Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 14.

by Jackie J

Stood around the Earls bed there was genuine sadness and many tears. Emily, Annabella, had spent many happy times with her uncle and felt a level of betrayal that she stood at his bedside an imposter. Constance had loved the man he was and whilst she had sort solace in the arms of another her grief was genuine. Maud sobbed remembering her handsome brother laid low long before his time from his wretched ill health. She took some comfort that his adulterous wife would be paying for her sins in the years to come. Constance had grown distant from Malcolm over recent years at a time that he needed her most. Maud never thought Constance worthy of her brother’s love believing her to be nothing but a gold digger. Miss Jarvis herself in tears along with the maids and ground staff were allowed to see the Earl beyond his last moments and filed from the room heads lowered and sniffling in remorse at the Earls inevitable passing.

The Funeral was a family affair, the service in the local church and internment in the family crypt. Tenants from the farms and rented properties came to pay their respects in large numbers the Earl had been a popular, fair, and just landlord.

One particular mourner, that Maud watched carefully, was Lord Edmund and was most intrigued by seeing a note surreptitiously passed from Constance to the handsome Lord. No doubt arranging a clandestine meeting and her husband only just laid to rest.

The Earls Will was read three days after the funeral and in keeping with expectations, apart from minor bequests, Buckshire manor and all its associated wealth passed to his daughter Annabella.

Following the reading Maud found her daughter alone and crying.

“What’s wrong Annabella, what’s wrong?”

Emily hugged her mother.

“Oh, Mother what have we done, poor Annabella, she doesn’t even know her father is dead, she was silly, frivolous but she did not, does not deserve this, I feel awful I am not sure I can carry on with all this.”

Maud moved back holding her daughter’s arms and stared into her tear -filled eyes.

“Emi… Annabella, listen to me. If we had not done what we have. Annabella would be a maid at Buckshire manor in the service of that woman and that woman would have stolen Annabella’s inheritance and moved that Lothario Lord Edmund into my Brothers home. It was right what we have done, and we are not finished, remember. If you are worried about Annabella, Annie, do not be. She knows nothing of all this, nothing you hear, and never will. She is happy in service at Sandowns, she has a new life now, she is with child and Raymond loves her dearly. She is free from the clutches of that scheming woman and we will always ensure she is safe and cared for, she is family, my brother’s daughter, my niece, your cousin after all?”

Emily sniffled wiping her reddened eyes.

“You are right mother, she is happy being a maid, it is what she wanted.”

Emily smiled through her drying tears.

It is what Uncle Malcolm always said about Annabella, What Annabella wants, Annabella gets.”

Maud linked her daughter’s arm and they walked back towards the waiting carriages.

“Yes, Annabella and you have got it all my dear.”

Maud returned to Sandowns and Annabella shared a carriage with Constance for the journey back to Buckshire manor.

It had been a few days since the funeral and Annabella and Constance had spoken little. Constance was still seething about being humiliated by Annabella in front of her sister in law Maud, being seen dressed in a maid’s uniform down on her hands and knees cleaning. Annabella had avoided any conversation with Constance, regarding future finances, suggesting that until the will had been read and settled it would be premature. With that matter now settled, Constance was eager to know what her prospects would be concerning her allowance from the Buckshire estate. With an hour’s journey back to the manor Constance took her opportunity to speak with Annabella.

“So, Annabella, you are now officially the new Mistress of Buckshire manor, and I trust the agreement we made will be honoured? Me staying at Buckshire manor and the promised allowance.”

Annabella still with the thoughts of poor Annie in her mind and that Constance was the cause of her now wretched life, that of a common house maid, currently with child from the seed of a poor, labourer on her mother’s estate. Constance oblivious to the new life her stepdaughter now lived and the new Mistress of Buckshire manor was even more determined to see the Countess rewarded for her wickedness.

“Constance, you need not worry, we have an agreement as you say, trust me, it will all be sorted, I have a meeting with my father’s bankers and solicitor next week, you will understand there is much to resolve.”

Constance smiled her mind already scheming how to take back control of Annabella and Buckshire manor

“Indeed Annabella, much to resolve, especially for one so young, perhaps I should assist you in these matters.”

Annabella, aware that until Constance was no longer a threat to her, she had to tread carefully where the Countess was concerned.

“Constance rest assured, should I need your help in any way, I will ask for it, after what you tried to do with me, and your betrayal of my father, I suggest you keep your own council regarding the affairs at Buckshire manor, they no longer concern you.”

Constance huffed at being rebuked by the young upstart and looked out of the carriage window leaving a waspish remark.

“As you wish Annabella, I am just anxious my future is not compromised when you begin squandering your father’s wealth.”

There were no further words that passed between Constance and Annabella for the remainder of the journey back to the manor.

Constance spent the next few days mainly in her apartments worried for her future. Annabella seemed so different, Constance putting this down to her time being a maid. She was so ditzy, frivolous bordering on being simple, that had all changed. Annabella’s recuperation, under the guidance of her aunt, had left Annabella with an authoritative streak Constance had never seen before. Constance giggled pulling on her jodhpurs and sliding into her boots. With her silk shirt and tailored jacket, she enjoyed the portrayed masculinity of her garb and slapped her crop against her boot. Most mornings she had been out riding across the heath and moor to her secret place, The deserted barns, midway between Buckshire manor and Lord Edmund’s residence.

Lord Edmund a little younger than Constance but she was attractive and most active in her lovemaking. Lord Edmund had been most dependant on the Earls patronage, which was assured by his lover, and was now anxious to know that the Countess still retained her influence in that regard, now that the Earls daughter held the purse strings at Buckshire manor.

In the afterglow, of another aggressive session of sex, Lord Edmund looked up at Constance who was straddled across and above him.

“Constance, I do hope that there will be no changes to the arrangement I had with Malcom, you know, with Annabella now being in charge.”

Constance’s mood changed at the mention of Annabella.

“Edmund, I doubt that simple, naive girl can add two and two without her fingers it won’t be long before she is begging for my help.”

Confident she would prevail in the test of willpower with Annabella, Constance mentioned nothing of the confession she had signed agreeing her dalliance’s with Lord Edmund would end, if she was to remain at Buckshire manor and receive an allowance herself, and continued.

“Annabella will be too busy squandering her father’s money, probably spending more time with her friends in London than at Buckshire. Leave Annabella to me and don’t worry, I will make sure your arrangement is not changed.”

Dressed, the two parted, Lord Edmund content he would continue to receive his income and Constance plotting how she could wrestle back control of Buckshire manor from her stepdaughter.

Annabella’s meeting with the family Solicitor and the representative from the bank went as well as could be expected. Annabella did not mind the two of them discussing matters as if she were not there, and, when involved, being spoken to like a child. Annabella was amused how they spoke, as if the estate and family fortune, by proxy, was theirs. Some gentle reminders by Annabella reminding them it was not.

The two gentlemen were puzzled by Annabella’s interest in one specific ledger and set of accounts, those of Lord Edmund Fitzroy. It was revealed that the Earl had been paying Lord Edmund quite an inflated income for managing sections of the estate and Annabella asked that this particular ledger remain with her.

Assured that they would continue to manage the financial affairs of Annabella, has they had her late father, and all administrative matters resolved, Walter Swinney the family solicitor and Hugh Forsythe from the bank left Buckshire manor quite pleased. Pleased, both knowing of Annabella’s profligacy, that only a relatively small amount of cash, above the usual amounts required to run the manor, had been requested by her.

Later the same day Miss Jarvis had called Maids Mollie and Jenny to her office as requested by her new Mistress Annabella. Whilst both disappointed to be leaving the manor they understood changes would be made with the Earls passing and the generous sums given to both Mollie and Jenny, in the way of severance, surprised them both, and Miss Jarvis. Most unlike the arrogant and selfish Annabella they had known.

Annabella insisted on no long goodbye’s, a condition of the relatively large sum each had been given being that they leave that very day which they eagerly did to seek new employment.

With the maids having left giggling at their good fortune the housekeeper turned to Annabella.

“Mistress I have no problem with what has been done here at Buckshire manor it is not my place to question, it is no business of mine, but that will only leave Florrie and myself to manage the manor?”

Annabella smiled and sat in the chair once occupied by the Countess.

“Don’t worry Martha I have that in hand.”

Constance had gone to the nearby town an obvious recent widow from her dress and gracefully accepted the condolences of those she met. Black was never her colour, but traditions dictated.

Unaware of Annabella’s meeting with Lord Edmund she browsed haberdashery and fine fabrics considering and contemplating new clothes for her changed circumstances.

Lord Edmund was a little nervous seeing a ledger in Annabella’s hand, and being accompanied by her aunt Lady Hogarth, but smiled when greeting them. A smile that soon left his face when they sat to talk. Seated stony faced, across from the young Miss Annabella and her strict aunt, Lord Edmund was left in no doubt he would do as they asked without question. If he were to retain his income, he had little choice, in fact no choice. The confession of Constance, that he had read, plus the removal of the retainer her had enjoyed, displayed in the ledger, would surely lead to his social and financial ruin. There was some reluctance, that soon evaporated, to signing his own confession, to his adultery with the Countess and pushed the signed document across the table.

“I am sorry Annabella, I loved Malcom, I really did, he was like a father to me, it was Constance, she seduced me then threatened to get Malcom to stop my payments, I was trapped.” 

Maud had little, in fact no sympathy, for Lord Edmund, for what he had done with her Brothers wife.

“You should be ashamed of what you have done, you should have told Malcom, exposed that witch of a woman for what she is. Now not a word of this to that harlot, you do like you have been told or you know the consequences.”

Lord Edmund lowered his head he knew what he had to do.

“Yes, Lady Hogarth.”

Constance had questioned Miss Jarvis why her two maids, Mollie and Jennie had seeming disappeared overnight and was told, as Miss Jarvis had been instructed to say should the Countess ask, it was Miss Annabella’s wish believing three maids was excessive for the manor and seeing Miss Annabella only required one to leave both decided to go. Constance shrugged her shoulders.

“Surely that Florrie woman should have gone, back to whence she came, back to Sandowns, Annabella, I am sure she has done this to spite me, she knows they were my maid’s loyal maids. Too many maids indeed, how a lady can have too many maids I do not know?”

Constance had never entertained Lord Edmund at Buckshire manor, but the situation had changed and, with the Earl gone she was damp in anticipation at Lord Edmunds suggestion. Being taken in her apartments by the vigorous Lord Edmund, much better than writhing within the scattered hay on the floor of the deserted barn at the back of copse meadow.

Annabella was to be away in London and the housekeeper and maid would be in the village ordering and collecting provisions. Constance smiled to herself, her two maids leaving was not that bad after all, the manor would be hers and her lovers to enjoy.

The waft of expensive perfume and the soft rustle of delicate silk greeted Lord Edmund when he arrived at Buckshire manor and a glass of wine was soon in his hand, being taken up the ornate staircase to the Countesses chambers.

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