Lady Ann's Folly: Chapter Four - Part Two

Lady Harriet untied Mavis quickly and a little too roughly.

“Ow!”

“Oh do be quiet girl. I’m thinking.” Hattie giggled to herself again, loosening Mavis’s hands then setting to work on her ankles.

Mavis didn’t know what to think. From Lady Ann’s preposterous request to this latest flurry of activity, it was all too much to take in. Being tied up in Lady Ann’s body was bewildering enough, standing up in it now was flabbergasting.

When she’d been tied she’d had very limited ability to really examine herself but had ached to – just to verify it had really happened if nothing else. Now suddenly she could touch her slender arms and slim waist; her modest chest. She caught a glimpse of herself in the wall mirror again and stepped closer, open mouthed. The beautiful lady of the manor gaped back at her, wide-eyed like a fish. She touched her smooth cheek, her perfect lips. Her former face had been pretty enough but this was real beauty now reflected back at her.

“Stop gaping at yourself. You look like an idiot.” Behind her, Hattie was gathering up the money.

“Ere, that’s mine that is,” said Mavis.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous,” snapped Hattie. “I told you. This is nothing. You’re Lady Ann Neville now, not some peasant barmaid. You no longer have need for money. Anything you desire will be bought for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Well upon my word! You mean to say I can stay like this?”

“Until I say different, yes. A day or two probably. Just long enough to teach that sister of mine a well-deserved lesson.”

“A day or two?” That was mind-blowing. “Living in the manor ‘ouse? With the Earl and everythin?”

“Yes yes. Now hurry. We have to be out of here before Ann comes back in your body.” Hattie went past her into the hall.

“Ere, I’ll still get me money back once this is over with won’t I?”

Hattie sighed heavily. “Of course you will. Now hush and follow me.”

She went to the front door and Mavis went after her, noticing how differently this new body moved compared to her old one. Her limbs were different lengths and all the weight was distributed differently. Lady Ann’s body was slim, almost dear-like. Her normal body wasn’t fat but it was well-rounded all over. The absence of mass in her chest was so peculiar and to be wearing such gorgeous clothes!

As a little girl, Mavis had seen the ladies of the manor driving in their coach or riding their horses and all she had ever wanted was to be one of them. True, as a teen, she had built up a healthy resentment and bitter dislike of them, but that inner childlike fantasy had always been there really. This was that dream come true! Not only was she a lady herself now, she was walking with Lady Harriet. They were two ladies together!

When they got clear of the holiday cottage, Mavis looked warily down toward the stables but Ann in her boy was nowhere in sight. She felt slightly guilty to be doing this but that was nothing compared to the excitement and hilarity of this trick they were playing. Mavis would have loved to see the slack-jawed expression of Ann when she got back to the cottage to find her gone, along with all that money!

Hattie took Mavis’s hand to hurry her along the wooded path up toward the main house. “Quickly! We have to be inside before she sees us!”

They got to the side door and Hattie paused on the step, turning to face her. “Alright. Listen to me. That awful accent of yours will ruin everything if you speak so when we go inside, keep your mouth shut. I’ll tell everyone you have a headache and you can just go and lock yourself in your room for the night. I’ll have Gladys bring you something up to eat later. Is that clear?”

Mavis nodded. “Indubitably.”

Hattie narrowed her eyes. “Say that again?”

“Eh? Wot? Indubi... Er... Wot did I say?”

“Never mind. Just do as I say and follow my lead.”

Hattie opened the door and Mavis held her breath as she was led over the threshold.

It really was like a fond dream coming true. It was only a side corridor but already she was seeing things she could never have imagined: oil paintings depicting the line of lords and ladies who had made Griply their home; landscapes from Griply and Blacklake and from far more exotic places. The carpets beneath her feet were thick and luxurious; beautifully patterned. As they went through to the expansive hallway Mavis was kidding herself that they might make it upstairs without her being seen, but that would have been too easy. A door opened and from it emerged the Countess and another lady just as plump as she was.

“Mother,” said Hattie quickly. “Aunt Geraldine. Where are you off to?”

“Dinner is almost ready,” said the Countess. “We’re going through to the dining room. Will you join us?”

“Ann isn’t feeling too well,” replied Hattie. “I thought I might take her up to lie down.”

“Oh no. You poor dear Ann. What are your symptoms?”

Mavis was stood petrified. She said nothing.

“Do you have a headache darling?” asked the Countess.

“Aye. That I do and no mistake.”

“Dear me Ann,” said the Earl, emerging from the drawing room behind the ladies. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken to imitating the clodhoppers again. I rather hoped your stay in London had cured you of that.”

Mavis shut up instantly, especially when she caught Hattie’s expression, but the expression surprised her. It might have been annoyance at her failing to follow her instructions but it was far more than that. She didn’t know what it was but it looked like shock and realisation. Unsure what to say or do, Mavis stepped toward the stairs and said, “I’m most dreadfully sorry father. I’m feeling awfully jaded and plan to retire to my room for a while to rest.”

The Earl humphed and walked on but both Mavis and Hattie shared a look. Her voice had been as cultured as a proper lady then.

Before any more words could be exchanged, Hattie took Mavis by the arm and said, “Come Ann, let’s get you upstairs.”

“Right you are,” replied Mavis and let herself be led up the grand staircase.