Lady Ann's Folly: Chapter Four - Part Three

Hattie closed the door to her sister’s room, leaving the bumpkin in Ann’s body to marvel at the splendour.

She leaned against the wall outside, putting her hand to her brow and letting everything that had happened so far wash over her.

Could that really be the village barmaid in her sister’s body? Could that kind of magic really exist? Was Ann really in the barmaid’s body meanwhile, possibly having her wicked way with that brawny stablehand?

Hattie flushed. The very idea of being so brazen to do such a thing was stunning. She didn’t think she would be so brave... or reckless; though she imagined for a moment doing such a thing herself. The stablehand was certainly very muscular.

Hattie wet her lips.

She certainly did believe that it had happened. How could she not with that simpleton girl in there making a sow’s ear of everything; clearly not knowing her way around the house?

That wasn’t what consumed her now though. That was something even more alarming.

In the hallway, her father had told “Ann” off for impersonating yokels and it had brought back such a sharp recollection in Hattie’s mind that it made her question everything.

Almost an identical scene had played out before. Almost identical! She put her mind back now, trying to picture it behind closed eyes and it came to her almost immediately. The night before Ann went to London.

“Yes.”

She had acted strangely all evening, talking with that oddly perfect Yorkshire accent that came and went.

“And then she left for London first thing next morning...”

Hattie went back to her own room and closed the door. She needed to think this through.

Was it possible that Ann hadn’t been herself then either? That she had swapped with this girl before?

But no... That couldn’t be. This was clearly a new experience for Mavis.

“Then who else would she have...?”

Hattie’s brow contracted as she puzzled over it then opened in wonder and amazement.

“Oh my goodness.”

Burt. The stablehand.

Ann hadn’t wanted to travel to London. She had been desperate not to go. Then suddenly there was the change in her accent and no more complaints.

“You didn’t...”

The stablehand was given two weeks off... by Ann. And he had acted out of character... for a while at least.

Hattie thought back over the past month or so since Ann had left. Was it possible she had been Burt that whole time?

“Surely not.”

She had met him in York station, getting the train home to Griply. She’d spoken to him. His accent had been perfect. He’d sounded exactly like a Yorkshireman. And he hadn’t been able to read! Surely that wasn’t really Ann. It was impossible.

If Ann had swapped with him for a while then she must have swapped back before then, surely. Hattie had seen Burt numerous times after that and he had been just as obsequious and moronic as ever.

Except Ann had been in London. She couldn’t have swapped back if there had to be physical contact to do it as Mavis purported.

So either Ann didn’t swap with Burt at all, or she swapped back before she left... or spending time in his body made her become more and more like him.”

“Good God.” Could that be it?

Hattie remembered suddenly catching Burt in Ann’s bedroom... trying to steal her pendant – claiming it was his!

“Oh my Lord.” Hattie covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were perfect circles.

Burt in the stocks. Burt being flogged in the village square; being thrown in gaol. His trial. His fawning slack-jawed servility.

All that time, and it was really Ann! It beggared the mind!

And now she was up to the same tricks again! With Mavis this time!

“Or...”

Hattie narrowed her eyes.

Was it possible that Ann and Burt didn’t swap back? When “Ann” returned from London; when they met her there; she acted every bit the cultured lady. But that must have all been Burt! Was it possible that they never swapped back?

“It’s all too much to take in,” she whispered.

She needed time to digest all this. and meanwhile it was time for dinner.

Hattie changed rapidly then went to leave. At the doorway she caught sight of herself in the mirror and paused, staring at her pretty face, her dark curly hair.

What must it be like to change into someone else entirely?

She thought her sister an idiot to go through with it – especially with such a lowborn pair of peasants – but she couldn’t help feeling a little curious; a little jealous...

She shook her head.

There was no way she was going to be stupid enough to go through with something like that. She enjoyed her own life far too much to risk losing it.

“No,” she said. “I won’t end up like that.”

Then she went out and closed the door after her.