Lady Ann's Folly: Chapter One - Part Nine

Ann waited in the holiday cottage feeling more and more nervous.

The longer the wait went on, the more she questioned the sensibility of her decision, but she kept telling herself that the time for doubt was over. She hated questioning herself once a decision was made; she just wanted to get on and do it now.

It was funny to think that this was the same place that had been used a month earlier to trade her former life of poverty and servitude for her new one of wealth and prestige. The memories of her former life as Burt were scant really now but if she concentrated, she could just about picture herself as the former stablehand, gazing in wonder as the former Lady Ann approached her wearing the pendant.

Had the transformation been painful? She couldn’t quite recall now. It had seemed queer, certainly, but she didn’t remember actual agony. Perhaps mild discomfort.

For some reason she was nervous to be meeting Mavis again. This would be their first conversation since she was a man. Obviously she felt entirely different now, but she couldn’t help wondering if she might fall into the old state of mind when confronted with the bawdy girl. It was ridiculous really. She was every bit the cultured lady of the manor now. She shouldn’t feel intimidated by a commoner, regardless of their background.

She went to the window and looked down the path, winding a clump of her dress in her hands, then she walked through to the bedroom; back into the sitting room.

Unlike she former Lady Ann, it hadn’t occurred to her to secrete a store of cash in the cottage to use in her new life, but even if it had she would have discounted it. There was no intention to remain a member of the working class for more than an hour or two so it would not be necessary. Perhaps this was foolish but Ann allowed no room in her mind for failure. It was going to work exactly as she had planned. She had sufficient payment to convince Mavis to go through with it.

She sat down, straightened her dress carefully and then noticed the primness of her posture. How different it would be when shortly she had made the transformation. She loved being an aristocratic lady but she had inherited enough of the original Ann’s persona to desire the freedom of lascivious promiscuity as well. How differently might she sit and stand and move when she turned into Mavis?

She had been a member of the lower class before but never as a woman. She wondered if being one might approximate the best parts of all aspects.

But no. She giggled. Remaining Mavis for the rest of her days was entirely out of the question. She’d had enough of being poor for one lifetime.

There was a sound outside and Ann got to her feet nervously.

Yes. Female chatter came from the path leading up to the holiday cottage and it was coming rapidly closer. There! Movement in the front window! Two figures approaching the door.

The front door shifted and Ann checked herself one final time, marvelling at how flighty she was feeling. It was a shade perhaps of the original Ann’s feeling prior to the first swap, for if gambling for money was a terrific thrill then gambling for destiny was one better. She didn’t know if she’d ever been so excited and it was only now that she allowed herself to acknowledge that her plan wasn’t foolproof. And to acknowledge that the risk was made it such a deliciously titillating endeavour.

A moment later, Mavis appeared in the doorway, Gladys behind her.

She looked proud and almost defiant, disrespectful of Ann’s authority; but only for a moment. This was followed by a slight crumpling as though she remembered herself and her station and accepted that Ann was her superior in every way.

“Ere you are m’lady,” said Gladys, appearing behind her.

“Thank you,” replied Ann. “You may leave us.”

“Are ye sure miss?”

“I said go Gladys. Must you question every instruction I give you?”

“Sorry m’lady.” She blushed, curtseyed and then hurried out.

This left just Mavis and Ann alone together and it came to Ann that there was nothing to stop them now. The exchange was going to happen in only a minute or two. Nothing could stop that now.

She fingered the pendant on her chest, then she looked Mavis in the eye and said, “I have a proposition for you.”