Chapter 5 – Madame of the House

Inside, The Fox and Kitty was a very ritzy Victorian-style club, filled with people dressed for London's night life. Off to the right was the bar area; ahead was a ballroom with round tables set with crimson table cloths that matched the décor and tone of the room.

"I feel a little underdressed," Bert said, dusting himself off.

"Oh, me, too," Agatha said. "But that's not saying much." She chuckled at herself.

"I think we're all underdressed except Julian," Gina said wryly. "Notwithstanding being covered with chimney dust."

"Well, we can't do anything about that, now," Julian said. "Except, if you could all find a way to clean your faces a bit."

"How about yours?" Gina asked.

Julian's eyes widened. "Is that mark you gave me still on my face?"

Julian shared his only handkerchief with Gina; Bert and Caracticus did the best they could with their hands and sleeves.

While they were doing so, the maître de approached them. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. May I see your cards?"

"Cards?" Julian asked.

"Yes, your membership cards. Or are you new here?"

"Er, yes," Julian said, gathering his composure. "My card must have expired. How shall I go about issuing a new one?"

"I'm afraid you have to be recommended by another member."

Gina hadn't seen Julian look this caught off guard since the first time a small child laid her head in his lap.

"Heir Fletcher?" asked a high male voice that drew all of their gazes.

Julian's eyes bulged. Standing there was a tall, skinny man with a curling mustache and a short, stout man with a toothbrush mustache, who Julian recognized as two of Baron Bomburst's former spies. Julian jerked in surprise. "Heinric? Felix? What are you—?" He cleared his throat. "Where have you been? I told you we were coming."

Heinric, the tall one, tapped the maître de. "This fellow is with us. Julian Fletcher."

"And party," Julian said.

"Eh, er…yes. The five of them."

The maître de wrote something down at his podium and bid them pass.

The former spies led Julian and his entourage to their table in the large, open room, where there was a stage.

Now, Julian took the time to grill them. "What on earth are you two doing here?"

"We're members."

"You're deserters," Julian muttered, narrowing his gaze.

"Look," said Felix, the stout one, "the Baron's zeppelin couldn't get enough lift after we captured Professor Potts, so he threw us overboard. We tried to come back, but when we arrived, the castle looked a bit…er…" He scratched his head, glancing at Heinric.

"Busy," said Heinric. "Quite preoccupied with…affairs…"

"Uh-huh," said Julian skeptically. "Cowards."

"What are you doing here, Mr. Fletcher?" Heinric asked.

"Looking for a few children."

"Naturally. An odd place to come looking for children, I must say."

"I'm assisting some friends of mine whose children are believed to have been taken here."

"You plan to find these children and return them safely to their parents?"

"I do."

"Well. That's a rather dramatic change of heart for you. Is the Baroness aware of your decision?"

"The Baroness no longer makes the decisions around Vulgaria," Julian said coolly.

"Oh. Well…" The two spies exchanged glances and lowered their hats.

"She's alive and well," Julian assured them. "She's just been…demoted, shall we say."

Looking relieved, the spies returned their hats to their heads.

"You know these men from Vulgaria, Jules?" Gina asked.

"Darling, these two gentlemen were former spies of Vulgaria. Heinric," he pointed, "and Felix."

"How do you do?" she said to them.

"Very well, madame," Heinric said, Felix mumbling something a little more shyly as he bowed. Heinric pointed between Gina and Julian questioningly, looking to Julian. "You…and…this young lady…?"

Instead of taking offense at Heinric's awe, Julian reveled in it. With a confident smirk, pulling Gina close to him with an arm, he replied emphatically, "Yes." Julian looked briefly upon her with adoration.

"Well…er…I…eh…congratulations."

Gina placed a hand affectionately on Julian's chest and added with poise, "It is as much an honor for me."

"Er, of course. Of course. Julian is a very powerful statesman, eheh…"

"And capable of being good company."

"Naturally. I was getting to that. Quite a charmer, this one."

Julian squinted, smiling condescendingly. "Alright, Gina. We don't want them to strain their little brains. We might need them."

The lights dimmed and a spotlight illuminated the stage. Several small, life sized puppets skipped out on stage in lavish harlequin outfits. Their faces were partially covered by painted masquerade masks, with marks on their cheeks to match. Even though their strings were clearly visible, their movements were much more fluid than one would expect of a puppet. Albeit smooth, their movements were not complex. And they were not light on their feet like a doll on strings, but rather bound to gravity.

After two numbers, the puppets disappeared from the stage and the lights in the ballroom came back on, allowing guests to continue mingling, chatting, noshing, and drinking.

Caracticus turned around in his seat and shared an unnerved gaze with Julian.

Julian leaned across Gina and said quietly, "Did those puppets seem a bit too lifelike to you?"

"They sure did," Caracticus agreed.

"Yeah…" Gina said. "Rather child-sized, too. They just gave me the willies overall. Silent people in masks don't sit well with me."

"I hear ya," Caracticus said.

"Madam Geppetta certainly has the most unique show in town," Heinric mentioned in a chipper manner, oblivious to their conversation.

Julian turned around to them and asked skeptically, "Madam Geppetta? You can't be serious."

"That's the name by which she's known. She owns this establishment. It's all in keeping with the theme of her business, I suppose. Rather clever, I say. Takes your mind straight to the right place."

"So it would seem. I've never seen puppetry so smooth before. It was rather like watching ballet than a puppet show."

"That's the draw, so I hear."

"Do these shows go on throughout the night?"

"Until about 2a.m. By then, most of the guests who are not staying have left. Those who are staying…well…are upstairs preoccupied in other things."

"I see. Heinric, why don't you and Felix see about a member card for me?"

"Certainly. Right away."

The two of them left together.

"Spies…" Caracticus mused. "They ought to be good allies, then."

Julian gave him a sleepy look and shook his head, finally rolling his eyes. "They captured your father thinking it was you, remember?"

"Well, anyone not from around could have made that mistake."

"It's not the first blunder they've ever made. But, more to the point, I got rid of those two buffoons so we could plot our next move."

"We've got to find our way backstage," Gina said. "Do you think 'those two buffoons' could help us out?"

"Very carefully. I don't want to give away our eagerness too quickly. We don't know whose circles they've gotten themselves into in this place. Let me do the talking, all of you."

"They're coming back," Caracticus said.

"Julian?" Heinric said. "The Madame of the House would like to speak with you."

Julian squinted. "Whatever for?"

The spies shrugged.

With Gina on his arm, Julian headed upstairs to one of the hallway balconies overlooking the ballroom. Sitting on a crimson, backed loveseat across from another just like it, there was a trim and somewhat eclectic-looking woman. She was in a floor-length, purple skirt, and a red bodice covered in black, floral lace. Draped over her shoulders was a shaggy, black shawl. Her hair was fairly short, but a bit wild and it was hard to tell whether it was blonde, light brown, or even a little grey. By a stick, she held over her eyes a crimson and purple masquerade mask.

"Ah, good evening Mr. Fletcher. And you've brought your lady friend. I should have been more insistent that this was a private rendezvous."

"I wouldn't leave Gina without my guard in a place like this. And I'm surprised you get anything done with your two bumbling informants."

The woman chuckled. "Nevertheless, do make yourselves comfortable." As the couple took a seat on the comfortable love seat across from her, the woman continued, "Welcome to my pleasure club. I am known as Madam Geppetta. I hope you enjoyed the show."

"It was well done," Julian said. "Did you choreograph it?"

"I did, indeed. It's the biggest draw for my patrons. I've always loved the art of puppetry."

"That's apparent in your creative work."

"I'd like to make you an offer to be a part of my creative work, Mr. Fletcher."

Julian raised his brow.

"I've heard of your great civil feats in Vulgaria," the woman continued. "I could use a man like you."

"Oh? Need help doing your taxes?" he baited her.

The woman chuckled, a bit more jocularly than the situation merited. "No, no. You're the Child Catcher."

Julian's stomach twisted. This again? Is there no place in the world where my reputation does not precede me? But he knew that standing indignantly by his new moral position would not get him any closer to the children. He masked his ire with a classic, smarmy smile and said, "That I am. This nose of mine has never failed me."

"So I hear. It is a very handsome nose, to be sure."

Julian squeaked at the flattery and batted his hand at her.

"No doubt it got you the lovely lady on your arm."

"Oh-ho, well…that's an entirely private matter."

But Gina squeezed his arm affectionately and said, in a straight voice that belied her coquettish smile, "Mine, all mine."

Madam Geppetta's smile became stiff and contrived. "Yes, I see. Congratulations."

Julian brought the topic back to focus. "How can my prowess as the Child Catcher be of use to you, Madam Geppetta?"

Madam Geppetta took down her mask. Gina then noticed that this woman had an unusually long nose herself. Not as prominent as Julian's, but enough to be noticeable.

"You see," Madam Geppetta continued, "the uniqueness of my show requires a very special commodity. I need children to be my puppets."

Julian and Gina stared at her, striving with all their energy not to look surprised or unnerved.

"Now, that's interesting," Julian mused. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because the Baroness can't stand the sight of children," Gina replied to his otherwise rhetorical question.

"Well, you saw Caracticus and Truly at the Baron's birthday party. Totally had the throne room fooled. Just like Madam Geppetta's lot here. You'd never think they were live children."

Madam Geppetta smiled. "Yes. Thank you. They are quite my family. And I seek to make it larger."

"Well, I'd be honored to see your wears, Madam Geppetta," Julian said. "Who'd have thunk that, coming to England, I'd meet a fellow child catcher."

Madam Geppetta chuckled with delight. "We would make quite the pair, Mr. Fletcher."

"Please, call me Julian. No need to stand on ceremony."

"Very well, Julian," she said. Standing, she said, "Since we are in agreement, I will show you the family. But, it is a classified area of my abode, so I will only permit you to see it if you are alone."

"That can be arranged. If you allow me the use of your gentleman's room, I shall meet you shortly."

"Of course. The restrooms are down the central hall off the ballroom. When you're ready, meet me in the hallway to the left of the stage, facing the curtains."

Julian and Gina arrived back at the table. Heinric and Felix were not there.

"Ah, Agatha," Julian said. "Would you awfully mind guarding my Gina with your life, whilst I consult with the Potts gentlemen?"

"Not at all. She'll be safe with me, sir."

"Very good."

"What's going on?" Caracticus inquired.

"Caracticus," Julian said, "will you and Bert meet me in the loo right now? But, give me a head start before you follow. Make it look natural."

"Uh…sure…" Caracticus said, sharing a glance with his brother as Julian walked away.

Soon, Caracticus and Bert joined Julian in the carpeted gentleman's bathroom down a dim hall on the first floor. Julian had his gloves off at the sink and was rubbing his pale hands with the floral-scented scrubbing salt.

"I just had a meeting with the owner of this establishment, Madam Geppetta. She kidnaps children to use them as the puppets in her show."

"What?" Caracticus gasped.

"Will you keep it down, Potts, you provincial fool?"

"No need to get nasty, Julian. Do you have a plan?"

"Well, in a few minutes, I'm to meet her where she will take me to see her 'wears,' as it were. She offered me a job as her Child Catcher, in which I feigned interest to gain her trust."

"Your reputation really follows you around, doesn't it?"

"No, it was those two spies from Vulgaria," Julian groaned. "They recognized me and must have told her who I was. Of all the place those two could have washed up after Bomburst ejected them into the sea… No doubt they were suckered in by the prestige of being in a 'secret society.'"

"What do you want us to do?"

"I won't know until I've seen the inner sanctum and where she's keeping your children. I don't know how long I'll be, but I intend to join you the moment I emerge. In the meantime, don't get chatty with anyone. Don't let your guard down. Watch for suspicious activity. And don't let Gina out of your sight."

"You can count on us," Bert agreed. He shared a nod with Caracticus.

"Right," Caracticus added.

Julian left the bathroom first and headed to the rendezvous point with Madam Geppetta.

When Caracticus and Bert returned to their table, Agatha was unconscious, slumped over on the table as if asleep. Gina was nowhere to be seen. Both men rushed to the scene.

"Agatha?" Bert shook her shoulder. "Agatha!"

Caracticus looked around frantically. "They've taken Gina."

Agatha moaned groggily, raising her head and muttering, "What? What? Those scoundrels…"

"What happened?" Bert asked.

"Well, Gina and I were sitting here talking when two waiters came up behind us and smothered our faces with cloths. There was a strong scent for a few seconds before I blacked out…" She gasped hard, seeing Gina's seat empty. "Gina! Where is Gina?"

"What are we going to tell Julian?" Caracticus asked.

"Oh, if I didn't know any better," Bert said, scratching his head nervously, "I'd say Julian's about to find out himself."

"Blackmail?" Caracticus clarified.

"Where is Julian?" Agatha asked.