LADY ANN'S FOLLY: Chapter Seven - Part One

Another Lady’s Folly?

Hattie sat on one end of her chaise longue as it turned dark, not turning on the electric light; not even moving. Her feet were close together, ankles crossed, her hands were interlaced in the centre of her lap, the pendant laying very loosely in the pool of interlocking fingers. Her head was tilted forward such that her chin pointed vertically down. Her eyes were closed. She remained like that, thinking through her plan one final time, one stage at a time, testing it for flaws.

She sat there for a long time.

The trouble was that it was difficult to make it foolproof, simply because of the array of different unknowns.

Firstly, she couldn’t be sure of the exact parameters of the enchanted pendant’s powers. Secondly, it clearly possessed some ability to alter the thoughts of those subjected to it after an extended period. She was fairly sure a swap of a couple of days only would have limited influence on that side of things but again... she couldn’t be certain. Thirdly, there would be several people involved, any of whom could act or react unpredictably. Having said that, they were, on the whole, people she knew well... or well enough... or people whose faculties were constrained by their background.

The fact was that she had been given an opportunity. It was right here in her hand. Why not exploit it and not only teach some people a lesson and undertake a fabulous new experience at the same time?

She got to her feet, sure now that she was on the right track, and walked to the mantelpiece. There was a pull chord. She tugged on it silently then went back to the chaise longue and took her seat again.

For the first full minute of waiting she felt like she might actually cry out from the sudden and only partially expected surge of trepidation. After that she managed to take control of her emotions, but only partially. Her heart rate was accelerated and her cheeks and forehead felt hot. Within her hairline there were prickles of what could only be sweat breaking through the skin. Her emotional state swung up to a higher pitch again then slumped and Hattie started eying the door warily and with escalating aggravation.

Was that footsteps coming? It seemed as though it might be. But the handle didn’t turn. No knock came. The door didn’t open.

She went on waiting and now suddenly she knew her plan was the most dismal mistake – of course it was. It was outrageous; no better than Ann’s asinine schemes. She had to call it off, right now, before—

There. That really was footsteps now, coming closer. Hattie gave a little jerk as though she might rise, but she held herself in check and didn’t move beyond that.

She gaped at the door, knowing now that she was making the right choice; sure of that. The plan would work. She would get back those people she felt needed to learn from their treatment of her, and she’d have the thrill of a lifetime in the process.

The footsteps came to a stop outside her bedroom and a light tapping indicated the visitor wished entrance. Hattie went to bid them entrance; cleared her throat then said, “Come in.”

There was a longer pause than she would have expected, then the latch disengaged and the door swung in.

Hattie sat up straighter, tilted her head forward a little, raised her eyes.

The new maid, Nellie, came into the doorway and gave a miniature curtsy. “Good evening m’lady. How can I ‘elp you?”

Hattie nervously gave her a long look and then fixed the girl in her gaze and said, “It’s more a case of how I can help you.”