LADY ANN'S FOLLY: Chapter Eleven - Part Four

Mavis’s trip with Burt to York races had been the limit of her travels up until this week and what she was seeing now was dizzying. First the bustling metropolis of Birmingham and now this growing rural town, Nockton.  

The carriage carried her and Lord Hurley through the streets of Nockton , rocking gently as Gladys and the driver sat on top. It was a luxurious coach, far more ostentatious than the one owned by Lord Neville at Griply Hall. Mavis was starting to see how much higher above even the Neville’s the Hurley family sat.  

The streets of Nockton were busy with people and everywhere she looked she saw new houses being built. The town seemed to be thriving under Richard’s guidance and she smiled smugly to think that she had netted this man; that if she got her way she would become his wife.  

She kept having to remind herself that she was Lady Ann now. The transformation from one woman to another wasn’t as profound as some of the other transformations that had taken place and at times she forgot herself. It was most alarming to recall her new identity.  

But she was Lady Ann now. This was her life. She didn’t have to pinch herself awake. This was real!  

As the carriage trundled on, Richard pointed out various landmarks: an old abbey on a hill that rose up from the houses around; the ravine that gave his ancestral home its name; certain areas that he had earmarked for development. He seemed happier and more at ease here in his home town; less withdrawn and stuck-up. Mavis could almost find him personable, though really his greatest virtue by far was his wealth.  

The carriage slowed as the road steepened. Crackshaw was on the ridgeline to the south of town and the last part of the climb was particularly steep. It took a while to get up there but when they did the view was spectacular down across the town and to the opposite hillside. Mavis wanted to thrust her head out of the little window and take a gander at the view as best she could but she was aware she needed to remain decorous. An unnatural part of her urged her to remain so which she resented. She sensed that it was another aspect of the original Ann’s character, trying to control her. She didn’t want to be decorous. She wanted to do whatever she bloody well wanted.  

She did manage to get a glimpse ahead to see the high walls of Crackshaw and the tall gates. It was built to keep unwanted visitors out and it was a delight to know that not only was she welcome there but one day she would be the owner of this grand establishment.  

The coach passed through the magnificent gates and circled a huge fountain at the front of the house. There were grand trees and banks of flowers and the house itself was incredible. It seemed to have hundreds of windows and it dwarfed Griply Hall five or ten times over. There was a magnificent pillared entrance and an archway leading into an extensive inner courtyard that Mavis couldn't fully see.  

This was how the rich really lived. It was so clear now, from the contrast, just how backward and provincial the Neville family were compared to the Hurleys. Mavis was so glad she had landed on her feet so successfully.  

The coach pulled up at the main entrance and obviously eager, Richard opened the door and climbed out, offering his hand to Mavis to join him. "I can't wait for you to meet my mother," he said.  

Mavis wasn't as eager for that meeting as Richard was. The tales she'd already heard about the woman didn't incite enthusiasm, but it was an inevitable and necessary trial, and this woman hadn't met the likes of her before. She was no lady. She had all the gumption of a barny barmaid born and bred. She could stand up to anybody. She took Richard's hand and let herself be helped from the coach.  

The front door of the house opened and over a dozen servants appeared. They lined up at attention to receive the visitors. Richard didn't pay them any heed. He looked round at the house and garden happily. Mavis had never seen him so pleased and happy.  

Then from the front doorway emerged a regal elderly woman. She was very thin and drawn but was dressed in the most expensive-looking clothes Mavis had ever seen in her life. The dress looked cripplingly tight but was clearly worth more than the entire Dog & Pony back home.  

"Mother!" cried Richard. "It's so good to see you."  


She cracked an icy smile. "Richard. You look well dear. Come here and let me see you properly."  

He went to her exuberantly and she offered her cheek, showing far more reserve than he did. He kissed her then backed away and looked in Mavis's direction.  

"Mother," he began formerly, "allow me to introduce Lady Ann Neville. Ann, this is my mother, the Duchess Lillian Hurley."  

Lillian regarded Mavis coldly showing absolutely no welcome or warmth. She said nothing.  

"Er, It's a pleasure ta meet ya," said Mavis, wincing on the inside at the cracks in her accent. Clearly it would be better to keep her mouth shut as much as possible until she had mastered the posh way of speaking.  

Still Lillian made no reply. Mavis stood wavering, unsure of herself. Richard gestured for her to approach up the steps and nervously, she did so.  

Mavis stopped in front of the old lady, unsure what to say or do. Lillian scrutinised her and then reached forward and turned her face by the chin one way and then the other, checking her as she might an animal.  

"You are a very beautiful young woman," she said at last. "My son has chosen well. And your family is of... reasonably good stock."  

Mavis frowned, taking this as an insult, even though it wasn't really her family.  

Lillian looked at Richard, closing Mavis off from her attention as though she were inconsequential. "I approve Richard dear, though clearly there is much work to be done with her before she proves... adequate."  

Richard gave a curt bow and took his mother's arm. They both turned their back on Mavis and walked in through the front door. Mavis looked after them feeling put out and patronised, but she looked about herself and regarded the magnificent house. Surely some irritation was worth it to take control of this wealth.  

And really, how bad could Lillian be?