The Lady's Maid Read Online Free PDF Page A

crusting of white, like thick cream on a plum pudding. She grimaced at the thought as she hurried on her way to work , where her first duty of the day was to make tea for the housekeeper and Miss Hickson.
    The sleepy young kitchen maid, Elsie, a child of ten recently acquired from the workhouse, stopped raking the embers in the range and turned with a start when Kate entered the room, but her frightened expression dissolved into a broad grin when she realised that it was her friend and protector who stood before her, and not one of the older servants who took grim pleasure in bullying a skinny little girl.
    ‘Good morning, Elsie,’ Kate said with an encouraging smile. ‘Well done for getting the fire going so early. It makes my job so much easier.’ She hung her bonnet and shawl on a peg in the hallway, returning in time to see Elsie puff out her chest, blushing with pleasure at the unaccustomed praise. Kate glanced at the crumpled bedding on the floor by the range. ‘You’d better stow that away before Cook comes down,’ she said gently. ‘You know she doesn’t like an untidy kitchen.’
    Elsie scrambled about picking up the thin palliasse and blanket that served as her bed. ‘Yes, miss. Only I thought I’d best see to the fire first.’
    ‘Quite right, and you succeeded splendidly. Put the bedding in the linen room and then you can have a nice hot cup of tea before the others descend upon us like a flock of hungry birds.’
    Elsie scampered out of the room carrying the bundle, which was almost as big as her. Kate made the tea and while it was brewing she set out the trays with the special china which was reserved for the housekeeper, the butler and Miss Hickson. She had observed the strict hierarchy of the servants’ quarters from an early age and now it was second nature, but all her sympathies were with young Elsie who had so much to learn. Despite her wiry frame, Elsie bore all the marks of a sickly child who had clung tenaciously to life through the scourges of measles, mumps and scarletina that ravaged the young occupants of the workhouse, taking many of them to an early grave.
    Kate took a tray to Mrs Evans and another to Miss Hickson. She hurried back to the kitchen to snatch a quick cup of tea before her next task which was to light the fire in each of the family rooms. She poured the tea, adding a generous amount of milk and a lump of sugar for Elsie, and taking the biscuit barrel from the shelf in the pantry she gave one to Elsie, winking and holding her finger to her lips. ‘Not a word to anyone and don’t leave a trail of crumbs or you’ll get me sacked.’
    Elsie gobbled the biscuit, wiping her lips on her sleeve. ‘Ta, miss. You’re a good ‘un.’
    ‘I don’t know about that, but I do remember what it’s like to be ten years old and always hungry.’ Kate ruffled Elsie’s cropped hair. ‘Don’t forget to put on your mobcap. You know how strict Cook is about neatness.’
    Elsie swigged her tea, glancing about nervously. ‘I’ll do it now.’
    ‘Good girl.’ Kate took the cups into the scullery and washed the incriminating evidence before the scullery maid could tell tales to Cook. She then set about the backbreaking job of cleaning out the grates in the bedrooms and reception rooms, before hefting coal scuttles and bundles of kindling up many flights of stairs in order to light the fires. After that her duties consisted of carrying ewers of hot water to the bedchambers, and the less pleasant task of emptying and cleaning chamber pots.
    Josie’s room was always last on the list as she slept late every morning, and was to be left undisturbed until she rang the bell for her morning chocolate. Lady Damerell had given strict instructions that Miss Josie was to have breakfast taken to her room on a tray. It was common knowledge below stairs that her ladyship was convinced that her daughter was delicate, and needed constant nurturing. This, Kate was told, had begun when Josie contracted a