by Jackie J
Following the meeting with her Aunt and
cousin Annie, for a maid she still remained, caught up with Gwen who was still
working in the bedrooms and she spent the rest of her day at her duties. Maud
and Emily sat discussing what Annabella had told them. Maud was not unhappy;
she would remain in charge of all the finances and her lifestyle would not
change. Annabella would require a residence for herself, Raymond, and her baby.
Rodrick would be staying in the cottage, certainly in the short term. Emily had
already told Annabella that she would do anything for her, but perhaps she
should have given more consideration to such an open -ended gesture if she knew
what Annabella had planned for her.
A temporary residence would be found for
Annabella and Emily would join them to help Annabella to readjust in regaining
the poise and grace of a lady. In due course, when Annabella felt ready, she
would return to Buckshire manor with her family.
Maud stared at her daughter.
“Well I hope you are pleased with yourself, with what you have done. There was no need for it, no need at all. Annie was oblivious to who she really was this will not end well I am sure of it.”
Emily was pleased, no more pretence or the
threat of exposure to be a fraud, she could go back to her normal life, albeit
not straight away, but after she had helped Annabella become the lady she once
was.
“It could not go on mother, I could not go
on, it had to end and now it as. Annabella is not being vindictive and why
should she be? Look, we will go along with what she wants and put all this
behind us. You have what you wanted, your Brothers money, Annabella could have
taken all that, but she wants you to continue running the family finances. I do
not mind what she is asking of me, it won’t be for long, everything will be
fine you will see.”
There were tears when Annie left three
weeks after Emily’s revelations. Raymond had a new job, the staff at Sandown’s
were told, and of course, Annie would have to go with him. Raymond had already
been away from Sandown’s, not at his new job but preparing Gale house for its
new residents.
Mrs Scripts served tea to her Mistress and
smiled.
“We will miss Annie Mistress and the
little one. I have written to Florrie like you told me to, and she will return
here, the funeral is next week for her mother, then she will be back.
Maud sipped on her tea and forced a smile.
“Yes, she will be missed, but it will be
nice to have Florrie back at Sandown’s.”
Maud would miss her maid but her main concern was for her daughter and what she had agreed with Annabella.
The first month passed quickly with
elocution, deportment, and Annie learning of the finer things in life. Annie
was a good pupil and Emily was watching Annabella blossom. Raymond busied
himself about the manor that had been acquired for them. Something always in
need of attention, the house was much larger than he had been used to and had
not been maintained in the best condition. The tuition had not been all one
way, there were no servants at Gale house and the two girls shared domestic
duties, Emily picking up basic skills and why shouldn’t she help around the
house? She was doing more than Annabella but Annabella had little Raymond to
take care of, so why not and besides, she was getting quite good, Annabella had
told her so.
Emily had returned to Sandown’s to visit
her mother at the end of each month always assuring her that she was fine, and
that Annabella’s rehabilitation was going well. Three months now and the third
visit brought questions that Emily would rather not answer, and again, as on
her second visit, she managed to evade her mother’s inquisition. Yes, her hands
were a little rough, she had still not found any cream it was not a problem.
Quiet and withdrawn? Nonsense perhaps it was just that she was not having to
pretend to be Annabella anymore, that was all. Emily wanted to tell her mother,
but how could she, not now, it had gone too far. Annabella and Raymond had made
it quite clear if she did and did not do just as she was told her mother would
be left with nothing.
Emily left Sandown’s after yet another row
with her mother about what she had done, what she was doing with Annabella, it
was the same after every visit. Emily now wishing she had listened to her
mother before she started all this. How was she ever going to return to being
Emily Hogarth now?
Maud was concerned but not overly so by
her daughter’s situation, whatever she was up to, she had brought it on herself
and she had pressing problems of her own at Buckshire manor. She had been
confronted by the Hardwick woman; she knew everything, all her scheming was
unravelling. Annie was being emancipated by her daughter and now this woman
wanted her pound of flesh. Sat nursing a glass of sherry Maud smiled. Loathed
as she was, she would have to speak with Annabella, something she had not done
since she and her daughter had left Sandown’s, but what she had in mind would
bring an end to Mrs Hardwicks plotting.
Emily returned to Gale house with less
enthusiasm than she had at the outset of her plans for her cousin’s liberation
from the life of a maid. Perhaps her mother had been right all along, she never
expected Annabella to become how she was, what she herself had helped make her.
Emily entered the parlour to a scene of
domestic bliss. Raymond in his fine suit sat reading by the fire. Annabella
kneeling by the sheepskin rug that little Raymond was playing on. The beautiful
dress Annabella was wearing, one of the many of Emily’s own, that Emily herself
had altered with the sewing skills acquired from her cousin, it fitted so well.
Perhaps she should be proud of that?
Annabella looked up and smiled cynically.
“I trust your mother was well, you have
something for me Emily?”
Emily offered the satchel filled with coin
to Annabella, the agreed monthly payment for Annabella from her mother.
Annabella now standing took the large
heavy purse and handed it to Raymond then turned back to Emily.
Now Emily, why don’t you get changed, then
take young Raymond for his bath, feed him and put him down then you can prepare
supper for Mr Winstanley and myself.
Emily did as was now accustomed and
curtsied.
“Yes Mistress.”
It had all started out well enough, much as Emily had planned and it was Emily herself who had joked that there could only be one Mistress in a household. How she soon came to regret that statement. How could she have been so naïve, Annie had been amongst gentry during her time at Sandown’s, she knew how they acted, spoke, and behaved. With modest tutorage Annabella was soon full of grace. Did Emily really think it had all been her own work? “You are teaching me it is only fair I teach you.” It seemed innocent enough at the time, and after all they were sharing the domestic work around the house. The sharing soon becoming disproportionate, subtly, and inconceivably but by the second month Annabella was doing little, always too busy with little Raymond. Emily had questioned this of course she had, but she was reminded that she had promised to do anything to help Annabella, after what her mother and she had done, so what was the problem? When presented with a maid’s uniform, she thought it was a joke, then realising it wasn’t, had threatened to leave, but it was an empty gesture, Annabella reminding her that if she did her mother would be left with nothing.
At the outset it was only to wear whilst at her work around the house, when was
she now not at work around the house or looking after young Raymond? Not long
after reluctantly accepting to wear the uniform of a maid, Emily, whilst
washing dishes in the Kitchen, was reminded by Annabella what Emily herself had
told Annabella about maids and what respect a Mistress should expect. From that
day onwards, for Annabella to become accustomed to that respect, Emily was
told, that her maid would give that respect and with little choice she had.
Yes, Mistress and a curtsy, how else should a maid address the mistress of the
household? Given Emily was rarely if ever out of a maid’s uniform it was only
right more should be provided and they were. Emily’s closets and drawers soon filled
exclusively with maid’s attire. Of course, there was plenty of room in her
closets and drawers for maid’s wear, there was little of her own clothes left,
having spent many hours with needle and thread with alterations, her Mistress
now had possession of those. After three months, with Emily’s help, Annabella
had certainly taken back her identity from Emily. What Emily could not have
envisaged, and found herself powerless to prevent, was that she would be taking
and indeed now had taken over Annie’s identity, to be kept by Annabella for her
maid.
Her duties attended to and supper prepared and served Emily sat in the kitchen having finished her own meal. She no longer dined with Annabella and Raymond, that privilege ended some time ago, when she was first into her maid’s uniform. A maid could not sit with the Master and Mistress of the household, could she, of course not. Emily had been full of remorse for what her mother and she had done with Annabella and that had weakened any resistance to what Annabella was doing to her, had now done with her, groomed her to be Annabella’s maid. It was strange, at first Emily was resistant but as time passed, she began to see the attraction that had drawn her cousin into the simplicity and anonymity of life being a maid. Like Annabella, Emily had never had purpose to her life, now, being a working maid, she did.
Days of boredom replaced by meaningful
work, things to do, things that had to be done. She did not have to think what
to do and when she was told. Annabella had taught her the basic skills she
required and her Mistress was ever helpful in adding to these abilities. The
strangest thing, as time being aproned progressed, was that Emily was
developing a strange pride in her work wishing to please her Mistress.
Annabella sat in the parlour reading the
letter she had received from her Aunt, Lady Hogarth, she was to visit Gale
House to discuss an important matter regarding Buckshire Manor, she would be
calling that very Thursday.
Arrangements to leave Gale house, to take
up residence at Buckshire manor, were well advanced and Annabella wondered what
this matter could be.
Annabella smiled at her maid entering the
parlour to serve tea her aunt was in for quite a surprise when she visited.
Maud was not looking forward to her visit
with Annabella but had little alternative if she were to placate the Hardwick
women and arrived early in the afternoon at Gale house.
Annabella opened the door to welcome her
aunt and Maud stood back staring at Annabella. The contrast to how Annie had
been and how Annabella now appeared was stark. She looked every part the lady.
“Well you look much different Annabella I
must say, and a lovely dress, I think Emily has one very similar, a good
choice.”
Annabella smiled.
“Do come in Auntie, through to the
parlour.”
Even Annabella’s voice had changed, much
more refined, much as it had been before her time being a maid.
Maud followed Annabella down the hallway.
“Is Emily here, will she be joining us”
Annabella turned opening the door to the
parlour.
“Yes, she is here, she will be joining us
shortly.”
Maud did not wish to spend more time with
Annabella than was necessary and taking a seat began to explain about Mrs
Hardwick at Buckshire manor.
Maud explained the situation with Mrs
Hardwick and what she proposed. Maud’s plan was straightforward enough.
Annabella and Emily would go to Buckshire Manor together, to be seen
together. Agree the events had been
rather strange but all had been resolved and that be an end to it. Of course,
give this Hardwick woman a little something for her trouble.
“Well Annabella, what do you think, this
Hardwick woman is trying to cause mischief this will put a stop to her thoughts
of blackmail.”
Annabella, in thought, stood and pulled
the call cord by the ornate fireplace.
“I am sure it will solve the matter you
raise, a perfect plan, shall we take tea Auntie?
Maud chuckled watching Annabella pull the
call cord.
“You know I can’t get over how you have
changed in what is it, three months going on four, and what, you now have a
maid of your own, remarkable. Emily must be pleased. Tea, yes that would be
nice.”
Annabella retook her seat.
“Why thank you Auntie, I am coming to
terms with being a mistress and of course so is Emily”
Emily unaware that her mother was at Gale
house entered the parlour, curtsied, then froze on the spot. Maud casually
turned to face the door seeing it open and gasped.
“O no, no, Annabella no, what have you
done, what are you doing, Emily, Emily, no, you can’t be, you can’t.”
Annabella smirked watching her Auntie’s
reaction at seeing her daughter enter the room and curtsy in her pristine
maid’s uniform.
“Yes Auntie, Emily is now my maid, like
you had me for your maid.”
Maud stood.
“This is ridiculous, preposterous having
my daughter dressed like she is having her for your maid after what she has done
for you.”
Emily composed herself, she knew her
mother would lose everything unless she agreed to being Annabella’s maid,
Annabella had made that quite clear, and stepped forward.
“Mother its fine it really is, and I am
learning new things. Miss Annabella needs to know how to treat a maid, what
better way than for me to be her maid, remember I did say I would do anything.
Please sit-down Mother, don’t make a fuss, I want to do this, like I say I am
fine.”
Annabella smiled.
“Tea for two Emily.”
Emily forced a smile and curtsied
“Yes Mistress.”
Maud watched her daughter turn and leave
the room.
“Annabella, I am not happy, I think you
are pushing things too much with Emily, how long are you going to keep her like
this?”
Annabella shrugged her shoulders pleased
with Emily’s professed, complicity to being a maid in front of her mother. Now
she would seek that same complicity from her aunt. The pair had no compunction
in having her for a maid why should she not repay them in kind.
“Auntie, I have allowed you to retain
access to the wealth you have become accustomed, despite what you and Emily did
with me. I am sure you would wish that arrangement to continue. Emily is most
contrite, in fact somewhat ashamed of what she did and, being my maid, is
helping her atone for her wickedness. Let Emily work through her guilt, you
could help her, accept her to be a maid rather than your daughter, treat her as
such, until she comes to terms with herself. She is doing really well it would
be a shame for you to disturb that and who knows it could cause me to
reconsider our own arrangement.”
Maud Looked at Annabella considering her
softly spoken words. The hint that her access to the money she enjoyed could be
at risk had her attention. Emily had just told her she wanted to do it, was
fine with the situation, her own words. This was all Emily’s doing anyway,
perhaps being a maid for a while will make her realise the error of her ways,
why not go along with it.
“Annabella, I do not agree with this at
all but, if Emily is accepting of being your maid, so be it
Annabella smiled knowing her aunt would
not sacrifice the wealthy lifestyle she had acquired and become accustomed to,
not even for her daughter.
A great chapter.
ReplyDeleteI love this chapter ! Now what about the Countess's dismise as Lady Hogarth's maid ?
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is what Emily secretly desired all along. This is why she was so fascinated by Annabella.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have access to that flow chart that helps you follow this story?
ReplyDeleteMs Jackie. Can you please include a list of character's in your next chapter? i have gotten so confused. What happened to the woman who was sent to prison and now spends life as an indentured/chastised maid? That was Annie/Annabella(s) Mother??? Wasn't there a housekeeper involved? I am starting to loose my mind now, like AnnaBella did.
ReplyDeleteThe woman in prison/indentured maid is Annabella's stepmother, the Countess, now banished to Switzerland. Annabella's housekeeper, who started this adventure, has been missing from the story. Mrs. Jarvis, the housekeeper, predicted that the adventure would not end well for her and she is about to be proven right. Mrs. Hardwick, the tutor/former maid, is the catalyst who will bring everything down. Lady Hogarth is one step away from an apron and a date with destiny. Is there someone in the shadows "licking their chops" looking for revenge? The story is on a slippery slope and I am loving every minute of it. Thank you, Jackie. Great chapter. I can't wait for the next installment.
DeleteI agree more with Annabelle being a maid than Emily because that is according to the title because Annabelle has always fantasized about being a maid, please create an alternative chapter for Annabelle who chooses to remain a maid for aunt so that the story varies
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is a very Prolific writer. 5 posts. Weird
ReplyDeleteFinnegan's Wake was easier to follow. Well, maybe not, but at least its complexities had substance beneath them.
ReplyDeleteAh! ...so you're longing for the joys of Useless ....er...Ulysses? Sorry wrong genre!
DeleteAnonymous is a coward, unlike me, the famous Brazilian footballer Richardinho.
ReplyDeleteHe has not written as many maid stories or played as many international football matches as me.
Maybe Anonymous is really Ronaldinho. Perhaps he just doesn't want his fans to know that he reads maid stories here.
DeleteAnnabella has not learned a single thing since the first chapter. She remains a single, insincere, self-centered, egotistical individual who cannot see beyond her own reflection. She seeks retribution while fawning innocence and simplicity. She is extolling her "pound of flesh from Emily who had an attack of conscience and has aided her recovery. One can only wonder what anger Annabella harbors for Lady Hogarth, Mrs. Jarvis, and Mrs. Hardwick. Annabella shows not one shred of compassion or understanding of the things that she herself has set in motion. All the troublemakers should get their just due. Where's the next chapter? Ronnie.
ReplyDelete