Lady Ann's Holiday: Chapter Thirty Two - Part One

Going Home

1

Burt walked slowly up the lane toward the hall with Harry, the Earl riding ahead of them on his horse; Jeb walking behind.

None of them spoke. Burt still ached from the scars on his back and all over from the general rough treatment he’d taken. Harry wore a solemn expression but there was no fear anymore of the old man in Burt’s heart. Instead he had nothing but respect for the man. He had seen the look on Harry’s face when he was flogged; when he was sentenced in the makeshift court. Despite all the bluster, Burt knew that Harry cared about him deep down and that wasn’t something he was going to forget.

He still couldn’t quite reconcile with the turn of events – how sure he’d been that his life was over; that he would spend the next sixteen years of his life in prison. In the space of a minute, that destiny had been stripped away, but he still had no clue what was to become of him. The answers he had expected from the Earl still hadn’t come.

Before he and Harry had even reached the crowds outside the village hall the Earl had climbed atop his horse and started away. No one in the crowd had spoken but they followed he and Harry with their eyes. Tears had been streaming down Mavis’s face but even she hadn’t stepped forward and Harry’s grip on Burt’s arm had brooked no compromise on their steady pace back to the hall.

They reached the drive leading up to the hall. The Earl was no longer anywhere in sight. The working men continued up and found the Earl standing beside his horse, one hand holding the rein, the other behind his back. His chin was raised imperiously and he glared at Burt, stopping him in place. Harry and Jeb stepped away as though the gaze of their lord might burn them. Burt met the Earl’s stare for a moment then lowered his eyes and then his head.

“You violated the sanctity of my house,” said the Earl. “You took it upon yourself to disturb the purity of my daughter’s bed chamber.”

Burt didn’t move. He knew how guilty he was. He’d already accepted whatever penalty his betters deemed reasonable.

“But I can choose to be lenient if I wish it,” said the Earl. “I can offer mercy if it suits my needs.”

Burt didn’t raise his head but his heart pulsed brighter.

“In this case I choose to follow that path. You have had your lashes. You have had your time in gaol. In return for a solemn vow that you will never again shirk your rights and responsibility as my servant I will allow you to resume your position in my employ.”

“Oh thank you m’lord,” gushed Burt, hurrying across to the older man with no thought to propriety. “Thank you sir. I don’t deserve your forgiveness sir. I don’t deserve nothin from you for the way I acted. It was wrong what I done and I won’t do nothin like that ever again, I swear it. I’ll do right by ye sir. I won’t let you down, you can rely on me.”

“If you do let me down you will be back in that prison coach before you can blink my lad,” said the Earl. “Is that clear?”

“Oh yes sir. Yes. I’ll do whatever you say m’lord. I‘ll know me place. I won’t never go back in the hall sir. I’ll never break your rules no more, I promise. Oh thank you sir. Thank you.”

“Well give me your word then,” said the Earl.

Burt gaped at him vacantly.

“I want your word as a man that you’ll never shirk your duties here as my servant until the day you die.”

Burt looked back at him then glanced across at Harry.

He was so relieved that he could come back to work here – that he wasn’t going to prison. It was everything that he’d wanted.

When he was in his prison cell he had wished with all his heart that he had accepted his fate as a servant once and for all. He’d vowed that he would be the best servant he could be for all the rest of his life he only he could be granted his freedom. Here, now, was that opportunity. He could have his old position back as a labourer. All he had to do was vow to serve willingly and blindly for the rest of his days and it could be his.

But why did this make him quake with fear?

He knew why.

Lady Ann was on her way home at last.

At last.

What if she wanted to swap back?

What if she wanted to swap and he had given his word as a man to serve the Earl to the best of his ability until the end of his days?

His word as a man…

He closed his eyes and swallowed.

What choice did he have? If he refused then the Earl would surely send him away. He would lose all chance to swap back with her ladyship anyway.

But if he accepted… if he made his vow, would he be able to violate that and trade lives again if Lady Ann desired it? Or would his word lock him in this life forever? Would he be forced to refuse the trade back, even if it was offered?

“Well?” said the Earl. “Speak man! It isn’t too late for you to go to prison!”

Burt opened his eyes and looked up at the Earl. “I give you my word as an honourable man that I will never let you down sir. I will serve you and do your bidding until the day I die, I swear it by the good Lord.”

The Earl glared at him a moment longer then broke off, turning his back on him. “Good man. And I’ll hold you to that. Any lapse in your labour or servility – any delay in following your orders – and you will be dismissed without reference. You have made a solemn oath. If you break it then you will burn in Hell. Do you understand that?”

“Yes sir. I do sir. Thank you sir. You won’t regret this. I’ll do right by you sir, I promise. I’ll work twice as hard as I ever have.”

“See that you do.” The Earl turned away and marched up toward the hall. “Now put my horse away and get back to work. I’ll not have you shirking on the job.”

“Yes sir. Thank you sir,” said Burt, rushing to follow his orders, brimming over with relief and gratitude that he was a servant again and determined to live up to his vow to the letter.

 

2

As the train coasted through the East Midlands, Ann watched the countryside streaming by, her mind set loose to wander.

Richard sat opposite reading the financial pages of the newspaper with a scowl on his face. Every so often he tutted loudly but Ann didn’t allow this to distract her from her meandering thoughts.

There was nothing to stop her return now. At long last she really was returning to Griply Hall, but she’d never been so unsure of what awaited her there.

For three weeks she had planned to return and resume her former life as Burt but the past week had been a cascade of different situations and emotions that left her entirely bewildered. She no longer knew what she wanted.

After the abduction she’d been so convinced she wanted to be a man again but after witnessing again the lives of the servants she no longer felt as sure. She had wanted the promiscuity of a lower class existence but her principles had betrayed her. She was in love with Richard… or she thought she was.

She just didn’t know anymore. About anything.

Perhaps she would know when she saw Burt. When she looked into the eyes of that lower class servant she would know in her heart if she could stand to live his life again.

It seemed too fantastical really. Since the first week she had felt nothing strange about her body or feelings. This was just who she was. It seemed preposterous to consider the possibility of transforming magically into someone else, even though she knew it was possible. Surely things staying as they were had to be the simplest path.

She didn’t know anymore.

But she would know soon. When she saw him.

She would look into his face; into his eyes; into his soul; and then she would know.