Chapter 180
A Part in That
Pulling the hood of the cloak over her eyes, Gamilla, once again, unlocked the door to the silver vault.
The low, cold room was as dark as pitch, a blackness cut only by the sporadic flashes of lightening which cut through the thin lancet window.
“Who’s there?” Finlay whimpered.
Gamilla stood with her back to the window and breathed shallowly. She did not speak, but, instead simply held the crystal carafe in front of her body.
Lightning burst into the vault and, in that momentary flash, through his bleary, stinging eyes, Finlay could see the silhouette of the woman and the brilliant color of the claret—sparkling red in the crystal.
Finlay released a shaky, low moan.
“Please, don’t hurt me!” He pleaded.
Using the darkness to her advantage, Gamilla stepped forward slowly, letting the draping fabric of the cloak play ethereally around her ankles. Removing the stopper from the bottle, she poured the sticky wine over Finlay’s bound hands.
He yelped pitifully, recalling Gamilla’s warning about the feel of the blood of those he’d wronged on his hands.
Before lightning could flood the room again, Gamilla slipped out, locking the door behind her. Even through the thick door, she could hear Finlay’s moans.
Rushing into Mrs. North’s pantry, Gamilla returned the claret to its spot and removed Mrs. North’s cloak.
“Thank you, Mrs. North.” Gamilla whispered as she replaced the cloak on its hook.
Gamilla then shut her eyes again, hoping that she would see Mrs. North’s reassuring countenance behind her eyelids again. But, no, the face did not return.
Suddenly, Gamilla could hear footsteps and masculine voices in the distance.
It was the Duke, the doctor and Charles—she knew immediately.
Gamilla didn’t care to be caught in Mrs. North’s pantry. She had nothing to hide as she knew that the masters would not disapprove of what she’d just done. However, she wanted to keep the masters free of the sin she’d just begun—that crime of deception. That had been her decision. There was no reason to bring such things upon them.
Holding her breath, Gamilla continued to listen.
The three men spoke in hushed, urgent tones. The Duke was clearly upset about something. Gamilla could tell that his worry concerned the new woman—Lennie. The doctor’s comforting voice was low, but Gamilla could not make out what he was saying. She hoped they would simply return to the Duke’s chamber.
After a few moments, the talking had subsided. Gamilla thought she’d heard their footsteps, retreating toward the service stairs.
Waiting a few more seconds—though it seemed like an eternity—Gamilla began to breathe normally again. She walked to the pantry door and opened it.
It’s difficult to say who was more surprised—Gamilla or Charles—as they stood face to face.
Charles, after the look of shock melted from his face, smiled broadly.
“What are you up to, Gamilla?”
Gamilla bit her lip. “Justice,” she said finally.
“I’d like a part in that,” Charles winked.
Did you miss Chapters 1-179 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 181.
Pulling the hood of the cloak over her eyes, Gamilla, once again, unlocked the door to the silver vault.
The low, cold room was as dark as pitch, a blackness cut only by the sporadic flashes of lightening which cut through the thin lancet window.
“Who’s there?” Finlay whimpered.
Gamilla stood with her back to the window and breathed shallowly. She did not speak, but, instead simply held the crystal carafe in front of her body.
Lightning burst into the vault and, in that momentary flash, through his bleary, stinging eyes, Finlay could see the silhouette of the woman and the brilliant color of the claret—sparkling red in the crystal.
Finlay released a shaky, low moan.
“Please, don’t hurt me!” He pleaded.
Using the darkness to her advantage, Gamilla stepped forward slowly, letting the draping fabric of the cloak play ethereally around her ankles. Removing the stopper from the bottle, she poured the sticky wine over Finlay’s bound hands.
He yelped pitifully, recalling Gamilla’s warning about the feel of the blood of those he’d wronged on his hands.
Before lightning could flood the room again, Gamilla slipped out, locking the door behind her. Even through the thick door, she could hear Finlay’s moans.
Rushing into Mrs. North’s pantry, Gamilla returned the claret to its spot and removed Mrs. North’s cloak.
“Thank you, Mrs. North.” Gamilla whispered as she replaced the cloak on its hook.
Gamilla then shut her eyes again, hoping that she would see Mrs. North’s reassuring countenance behind her eyelids again. But, no, the face did not return.
Suddenly, Gamilla could hear footsteps and masculine voices in the distance.
It was the Duke, the doctor and Charles—she knew immediately.
Gamilla didn’t care to be caught in Mrs. North’s pantry. She had nothing to hide as she knew that the masters would not disapprove of what she’d just done. However, she wanted to keep the masters free of the sin she’d just begun—that crime of deception. That had been her decision. There was no reason to bring such things upon them.
Holding her breath, Gamilla continued to listen.
The three men spoke in hushed, urgent tones. The Duke was clearly upset about something. Gamilla could tell that his worry concerned the new woman—Lennie. The doctor’s comforting voice was low, but Gamilla could not make out what he was saying. She hoped they would simply return to the Duke’s chamber.
After a few moments, the talking had subsided. Gamilla thought she’d heard their footsteps, retreating toward the service stairs.
Waiting a few more seconds—though it seemed like an eternity—Gamilla began to breathe normally again. She walked to the pantry door and opened it.
It’s difficult to say who was more surprised—Gamilla or Charles—as they stood face to face.
Charles, after the look of shock melted from his face, smiled broadly.
“What are you up to, Gamilla?”
Gamilla bit her lip. “Justice,” she said finally.
“I’d like a part in that,” Charles winked.
Did you miss Chapters 1-179 of Mr. Punch of Belgrave Square? If so, you can read them here. Come back tomorrow for Chapter 181.
2 comments:
Great story arc. Gamilla's meting out of justice is spot on. Such strong characters. They just seem to come to life.
Thank you, Darcy.
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