Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 12.

by Jackie J

The diaries of Annabella had been most revealing to Emily, she had studied them in detail and had become familiar with all aspects of Annabella’s life and motivation’s over the recent past and going back many years. The entries leading up to Annabella taking the reckless plunge, and giving herself into the clutches of Buckshire manors housekeeper, exposing her troubled mind.  The beautiful self- assured socialite, that Emily had so much admired, was in stark contrast to the truth of her writings. 

Emily had spent hours and hours over many years with Annabella but never had the truth, that had been revealed by her readings, ever been exposed. Annabella’s deep- rooted wish and need for her self -flagellation and denigration a continuing theme for many years. Desires and needs now being fully exploited by her mother with maid Annie. The more that Emily read the more understanding of Annabella’s apparent misery she became. Whilst Emily had heard rumours, she was surprised that to compound Annabella’s self- loathing, Annabella knew, in detail, all about the Countesses affair with Lord Edmond, that made salacious reading.  

Every hour of every day Emily was all that Annabella displayed, now adept at portraying all the traits Emily had known, not what Emily now knew to be truth of her character. Emily had found the Earl, her father now, both fragile and charming but understood the roots of Annabella’s loathing and that continued relationship between them had to be maintained, as difficult as that was. Emily had no problem in enjoying the lavish lifestyle that Annabella had lived. Spending time at her apartments in London, no less frequently than Annabella had before her. Emily’s mother, Lady Hogarth had visited Buckshire manor on numerous occasions since the return of her brother and had amused Emily with an update on maid Annie’s progress at Sandowns.  Annie, Annabella, still unaware that her father and Constance had returned from Switzerland over two months ago. All was proceeding well at Buckshire manor and Sandowns and the recent seizures, the Earl had suffered, provided all the encouragement needed for the continued subterfuge.

Constance, watching her husband’s health deteriorate by the day was beside herself. The surrogate Annabella, ever more confident in her guise had intimated her intentions with her inheritance and Constance was becoming ever more aware of the consequences for herself should Annabella take control of Buckshire manor and all its wealth. Annabella had been away from Buckshire manor more than she had been in residence and Constance had been given little opportunity to reignite the dark desires that had seen Annabella willingly don the apron for her housekeeper. Forewarned by her mother, Emily kept well away from Constance, nothing unusual about that, the diaries had revealed that Annabella and Constance had been daggers drawn for years. No matter how hard Constance had tried, no matter how many subtle and not so subtle hints she dropped, Constance could not get Annabella to bite, to reveal her weakness, it was as if Annabella had never been a maid for the housekeeper and of course, the Annabella now at Buckshire manor never had.

Constance’s patience eventually ran out, she was going to confront Annabella and by hook or by crook, with Jarvis’s help, get that spoiled prissy princess out of silk and lace and back into uniform.

Martha listened nervously to her Mistresses plans, she would have to go along with them or the scheming and plotting, of which she was complicit, would unravel. Despite Maratha repeatedly telling her Mistress that Annabella was in total denial of ever being a maid Constance was adamant.

“I don’t care if Annabella denies everything, she was a maid for you and she will be a maid again, now get a uniform ready for her.”

A curtsy, and Martha was gone, she had to find Annabella and warn her.

Emily chuckled when Jarvis, in quite a state, told her of what the Countess, her Mistress, had planned. Emily did not panic, she was Annabella the heiress to Buckshire manor and it would seem, with the Earls worsening condition, she would be inheriting sooner rather than later. With instructions given to Jarvis Annabella made plans of her own and waited for Constance to spring her surprise. Annabella did not have to wait long.  The following week. Thursday afternoon, under some fictitious pretext, Constance asked Annabella to meet with her in the east wing annex, a seldom used area of Buckshire manor.

When Annabella arrived to meet with Constance, she feigned surprise at seeing the housekeeper stood by the wall behind the Countess.

Constance did not mince her words.

“So young lady or should I call you Annie? Yes, I know what you did whilst your father and I were away from the manor. A maid, my goodness, Miss Annabella Montgomery, daddy’s little princess, wants to be a housemaid, was indeed a housemaid whilst I was away. Well Annie, being Mistress of this manor, I see no reason that we cannot get you back into your uniform and into service as a housemaid. We both know that deep down that is want you desire, to be a common maid, and do not worry, Jarvis will ensure you will soon be back exactly where you want to be.

The Countess turned to her housekeeper.

The uniform Jarvis, give it to Annie.”

Annabella frowned at Jarvis for effect.

“Really Constance, Mistress of Buckshire manor, but not for long. A maid me? So that is why you have been making those ridiculous comments when we have been together. Would you serve tea like that Annabella, is that how you would bow your apron tapes Annabella, would you curtsy in that way Annabella, would you have your hair short like the other maids Annabella? Need I go on? Now, it all makes sense. Well I hate to disappoint you Constance but I have no intention of being your maid or entering the service of the Mistress of Buckshire manor and I must remind you, with my father’s passing, it will be I who will be Mistress here not you.”

Annabella laughed as if it was a spare of the moment idea.

“You seem anxious to see someone wearing the maids uniform Jarvis is holding, I think you should try it on, in fact I don’t think it, I demand it.”

Constance was taken aback having totally underestimated the completeness of Annabella’s rehabilitation. Of course, if the confident young madame in front of her was indeed Annabella, her plan may well have succeeded, to tempt and regress poor Annabella back into a life of servitude, but it was not. It was Emily the daughter of Lady Hogarth and the predator was about to become the prey.

 Attack was always Constance’s first line of defence and she laughed out loud.

“You can deny yourself all you want, I know, I know you have been a maid in this very Manor, you have given in to your desires for servitude once and you will again, surely it is best that you let me help you fulfil those desires, the uniform is yours girl, now put it on and drench yourself in the servility of your dreams.”

Annabella smirked and mocked applause.

“Oh, how very tempting but I think not.”

“I am leaving this room, which no doubt you chose because of its discrete nature, being in an unused part of the manor, and I will return in an hour. The future Mistress of Buckshire manor expects to find you dressed in that uniform, underwear, boots, everything for the future Mistress of Buckshire manor’s inspection. Should the future Mistress of Buckshire manor find that is not the case, well, when the time comes, the future Mistress of Buckshire manor will not look on the Countesses continued residence at the manor favourably, or her allowance.”

Annabella smiled at Constance’s expression of incredulity.

“Your choice Connie.”

Annabella turned at the door.

“Jarvis out, come with me.”

Constance appealed to Annabella.

“Please Annabella don’t make me do this, and the uniform, it won’t fit me.”

Annabella smirked.

“I think you will find it does, trust me, it will fit perfectly.”

Annabella and the housekeeper left, and Martha could not resist a suppressed giggle.

“Do you think she will wear it Miss, the maid’s uniform, all of it?”

Annabella smiled.

“We will see, won’t we?”

Martha headed to the kitchens to bring the tray that had been made ready and Annabella went into the adjoining room, which had been prepared, and took a seat.

Constance cursed under her breath watching the conceited trollop leave the room.

“Bloody arrogant little bitch, how dare she, how dare she, Connie? I am the Mistress of Buckshire manor, me!”

Constance ripped the dust sheet off a chaise lounge, stared at the maid’s uniform hung by the window then sat with her head in her hands, what was she to do?

That clever little madame had turned the tables on her and Constance never saw it coming. Her mind churned, Jarvis, she must have something to do with this, feathering her own nest, she must know Annabella is set to inherit the manor. I should have known, all those hints, they went right over Annabella’s head, what a mess, what a bloody mess. Now the cheeky madame wants me in the maid’s regalia.

Constance, only too well aware of the veiled threat of Annabella, to have her thrown out of the manor without a penny when she inherits Buckshire manor, considered her options. If Annabella, despite her denials, had been crazy enough to become a maid, and no doubt she had. Jarvis first and then Maud having confirmed it to be so, then tossing her out on her ear was more than just a possibility if Constance cannot find a way to disinherit the Earls daughter.

So, Annabella wants to see me wearing a maid’s uniform, no doubt for her perverse amusement, well that is no big deal, let her have her fun, who is going to see me in this part of the manor. Perhaps seeing me wearing the maid’s uniform will actually trigger the relapse I am after?

Constance laughed and resigned herself to conceding to Annabella’s demands approaching the uniform wanting to get this over with.

Self -consciously Constance started to strip believing the maids dress would never fit, whilst she hated to admit it, Annabella’s figure was much more slender than her own, which strangely appeared even more of a contrast since Constance had returned to the manor. Having carefully folded her clothes on the chaise lounge Constance shuddered trading her silk underwear for the baggy course calico, the shame of it. Into her petticoat Constance thought the lace trim a contradiction to the utilitarian nature of the garment. It was the second time her ostentatious jewellery had snagged and thought it best to remove it and leave it with her clothing. Lifting the black wool dress, its heaviness surprised her but not as much as how well the dress fitted fastening the many buttons from her waist over the bodice to the high collar. Constance stared at the apron and mop cap for some time before accepting that she would have to wear them. Similar with the heavy boots she laced up and like the dress, oddly, they were a perfect fit.

There was no mirror in the room and Constance was pleased that she could not see how she looked guessing that she would be horrified if she could. The windows however, although dirty, offered a blurry reflected image and Constance sighed. Sat by her pile of clothes she brooded and waited for what seemed an eternity feeling more uncomfortable by the minute.

Tense and bored Constance could not resist and standing by the window, having tucked the remaining strands of her pinned up hair under the trim of her cap, lowered a curtsy and mouthed breathlessly through gritted teeth.

“Yes, Mistress Annabella, whatever you wish Miss Annabella.”

The door to the room opening Constance turned sharply from the window blushing and not knowing what to do with her hands.

Annabella smiled at Constance’s embarrassment, just like she knew, the uniform was a perfect fit.

“A Countess in a maid’s uniform? No, it will have to be Connie whilst you are dressed like that won’t it?”

Constance was seething Annabella was obviously going to have her fun with her and sarcastically replied.

“Yes Miss, Connie Miss.”

Annabella pushed further.

“And a curtsy Connie, a curtsy.”

If Constance could, she would have gladly grabbed Annabella by the neck and throttled her, but she resolved to let Annabella have a moment of glory, she would have her revenge when Annabella eventually succumbed to her desires, which Constance was still convinced she would, and lowered a curtsy.

Annabella approached the Countess and fussed with the collar of her dress and straightened the yoke of her bibbed apron.

“And you said it wouldn’t fit, a perfect fit I would say.”

“Now come with me.”

Constance hesitated she could not be seen like this.

“Annabella, no I am not leaving this room, I won’t, bad enough you have me dressed like this.”

Annabella turned towards the door and opened it.

“Don’t worry we are only going into the next room.”

Annabella strode out into the hallway and a sheepish Countess crept behind her. Entering the next room Constance stood back. The adjacent room she had just left was semi derelict, dusty, its furniture covered, this room in total contrast looked lived in, used, clean, tidy?

Annabella was already seated, and Constance motioned herself towards a second chair only for Annabella to stop her short.

“No, no, a maid sitting come, come, Connie. You just stand here in front of me, let me admire your new look.”

Constance stood all awkward again unsure about her hands. Annabella noticed her dilemma.

“Fold them across your apron Connie, your hands, that’s where they go.”

Constance was feeling strange and uncomfortable by Annabella’s manipulation and instruction but with her hands folded across her apron a level of comfort was obtained.

Annabella smirked.

“So, if you are standing comfortably, I shall begin.”

“Yes, as you obviously know, I was a maid whilst you were away from Buckshire, I signed an agreement with your housekeeper to have me for her maid. Unfortunately, Jarvis took my desires further than I could have imagined, my fault entirely but the consequences were grave. I lost my mind, even accepted one of your service bands, how Jarvis acquired that I do not know, and that is how Auntie Maud found me. Nothing but a common housemaid, a willing housemaid accepting of the name Annie. If you had returned when you had planned that is how you would have found me. 

Aunt Maud managed to break the spell I had cast over myself and nursed me back to a full recovery as you can see. Now I find you, my Stepmother, obviously having been made aware of my plight, trying to drag me back into that dark place and put me to work, a maid, to be one of your maids, here at the manor. No doubt to keep me a maid, hide me away in your service and live off my father’s wealth.

It was like her whole plot was being unravelled before her, Constance had to refute Annabella’s claims. She had had time to think whilst sat brooding wearing her own household’s maids livery and interrupted Annabella.

“No, No Annabella I just wanted to see if it was true what had happened to you I would never…”

Annabella glared at Constance stamping her foot silencing Constance’s utterances.

“Shut up! I have not finished; you are dressed as a maid and you will act as a maid, you will speak when spoken to.”

Constance was surprised at herself she felt awkward even meek and capitulated, was it the uniform she was wearing? Feeling her head lowering she swiftly raised it. She had never been spoken to like that especially not by Annabella.

“That’s better, I would like to believe your denial but I can only conclude that was your plan and had it been you who had found me in my state that is most probably where I would be now. Wearing the uniform, that you now wear, still a maid, left in the clutches of your housekeeper Jarvis to be one of your housemaids.”

Constance again tried to interrupt.

“Please Annabella, believe me I...”

Annabella was unsure, but quick to her feet slapped Constance across her face into silence and was quickly seated watching the look of shock build on Constance’s face.

Before Constance could regain her composure, Annabella continued.

“I told you to shut up I have not finished.”

“So, what else could my wicked stepmother have done besides trying to exploit her daughter’s mental frailty to keep her for one of her maids? Adultery with Lord Edmund, yes, I know all about Lord Edmund.”

Rubbing her cheek in disbelieve at want Annabella had just done to her, Constance was feeling more vulnerable with every word Annabella spoke, how did Annabella know about Lord Edmund?

The door opened and Miss Jarvis entered and hid her pleasure at seeing the Countess dressed as she was stood meekly in front of the seated Annabella and followed the instructions Annabella had given her.

“The tray you requested is here in the hallway Miss Annabella, will your maid be serving you?”

The ferociousness of the Countesses glare at her Housekeeper could have stripped the varnish from the door through which she had just entered.

Annabella hid her enjoyment of the situation and spoke in an authoritative tone.

“Yes, she will.”

“Connie bring in the tray and serve.”

Constance was inwardly screaming but as well as Annabella was hiding her emotions so did she, and mockingly lowered a curtsy speaking sarcastically.

“Yes Miss Annabella.”

The tray retrieved and placed on a low table Constance proceeded to do her best serving tea to whom she believed to be her stepdaughter.

With Jarvis having left, Constance watched Annabella delicately sip on her cup unsure where this was all leading, was Annabella going to tell her father about Lord Edmund? she was soon to find out.

Annabella was in no rush to proceed with her plan enjoying the obvious discomfort of the Countess but having finished her tea she stared at Constance retrieving a prepared document which drew Constance’s eyes to it.

Annabella smiled.

“Take a seat and read this.”

It was a confession for wanting to take Annabella to be her maid and her adultery with Lord Edmund. In closing it guaranteed that the Countess would be allowed to stay at Buckshire manor and receive an allowance in keeping with her station when Annabella inherited Buckshire manor and its associated wealth, when the Earl died.

Annabella let Constance read through the document for a second time.

“I am aware of your scheming Constance, what you have just tried to do with me proved that, and I am also aware of my vulnerability. But for the treatment that Auntie Maud organised I have little doubt it would be I dressed as you are and who sits were you do now. The document gives us both what we want. You can remain at the manor with your allowance and I am protected from your further attempts to regress me into my darkness and have me for your maid. We both know my father has little time left. When he does die, for what you have done, I could quite rightly ask you to leave Buckshire manor and there would be no allowance. Lord Edmund relies heavily on the patronage of Buckshire manor and, without the revenues my father so generously allows Lord Edmund to keep, being the son, he never had, well you would both be in the poor house.”

Annabella stood from her chair looking down on a bewildered Constance.

“I leave for London in the morning and I will return on Wednesday. When I do return, I will find you here, in this room, dressed as you are now, with the document signed. If not? Well neither of us want that do we? 

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