Margaret said, “Let’s try it on, shall we?”
She helped Hester off with her everyday frock and into the made-over ball gown. The material slid over Hester’s ample bosom and hips easily. Margaret pinched an inch of loose material at the high waist. “Why, it’s a tad big, Hester. I shall have to take it in for you.”
Hester beamed.
“You look a picture, Hester,” Jenny breathed.
“Indeed she does,” Betty said. “What a pity Connor is away in London. Why, if he saw you in that gown, he shouldn’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Hester blushed prettily.
Margaret noticed that Fiona had disappeared from the doorway. She tried not to let it hurt her but could not quite ignore the sting of disappointment. Her offering—rejected. She forced a smile and helped Betty into a garden frock of pale green satin with capped sleeves and a hem embellished with gold fringe. The soft green flattered Betty’s coloring and dark red hair.
Fiona reappeared in the doorway several minutes later, wearing a gown of white gauze over an underslip of pink silk. “Might this do?”
Margaret stared. “Why, Fiona, it’s beautiful.”
The others stared as well, mouths ajar.
Fiona asked, “Ya don’t think I’ll look out of place—silk purse from a sow’s ear and all that?”
Hannah and Jenny shook their heads vigorously.
Margaret said, “No, you look lovely.”
“Really lovely,” Hester echoed.
Fiona blustered, “Oh, go on with ya. Sure and ya know how to embarrass a girl.”
Margaret began, “The dress is splendid. Where did you—?”
Betty pinched her elbow, and Margaret faltered. “Em... where have you been hiding it?”
“At the bottom of my trunk. Never thought I’d have reason to unearthit.”
Margaret stifled her questions and smiled. “Well, I’m glad you did.”
The servants’ ball was a recurring feature
of country-house life.
—Giles Waterfield and Anne French,Below Stairs
Chapter 19
The date of the servants’ ball arrived at last, and very little work was accomplished that day. In some ways, it was unfortunate Miss Helen had acted upon Margaret’s suggestion and invited outside guests, because that news caused Mrs. Budgeon to demand the house receive a more thorough cleaning and polishing than usual. But the staff had finished that work the day before.
The servants’ hall was closed once the midday meal was over, and only Mrs. Budgeon, Mr. Hudson, and the hall boy were allowed in, readying the room for the night’s festivities.
Monsieur Fournier labored all day, preparing not only the family’s meals, but also a lavish buffet for the ball. But he seemed happy with the extra work, grinning and humming to himself in an amusing compote of English, French, and foolishness. His hands flew about, dusting this dish with sugar, and that with sprigs of mint.
“Tonight you shall see what you have been missing! Zen tomorrow it is back to burnt sausages and gruel.Quel dommage!”
Margaret offered to arrange Betty’s hair for the occasion, and before she knew it, she had four other women clustered around her in Miss Nash’s room, begging to be next. Margaret curled, pinned, powdered, and rouged, but kept her kohl pencil well concealed. She didn’t want to give anyone ideas.
Fiona wore her own gown but did accept a pair of long gloves and allowed Margaret to dress her hair with a comb of silk flowers. Betty, Hester, Jenny, and Hannah wore the made-over gowns. Margaret demurred when they insisted she should wear one of them, since she had done the work, but she did not wish to draw attention to herself. Especially since she knew Nathaniel Upchurch would be in attendance for at least the first few dances. And what of Joan? She hoped her former maid would not give her away.
Margaret donned the blue dress she had worn at the masquerade ball, but without an apron. In place of her mobcap, she wore a wide blue ribbon as a headband—for ornamentation yes, but also to assure her wig stayed in place during the dancing.
