Nellie was the last to wake up and
she was propped still at one end of the chaise longue, stiff and uncomfortable.
She stretched and yawned, wondering
where she was, then abruptly stood and made for the door, alarmed and worried
that she had overslept when there were jobs to do.
But then she realised where she was
and just like the others, realised who she was. “By ecky thump,” she murmured,
covering his lips and nose.
She recalled the conversation the
previous night and the promise that the real Lady Harriet would return and felt
confused and troubled that she’d been left there without instruction. What was
she supposed to do now?
She went back to the mirror and had
a look at herself. Her beautiful face was framed by the dark curls. There
wasn’t a single flaw in her features or body that she could see. She was much
better looking than she had been all her life. It was extraordinary.
“I wish I could stay this way,” she
whispered. “I’d take life as a lady any day of the week rather than being a
maidservant.”
She knew she wouldn’t be allowed to
though. Lady Harriet obviously had some mischief planned but Nellie knew enough
to see she was just a tool for the lady’s ultimate ends to be discarded when no
longer useful.
She sighed, wondering when Lady
Harriet would return in her body to either swap them back or tell her what to
do next.
Should she stay in the room until
then? Or go downstairs and pretend to be the real lady? Despite the allure of
interacting with others looking like this, Nellie didn’t like the idea of that
second one.
She pursed her lips, thinking, then
she sat down for a little while. Then she stood up and went to the mirror
again, examining herself for a while longer, letting it really sink in who she
was now.
“I’m Lady Harriet,” she said to
herself and then burst into fits of giggles, but it did make her feel a little
better; more confident.
She thought she might even… Yes. She
thought she might even have the courage to go downstairs and see what was going
on.
Did she…?
Yes. She did. She could find Lady
Harriet and take her aside to see what was meant to be happening and she could
get something to eat. She was hungry.
She immediately set about neatening
herself up, becoming increasingly excited about the coming escapade. What would
it feel like to be a real lady and act like she really was one?
She couldn’t wait. It was going to
be amazing!
I have a feeling that "Hattie" and "nellie" would be a confused conversation.
ReplyDeletethe new life is always more fun than the old, at least at first
ReplyDeleteYeah. But she surely has the best of the deal.
DeleteI think she has the best of the deal hopefully the "earl" will pull her aside before she has a chance to talk to "nellie"
DeleteRob
And as the others have found the more she thinks of herself as lady Harriet the more comfortable she becomes in that role
DeleteRob
Let's hope so. We don't want her throwing a spanner in the works!
DeleteI don't know original Harriet was in the dog house. there is something to not having to clean floors, but what about having no direction, where every decision or action you make is rejected, until your sense of self erodes under the impact. I agree that she has the "better" end of the deal, but I don't think that will be much comfort to her if the "new" earl picks up the old's bullying ways.
ReplyDelete(in squeaky falsetto reminiscent of a six year old on christmas morning) "I can't wait"
(Shrill giggle)
DeleteI think you make a good point young man. And a witty one.
Do you think the earl has a secret mistress?
ReplyDeleteHm. A very good question. I hadn't considered that. Not that I've planned at this point but you never know. Certainly he's a red-blooded man and I'm sure he has urges that I HAVE planned for...
DeleteMake of that what you will.
(Winks)