Grace kicked over the corner of a rug, pursing her lips
as a coin was revealed. That was five now.
Some might think her lucky if they did not know the
trick.
𑽇
It’s another day working in
Marchant manor for Grace Beckett, but will today bring something new, exciting…
and vibrant?
In Part 2 of The Country Maid, Grace realises her employer expects high, perhaps impossible standards. The maid throws herself into her tasks and gains a friend in fellow maid Eliza, but can they prove to the rest of the household that they’re capable?
Laundry work during Victorian times
could take the entire day for an ordinary family. With somewhere that also
housed staff, the work was tripled.
The dirty clothes were left to soak overnight. Come morning, the lucky maid tasked with laundry had to get rid of any stains, either scrubbing them over a washboard or using a washing dolly/posser, which was a stick about waist high with little feet and handles. The dolly was placed in the tub’s centre and turned to agitate the clothes in much the same way a washing machine does nowadays. It was hot, sweaty work and it could feel as if there was no air in that muggy laundry room.
“You’ve not made a good start,” Lady Marchant said icily. “Late on your first day.”
Grace stiffened. Part of her wanted to argue, but she
remained silent.
Honey, not vinegar, as her mother said.
We last left Grace steeling herself to meet her employer and the older woman is already annoyed with her! In this companion piece to my 30-part series, The Country Maid, I’ll explain why Lady Marchant wanted a maid from outside the city, Victorian window cleaning and the hidden danger of the servant’s staircase.
“They’re a different sort of folk in the city. Don’t let no-one think they can trick you because you don’t know their ways.”
Earlier this month, The People’s Friend published an interview with me online about my upcoming Victorian Upstairs, Downstairs series The Country Maid. Now, with the first part in this week’s magazine (available online and at most stores) I thought I would post a companion blog. This will showcase my writing process and inspiration alongside an in depth look at story locations and historical research. This will be posted a few days after each part comes out, so you’ll need to read that first before coming here :D
