Downstairs Rules (2 page)

The car pulled around to the back of the house. Even the servant’s entrance was grander than the main entrance of both houses, with a big oak door leading to a foyer where boots and coats were lined neatly on hooks.

“This way.” Ella followed him into a room off the kitchen, where some servants were sitting around a long wooden table. They glanced up curiously as she walked in. Two younger women appraised her coolly, while a dark-haired man Ella guessed to be in his early thirties regarded her steadily through the smoke of his cigarette.

An older, heavyset woman walked into the room, chattering something about a mistake in the grocer’s order and stopped suddenly. She looked at the driver. “Is this her?”

“It is,” he said. “Safely delivered.”

The woman nodded towards Ella and then looked back at Billings. “I’ll go fetch York, then.”

“I’d better move the car,” said Billings. “Good luck to ya, Miss Ella.”

“Thanks.” She offered the driver a small smile and found herself alone with the others. The two women, whom she guessed to be scullery maids, continued to stare and whisper while the man with the cigarette continued to stare.

“So you’re the new lady’s maid,” he said, narrowing his eyes. He paused. “Bit young, aren’t you?”

“It’s hardly your business, her age.” An older woman in a high-necked black dress swept into the room. She was thin with a drawn but pleasant face. She glared at the man and then turned her attention to Ella.

“Pay no mind to William,” she said with a warm smile and held out her hand. “I’m Ms. Pilcher. And you must be Ella, correct?”

Ella nodded.

“
You come highly recommended Miss Ella and will, no doubt, be an asset to the house.” She paused. “We were all so sorry to hear of Lady Chatworth’s passing.”

“Thank you,” Ella said. “She was a very special woman.”

“It seems not irreplaceable, though,” said William, tapping his cigarette against a saucer on the table. “Word is Chatworth’s got another woman queued up to fill his bed.”

“His decision hardly speaks to her character,” Ella said hotly. “So I’ll thank you not to make such statements, at least not in my presence!”

William looked at her and smirked.

“Did I hear the sound of raised voices?” A deep voice drew Ella’s attention away and she turned to see a man standing behind her, the heavyset lady on his heels.  Ella looked up at him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with an erect carriage that made him look even taller than he was. He had a face that was kind, but with a definite capacity for sternness. His face was stern now as he fixed his expression on William, who got up from his chair with a dramatic sigh.

“I guess I’ll be going,” he said, stubbing out his cigarette.

“Not so fast.” The man held up his hand and William frowned but held his ground.

The tall man looked down at Ella. “I’m York, the butler,” he said. His expression was kind now, his smile soothing. “I oversee all the staff here at Baxter Hall, and if your welcome from anyone has been anything less than gracious, then let me be the first to apologize.”

“Oh no, Mr. York,” Ella said. “It’s fine. Really.”

“Good,” he said. “As you will find, there are consequences for rule-breakers here. Discipline -that is the key to an effective house. Remember that and all will be well. Is that understood?”

“Yes sir,” Ella said.

He looked at William. “I’ll deal with you later, William. For now I will show Miss Ella to her quarters so she can get settled. Come with me.” He turned, and knowing she was expected to follow, Ella picked up her bag and did just that.

Chapter Two

“Ms. Pilcher oversees most of the female staff,” York explained as they walked, “except for you. I take a personal interest in those who directly serve Lord and Lady Baxter.”

They were mounting the stairs to the servants’ quarters and he turned to her now.

“I would like to speak frankly to you now that we are alone,” he said.

“Certainly, Mr. York.”

“You know why you were selected, don’t you?” he asked.

“My father said that the new Lady Baxter is younger, and could use the benefit of an experienced lady’s maid.” She paused. “May I ask why the maid of the former Lady Baxter wasn’t hired for this job? She surely must have wanted it.”

“Hm,” York said. “I’m guessing for the same reason that you would not have wanted to serve the new Lady Chatworth.” He raised a heavy eyebrow. “We’re loyal to those we serve, are we not? A bit too loyal for our own good, I sometimes think.”

“You must have corresponded with my father,” she said. “He’s been quite frank, I see.”

“The Chatworth household’s loss is our gain,” he said. “The new Lady Baxter is young, and strong-willed. She has many…..ideas that - to put it delicately - run contrary to those of her husband. He believes that marriage and life at Baxter Hall will settle her, and I’m counting on you to assist to that end.”

Ella felt a stirring of unease. “I’m sure I don’t quite understand, sir,” she said.

“It’s quite simple really,” York said. “Ann Baxter is young and foolish, but smart enough to realize she is in a situation a bit out of her depth. She will look to you for guidance, and I expect you to steer her towards stiller waters if you see her tempted to roil them.”

“Mr. York, I’m her maid. Not her mother…”

He stepped closer to her and Ella felt intimidated by his size and nearness. His voice seemed even deeper as he spoke.

“Alastair Baxter hand-picked you, and he is Lord over all here. Over me, over you and over his wife. He has instructed me to explain to you the way things are. He is a firm man and if Lady Baxter errs, she will face consequences from her husband. And if that happens, I will hold you responsible and see to your correction. Is that understood?”

Ella wanted to tell him that she did not understand, not at all. But Mr. York intimidated her, and the last thing she wanted to do was to get on the wrong side of the man before she had taken time to ponder the implications of what she had saying.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about,” she said, and felt a surge of relief when he did not press her.

“When in doubt, think it out,” her father had always said. Malcolm Carter believed the less said the better, especially when one was at a loss for words. So Ella held her tongue as she followed York up the back staircase to a pair of double doors.

“This is the female servants’ wing,” he said. “Your room is the second on the left. As Lady Baxter’s maid, you have the privilege of your own room.” I’ll give you half an hour to get settled in before you come down for a bit of tea. After that, you will be introduced to her ladyship I expect you to be in uniform; you’ll find it pressed and ready in the wardrobe.” He paused. “Do you have any questions?”

“No,” she said.

“Very good. See you in half an hour.”

He turned away and she watched his broad back before he disappeared around the corner. With a shake of her head and a sigh, she turned and walked through the double doors to her room. It was Spartan but comfortable, with a tub, washbasin, bureau, wardrobe and comfortable bed. The window overlooked the kitchen garden and a pear tree not yet in bloom.

Ella unpacked her meager belongings and changed into her work uniform, a dark-blue dress and crisp white apron and white cap. Everything fit, including the stockings and shoes. 

She checked her reflection in the mirror over the washbasin and frowned. With her large blue eyes and heart-shaped face, she looked younger than her twenty-five years and wondered if that made York think she could be so easily led. Ella was pleased with herself for giving the butler an answer that did not commit her to full obedience. She’d always been a loyal ladies made, and would continue to be so, god willing. With Lady Chatworth she’d kept confidences. She’d never told anyone how Lady Chatworth had cried over her husband’s infidelities, and wished aloud more than once that she’d never married the man who was sharing his bed with other women while spending the generous dowry she’d brought into the marriage. She knew in her heart she could not be taken into someone’s confidence and then betray them, not even for some perceived greater good.

But York had mentioned consequences if she did not obey, and she did not want to even ponder going back to her father in disgrace, having been dismissed. It was a great shame to be dismissed from service; her father had always looked down on those who had lost their positions in fine houses. Like a good servant, he always sided with the Chatworths if a servant was dismissed; he was willfully blind to the flaws and shortcomings of his employers. But she didn’t expect that the Chatworths had ever put him in such a position.

The exhaled sharply, smoothing her apron as she did then headed downstairs. The room off the kitchen was full now of servants waiting to greet her. Some were friendly, some were reserved. The footman William, lurking in the back, watched her with dark eyes. The smirk had turned to a glower and she wondered what had transpired between him and York in her absence.

She took tea with the rest of the staff, answering questions about her former service and accepting condolences from some of the maids and footmen for the loss of her former lady, who also wished her luck in her new position. York, sitting at the head of the table, said little, but watched and listened. After the pleasantries had been exchanged, he removed his pocket watch in an obvious manner and announced that it was time for everyone to get back to their duties.

Ella stood. She was ready to meet her new employer and followed York into the main part of the house. It was as massive and grand as the exterior.

It kind of swallows you
, the driver Billings had said and he was right. It was like a grand museum, with paintings of nobility staring down at her from the walls all around. Small exotic trees in huge pots sat in beams of light coming in through the huge, spotless windows.

Lord and Lady Baxter were in the drawing room. York opened the door and Ella walked in. Her first impression was that the couple looked like a very handsome father and daughter. Lord Baxter was tall and lean, with dark hair just starting to grey at the temples. Lady Baxter was fair and blonde. Her hair was obviously long, judging by the heavy coil fashionably arranged just above her neck. She was slender and shapely and wore a beautiful plum dress. Her eyes fixed on Ella when she entered and she smiled. Her expression was clearly relieved, and Ella wondered what she’d been expecting.

York bowed to the couple and stepped aside, waving Ella towards them. Lord and Lady Baxter, this is Ella Carter, her Ladyship’s new maid.

Ella stepped forward and gave a little curtsy followed by a nod to both. “Lord Baxter. Lady Baxter. I want to thank you for the honor you afford me by making me part of the staff.”

“You come highly recommended,” Lord Baxter said, “and Lady Baxter was quite insistent that I hire someone with sufficient energy to meet her demands.”

“Yes, as opposed to some stodgy old cow.” Ann Baxter stood and walked over, extending both her hands.

“Please, Ann, let’s not be rude.” Her husband’s tone was more paternal than matrimonial. And Lady Baxter’s response was not unlike a recalcitrant ward. She ignored her husband.

“I’m not being rude; I’m being truthful,” she said, glancing back at her husband. She back to Ella and smiled. “I suspect my husband wanted more of a nanny for me than a maid.”

Ella did not know what to say; York had made it apparent to her in private that he expected Ella to act in that fashion, but it was now equally apparent that neither he nor Lord Baxter were fooling the new lady of the house. Ella desperately wanted to smile, for she liked her new employer already. But she could feel York’s eyes on her and managed to keep a straight face.

“Come, let’s get acquainted,” Lady Baxter said. “If you are to serve me then you should know what makes me tick.” She turned to her husband. “May I take my leave?”

“Certainly,” Lord Baxter said, but the frown on his handsome face indicated he did not approve, and the glance he shot York the Butler made it apparent that neither was happy with what had transpired.

The women did not speak on the stairwell, and for a moment Ella wondered if her ladyship was angry. But once they were upstairs in her room, Lady Ann Baxter began to laugh.

“Good lord,” she giggled. “Did you see their faces? And to think neither Alastair nor that meddlesome York thought I was clever enough to realize what’s going on. It does my heart good to have them realize I’m just so clever as they.” She paused. “Now tell me, my dear. Did York ask you to spy on me?”

Ella wasn’t sure what to say. This moment, she knew, would be a defining one for her. Would she lay her allegiance with the man who paid her salary, or the woman she was bound to serve. Her mind flashed back to her relationship with Lady Chatworth, and her mind was made up.

“Not in so many words,” she said. “But I got the distinct impression that I was somehow selected to…guide you, which is rather silly if your ladyship doesn’t mind my saying so.”

“I don’t,” Lady Baxter said. “Not at all. And I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you understand. But I must warn you. Both my husband and Mr. York are stern men. Lord Baxter wanted a younger wife for a reason, I believe. He would raise me in his own way.” She paused. “Can you keep a confidence, Ella?”

“Of course, m’lady,” Ella replied.

“You see, he spanks me when I do something he doesn’t approve of. And he spanks me rather hard. And make no mistake, you’ll suffer the same fate if York suspects you’re not doing as you’ve been instructed to do.”

“What?” Ella gasped. She’d not been spanked since she was a child, and told Lady Baxter this.

“Well, until I married Lord Baxter, I’d never been spanked at all,” Lady Baxter replied. “My nannies were too indulgent, he said. They’d raised me to be willful, he said, and he’s of a mind to correct me and my ‘forward thinking’ ways.”

“I can’t say what’s right between you and your husband,” Ella said. “But to be sure Yor would not…”

“He would,” she said. “Mark me. He’s fiercely loyal to Lord Baxter, and just as resistant to change.”

“Oh my….” Ella realized now what York had meant when he told her he would ‘see to her correction.’. She thought that had meant she’d been dismissed. Somehow, this seemed worse.

“So what am I to do?” Ella asked, fearful now. “I’ve never been anything but a loyal maid..”

“And I’d not ask you to be anything other than that,” Lady Baxter said. “Of course you will be loyal to me; I’m counting on it. But we must stick together, you and I. It would appear we’re in the same boat, after all.”

“So what do I do?” Ella asked.

Lady Ann laughed. “About York? Lie to him, of course. Fill his head with some nonsense. Men aren’t so smart, you know. I only get spanked when I get caught. It’s more often than I’d like, but believe me. Were I to get spanked as often as I deserved I’d never be able to sit…”

“Lie?” Ella must have looked stricken, because Lady Baxter walked over and took her hand.

“Only for self-preservation. I’m not asking you to be dishonest for no good reason, but to do the job you were hired to do, which is to be a lady’s maid. And a lady’s maid is discreet. I can count on that discretion, I hope, to keep the both of us looking like the demure little puppets Lord Baxter and York want us to be.”

“I won’t say this will be easy for me,” Ella confessed. “But you are correct. My loyalties are to you. And while I don’t want to lie, the thought of Mr. York..” She shuddered as she imagined him putting her across his knee. He was easily twice her size; there would be no way she could resist him.

There was a knock at the door. Both women jumped at the sound.

“Ann? Ann, are you in there?”

“Speak of the devil,” Ann whispered with a wink, and went to open the door. Lord Baxter walked in.

“Conferring with the new maid. Productively, I hope,” he said.

“Yes,” Lady Baxter said. “Ella was just extolling the virtues of her former employer, the late Lady Chatworth. I’m beginning to feel slightly inadequate…”

“Don’t feel inadequate,” her husband said. “Consider Lady Chatworth a standard worth aspiring to. She had no rival socially, did she Ella?”

“She was peerless, if I may say so,” Ella said. “Is it any wonder why I can’t stop talking of her to Lady Baxter? I’m just pleased that she indulges me.”

The lie came easier than she could have imagined, and Ella was rewarded with a sly, appreciative smile from Lady Baxter.

“You can start emulating her tonight, at the Grayson’s,” Lord Baxter said. He took a telegram from his pocket. “Their son is home from court apparently has the most interesting stories. We’ve been invited to dinner and I’ve just received word that they’ve received my reply and are expecting us.”

“My dear, I wish you would have consulted with me before planning our evening,” Lady Baxter said.

“No consultation was necessary,” her husband said. “This is part of your duty. Be ready on the hour. And wear your one of your finest gowns.”

He left the room without another word.

“Brute,” Lady Baxter said, and sighed. “Another lesson? Pick your battles, Ella. I’d love nothing more than to refuse, but all in all a night out isn’t so bad. So he’ll win this one. But I’ll relish my next victory all the more. Now help me find something to wear.”

Ella was glad to finally get an order that didn’t put her in conflict. Lady Baxter had more dresses than Ella would have thought possible to wear. They were organized by color, and Ella picked out a beautiful, low-backed cream-colored gown that skimmed Ann’s curves. There were shoes to match, and long white gloves and an ermine wrap made for elegant complements.