Captions Sunday!

An excellent entry from a new contributor, Jennifer Eccles. This picture begged to be captioned of course.

Well I must say, you don't look too happy or grateful. I think you're very lucky to be able to keep a roof over your heads. You should be thankful that the court ordered you to remain in the house to work off some of the debt.

The new owner is very wealthy and has paid cash for the property, with all fixtures and fittings, but this still leaves an appreciable amount still owing. Therefore, as your food, clothing and other daily needs will be provided, your weekly wage will be paid directly to the court. But you have, very generously, been permitted to keep two shillings per week to cover any sundry expenses you might have. Unfortunately, as menial staff are only paid a pittance, the debt reduction will be a very slow process for you, so the court order is for a minimum period of two years, when they will reconsider your positions.

Story: A Lady and Her Maid. Chapter 4.

by Jackie J

Chapter 4

William was expected to arrive from his visit to see relatives mid-morning and Jennifer ensured that her maid would be kept busy. Beating the many rugs was a heavy and monthly task, another addition to Maud’s rota.

The last two weeks, whilst William had been away, Sam, a local farmers son, had been attending the horses and keeping the grounds tidy. Jenny had hardly seen him, but he had done a good job, and everything was in order.

After taking breakfast Jennifer waited for William at his cottage situated at the end of the drive leading up to the manor. Her timing was perfect and she did not have to wait long seeing William step down from the coach that had brought him, gather his case, and walk towards her.

“Hello, Jenny. Sunday’s best on a Saturday! My, you do look handsome. A new dress?”

Captions Sunday!

Three very different mini stories from Dolores Azul! 

Young Lady Whitshire’s Drastic Downfall

I just don’t know if I made a horrible mistake or if I’m the luckiest woman alive. If I’m NOT lucky, then I made several horrible mistakes—and I inflicted them all on myself! The desire to drop down can strike anyone—it doesn’t seem to be inherited—and the higher I was, the more delicious and irresistable the fall!

In order to go from Lady of the Manor—a very young Lady of the Manor—with an estate of hundreds of acres of meadows and forest, and a 36-room mansion, to maid in your own house—takes a co-conspirator. Agnes, the head of the household staff, was mine. She thought I was daft, but a daft woman’s money speaks as eloquently as money from a ‘sane’ woman! I paid her very well, because unbeknownst to everyone but me I was willing to spend so much of it—to enjoy my “journey!”

Announced to all, I was going on “holiday” for three months. But instead of going to Antibes or Venice, or even just to Paris, I went where nobody knew me: the outskirts of Camden, New Jersey in America! I went with nothing but one suitcase of the cheapest housedresses with one aim in mind: to make myself so fat that even my relatives wouldn’t recognize me! With only my location-disguised internet connection to keep me company, I ate and ate, to the point of discomfort, to stretch my stomach capacity! After three months I gained 3 and-a-half stone—not enough! I cabled home to announce I was enjoying myself so much, I was staying for another three months. I wanted to come back gaining at least six stone—I would have to keep quite seriously eating! By the time my holiday was up, the scale in my room said I’d gained 82 pounds. Close enough! The day before flying home I had my hair cut in front in bangs. With my hair also bleached, my extra weight, and no makeup I hoped no one would recognize me.

Story: A Lady and Her Maid. Chapter 3.

Chapter 3

Stag Head Manor was not overly large. The ground floor, a parlour, a study, a library, two reception rooms, a dining room, kitchens, the maid’s accommodation adjoining the kitchens. A wide staircase leading from the long hallway to the upper floor. A master suite and four guest rooms, the latter seldom used. Attics and cellars for storage but nothing more. The late Lord Summerfield’s wealth had enabled the modernisation of the property which benefited from a central boiler for heating and hot water, and gas lighting. Stag Head Manor was not difficult for one competent maid to provide service for.

During the previous week, when Lady Summerfield took the apron, her maid had prepared a rota for her daily duties. It was only to be for a week so there were many omissions, which Jennifer was now revising. No different to Jennifer’s own rotas, along with additional daily duties, weekly and monthly tasks were now to be included in the maid’s work. Jennifer would not burden her maid with the extra work immediately and would introduce these to her schedule over the coming weeks.

Jennifer, like her mother before her, had been in service from an early age and had been taught well. The instilled mantra from those formative years being to ensure that each task was completed in a timely manner, sticking strictly to the rotas prepared for the household. A good maid never took to her bed before all the day’s work had been completed. This discipline had served Jennifer well. What was good for her will be good for the new maid.

Story: A Lady and Her Maid. Chapter 2.

by Jackie J

Chapter 2

The first morning of her second week, Constance waited for her maid, her Mistress, to take breakfast. She had been a busy bee that morning, up early putting pen to paper with her plans. A letter to the bank, one to her attorney, some notes to her close friends and of course the one to her maid.

Her Mistress was late, the previous week she had been out on the terrace much earlier than this. She would have seen the letter and read it. Perhaps Constance had misjudged the whole situation? What if her maid had decided not to follow her lead? Not willing to proceed? She had been clear in her letter: Lady Summerfield was away travelling, leaving Jennifer, her maid, in charge, confirming her the Mistress of Stag Head Manor. Maud was just a maid, a new maid.

Maud returned to the kitchen convinced she had frightened her maid, gone too far, ruined everything too much too soon. Was it necessary, doing what she had? Constance had thought all the risk her own, putting herself into the hands of her maid like she had. With what had happened the previous week, Constance never gave a thought that the opportunity for such total control of her Mistress would be too much for her maid. All her contrivance would seem to have been for nothing.

Story: A Lady and Her Maid. Chapter 1.

by Jackie J

Chapter one

A light knock on the bed chamber door and the neatly dressed maid entered, a tray in hand. A respectful curtsy and a warm smile.

“Your early morning tea, Mistress.”

Jennifer arranged herself on her pillows and returned the smile.

The maid, having placed the tray by the bed, walked across to the windows and drew back the drapes.

“Thank you, Maud, it looks a lovely morning, I will take breakfast on the terrace. And lay out my blue day dress for me.”

The maid stood attentive at the foot of her Mistress's bed.

“Yes, Mistress. Will there be anything else?”

Jennifer took her first sip of the tea.

“No, Maud, that is all. You can go about your duties, girl.”

The maid located her Mistress's blue day dress and hung it in the dressing room along with underwear, hosiery and shoes. The Mistress only required assistance with dressing with more formal attire. Maud could wear any of the clothes hung in the closet, her mistress and herself being of the same size and figure, but she was just the maid, so how could she?

Halloween Demotion

A little Halloween treat from AndiJF. Based on a girl's magazine comic from the 1960s (that were quite heavy on "light downgrade" content, such as an old favourite The Imposter). 

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