Sally was a lovely young eighteen year old. She'd been in service since the age of twelve, working as a domestic for a beldam who liked to play the great lady where her servants were concerned. She'd risen to become the second floor maid when the old woman died, falling down a long flight of stairs, to the universal relief of all her staff, despite the fact that they now needed to find new employment. Sally was sent to an employment agency and already she been chosen for a position.
* * *
"Well, Sally, we have managed to find you a position with Lord Arnett's country house. Depending on how well you do you may also be required to come to London during the season to work in his Mayfair residence."
"Yes, Ma'am," I said, doing mental somersaults and cheering silently.
"Now remember, Sally, that your performance reflects on the reputation of Splendour's Superior Servants. If you fail don't think you can come back to us for another position. The only reason that we're giving you this chance is because you weren't to blame for Mrs Fossinger's unexpected death. A most tragic event."
An event long overdue, as far as I was concerned. I'd loathed the tyrannical old cow. I did my best to keep a sober face, nodding in agreement to what Miss Splendour said.
"You can keep the maid's uniforms that Mrs Fossinger provided you. I suggest you wear one when you report to Lord Arnett's residence. If the housekeeper disapproves of those uniforms then she'll provide you with what she considers the proper uniform at no charge. I will provide you with a stage ticket to the nearest village. You are expected on Monday afternoon and will be met at the village and taken to the residence."
There was some more waffling and unwanted advice and I received the ticket and written instructions of how to reach the residence just in case something went wrong. I had to admit that Miss Splendour was thorough in her preparations, making sure the people she sent got to their destinations.
I wanted to dance and cheer immediately I left but managed to restrain myself. A job with hardly a break from losing my previous one due to that old cow's death, selfish bitch. On top of that it would be at a lord's place and if I played my cards right I could be in London during the season. Who knew what might develop then.
I headed home. All the staff had been permitted (required) to stay on for a couple of weeks at Mrs Fossinger's house while the estate was being settled. This didn't stop those of us who could from finding new jobs, and I was now one of the lucky ones.
As soon as I got home I headed for the library to look up Burke's Peerage. I wanted to know just who Lord Arnett was and where his country residence was. I found him easily enough. He was a Count and widower with an estate in Devon. He was forty and had two sons, Alexander, 19 and Robert, 20. It couldn't be better. I was young and lovely, bound to appeal to a lonely widower, or if not either of the boys would be certain to fall for me. Yes, I was in with a fair chance to become a lady of society.
I arrive at the residence late Monday afternoon. I was surprised to find how rustic the rest of the staff were, all of them speaking with a country accent. Personally, I had no accent, having learned to speak properly under Mrs Fossinger's care.
It immediately became obvious to me that I'd have to keep a little distance between me and the rest of the staff. They weren't really up to snuff and I didn't want to have them drag me down to their level. I wasn't rude, of course, but I did keep them at arm's length. They would naturally attribute this to shyness.
* * *
"What do you think of the new maid?"
"Stuck up little bitch," came a quick comment, with general murmurs of agreement.
"Thinks she's better than us, her with her posh accent," came another comment.
"Does know her job though," someone added. "Can't fault her work at all."
"Is it my imagination or has she been casting lures at the nobs?"
"I think you're right. It's subtle, which I wouldn't expect from her, but she's definitely trolling for a husband there."
"Geez, she's on a hiding to nothing there. Should we warn her?"
"I tried to," said Mrs Denks, the housekeeper. "It didn't take. She professed to not knowing what I was talking about with a very innocent look on her face."
"She does that innocent look real well, doesn't she?"
There was some general laughter.
"She's going to be bonked by one of the nobs fairly soon. They won't care about how innocent she is or isn't. They'll just grab her and have at it."
"How soon do you reckon?"
"Within the week."
"Don't be such a wuss. Give me a day."
"Better yet, why don't we all pick a day and specify which nob jumps her. We each contribute a penny for a guess. Only one guess per person. Winner takes all."
"What if there isn't a winner?"
"We either try again or, if she's smartened up, we award her with the pool. You willing to list the guesses and the pool, Jenkins?"
Jenkins, the Butler, gave them a repressive look.
"This is most unseemly. Still, as we're not trying to influence the outcome and she is being a bit of a bitch I'll take Saturday."
* * *
I am a very good seamstress and I'd taken an opportunity and adjust the neckline of my uniforms. Not enough to be really noticeable, but enough, if you know what I mean. I'd also met Lord Arnett and his two sons, Alexander and Robert.
I figured that Lord Arnett would be a poor choice for a husband. He was fat, and I mean fat, and unhealthy generally. I imagine he found it a struggle to even walk, and anything else was probably beyond him. Of the two boys I rated Alexander as my best option. He wasn't the heir so there would be a lot less fuss if he married me. Not that that stopped me from flirting in a genteel manner with both of them.
It was almost a week after I started work and I was in the library, just doing some general dusting and tidying. While I was there Alexander came in.
"Ah, Sally," he said, smiling. "Hard at it as usual, I see."
