LADY ANN'S FOLLY: Chapter Seven - Part Six

Nellie had not consciously felt the changes that ran through her form, changing her from a simple domestic servant to a titled lady. Unlike Hattie, she hadn’t stood watching her own reflection transform into someone else’s shape.

She had known that something unnatural was happening to her and the knowledge of that had shoved back into the forefront of her mind that promise (or threat) that Lady Harriet had made: that they would exchange shapes. That realisation of combined memory and magical sensation was so earthshaking that she had only stood rigid as the changes overcame her, darkening and curling her hair, filling out her bosom and her hips, slimming her belly and making her homely face beautiful as her nose became slim and pert, her lips growing fuller, her eyes round and mesmerising, her skin seamless.

It was the jolt as the physical transformation ended that brought her back to her sense, though of course the process wasn’t over by a long way, even if it seemed to be. For both women, other changes would now continue invisibly; alterations to their inner terrain as the education and modes of speech were transformed also, followed by the likes and dislikes, their identification within the societal structure, their sense of self, their intelligence, the name they thought as their own, a lifetime of someone else’s memories. Nellie would very slowly start now to become Lady Harriet in every internal aspect: cool and aloof; faintly arrogant and mischievous, manipulative and devious.

Hattie, for her own part, had already begun the opposite transformation within her mind, perhaps more quickly than she suspected she would, though she knew it was coming. How long would it be before she spoke with common inflexion and started, by instinct, to know her place near the bottom of the servile hierarchy? How long before she came to accept as undeniable her status as a lady’s maid?

But for now, this wasn’t important to either girl.

Nellie looked down at herself – she looked up at Hattie across the room – and she knew that what had happened had happened. The unbelievable story that the lady had told her had come true.

She felt fear – of course she did – it was an abomination, surely, against the will of God – but this was swept aside at once by a blossoming marvel and joy.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, stopping the moment she heard her new exuberant voice to touch her chest. “Is this... Is this really true?”

Hattie nodded soberly, “Yes. Yes it is.” She had her arms out straight in front of her, turning them to look down the skinny backs. She wasn’t experiencing anywhere close to the excitement she had expected. It was more like... presentiment... and dread.

“I never thought something like this would happen to me,” said Nellie, examining herself within the framework of her luxurious new clothes. “I’ve really turned into a lady. I’m Lady Harriet. Oh!” As she said the name her eyes glazed and she reached for the back of her neck. “Did you just feel something...? Hmmm. How odd.” She shrugged it away.

Hattie ignored her, looking again at her plain reflection, each moment of viewing taking her closer to fully comprehending the enormity of her predicament. She thought of her sister at the back door of the hall and her command to have the servants snatch the pendant off her, trapping her temporarily in that life.

The same thing could happen to Hattie now, at any second. And she was the only one who could set everything back how it was meant to be. If she became trapped as a maid then Ann would be trapped too. Forever.

She had to move quickly. Very quickly.

She closed up the pendant back in its box and locked the lid, putting key and box in the pocket of her maid’s pinny.

“Right,” she said.

“Hmmm?” Nellie turned her head to face her and raised an eyebrow, giving Hattie a shudder of anxiety. With that face; in that body; in those clothes; Nellie looked worryingly realistic already. It undermined Hattie’s own self-confidence; really the only thing that was maintaining her self-image as a titled lady within her new guise. That look diminished her, even as it raised up the oblivious maid.

“Let me tell you my plan,” said Hattie, as confidently as she could. “You have very specific instructions that you need to follow.”

A knock came at the door.

Both women looked at the doorknob and then back at each other.

Nellie’s face was full of confusion, Hattie’s with panic. She couldn’t think what to do. Was it best for them to remain silent? Or what that simply prompt whoever it was to enter unmolested?

“Come in,” said Nellie.

Hattie glared at her sharply. Nellie looked back with innocent befuddlement and shrugged.

The door swung in and in the doorway stood Powell, the butler, serene as usual, but bearing a caste that Hattie now recognised as superiority to her new station.

“Excuse me my lady,” he said, addressing Nellie of course. “The Earl and Countess asked me to mention that they were retiring for the evening along with your aunt and uncle.”

He waited. The extended pause became uncomfortable. Even Powell seemed consternated.

“Uh, thank you,” replied Nellie.

Powell gave a little bow of his head and a curt smile then glanced at Hattie. “Will that be all miss?” he asked.

“Er, yes. Thank you,” said Nellie.

“Very well my lady. Goodnight.” He stepped back and looked once again at Hattie. “Well come along girl. Don’t dawdle.”

Hattie gaped at him and then at Nellie, willing the former maid to ask her to stay.

She didn’t. There seemed no guile or intent there; just a blasé innocence. Nellie had no idea that was what Hattie wanted.

“Nellie,” said Powell firmly. “Come along.”

Hattie looked again from one to the other and realised, as Burt and Ann had before her, that she had no choice.

She reminded herself that this still worked toward her plan. That leaving the room and pretending to be Nellie, at least for a short time, was part of her scheme; but she also knew how little power she had during this moment and that made her understand even more fully how desperate her situation was.

She had to move on to the next phase as soon as she possibly could; before something awful and irreversible happened.

Before it was all far too late to get her life back.

She looked fearfully one more time at both Powell and her doppelganger, then she followed his instructions and hurried out the room, to all appearances a common maid.