Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 24.

by Jackie J

It would be just over a month before the move to Buckshire manor and whilst Emily was becoming a most competent maid it did not seem right somehow and Annabella wondered if it ever would. Emily did not complain oddly enough she seemed to be happy. Strange but Annabella was more content than happy she had more time with little Raymond which was nice, but it seemed sometime since she had laughed and her man with her all the time looking for things to do around the house was certainly strange. Perhaps it would be different at this Buckshire manor place, but Annabella was not totally convinced. It would be a new world a world she did not know. Emily had done her best and Annabella had learned quickly, outwardly yes, she would be a lady in anyone’s eyes, but internally, in her thoughts, she was a maid.

Annabella had spent some time reading the diaries that Emily had given her. A window on the girl she had been, the girl Emily wished her to become again.  She had missed her mother terribly and blamed her father and from reading, something never reconciled. Her father’s second wife the new Countess of Buckshire manor, Constance, was never accepted by her and a deep loathing was evident without reading between the lines. Spoiled she had been for sure, wanting for nothing but a sadness ran through the text. Her cousin Emily was mentioned on a number of pages a hint of frustration at her mimicking, dresses copied, her hairstyle but an amusing anecdote of letting Emily take her place at a summer ball. It was clear that the idea of becoming a maid gestated over time until it became an obsession. The later entries detailing that she had decided to actually force the housekeeper of Buckshire manor, Miss Jarvis, to conspire and collude with her to fulfil such a strange ambition. 

Her father and Countess would be leaving for the retreat in Switzerland with the domestic staff with only the housekeeper remaining at the manor. Cryptic entries reflected her enthusiasm and preparation even a note suspecting her stepmother was aware of her scheming was not seen to be a deterrent. There was no hint of permanency indicated, along with the feelings of compelled degradation she craved, and wished to experience it was, at the outset, to embarrass her father. On his return from Switzerland he would find his pampered princess reduced to the rank of maid. It was clear this shock intended to bring on a worsening of his fragile health, even his demise. Annabella could not recognise anything of herself in the writings, the author spoiled, conceited, arrogant and with little respect for others. No doubt many of her contemporaries would have been happy to see her reduced permanently to the status of maid and as Emily had explained, the Countess, her stepmother, had indeed sought such an outcome to steal her inheritance.

 Annabella and Raymond had many discussions about the new lifestyle they had acquired and having Emily for their maid. They would be moving to Buckshire manor next month to start the new life they had been given. Raymond was the first to raise the subject and Annabella could not be more pleased that he had. Annabella had been thinking the very same. Emily would definitely be going to this manor house with them. Laughing about what they would do, how it would be, both could not wait to get to Buckshire. Kissing led to love making and the agreement they reached was consummated in the soft warmness of their bed.

It was natural and Emily was pleased for Miss Annabella to know more detail about Buckshire manor, she would be taking up residence there shortly. Annabella wanted to know more about the housekeeper Miss Jarvis and Mrs Hardwick along with detail about the manor itself.

Annabella had told Emily about the issue with the Hardwick woman, raised by her mother, and that they would be visiting the manor together and how they were to put an end to the matter. Emily was uncomfortable with how this was to be done but, with Annabella and Raymond having told Emily what future awaited her at Buckshire manor, understood why, and preparations for their visit were made. Emily had always been uncomfortable with Mrs Hardwick, at least it will put an end to her constant inuendo when confronted with what Annabella proposed.

Arriving at the manor Annabella and Emily were shown through to the main reception room by a nervous Miss Jarvis and Mrs Hardwick joined them. Seeing the two together for the first time it was easy to see why the subterfuge had been so successful, like peas in a pod. But for their clothing, with Annabella’s hair regrown, and its natural colour, hard to tell them apart.

Miss Jarvis sat red faced Carol Hardwick listening intently with a smirk on her face seeing the two Miss Annabella’s sat opposite her. The smartly dressed Annabella spoke confidently with no shame about what had happened, her maid, sat next to her speaking meekly, but with no less conviction. Both having spent time rehearsing their respective lines. It was clear Miss Annabella was content being maid Annie, and yes, Miss Emily Hogarth, Lady. Hogarth’s daughter had taken Miss Annabella’s place. Strange as it may be, it was and remained consensual by all parties.

Not the meeting that Lady Hogarth would have envisaged, A lady and maid confronting Mrs Hardwick, but any plans Carol had of exposing some wicked plot were dispelled.  Mrs Hardwick smirk had turned to one of gloom but was lifted by the gift of golden guinea’s offered to both herself and Miss Jarvis for their continued understanding of the situation. Refreshment refused, Annabella and Emily left Buckshire manor and headed back to Gale House.

Annabella looked back at the manor.

“It is much larger than I imagined the place is huge.”

Emily adjusted herself in her seat.

“Yes, Buckshire manor is most impressive, your home again, Annabella. Will I be able to call you Annabella when we return to live here?”

Annabella smiled. Looking at Emily seeing a sense of pleading in her eyes she obviously wanted that.

Hard for Annabella, she had come to know her cousin, she was kind and had done so much for her, but the decision had been made and Emily knew that.

“We have discussed all this I think not Emily, Raymond would not be happy with that and besides such familiarity between Mistress and maid? No that can never be.”

Emily sat back staring through the carriage window she had hoped Annabella would have agreed to her request but accepted her decision.  The time- honoured demarcation between Mistress and maid would have to be upheld. Emily had thought her days at Buckshire manor would have been over. Having orchestrated the emancipation of her cousin, how strange that she would be returning under these circumstances. Reflecting on what Annabella had told her about their return to Buckshire manor Emily was more convinced than ever that the revelations she had made to Annabella were a mistake, but it was too late now, the die was cast.

The next weeks were spent preparing for the move from Gale house to Buckshire manor. Emily had not been treated badly by her cousin being her maid, not how she had seen maids treated by her mother and of course how Annabella had been treated herself, in her early days at Sandowns and at the hands of Miss Jarvis and Mrs Hardwick before that. She wondered how it would be at Buckshire manor for its new maid. Emily was hoping Annabella would change her mind, especially after all she had done for her, but Annabella was determined on how things would be for Mistress and maid at Buckshire manor. 

Emily would be leaving two days ahead of Annabella and her family to prepare for their arrival at the manor and, on the Wednesday morning she was all set to depart. Knowing Miss Jarvis and that wicked Mrs Hardwick would be waiting for her, she was not looking forward to the journey.

Emily sat back in the carriage was she really going to do this, she had never considered it would come to this after all she had done for Annabella. What would her mother say that she should not have interfered, her mother had said it would not end well and she was right. This was not how Emily had anticipated how things would turn out, not at all.

Two weeks and Mistress and maid were established at Buckshire manor Emily still bemused at her situation realising that her hopes of returning to being Emily Hogarth were now unlikely to be realised. She had brought all this on herself, in spite of her mother’s warnings, and this would be her life. There would be no need for pretence at being Miss Annabella Montgomery, that was all over now.

Lady Hogarth was the first visitor to the manor and, still finding it hard to understand, forced a smile at the curtsying maid wearing the livery of Buckshire manor welcoming her at the doorway. A maid she had chosen to be, and a maid is how she was treated, with the same disdain Lady Hogarth treated all servants, without a hint of recognition.

“Take my cloak girl and tell your mistress Lady Hogarth is here to see her.”

“Yes Miss”

Shown into the parlour Maud took a seat and stared at the mistress of Buckshire manor looking rather resplendent.

“Well I received your letter, hard to believe, but there it is having seen your maid with my own eyes, Miss Jarvis already having it into the manors livery I see. Remarkable that this is what she agreed with you, wanted to do. She seems happy in her work and you are looking well, no doubt pleased it is not you curtsying at the door?”

There was a brief silence before the call cord was pulled.

“Well pleased of course and remarkable indeed MOTHER.” 

Emily had pleaded with Annabella before Annabella and herself visited Buckshire manor to confront Mrs Hardwick, but Annabella would have none of it. Annabella and Raymond had decided, and it was final. Having learned more about Miss Annabella from the diaries and lived the life of a lady, albeit for a short time it was not for her or Raymond. She was happy being Annie and Raymond loved Annie not the Miss Annabella that Emily wished her to become. How could she be a lady, she was a maid it was all she knew. When given the beautiful dress to wear for their meeting at Buckshire manor, and Annabella back into a maid’s uniform, Emily knew that, despite all she had done, Annabella retained one major trait of the Miss Annabella she once was, that she wished to be a maid.

Raymond was happy, back at work, with what he knew, now on the extensive Buckshire estate his life had meaning again. Annie, a name Annabella was happy to readopt, felt relieved to be back in the skin she knew so well. 

Annie entered the Parlour and curtsied.

“Mistress.”

Epilogue

 Annie could have everything money could buy following her cousin’s revelations that she was in fact the heiress Miss Annabella Montgomery and had tasted the life she had obviously once led. The magnificent Buckshire manor and all its wealth lay at her feet for the taking. Yet despite all this she chose to remain aproned a maid to her cousin. The cousin who had sought the emancipation of the maid, Annie had become. Emily had pleaded with Annabella to reconsider, agreeing to continue being her maid how could she not want her life back? Annie had told her that it was not her life all she knew was the life of a maid, being a maid. Raymond was unhappy and so was she it was like a big pretence. At first, wearing the fine clothes and not having to work appeared idyllic but soon turned to boredom.  Having Emily for her maid seemed just reward for what her mother and she had done in keeping her a maid, but it was wrong. Perhaps Annabella would have thought differently and pursued such retribution but not Annie, she was not that girl and never wished to be.

Annie had never seen Emily being like the girl she had come to know from the diaries she was a much better person a much better Annabella than that. It was with Annie’s blessing that she should remain the Miss Annabella she had become. Lady Hogarth was more than pleased with the outcome having been distraught at the thought of her daughter accepting to become the maid of Annabella at Buckshire manor and of course the Buckshire fortune stayed within her control.

Mrs Hardwick did not stay long at the manor although Miss Jarvis remained in post for many years to come. Young Raymond grew fit and healthy and followed in his father’s footsteps unaware that the estate on which he worked with his father should rightfully be his inheritance. Miss Annabella Montgomery eventually married the most acceptable of her mother’s chosen suitors, Lord Malcom Beeston.  Malcom always intrigued but never told why Annabella treated her maid so well.

Constance, Annabella’s stepmother, never returned to England. With her renewed elegance and charm, she prospered in exile. A merry widow she married well rarely reflecting on what could have been at Buckshire manor.

The spoiled and petulant, pampered princess that was Miss Annabella wanted to live the life of a maid and Annie was the maid she became. Lady Hogarth had no regrets for what she had done and watching her daughter’s maid at work, often reflected on what was known of the girl Annie once was. What Annabella wants, Annabella get and what a good maid she was. 

 

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