Fall from Grace

by Anthony Alba

The aristocratic and cold-hearted Lady Lucy Harrison writes in her diary of the meteoric fall from grace of her erstwhile friend, Lady Susan. Following the death of her grandfather, Lady Susan is left penniless and homeless. Debasing herself, she approaches Lady Lucy, requesting a position as a servant in her household. Lady Lucy is furious at Susan's demise, as over a period of time she had been ingratiating herself in the hope of sharing some of the inheritance that has failed to materialize. However, she takes a grim pleasure in Susan's plight, ensuring she is put to work at the most menial of tasks dressed only in a shift, and enduring the humiliation of being shaved and cruelly beaten by John Childs, the sadistic butler.Keen to bolster her source of funds, Lady Lucy spends more time in the tedious company of the wealthy Sir Charles while her advisors try to sort out her finances. Yet she still makes time to discipline the new maid herself. Her pleasure is increased when she hosts an exclusive party at which she deliberately makes Susan wait upon ladies of the aristocracy who recognise her. They are cruel to Susan, one of them caning her while Lady Lucy does nothing to prevent it. But Sir Charles intervenes, and having now full measure of Lady Lucy's character, breaks off the engagement, shortly after which Lucy's fortunes take a turn for the worse. She now faces bankruptcy and debtor's prison. But in a bizarre twist of fate, Lady Susan's fortune is restored to her, and she reverses the situation, placing Lucy as a menial servant in what was formerly her own house.Lucy is treated every bit as badly as Susan before her, being beaten and humiliated by Childs, and her health declines rapidly. Her only respite from the drudgery is the kindness she receives from the housekeeper and the new young maid, Bess. As her recovery progresses, Lucy takes stock of her position after three months of domestic service, acknowledging that her former self was an unpleasant, selfish person. What little money she has now she offers to the impoverished family of Bess. She becomes increasingly concerned as it appears Childs has his eye on Bess. Things come to a head at Christmas when Lucy discovers Childs assaulting some of the staff. She follows him into the stables where he has taken Bess, knowing she must do her utmost to intervene and keep Bess from harm.This is a powerful story of redemption through suffering, and we see the character of Lucy change over time. Both Lucy and Lady Susan share guilt and forgiveness and become dear friends.

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2014