I was once Jonathan Cartwright - part 2

Part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/i-was-once-110700450

...

Amanda wake up on a morning of a new day with a huge headache and in a strange unfamiliar bed in a strange unfamiliar room - a old-fashioned room like a room from the Victorian era or something. It's dark in the room because it is curtained and the room is also old and smells of dust and a faint hint of a fire in the fireplace. The fire crackles softly.

"Ugh... what..." Amanda rubbed her forehead with her hand, looking around and trying to remember how she ended up here and where she is, but nothing comes to mind, there are just a few blurred pictures from party, when she tried to repair the broken bottle and how she is getting drunk.

She tried to figure out where she is now, but everything looked so unfamiliar, besides, it was dark here. Amanda slowly climbed out of the bed and walked up to the window and, carefully parting the curtains, she let in light and looked at what was happening in the outside world. The window looked out onto the garden with an overgrown lawn, old trees, a greenhouse, and the road to the house.

And it seems to be morning or afternoon... The light of the sun is pleasant.

Only now she found that she wearing a strange old-fashioned nightgown, in a Victorian style. Her hair is falling loosely around her shoulders. Her hair has become much longer, falling almost to her waist!

Amanda blinked, staring around. "What in the h..." she started to exclaim but abruptly stopped herself as if words which she would have said are wrong, like they didn’t belong in her mouth. “What in heaven’s name?” Her eyes widened in surprise at the old-fashioned phrase that had spilled out, sounding nothing like her usual blunt manner of speaking.

'It's some kind of prank?!' she thought angrily and wanted to shouted that she didn't want play this stupid shirt and where is hidden camera, but instead she said softly in an unfamiliar voice, "What sort of scoundrel devised this mischief? Where are the hidden eyes? Is this some absurd jest?" Her tone was calm but in an indignant manner as if she was some character from books. 'Goddamn it, I sound like a character from a Jane Austen novel!'

As Amanda thought about how strange this was, the door to the room swung open. A stern-looking woman, clad in a plain, dark dress with her hair pulled tightly back into a bun, entered. “Amelia!” she snapped, her eyes narrowing at Amanda’s bewildered expression. “What on earth are you doing still in your nightclothes? The household is in a flurry preparing for your introduction to Lord Benedict this afternoon, and here you are dawdling!”

Amanda's eyes widened as she looked at the stern woman, she wanted to shout, 'What the hell is going on?"' but as she opened her mouth, what came out was, "What in heaven’s name is happening here?" Her voice was soft, almost delicate, completely unlike her usual gruff tone.

"Heaven's name indeed, Amelia. And mind your manners! How dare you use such language in this house?" the governess snapped, crossing the room to where Amanda stood. Amanda felt a shiver of fear run down her spine as if the stern woman might actually hit her for her "impudent" language. "Who devised this mischief?" she tried again.

"Enough of this, Miss Amelia Cartwright! Your father is a respected, powerful man in London and his reputation must be upheld. I have raised you to be a respectable lady, but this is not how a lady speaks!" The governess was now towering over Amanda like some terrifying, all-powerful giant.

Amanda's heart raced. She wanted to yell, 'What the hell are you talking about?!' but instead, her lips betrayed her again. "What in heaven’s name is this absurdity?" she exclaimed, her voice a strange, soft pitch. (What the hell is going on? Why can't I just talk normally?) She tried again, forcing her voice to be louder, more authoritative. "I demand an explanation for this madness!" (Why can't I curse? This is ridiculous!) she added a little bit more firmly but still in a polite, ladylike manner.

The governess seemed unmoved. "That is no way for a lady to speak! Miss Amelia, I shall be forced to send for your father if you continue this unseemly behavior."

Amanda's fists clenched at her sides. "You must understand," she began, forcing her words out slowly, carefully. "This is some mistake, some grand jest. I am not Amelia; I am Jonathan Cartwright, and I demand to be taken seriously!"

The governess’s eyes widened at her outburst. "Such nonsense! Jonathan Cartwright is your father, young lady. If you continue this charade, you will bring great shame upon our house. Now, compose yourself and act as befits your station!" Without another word, the governess strode across the room to the wardrobe and began selecting an outfit for Amanda, or rather now Amelia to wear. "Miss Cartwright, come along. It is high time you were properly dressed. We must not keep Lord Benedict waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Amelia asked in confusion, her hands now shaking slightly as the shock of the whole situation hit her.

"For what, you ask?" the governess exclaimed, her expression now filled with disapproval as she held up the delicate gowns. "The engagement of course. You must prepare for your betrothal ball this very evening!"

Amelia blinked rapidly in surprise, feeling herself go weak in the knees, as if about to faint. She gasped for air as she collapsed onto the bed, feeling faint. "I-I beg your pardon, madame? Betrothal?"