Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 16.

by Jackie J

The intruders left the Countesses chambers making their way to the parlour with only Annabella left in the room.

Constance glared at Annabella pulling a sheet around herself.

“Annabella for goodness sake what is going on why are they here the Bishop? the Constable, our family solicitor that grubby worm of a man Swinney? Allowing them to come up into my chambers like they did? And you, I thought you were staying in London, why are you back at Buckshire?”

Annabella needed to keep her composure; the guidance given to her by her mother making sure she did.

“Look, Constance some things need resolving, that is why I am back, and they are here. I never considered you would be entertaining your lover; this is shameless behaviour.”

Annabella turned to Lord Edmund who was buttoning his shirt.

“You Edmund, my father not long to his grave and you here in his home doing this, it is despicable.”

Lord Edmund having been instructed to do exactly has he had by Annabella and Lady Hogarth looked awkward now sliding into his boots and knew his script.

“Annabella I am so sorry you have found us like this, Constance, your mother, was meant to tell, you don’t understand.”

Annabella stood in the doorway.

“Mother, mother, she is no mother of mine, not ever and not now.”

More is the pity, for the Countess and her lover that the truth of Emily’s words was not realised, for them, the young lady shaming them, was indeed the Countesses step daughter Miss Annabella.

Constance had not moved from the bed still wrapped in the sheet having emotionally cascaded down from the heights of unbridled pleasure to an uncomfortable worrying concern. Things need resolving, what things? The shock of being discovered de facto, at the height of her sexual lust, was fading, she was a Countess, lady of the manor and brazen enough to dispel her exposure. She would see what these “Things” were, that needed resolving with the arrogant Annabella, and get that group of interlopers out of Buckshire manor.

Seething with anger Constance quickly dressed annoyed that her day of pleasure had been interrupted and ruined by Annabella.

Entering the parlour, stood in the doorway, Constance halted with a look of concerned confusion seeing along with the Constable, Bishop and Swinney, the two female constables in attendance and lady Hogarth?

“What, has something happened, a robbery? Something worse, on the estate?”

Annabella eased the Countess into the room and closed the door before sitting next to Lady Hogarth all eyes on the Countess. There were no more free chairs and the Countess glared at the Constable who showed no intention of sacrificing his chair for her.

Constance demanded to know what was going on.

Mr Swinney stood and pushed his chair toward the centre of the room behind the Countess who was quickly seated. The seat was much needed. Constance becoming faint, the colour draining from her, whilst the constable read the charges against her, displaying her own signed confession. Constance could not deny her intent to steal Annabella’s inheritance and in her defence sighted Annabella being a maid for her housekeeper whilst she was away in Switzerland. She was only seeking to protect the wealth of the family and nothing actually happened.

The Constable, confirming that the Countess did not deny the charges brought against her, regarding trying to defraud Annabella from her inheritance, informed Constance, that if formally charged and found guilty, which she obviously she would be, she would face up to seven years in prison.

The Countess stood and glared at the constable.

“How dare you talk such preposterous nonsense, is that what this is about, why you are all here?”

Constance pointed her finger at Lady Hogarth.

“I suppose this is your doing, well I doubt Annabella is going to pursue charges, we have an agreement, tell this interfering bitch and her entourage Annabella.”

Annabella stared at Constance seeing a degree of pleading in the Countesses eyes.

“We did but that was before, before, well, let the Constable continue”

The constable pulled a further document from his satchel.

“It seems this attempt you made to have Miss Annabella become your maid was not your first. This is a signed statement from Miss Annabella’s housekeeper, Miss Jarvis, implicating you to be the main instigator of having Annabella going beyond the poor girls misguided wish to experience being a temporary maid, to actually break her mind and enslave her.”

If the drained colour from the Countesses face had started to regain its bloom, she now sat ashen faced realising she had been betrayed by her housekeeper Jarvis.

The Countess looked around the room at the accusing eyes what was this all about, she was being set up, and she had little doubt who was behind it and Glared at her sister in law raising to her feet.

“Right enough of this nonsense out all of you Swinney, Annabella, you stay, this matter needs sorting out between us in private.”

No one moved.

Constance turned on her heels.

“Well if you want to stay then stay but I am leaving, I will not be subjected to your kangaroo court.”

A motion of the Constables hand and the two female constables were upon the Countess grabbing an arm each and returning her to the chair. The countess struggled to be free of their grip, but it was no contest for the two uniformed bruisers holding her fast.

The Constable spoke in a more serious tone.

“Thankfully, Miss Annabella has come to no harm, but your intent was and is clear. I have enough evidence to take you into custody and one more outburst like that and I assure you I will, Countess or not. There is also your admission of adultery which I have here, and I doubt that will sit well with the presiding judge when you case comes to court. However, against my better judgement, and in respect for the deceased Earl, there is an alternative to a long prison term that the Mistress of Buckshire manor, the bishop and Mr Swinney have considered as a punishment for your wickedness.”

Constance wriggled in vain in the grip of the two constables hearing the words “taken into custody” a realisation that the Constable was serious. The offer of an alternative to prison mentioned, the Countess settled back in her chair.

“Alternative, what do you mean alternative.”

Mr Swinny stood and looked over the top of his glasses at an increasingly worried Countess.

“Miss Annabella, wishing to prevent the public shame and humiliation you would undoubtedly suffer at the hands of the courts, along with seeking to protect the good name of the Earl and, not wanting to see you suffer the indignity of being branded a common criminal,  agreed with the Constable on a more private punishment for you, a punishment that you undoubtedly deserve. The Bishop, whilst reluctant, in view of your adulterous behaviour, whilst the Earl was dying, agreed to bare testimony and witness to such a punishment should you wish to escape the long prison sentence that awaits you for your wickedness.”

If the threat of prison had left the Countess in a state of panic the words of the weasel like Swinney, has he detailed the punishment that awaited her, should she choose, left her staring in disbelieve at the smiling Lady Hogarth and Annabella.

“No, no, you can’t, you can’t Annabella, no, please no, you can’t.”

Annabella stood pulling the maids call sash and Miss Jarvis entered the parlour shortly after carrying the uniform that Annabella had made the countess wear previously, the uniform being laid out in the corner of the room.

Annabella took the contract Mr Swinney had prepared and placed it on the table at the side of the Countess.

“The choice is yours sign the contract to be one of my maids at Buckshire manor or, the Constable and his associates will take you to Whitegates Prison to await your trial.”

Constance started to read the contract she was to sign her eyes widening with each sentence, three years being her step- daughters maid? put into chastity?

Annabella smirked.

“We will leave you with these two ladies of the law to make your decision whilst we take luncheon, we will return within the hour. I expect to find the document signed and see you dressed and offering the deference associated with your new position at Buckshire manor.”

Annabella paused

“And, of course, ready to receive the gift the Bishop has for you, a reward for and a constant reminder of your adultery whilst my father lay dying.”

The Countess stared at the uniform she couldn’t, three years a maid, a chaste maid in her own manor, the thought of such sending chills down her spine. She was a Countess surely no court would dare convict her. She would engage a top advocate, prove Annabella was not of sound mind, the advocate would discredit the testimony of Jarvis, Lord Edmund, he forced himself on me. Maud is filled with hatred about her brother, he will prove she is behind all this for revenge. Whitegates prison indeed, I can pay for the privacy of private accommodation, have a maid of my own there, they would not put me with the common criminals I have money, wealth, money that will buy many privileges. 

The two female officers of the law, both common born, held only contempt for the aristocracy and upper class for flaunting their assumed superiority. To them the Countess was guilty and would much prefer to see her do jail time than the compromise they had witnessed.

One of the female constables collected the underwear from the corner of the room and held it out to the Countess.

“Strip and Dress or we will take you to the custodial wagon outside.”

The Countess emboldened by her thoughts of escaping justice laughed.

“Never, never will I be a maid here! Never! You hear? Put that back where you found it. I am a Countess, the Countess of Buckshire. Annabella is mad and I will prove it and end this nonsense.”

The two women looked at each other and smirked knowing what would await her at Whitegates. What they saw as being the soft option, of being a maid in the palatial manor, much the more favoured option than time at Whitegates. The Governess at Whitegates having quite a reputation for her treatment of the upper class brought low by their crimes.

Officer White grabbed the left wrist of Constance and the cold steel of the manacle was soon secured in place the right wrist swiftly following.  Roughly pulled to her feet Constance glared at the two constables.

“There is no need for this, what have you done, take these off now, I will need to change, I am going nowhere dressed like this and you can’t make me.”

The Constables had their instructions, if the Countess refused her compromised punishment and dress in the uniform left for her and sign the contract, she was to be prepared for transportation to Whitegates.

Screeching her protest’s, the Countess was pulled out of the parlour and down the hallway to the door. Pulling, twisting, and tugging could not prevent her being dragged to the waiting custodial carriage and was soon shackled to the floor pin inside.

Secured to a hard- wooden bench Constance stared out through the small- barred window at the rear of the carriage. The suddenness of her incarceration brought panic at the realisation she had no money with her for her planned bribes, how would she engage an advocate? Her fear subsided a little. Edmund, Lord Edmund, he would visit her, bring her money, he would engage the very best advocate for her, yes, and when she was free, she would sort Annabella and that interfering witch of a sister in law Lady Hogarth, once and for all.

Sat sullen and shackled in the wagon Constance heard voices and peered through the bars of the window. Constance holding a faint hope that Annabella would not go through with having her carted off to Whitegates prison. The Constables clambering aboard and the jerk of the waggon, as the horses took the strain, dispelled any such thoughts of reprieve. Constance looked back at the disappearing manor, as the carriage pulled out of Buckshire manors grounds, then held her head in her chained hands at thoughts of what awaited her at Whitegates but content and confident that Lord Edmund would be her saviour.

Annabella and her mother stood at the large windows overlooking the gardens watching the custodial carriage pass through the outer gates of the manor.

Maud chuckled.

“Not unexpected, but if Constance believes she will be able to use her social rank at Whitegates, of being a Countess, to seek privileges, she is in for a rude awakening. I am sure, after a spell on remand at Whitegates, she will be begging to return to Buckshire Manor to become one of your maids.”

Annabella smiled.        

“Yes mother, I am sure she will.”

 

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