Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 19.

by Jackie J

Having washed the pots after supper Annie joined Raymond and his father by the fire and started her sewing. Raymond smiled she was in full bloom and he could not wait for the baby to come. Raymond and his father shared a pipe and talked about the fences they had been replacing at the back of the top meadow. A more perfect scene of domestic bliss would be hard to find.

Despite the apparent tranquillity at Rose Cottage Annie had been troubled but kept it to herself. During intimate moments Raymond had naturally asked Annie about her life before coming to Sandowns. She only really knew what the Mistress had told her, the rest, there seemed to be no more. It was of course put down to her illness. There was nothing temporary about the effects of the amnesia Annie suffered, resulting from the brutal drug induced coma Lady Hogarth had subjected her maid to. Whilst she recovered memories of a fictitious past had been wickedly planted in her enfeebled mind. She was an orphan, she knew that, her Mistress had told her, she had been a maid at a large residence, she knew that her Mistress had told her, she had been found wandering and destitute by the Mistress and given employment at Sandowns. She had awoken some nights following fanciful dreams of being in a large mansion, but not as a maid, but more like a young mistress. The dreams had mainly followed visits by the beautiful Miss Annabella who regularly visited her Aunt at Sandowns, but the medicine her Mistress gave her had always calmed her and stopped the nightmares. She wished she could remember more to tell her love, but she could not. Raymond always told her not to worry, he loved her for what she was and who she was, not what had happened in her past. A loving placation of her worries but worry she did.

Another day found Annie and Gwen busy at the big house. More new furniture was being delivered and the old furniture was being taken out by Raymond and his father whilst Annie and Gwen swept, mopped, and polished. Most of the rooms had been refurnished recently, the new furniture more expensive and of higher quality than what it was replacing. In fact, the whole manor was looking rather splendid. No threadbare areas on these new rugs and Raymond was not required for painting anymore, decorators had transformed the place, the wallpaper in the parlour and reception rooms was truly magnificent. Gwen had been told, by one of the decorators, that it had actual gold thread in the pattern. Lizzy in the kitchens had been treated to a new stove and the pump over the sinks replaced with a tap that you could just turn on and off and the water poured by itself. Annie and Gwen’s allowances had been increased and both where now able to save, the same with Raymond and his father. Why the sudden increase in affluence had occurred at Sandowns no one really knew but everyone was benefitting.

The Mistress always looked nice but her new wardrobe like the furniture was of a much higher quality and much less mending for Annie. It was most noticeable doing the laundry, the fabric finer and the garments draped so well. 

More visitors were coming at the weekend and Annie and Gwen were preparing the guest rooms. There was even a pleasure in this, no more choosing the best linen it was all the best, the very best. Annie was secretly hoping Miss Annabella would be coming she had not seen her for quite some time. Miss Annabella was always kind to her when she visited asking about how the baby was coming along and Raymond.

Annie never eavesdropped but, stood by the wall in the dining room with Gwen awaiting instruction, whilst the guests and Mistress dined, she hid her amusement when one of the guests, the Bishop, not speaking quietly, and so easily heard, mentioned some lady having been placed in chastity having committed adultery, at first Annie thought perhaps that’s what rich people did in such a situation. Annie was sure she heard a Countess mentioned, but this was a maid they were now discussing. Annie would have liked to have heard more but she was now back down in the kitchens collecting the next course of the meal. The new uniforms the Mistress had provided were much smarter than the old ones but, no less bulky, could not hide Annie’s advancing condition.  The meal finished the guests and Mistress, in good humour, retired to the large reception room. Each passing by the curtsying maids smiled and whished Annie well with the birth, which was getting closer and closer.

Days were starting to drag for Annie and Mistress was always fussing and the doctor had been called yet again, Annie and Raymond could not afford the doctor, but Mistress insisted and not to worry about the money.  The early hours of Saturday Morning the first wails of young Raymond filled the Cottage. the Lady from the village, a friend of Mrs Scripts, had done her best to keep the writhing panting Annie comforted through the birth and now the little infant laid on the breasts of a smiling mother. An excited Lizzy, Gwen and Mrs Scripts were joined by the proud father who’s smile of pride looked like it would never leave him.

It would be two weeks before Annie was back in her uniform with much interest shown in young Raymond by Mistress and Miss Annabella, who had both visited the cottage to see Mother and child a number of times. The perambulator gifted by Miss Annabella along with many other accessories and clothing surprised the grateful Annie and Raymond who could not thank Miss Annabella enough for her kindness and generosity. Whether it was genuine concern or guilt that motivated Emily, or a combination of both, mattered little to the grateful new family at Rose cottage. Wrestling the responsibility of motherhood and her work at the big house new routines were established. Poor little Raymond was passed around like a parcel he was so cute. Lizzy, Gwen, Mrs Scripts and even Mistress welcoming the tiny thing into their arms. When not being spoiled with attention, Annie found the Perambulator Miss Annabella had provided a practical sanctuary for baby whilst at her tasks about Sandowns.

If maid Annie, at Sandowns, was treated well and shown kindness by its Mistress and housekeeper it was in stark contrast to how the new maid at Buckshire manor had been treated in the months since its arrival at the manor. 

Miss Jarvis had been briefed well on the reception for the returning Countess from Whitegate prison by Miss Annabella. Annabella in truth being only the conduit for her Mothers regime prepared for maid Connie. A Countess she no longer was, she was Connie, and if Miss Jarvis wished to remain in position, she would ensure Connie followed all the draconian protocols the Countess herself had previously insisted on for Maids at Buckshire manor.  Mrs Hardwick had arrived at Buckshire manor and could not wait to conduct the training of the new maid when it arrived. Having met Annabella, the girl who she had grovelling at her feet, a trained and competent maid, Carol was confused. She was nothing like the Annie she remembered, not at all. The picture of Miss Annabella still hung in the hallway and yes, the likeness was clearly evident, it was just something that she just could not put her finger on. When Carol arrived at the manor it was as if they had never met? How could she have forgotten what Carol put her through? When Carol mentioned this to Martha, she was told that Annabella had a traumatic time recovering from her ordeal and it was best not to concern herself with Miss Annabella. Even Martha’s dismissive explanation of the change in Miss Annabella did not satisfy Carol. First it was the daughter, a willing subject for subjugation, now it was to be the mother, the Countess herself, who was to don the apron, willing or not.  Carol was to be well paid for her services and thought better than to pursue her interest in the strange changes of maid Annie in returning to the gracious Miss Annabella.

Stood with Miss Jarvis Mrs Hardwick watched the carriage containing the new maid for Buckshire manor pull through the outer gates and up the driveway to the main entrance.

Martha gasped seeing what had been done to the Countess when she meekly stepped out of the carriage at the side of Mr Swinney. No surly flourish and confident strides, she looked common, dishevelled. Her beautiful hair cropped, her dress creased and stained a pale pallor to her face and an awkward shuffle to her gait. Was this really her once domineering Mistress?  Guided into the manor, denuded of her dignity during her month of incarceration at Whitegate, Constance never raised her head to seek eye contact with who had been her housekeeper and her maid.

Mr Swinney smiled at Miss Jarvis handing her the contract signed by the Countess.

“This is Connie, she is to be trained to be a maid at Buckshire manor you will see that the contract is for three years of service, I assume everything is prepared for your new maid in line with Miss Annabella’s instructions?”

Carol took hold of Constance’s upper arm and Martha responded.

“Yes, Mr Swinney we know exactly what is required for Connie, rest assured she will be trained well Mrs Hardwick will make sure of that.”

Constance, her spirit broken by her time at Whitegate, was dragged into the kitchens. Florrie, the maid from Sandown, looked in amazement as the Countess stood passive whist stripped naked by Carol and Martha. She looked frail the gruel she had been fed for the last month had not been a diet for the obese. Carol smirked tugging the stout straps of the Bishops gift about the new maid’s intimacy before locking it in place bringing a soft sigh of acceptance from the recipient. 

Carol stood back and smiled with satisfaction at the Countess’s secure confinement handing the key to Miss Jarvis.

Kicking the expensive but despoiled dress and underwear, the Countess had worn for her return to Buckshire manor, across the kitchen floor, Miss Jarvis offered her new maid its underwear. Connie stepped into the oversized bloomers without reservation covering the insidious device she was now locked into.  A heavy cotton chemise and petticoat were followed by the slowly buttoned black woollen dress before being handed her bibbed apron. Connie dipped her head through the yolk and Carol tugged the tapes of the apron tight around the new maids still shapely waist and formed a pleasing bow. Heavy boots to its feet the new maid was almost prepared.

Miss Jarvis placed her hand under Connie’s chin and raised her head before crowning her new maid with its unflattering mop cap.

With Miss Jarvis’s fingers still under her chin the weak eyes of Connie stared without focus at her once housekeeper, now one who must be obeyed.

“Now you are dressed appropriately for your rank Connie, you know the rules here at Buckshire Manor for maids, don’t you? And you will also know I am responsible for seeing those rules are obeyed. Well Connie, do you?”

This was to be her life now, the lesser of two evils, to be a maid for her stepdaughter Miss Annabella under the control and authority of her once housekeeper Miss Jarvis.

The Countess did know the rules for maids at Buckshire manor, of course she did, she wrote and previously enforced them, now, reduced to the rank of a maid herself, she would obey them, or face the consequences.

That first curtsy brought a pinching pain from the device she had been locked into and an awareness of the heavy and cumbersome uniform she now wore.

“Yes Miss Jarvis.”

 Martha, whilst she did not show it, was relieved at her ex Mistress’s willing compliance and acceptance of her new status at Buckshire Manor knowing Carol was eager and capable of ensuring such compliance was to become second nature for maid Connie. Standing back from her new uniformed maid it was hard to believe that only a month ago the same women stood resplendent in her finery issuing her instructions. The Countess of Buckshire manor now looking vulnerable and meek dressed in the livery of her own servants.

Martha turned her new maid to face Carol.

“This is Mrs Hardwick; Mrs Hardwick will be conducting your training and I look forward to you becoming a truly competent and respectful maid here at the manor.”

The Countess had been informed by her housekeeper previously of what this woman had done with Annabella, what she was capable of, and now it was her own turn to be taught and serve this maid.

Carol walked towards her trainee seeing little trace of the Countess she once respected without question, especially with her cropped hair and now dressed as one of her own servants. Her whole demeanour screamed, I am weak, yours to do with as you wish. Whitegate had certainly taken its toll and prepared the proud Countess for her life of servility and subjugation.

“So, Connie, I am sure you will be no trouble will you girl?”

Connie looked at Mrs Hardwick the maid she had dismissed from her service and lowered her head before offering a curtsy, fearful of what this woman had planned for her.

“No Miss”

And so, the Countesses of Buckshire began her new life, the life of a common maid in the very manor in which she was once Mistress. Beneath her skirts the reminder of the forbidden pleasures she had sought and enjoyed with Lord Edmund. Six months in the service of Buckshire manor, at the hands of Mrs Hardwick, and Connie knew little else only to serve her betters. The maid’s quarters she had rarely visited now her only sanctuary from the rigours of her endless days of toil.

Perhaps Constance at the outset had thought Annabella would have relented, but there were no such thoughts now. Perhaps Constance had thought her purgatory would be kept from the public eye, how wrong she was. It was common knowledge that the once glamorous widowed wife of the late Earl was now a working maid at Buckshire manor. Three months into Connie’s subjugation Annabella had her new maid serve table to her amused guests. All eager to share their experience of being served by the contrite Countess reduced to the rank of maid and held in chastity by her stepdaughter.

The reason for the Countess to suffer such indignity was never shared but rather under the threat of more thrashings, maid Connie was made to confess to all that she always wanted to be a maid and to be placed and held in chastity. That she was grateful to her stepdaughter for allowing her the privilege to be one of her maids, for Miss Annabella to be her Mistress. Strange, but the sincerity of her contrived and scripted confessions convinced all it is what she wished and as such accepted.

Mrs Hardwick had had little problems in developing and delivering maid Connie to the mistress of Buckshire manor, maid Connie knew her place and under the stewardship of Mrs Hardwick and Miss Jarvis was kept in it. What intrigued her more was Miss Annabella herself, and the regular visits of her Aunt Lady Hogarth.  She had learnt it was Lady Hogarth who had “cured” Miss Annabella of her perverse wish to become a maid. Outwardly there was not a trace of these desires left, which Carol still thought somewhat illogical having witnessed maid Annie’s behaviour first- hand. She wondered if Annabella, still harbouring such thoughts, had conspired to have her stepmother live out her own fantasies for her, it would seem with the cooperation of her Aunt, Lady Hogarth. Carol had not been comfortable with Miss Annabella from outset and, what she now knew, or strongly suspected, to be something much darker, confirmed her suspicions, but there was one piece missing from the puzzle that she was determined to solve.

 

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