Lady Ann's Folly: Chapter One - Part Two

Lady Ann went on looking at the uninhibited girl and Mavis glared back at her.

Ann could tell she wanted to speak her mind, perhaps decry the gentry their aloof authority; the corresponding poverty of the lower orders; but she said nothing. Fear, surely, stayed her hand. For Mavis was only a subject of Ann’s father, the Earl. One word from her and this girl might find herself flogged or even gaoled.

Burt was still inside the stable, bungling through the process of getting her filly ready for riding. No one else was in sight. It crossed Ann’s mind to broach the subject of the exchange now. It was a perfect opportunity really and some time might pass before another private meeting such as this might occur naturally.

Would the girl even believe her about the power of the pendant? Probably not. But belief wasn’t a requirement for the exchange of bodies to take place. All that was needed was physical contact between two people, the pendant joining flesh to flesh.

Ann opened her mouth to make the proposal but two things trapped the words unspoken. The first was the lowering of the girl’s eyes, a gesture of capitulation and respect for Ann’s far superior station. This surprised Ann with a moment of doubt. For surely it was madness to risk a swap with such a person – to become lower class again – even if only for an hour or two.

And yet she desired it like nothing else with a mania that overruled all other restraint. And surely, with proper planning, the control could be maintained.

She was tired of doubting herself. She wanted it. She didn’t want to doubt it anymore.

But before she could speak, the clatter of hooves came from the drive and the family coach pulled into view noisily.

Seeing it, Mavis withdrew immediately, dipping behind the stable and heading for the woods, likely hoping to avoid being seen by the coach’s single passenger. Ann sighed and turned away from her, frustrated she had missed her chance. For now.

The coach pulled to a stop and the side door opened. The Earl, Ann’s father, Lord Howard Neville, stood framed for a moment then descended. He was a haughty towering man with a bushy grey moustache and a bald pate, an entirely dominating presence.

“Ah, Ann,” he said. “Off for a ride?”

“I was planning to,” she replied. “How was your trip to York?”

“Bloody rot from start to finish. I’d sooner forget it. Is your mother in?”

“Yes. She and Aunt Geraldine are discussing gardening in the morning room.”

Howard snorted. “Dashed insensible drivel. I’d sooner have my tooth pulled than engage in that.”

Ann giggled.

Burt emerged from the stable pulling her pretty brown horse. “Ere you are right enough m’lady,” he said. “She’s looking forward to a good canter I’ll warrant.” When he saw the Earl he blanched and stopped dead.

“Don’t be so impertinent,” snarled the older man. “You’ll speak when spoken to and not before.”

“Yes sir. Sorry sir,” stammered Burt.

“I won’t be taking the horse out after all Burt,” said Ann. “Put her away.”

“M’lady?”

“Well don’t just stand there you blithering idiot!” snapped Lord Neville. “Do as you’re told!”

“Yes sir. Right away sir!” Burt turned the horse around frantically, bobbing his head to his master and making a hash of it, he was so flustered. The horse’s nose was too far forward to make the full turn and his face grew redder as he struggled to manoeuvre it.

“Well go on then!” cried the Earl. “What do we pay you for?”

“Sorry sir. It won’t be a moment. I’m sorry sir,” he mumbled, harried, doing his best to do it quickly and only making things worse.

“I don’t have time to watch this buffoon,” sneered the Earl and started walking. Ann hurried after him. “Let’s get inside and have some luncheon. I’m famished.”

“Yes father. Of course.”

Burt watched them go, his pulse slowing a little. He resented the appearance of the Earl. He’d been looking forward to a little more contact with her ladyship, perhaps even the chance to help her onto her horse.

He remembered still that their positions used to be reversed but Burt was reconciled with the fact of their exchange. The pendant had untethered the line of his former fate and bound him to this new one. His life as a servant was all he knew now and it was the only life he desired. The very idea that he had once been a pampered lady only filled him with confusion and discomfort. He was happy being a man.

He put Rosebud away carefully, his mind wandering back to the rumpy pumpy he’d just enjoyed with Mavis and he thought again about his consideration of making an honest woman out of her. Now that he knew he was going to remain a man, it only made sense to put down roots and commit to that. And he did care a great deal about the bawdy girl.

He smiled to think of the pleasure he’d been woken with.

Yes. He emerged from the stable house, scratching the back of his head. He was always going to be a man now. It was time to really live like one.