Story: What Annabella Wants Annabella Gets. Chapter 20.

by Jackie J

The first visit by the judiciary, on the six-month anniversary of Connie beginning her life of a maid, to ensure that the Countess of Buckshire, Lady Constance Montgomery, was not abusing her situation and was indeed complying with the conditions that had been accepted for her, went well, very well. The Governess-Matron of Whitegate Prison, Miss Stanford- Brown, amongst the select inspecting group was most impressed. There was no evidence of pretence, Buckshire manor truly had a new and attentive maid in Connie, Miss Stanford- Brown congratulating Mrs Hardwick for her work in cajoling the privileged aristocrat into a live of servitude.

Annabella had grown to realise her mother’s scheming was not really for her benefit at all, but for her own. With the real Annabella Montgomery hidden away at Sandowns, indeed happy with her life, being Lady Hogarth’s maid, and lady Constance, her aunt, forced into servitude at Buckshire manor the waters had closed nicely above the conspiracy to defraud Miss Annabella and the Countess from their rightful inheritance. No one being aware or even suspicious that Annabella was a fraud.

Sandowns had been totally renovated and refurnished and Lady Hogarth, having made the most of the power of attorney she held for the Buckshire fortune, entertained, and socialised at her leisure, money being no longer being a consideration.

Annabella had duties to perform within the local community, heading the charities of the late Earl but little else to occupy her. Emily was becoming increasingly annoyed with her mother who seemed to have little time for her when she visited Sandowns. Lady Hogarth’s visits to Buckshire manor were also increasingly rare.  Her mother was always too busy away at or organising some social function or other. Annabella was always invited to these events but being sat with a group of middle -aged women had grown tedious. The last two visits to Sandowns, with her mother occupied, Emily had spent nursing young Arthur and talking with Annie. Annie was so happy, Arthur loved her, and she had baby Arthur to bare testament to that. She was a good maid and was looked after well by Mrs Scripts.  Discounting Annie’s work being a maid, which Emily knew was quite arduous, her life seemed to have an idyllic simplicity to it. With baby Arthur on her knee Emily stared at Annie.

“You always seem so happy when I visit Sandowns Annie, and little Arthur is a joy is he not.”

Annie loved it when Miss Annabella came to visit, she always spoiled young Arthur and always spoke to her differently somehow, more like a friend would, like when she spoke with Gwen or cook.

“I am happy Miss Annabella, I have everything here at Sandowns and young Arthur always makes me smile, his father, Arthur and I are so Blessed, so lucky, we really are.”

The guilt that weighed heavy on Emily’s conscience wanted her to scream out the truth, but how could she, what was done was done, there was no way to atone for what her mother had done with, and to Annabella. Cradled on her knee was the true heir to Buckshire manor and its wealth but destined never to know. 

Emily was feeling more and more like her mother’s puppet and now Maud was seeking out a suitable husband for her daughter. Well for Lady Annabella Montgomery of Buckshire Manor that is.

Back at Buckshire manor Emily could not rid herself of the constant deceit watching her aunt, reduced to the status of housemaid, scrubbing, and polishing about the manor. Every fawning curtsy maid Connie made preying on Emily’s troubled mind. She could not continue this pretence always fearful, no matter how engrained her Annabella persona, she could make a slip, and the whole charade would unravel bringing certain ruin. Emily’s mother had always been on hand to protect the pretence, but now less so.

Mrs Hardwick who ridiculed and mocked her aunt at every opportunity had dropped subtle hints on numerous occasions about Annabella’s own time being a maid, but not ever actually being maid Annie, it was awkward, Emily knew nothing of maid’s work, it was if she was testing her. Seeing how the woman treated her aunt, no wonder Annabella almost lost her mind under her supervision. It was all wrong a mere maid berating and laying a strap on the once proud Countess with gloating enthusiasm, it had to stop.

The guilt and constant manipulation of Emily’s affairs by her mother came to a head one afternoon and Emily told her mother of her plans. Annie was fine, she was assured of that, but Aunt Constance, the countess, Connie, something had to be done. Maud’s answer was to have her sent back to Whitegates but that would involve a court case so out of the question. Maud could sense a determination but also a weakening of resolve in her daughter that troubled her, daughter or not she was not going to lose what she had gained and the lifestyle she now enjoyed.

Maud sat and listened to Emily. Maud had already had her enjoyment and revenge having her sister in laws life destroyed, having become an object of ridicule within the social circles she used to grace, making the once proud Countess confess to long held desires to be a chaste maid. With what Emily was suggesting, the threats that had the Countess swap silk and lace for coarse cotton and wool would still hang over her. It would certainly get rid of Constance but what of her daughter? How long before Emily is seeking restitution for Annie? Maud chuckled to herself at the thought of how to prevent that.

“Emily, we agreed that Connie would remain in service for three years, now, after less than one year, you are proposing this. I understand you are finding it hard being the Mistress of the manor and, having the ex -Mistress for your maid, is obviously not helping with that. I am not happy with this change of plan Emily but from what you have told me I fear, unless something is done, it is only a matter of time before you break down and confess all, and where will that leave us?”

“Go to London Emily spend time at your apartments, leave your aunt Constance to me I will do as you say and make all the arrangements. Have you thought more about Rupert, Lord Granville’s son?

Emily was satisfied, having got her way for Constance, but Rupert, the prospect of being his wife made her shiver.

“Mother I told you I will choose my own husband not you.”

With Emily having left for London, Maud arrived at Buckshire Manor and called Miss Jarvis to the study. It was not unusual for Lady Hogarth to treat Buckshire manor like she owned it, and why not, she practically did.

“Bring Connie to the study Jarvis I would have a word with your maid.”

Connie entered and, following her curtsy, stood in her now habitual stance, hands across her apron her gaze lowered. There had been little fair but much firm with the new maids training by Mrs Hardwick.

Maud seated herself behind the desk that was once that of the Countess.

“For me you would remain like this, but it seems Miss Annabella is not comfortable with the situation, not comfortable at all. It disturbs her seeing you scrubbing and cleaning, being treated like you are. She feels you have suffered enough. Miss Annabella now owns the Buckshire residence in Switzerland, and you are to be sent there, with a generous allowance never to return. Should you return, I need not remind you, that Whitegate will be waiting for you.”

“Jarvis will assist you in packing one trunk which you may take with you, your allowance will cover your needs in your new home.  You leave this evening your passage is booked.”

Constance raised her head only half believing that her torment was to come to an end. Switzerland a new start, she could rebuild her life. She dared not question what the allowance would be, just grateful that Annabella had taken pity on her.

Maud placed a key on the desk and smiled pulling the call cord and Miss Jarvis entered the study

“Connie is leaving Buckshire manor, pack one trunk which she will be taking with her and let her dress respectably for her journey.”

Maud stood offering the key to Connie.

“You may relieve yourself of your burden and go with Jarvis to change ready for your voyage.”

 Escorted from the room by Miss Jarvis Constance turned at the door and glared at her sister in law. From Countess to prisoner to maid and now to exile, Maud had manipulated Annabella against her but thankfully Annabella was giving her back her dignity. Things should have been so different and but for the interfering Lady Hogarth they would have been. Constance left knowing she would not see Buckshire manor again.

Maud sat back at the desk and chuckled to herself, confident the Buckshire manor fortune was secure. Annabella, the true heir, a content maid, oblivious to her stolen destiny and Constance, the once Countess of Buckshire manor, shamed and banished overseas.   

Buckshire Manor was somewhat deserted without its Mistress only Carol and Martha remained. Annabella was in London and Maud, Lady Hogarth, had returned to Sandowns and Florrie had been given time off to visit family in the north. Carol was discussing leaving Buckshire manor with Martha but had agreed to stay until Florrie returned. Over more than usual glasses of wine the two laughed at the events at the manor, first Miss Annabella then the Countess herself, Ladies becoming maids. Carol sat back and smiled. She had tried on numerous occasions to question Martha about Miss Annabella but had always been told that she should forget about what happened with her. She had been paid well and it was none of her business. With Carol soon leaving she had to know, something was not right. She had known Miss Annabella before she had taken the apron and had seen much of her since. Annabella was surly, rude, and precocious. There was still arrogance, but Annabella over recent months was showing less of these traits. Could her time of being a maid have changed her character so much? Then the birth mark, what first made Carol suspicious, that perhaps the Miss Annabella she had squealing under her strap and the kindlier Miss Annabella, were not one and the same at all. When Annabella blanked her, when Carol first arrived back at the manor, like she did not know her, Carol put this down to her trauma. But not in all her time back at Buckshire manor had the girl given any inkling of recognition of what had transpired between them, despite her subtle hints. It was more than denial and with only Martha and herself at the manor Carol needed to know the truth.

 “You know Martha, the Countess never submitted fully, not like Miss Annabella. The spark of resistance was always in the Countesses eyes, but Miss Annabella, she really did want to live the life of a maid, but she is like a different person now, in fact Martha I believe she is a different person.”

Jarvis knew everything that had gone on at Buckshire manor but also knew her place and, apart from being rewarded well by Lady Hogarth, knew if the truth ever came out, she would be implicated and suffer the consequences that would surely follow. Carol would also find herself on the wrong side of the law.

Martha took a drink of her wine and laughed, only three people knew the truth and Carol was not one of them.

“Don’t be silly Carol how could that be, you have seen her for goodness sake, could there really be two of them? What are you saying, she is a wicked twin or something?”

Carol sensed unease in Martha and pushed on.

“What about the birth mark then, on her upper thigh? Did her Aunt get rid of that along with her personality? You know something don’t you, don’t you Martha? I will find out so best you tell me.”

Martha put down her glass and stood a little wobbly.

“Carol, stop it, stop it now, it is none of our business, trust me, you don’t want to know. Miss Annabella is Miss Annabella and let that be an end to it.”

Carol smiled.

“Sit down Martha, sit down.”

“I knew it, so who is it, Miss Annabella, who is she really? And where is the real Miss Annabella?

Martha sat and put her head in her hands, she had carried the burden of what she knew long enough, and the wine was lubricating her remorse.

“Oh Carol, I wish I had never got involved, got you involved, agreed to what Miss Annabella wanted!  It was the Countess, it was all her doing and look what has happened to her! Lady Hogarth found out everything had her daughter take Miss Annabella’s place. She took Miss Annabella away to be her maid at Sandowns, she must still be there? Lady Hogarth controls everything now, everything. There is nothing I can do, we can do. Emily, that is her real name, is almost identical to Annabella, no one has been suspicious, only you. Let sleeping dogs lay Carol, for your own good. When Florrie returns take the money and go, forget Buckshire manor.”

Carol smirked so her suspicions were correct and fetched and opened another bottle of wine, not the cheaper vintage they had been drinking but from the special reserve. Having filled their glasses Carol sat taking a good drink.

“Mmm very nice, very nice indeed, I could get used to this and you know Martha I think I will be doing.”

Martha was a little more hesitant drinking the mistresses’ wine slowly raising her own glass to her lips before taking a small sip.

“Carol don’t do anything stupid I have told you, leave it alone, I have seen what Lady Hogarth is capable of what she can do.”

Martha smiled.

“Leave Lady Hogarth to me Martha.”

“Now Martha, enjoy your wine and you will tell me everything that happened after I left here last time.

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