Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 21.

Chapter 21

Martha’s revelations both amused and intrigued Carol the chain of events set in motion by Miss Annabella’s wish to experience the life of a maid bordering on the surreal. Lady Hogarth having certainly exploited and manipulated the situation to her advantage. But for Martha’s indulgence of Miss Annabella’s fantasy, and indeed her own involvement in creating maid Annie, from the precocious privileged Miss Annabella, Lady Hogarth and her daughter would be none the richer for sure. Lady Hogarth had outwitted the Countess with the substitution of her own daughter for that of the Earl, more shame on the Countess for not knowing her stepdaughter better. Carol laughed to herself. Even she had been taken in, the change in personality had been put down to her trauma, which was credible enough, and a doppelganger, Lady Hogarth’s daughter certainly was. Martha had known all along, indeed a co- conspirator. Once Lady Hogarth had entrapped Buckshire manor’s housekeeper into her scheming with threats of the law, for what she had done with Miss Annabella, she could not escape for fear of her liberty. The money Martha now had stashed away an even greater and continuing inducement to continue the subterfuge.

Reducing the Countess to the status of housemaid had indeed eclipsed the subjugation of young Miss Annabella, the actual Mistress of Buckshire manor wearing the livery of her own maids and put to work in her own manor, and work she had. Carol had taken great pleasure having the Countess dancing to her tune.

Three months under her harsh tutorage and it was as if she had been born into servitude with her stooping gait and flared frock curtsies to her betters. Rewarded well she had been, but she would have paid good money to slap and strap that bare backside into submission and acquiescence into its new life. More the pity that she had been spared a continuation of her torment. 

Knowing the truth of what had occurred at Buckshire manor was one thing, turning what she knew to her advantage another.

But for the birth mark, endorsing her suspicions and of course Martha’s drink induced full and detailed confession, to unburden herself, Carol would be none the wiser. But now she was, and Carol was contemplating her own betterment beyond the few coin that had placated Martha.

Miss Annabella was in no hurry to return to Buckshire manor, but she knew she must. Buckshire manor was hers, but in truth her mothers, and she never felt less deserving. Her wealth, her life, Buckshire manor it was all rightfully Annabella’s not hers or her mothers.

Hopefully, her aunt Constance would have left for Switzerland and, having spent her time in London deliberating, she was more determined than ever to right the wrong that had been visited on her cousin Annabella, she must know the truth and be reinstated to her rightful rank. Emily knowing it was the right thing to do had written a letter to her mother explaining her intentions on her return.  Sat in her apartments in London Emily knew that her mother would resist any and all of her efforts to emancipate her cousin, she would have to take the first step herself, present a “fait accompli”. 

Annie, having taken a letter addressed to herself from the delivered correspondence, presented the post tray to her Mistress and Maud, having finished breakfast, took the correspondence through into her study.

Two invites which she placed by the tray and then she opened the letter with the recognisable London postmark. Maud chuckled at the naivety of her daughter perhaps when she considered the ramifications of what she was suggesting she will think differently. Stern words would be needed with her daughter on her return.

Annie was quite excited with the contents of her letter although a little mysterious. She was to meet with Miss Annabella at the tea rooms in the local village on Tuesday week. She was to wear her prettiest dress and tell no one, she could bring little Raymond with her if she wished.

Without questioning why Mrs Scripts agreed for Annie to take a day off from her duties. Annie was the most dutiful of maids and deserved a little time to herself. When the day arrived Mrs, Scripts smiled watching Annie wheeling her pram out onto the lane heading to the village. She looked so ladylike in the new dress and matching bonnet she had made for herself.

Emily had arrived from London that morning and her carriage from the station had brought her directly to Thomson’s tea rooms. Emily fearing a return to Buckshire manor, before her meeting with her cousin, may have weakened her resolve.  During the train journey and in the carriage, she had repeatedly gone over what she would say, how she would explain, she was a bag of nerves.

Taking a seat at the rear of the tea rooms Emily explained that she was awaiting her companion who would be joining her and would wait to be served.

Emily gulped seeing her cousin at the door being helped inside with young Raymond and felt a flush coming over her, there was no going back now.

Framed in the doorway Emily’s cousin looked lovely. Since her pregnancy and the birth of Raymond Annie’s figure had returned, well not quite, but much closer to her pre maid time. Annie’s hair also back to its natural blonde hue, the dying of her of hair a burden she relinquished during her pregnancy, still short but neatly styled. Annie’s complexion could never return to its natural glow but with her bright eyes and the loss of the chubbiness in her cheeks there was an understated prettiness about the maid of Sandowns.

An exchange of smiles Emily motioned for Annie not to curtsy and Annie took her seat opposite Miss Annabella.

“How is little Raymond, is he awake?”

Annie adjusted the blanket of his pram and smiled.

“Yes, he fell asleep not long after leaving Sandowns, the motion of the pram, I think.

Tea and cake served Annie was anxious to know why this meeting but was hesitant to ask. For her part Emily was no less reluctant but having taken a sip of tea, took a breath and began. 

 Two hours of engaged and for the most part awkward conversation punctuated with two further pots of tea was filled with emotions of disbelief, incredulity, veiled anger, and supressed amusement. Emily sat tearful and drained from her unburdening. Redacted her confessions were, intermating and emphasizing up to the point of Annabella’s illness, and total memory loss, it was all consensual. Her mother, Annabella’s aunt Maud having only facilitated Annabella’s wishes and seeking to safeguard the family’s wealth from her scheming stepmother. Emily could not bring herself to admit her mother had instigated Annabella’s illness.  Annabella, as she had been told she actually was, stared into her cup of cold tea.

She had been a lady, the dreams, and imaginings, that had at times haunted her, where more than imaginings, they were ghosts from her previous life. The documents Emily had showed her, now laid out on the table, bearing testament to her own willingness to trade a privileged life for that of servitude. To enter into service at Sandowns a mere maid and how her stepmother had sought and indeed confessed to seeking advantage to disinherit her. She felt numb, faint, why now, why now had Emily confessed all this to her, told her all this, so many questions?

Try as she might she could not recall any of her previous existence told to her by Emily, Emily her cousin, not Miss Annabella at all. Her father, whom she had no recollection of, had died, her stepmother, a countess had been imprisoned then forced to be a maid herself at this Buckshire manor, then reprieved by Emily to be banished overseas by her aunt for her wickedness.

Now these revelations, what now, was she no longer a Mistresses maid? How could she be, given what Emily had told her was the truth? Could she return to being the Lady she once was?

The lady who owned the Tea Shop came to take away the third serving and smiled disturbing Annabella’s thoughts.

“Well you two have obviously had a lot of catching up to do you have been nattering away for ages, sisters hey, let me guess twins. Anyways I will be closing up shortly so you will have to carry on your catching up somewhere else ladies.”

Emily looked at Annabella it had been a gradual transformation since the birth of Raymond, but Annabella was looking more like her old self for sure and the tea lady’s’ comments brought that transformation very much into focus.

Emily and Annabella both amused by the tea lady’s comments giggled nervously.

“I am so sorry Annabella my Mother did not want me to tell you all this, she said you were happy with your new life it was what you wanted. I just could not carry on, for your sake and mine but mainly for little Raymond, he is the true heir to the Buckshire fortune and definitely not me. I would rather be poor than live with this guilt.”

Annabella looked into the pram at the sleeping infant then reached across the table taking hold of Emily’s hands squeezing them gently and looked into her teary eyes. 

“I think I understand, misguided or not, that I wanted this, the evidence is before me, that I wished to be a maid, and for approaching three years you say I have been like this. During this time, you and your mother have kept me for a maid and now, to ease your conscience, you tell me I am actually a Lady, a Lady like you and rich, very rich. What will I tell Raymond, we are so happy how we are, with what we have, it is all I know? How can I, a mere maid, possibly be a Lady? I wish you had not told me this Emily; I really do. If it was just for me, I would say leave me to my life, the life I have with Raymond and little Raymond, but like you have said it is little Raymond I must think of. This is going to take some time to get used to, to sink in, to understand, I must speak with Raymond tell him what you have told me.”

Emily spoke through her drying tears.

“Please forgive me Annabella, I could not live with myself any longer, you had to know the truth. I will do anything to atone for what has been done, anything you just have to ask. I told my mother that this wrong must be put right but she doesn’t know I have had this meeting with you, told you everything.”

Annabella still trying to come to terms with what Emily had told her slid her hands free from her cousins and sat back. Her Mistress was actually her aunt her aunt who, according to Emily, had initially indulged her fantasy to be a maid then, following some strange illness that took her memory, had not sought a cure, but kept her to be her maid and, but for Emily’s conscience, a maid she would have had her remain. Aunt Maud, as she now knew her to be, according to Emily, had plundered the inheritance which was rightfully hers under the pretext of safeguarding her father’s wealth, her brother’s wealth as she saw it. Whilst not told that way by Emily and perhaps never Emily’s own intention, was this the root of the matter, for her aunt Maud to secure the Buckshire fortune?

With all the other tables in the tearoom cleaned and reset the owner of the tea rooms stood with hands on hips looking at Emily and Annabella.

“Ladies I must ask you to leave now, you may have been my best customers today but I only have your table left to clear then I can shut up shop for the day.”

Emily helped Annabella with the pram at the doorway and motioned for her carriage driver to assist in placing the pram into the carriage.

“You must ride back to Sandowns with me.”

Annabella could not help herself and curtsied.

“Yes Miss.”

Emily smiled.

“No more of that Annabella remember you are lady not a maid.”

Annabella blushed feeling awkward how would she cope with being a lady a maid’s life was all she knew.

The rattling of the coach on the return to Sandowns awoke young Raymond and the two of them fussed over him. Emily relived with what she had done, Annabella’s mind filled with confusion. 

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