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

Ann had thoroughly enjoyed the evening before and the pleasure of being surrounded by family continued over breakfast.

It was so entertaining being among so many people who shared the same values and interests as she did. She’d spent several hours discussing Shakespeare with her Aunt Geraldine and Uncle Patrick after their precocious (and rather irritating) children had been sent to bed. She only had vague memories of her former childhood as Burt now but she knew that she valued her present family far more.

And it was super to be waited on hand and foot by the servants who had, once upon a time, been her own superiors. Enjoying the internal life of Griply Hall really was extraordinary but also very familiar and comfortable. Even though she knew this was only her second night inside the house, she retained two and a half decades of memories of a life here.

She left the hall after breakfast, letting Richard know that she wanted some time by herself to relax, and wandered down toward the stable. She still hadn’t decided what to do about Burt and the pendant but she was in half a mind to let fate decide. Whatever was meant to be would be.

Yes. She would let chance be the decider.

If Burt asked her to change back then she would do it. She would go and get the pendant and swap back right away. If he didn’t then she would remain who she was, at least for now.

It was frightening, not least because she knew that Burt surely would ask. He had waited almost a month for this. He must have been desperate to return to his former wealth and ways. But she needed that fear. She didn’t think she could make the decision herself without it being forced on her to some extent. And she had decided beyond doubt that it was what she wanted. All she needed was a nudge in that direction and she would go through with it.

Old Harry was sitting on the old cart outside the stable when she arrived, thumbing through his little notebook. When he saw her he slipped off hurriedly. “Good morning m’lady. Can we help ye?”

“Yes. I’d like to take my horse out.”

“Of course miss.” Harry called into the stable. “Jeb! Bring our er ladyship’s ‘orse saddled up! She’s going riding!”

Jeb poked his head round the door. “Right away. It’ll only be a moment m’lady.” He disappeared.

“Jeb?” asked Ann. “Why is he doing it? What about Burt?”

“Well…” Harry became uncomfortable. “I decided that Burt wasn’t good enough at the job m’lady. I put Jeb in as groom and demoted Burt to general dogsbody.”

Ann stared at him, surprised. She wasn’t sure why but that made her angry. It could have been seeing Jeb in her former position. It could have been the thought of losing her job if she did go back to her former body. It could have been disappointment at missing out on seeing Burt scurry round as her lackey. Whatever it was, she saw red.

“On whose authority was this decision made?” she snapped.

“Er… I made the decision m’lady,” stammered Harry.

“Without consulting me?”

“… Yes miss. I, er…”

“It is I who decides who is or isn’t capable of caring for my horse,” said Ann. “Not you! Is that clear?”

“Yes miss. Sorry miss.” Harry hung his head.

“Get that ugly great lump out of there and see him off then,” she snapped. “I’ll not have him touching Rosebud. Then get Burt back in there. He is the groom here until I say different, is that clear?”

“Yes m’lady. Sorry m’lady.”

Harry hurried inside and came out a few moments later with a sullen-looking Jeb, still holding Rosebud’s saddle.

“Would you like me to finish putting this on before I go?” asked Jeb.

“Are you imbeciles deaf?” exclaimed Ann. “You!” She pointed at Jeb. “Put that saddle back and get off this property or I’ll have you sacked!”

He ran back inside as fast as he could, red-faced and fearful.

“You!” Ann pointed at Harry. “Run and call for Burt from wherever you’ve thought to send him and get him back here! I’m waiting!”

“Yes m’lady.” Harry hurried up the drive toward the fields. 

“Run!” cried Ann.

Harry went even faster, his bow-legs flapping back and forth. Thinking to her former days of hardship, Ann smiled coldly.

Jeb reappeared and scuttled off fearfully without looking back. Ann’s cold smile broadened.

She heard Harry calling Burt frantically and then the pair of them hurried back while Ann stood with her arms folded.

For one brief moment, she and Burt made eye contact but he went past her quickly and inside out of sight.

“You’ve let this place fall into a deplorable state,” snapped Ann. “It’s a wonder I don’t have you flogged. Perhaps then you’d get it through your thick skull what is expected of you.”

“I’m sorry m’lady,” stammered Harry. “I’ll do better, I assure you.”

“See that you do. One word from me and my father will have you digging ditches down the fields. You aren’t too old for that quite yet.”

“Yes miss. Of course miss.”

“Well you can get out my sight now,” said Ann, “before I say something you might regret.”

Harry bobbed his head and disappeared inside the stable.

Ann waited, almost giggling at the pleasure of putting the old taskmaster in his place. There had never been a surer display of poetic justice.

Presently Burt appeared leading her filly from its stall. There was literally nothing left of the old imperious nature and feminine dignity in his posture or expression. It was remarkable. Even she, with her knowledge of the truth, could see absolutely no sign to his true... his former identity. And she supposed it was the same with her. For a while she had feared that people who knew the “real” Ann intimately would spot her as an imposter but with their trip to London and seeing them again here, her new family had suspected nothing. She really was Ann in every way, even, she noted, to the domineering way she treated the servants.

But well, there was no point worrying about that. The lowborn heathens generally deserved it!

“Ere you are m’lady,” said Burt, dipping his head and doffing his cap. “She’s been right well cared for if I do say so meself. I’ve been excercisin er for when you came back. I’m right grateful ye’ve reinstated me as groom. I’ve missed lookin after the ‘orses. That’s the best part of me job.”

Ann found herself lost for words. Without Harry there, she’d wondered if he might gushingly demand they swap back immediately but the simpleton was still playing his part diligently. It was almost comical.

There was a pause. Ann looked at the burly man probingly and he wilted under her gaze, unsettled and intimidated.

Will he ask me? she thought. All he has to do is open his mouth and demand to swap back and I will do it. I swear I will.

But Burt said nothing. He squirmed under her attention until finally, unable to stand the tension he said, “Can I ‘elp ye up onto the ‘orse m’lady?”

She looked at him a moment longer. Was he really not going to ask it? Could she ask him if he didn’t?

The moment lengthened.

“Yes,” she said. “Do so.”

Burt bobbed his head obsequiously and assisted her up, gazing at her as though she had climbed onto a throne.

There was another moment where their eyes met, when either one of them could have broached the subject. No one was present to overhear. It was safe. But neither did.

Ann clipped the rein and the horse trotted away, leaving Burt staring after her.

It was so odd. He should have been desperate to change back, but if anything, when he looked at her, he did so with… adoration. Ann remembered the obsession she had used to hold herself for the original Lady Ann. Was it possible that this Burt now felt the same way?

She giggled, wondering what it would be like to toy with him, making him think she might actually entertain that. She imagined his embarrassment and confusion and laughed out loud.

Yes. If the filthy monkey was in no hurry to swap back then perhaps she would enjoy that turnaround for a while. There was, after all, no hurry. They could swap bodies any time they wished – years from now if she so chose.