Lady Ann's Folly: Chapter Four - Part Seven

When Hattie got to the dining room, dinner was already underway and the soup had been served. Howard, her father, scowled at her in the doorway and said, “Do try to be on time Harriet. You have precious little else of importance to occupy your mind. If I can manage good timekeeping with all my responsibilities then I don’t see why you shouldn’t be able to.”

Hattie’s face fell and fell even further when she looked to her mother for support.

“Don’t look at me,” said Elizabeth. “You knew it was time for dinner.”

“I was helping Ann upstairs,” replied Hattie sullenly.

“Don’t talk back to your mother girl,” snapped Howard. You aren’t too old for a good thrashing.”

“Anyone would think you were the same age as Felicity and Reggie,” added Elizabeth, but as she looked toward the pair of children her face folded into a frown and she said, “Reggie! Really! Do sit up straight, there’s a good boy.”

“Sorry.”

“He’s playing with one of his toy soldiers underneath the tablecloth,” said Felicity loudly.

“Oh Reggie!” declared Aunt Geraldine. “You’ve been brought up better than that.”

“Put it away Reggie,” said Elizabeth. “Come on now.”

The six year old pouted , putting the toy away in his pocket.

“I’m surprised you don’t have a toy of your own Harriet,” grumbled Howard. “considering the immaturity you’ve shown lately.”

Hattie fumed quietly, taking a sip of her soup then wincing because it was too hot.

Her mother and Aunt Geraldine went on talking about their plans for the church flower display at Easter. Geraldine had particularly grand plans this year and was busily motivating all the great families in the county to contribute.

“I’d be delighted to do what I can,” said Elizabeth. “I adore flowers and it’s only right that we do our part.”

Lord Hurley and Uncle Patrick sat on either side of Howard and the three men discussed business matters, specifically the best way to get the most from the workforce at Blacklake mine.

Hattie had no interest in either matter and that just left the two children to talk to. Felicity was a little sneak, doing her best to nod sagely at her mother’s conversation while little Reggie was obviously playing with his toy soldier again.

Hattie was furious. Her parents were behaving abominably toward her, ever since the debacle with the trial, and it wasn’t even her fault! She was sick of it.

Her mind went back to her sister and the preposterous situation that was enfolding behind the scenes. She thought about what a fool her sister was to use such a powerful item in such a frivolous way.

If she’d been the one to procure the pendant things, would have been very different. She wouldn’t be stupid enough to trade places with a servant!

But that got her to thinking...

What would she do with it, if she had it?

If the enchanted pendant were in her control, what might she use it for?

She looked at the frowning face of her father, talking pompously on about business as if it made him better than the ladies who weren’t allowed to enter that world. He was so self-important; so sure that he was the most important person for leagues around.

And then her mother, chattering on, equally snobbish and superior, always looking down on Hattie because she was the youngest.

She wasn’t sure what she would do with the pendant... long term. But in the short term? She had a simply wonderful idea that she might use it to teach a couple more people a lesson.

A smile crept over her face and she sat quietly, playing out various ideas in her head for some lovely poetic justice.

All she needed now was the pendant...

And so she started to think of ways she could take it in hand.







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