. I just got the spirit of a puppet.”
“That’s so much better.” Finlay laughed.
“His Grace is the master of this house and he is not the one on trial.” Robert spoke up.
“On trial, am I?” Finlay snorted.
“Very much so.” Robert narrowed his eyes.
“How do ya…” Finlay began. He stopped when he saw the Baron Lensdown enter the chamber.
“You’ll have to leave.” Charles said quickly, walking to the man.
“No.” The baron shook his head.
“This is a private family matter, please.” Robert said.
“I doubt it.” Lensdown replied. “You’ve got your staff seated in here as if they’re at a music hall. Meanwhile, one of your men is tied up on the floor. My family gatherings don’t resemble this.”
“You should try it.” Mr. Punch barked.
“What do you want, Baron?” Robert asked.
The baron glanced to Finlay who looked up at him with expectation and hopefulness.
“I just wanted to tell you.” The baron smiled. “Your former governess is still very much alive and with her father in the stables.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-168? If so, you can read them here. Come back on Monday for Chapter 170 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square.
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