Chapter 226:
“Pardon the interruption, Your Grace.” Speaight smiled as he entered the morning room.
“Good morning, Speaight.” Punch replied.
“Sir, I wanted to inform you that the new driver has arrived.”
“Very good,” Punch nodded. “Show him to his rooms in the mews and, if you would, please, make sure he’s fed.”
“Certainly, Your Grace.”
“Pity he’s got to go all the way back to where he’s just come from in a few hours.” Robert smiled.
“Yes, Doctor.” Speaight answered.
“Oh, Speaight, what’s the man’s name?” Punch asked.
“Blake, Sir.”
“Has he a Christian name?” Punch asked.
“I believe it’s Alonzo, Sir.”
“Thank you, Speaight.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Speaight nodded before exiting the room.
“What’s this?” Lennie asked. “We’ve a new driver?”
“I’m sorry, Lennie.” Mr. Punch replied, “I thought I’d told you. After the trouble with Hutchinson, Her Majesty offered one of the young men from her stables. He’s been training to be a coachman and, according to the Queen, he’s quite good. It’s only until we find a permanent replacement for Hutchinson.”
“How kind her Majesty is.” Lennie smiled.
“Quite.” Robert agreed. He looked up at Gertrude, “I do wish you’d try to eat something.”
“I’ve had some kidneys.” Lady Lensdown replied.
“No, you ain’t!” Mr. Punch said quickly, “You only pushed ‘em ‘round your plate. Terrible, terrible. You gotta…” he stopped speaking, his face blanching paper-white as he realized what he’d just done.
“My companion is very passionate about his food, Lady Lensdown.” Robert interrupted. “Sometimes, he loses he senses completely.”
“Yes, forgive me.” Punch said slowly, careful to pronounce each word as Julian might.
Lady Lensdown looked confused.
“It’s a shame that my brother isn’t on the stage,” Lennie spoke up. “He’s such a way with…with…”
“Mimicry,” Robert suggested.
“Yes, that’s it.” Lennie nodded, hastily taking a sip of her tea. “No doubt, you were reacting as you thought Mrs. Pepper might.”
“Yes.” Punch sighed. “Our cook is always one to…” He paused, and frowned. “I can’t continue with this foolishness. Not in me own house. I just won’t do it.”
“Punch,” Lennie shook her head. “Perhaps now isn’t the time.”
“Lennie, dear sister,” Robert smiled. “It’s the only time. As he said, this is his house.”
“Yes.” Lennie nodded.
“Lady Lensdown…Gertrude,” Punch began. “We’ve shared lots of things these past hours. We’ve learned much of one ‘nother. And, we like each other, I think. I always thought you a kind and just lady.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you.”
“Well, then, you oughta know that I’m…different. I’m not just the Ninth Duke of Fallbridge. This is his body, and this is his face and his clothes. But, I’m Punch. It ain’t just an affectionate name, it ain’t. It’s my name. All folk got one bein’ in ‘em. Sometimes that bein’ is good and sometimes he ain’t. But, some of us, we got more than one.”
“All people have different aspects to them. Different facets,” Gertrude nodded. “Different parts which are required at different times.”
“That’s true.” Punch answered. “I sure got ‘em. Only in most folk, one o’ them parts is the one what’s in control all the time and the others ain’t as…well…fully formed.”
“I understand.”
“See, in some folk—and there’s more than just me, it seems—there’s more than one person—fully formed—inside one body. You met Julian, course. But…I ain’t Julian. I’m Mr. Punch.”
“Your Grace,” Gertrude smiled. “I’m not surprised by this and you needn’t say more. Whatever you’re called, and however you speak, you’re still a kind and brilliant man—loved and respected by everyone from the lowest scullery maid to the very Queen herself. That you felt you should alter your natural behavior to spare me some sort of shock is only testament to your true, generous nature.”
“Oh.” Punch smiled. “Well, I say, that went better than it usually does. Thank you.”
“I completely understand why you feel the need to shield yourself from most, but with me, Sir, I’d hope you can feel free to be as you are.” Gertrude continued.
“That’s kind of ya,” Punch nodded.
The sound of Speaight entering the room ended the conversation.
“Again, I’m sorry to intrude, Your Grace.” Speaight said. “However, there’s a letter for you.”
“Thank you.” Punch took the missive from the silver salver upon which Speaight offered it.
Punch held the envelope up for Robert to see.
“The hand tells me it’s what we’ve been expecting.” Robert winked.
“What is it, brother?” Lennie asked.
“The ammunition we need.” Punch giggled. “A letter from someone from whom I’d never thought I’d wish to have a letter.”
“Who?” Lennie asked.
“Johnny Donnan.” Punch grinned.
Did you miss Chapters 1-225 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 227.
No comments:
Post a Comment