“She can do country dances well enough, but she is finding the cotillion difficult,” Letty said.
“I never learnt to dance,” Jack said. “But I wish I had! I could take a girl to a dance, then.” He glanced soulfully at an oblivious Edith.
“There is no need for a footman to learn to dance,” Mr. Durston boomed, and everyone bowed their heads in agreement.
But after everyone had finished eating and the room had been cleared, Lydia pulled Jack aside. “I can teach you to dance,” she whispered.
“Really?” he asked, his freckled face wide with his smile.
“Yes; but you cannot tell anyone!”
He swore, most solemnly, that he would not. Lydia had him move a few chairs away to give them more room, and then taught him the steps to one of the simpler country dances. They needed another couple to make it work, she explained, but this would give him the general idea. He was a quick learner, and they passed an enjoyable half an hour together.
Cook was still cleaning up the kitchen when she heard soft laughter coming from the staff dining room. She looked in, prepared to deliver a scolding, but stopped in the doorway upon seeing Lydia and Jack. She had known from the start that Lydia was no simple farmer’s daughter, and what she was seeing now confirmed it.
Had it been anyone else, she would have put a stop to this activity and reported it to Mrs. Hodges at once, but she had rather a soft spot in her heart for Lydia. Had the girl not thanked her for the meals Cook provided? Had she not been polite and grateful? She had, indeed, which was more than could be said for the others.
Cook would let the poor girl, whoever she really was, have her bit of fun teaching the footman to dance. Heaven only knew what had brought the girl down to the position of a maid; it must have been something truly dreadful.
***’
Letty had more to report the next night. Evidently the dancing master insisted that Alice practice her steps every day, but who could she practice with? Miss Emily was out making calls all day long, Robert knew nothing about dancing, and Lady Greenfield certainly did not wish for that much exercise. It was a dilemma indeed, the staff agreed, before moving on to other, more interesting, topics.
After a good deal of thought on the matter, Cook went to Mrs. Hodges. “That Lydia knows how to dance,” she said.
“Lydia? The upstairs maid?” Mrs. Hodges could not believe it.
“She can, I saw her teaching Jack.”
“She danced with a footman!” Mrs. Hodges scoffed.
Cook had long known that Mrs. Hodges’ understanding was limited, so she was not surprised that she had to explain her thinking. “Do you not see, Mrs. Hodges? Lydia can help Miss Alice practice her dance steps. After all, it was Miss Alice who found Lydia to begin with. And think of her ladyship’s gratitude when you present her with a solution to her problem!”
Cook watched as Mrs. Hodges finally grasped the implications of the idea. “She would be very grateful indeed, Cook!”
“And to think that it would be you who found the solution, not Letty! How clever of you!”
“As if Letty could have thought of such a thing!” Mrs. Hodges said. It was always a sore point for housekeepers that lady’s maids were not under their supervision; Mrs. Hodges was no exception to that general rule. “Well, I shall tell Lady Greenfield my solution as soon as may be!”
Cook knew full well that her own part in that solution would never be known, but the idea of giving that poor little Lydia a bit of relief from her daily chores was reward enough.
***
“Lydia? The maid? Are you certain, Mrs. Hodges?”
As it happened, Mrs. Hodges was not at all certain, not having seen Lydia dancing, but she had never known Cook to lie, nor to interfere with any of the servants, for that matter, so this was all very odd indeed. But she nodded convincingly and said, “Quite certain, Mrs. Hodges.”
“Well, we shall see. Send the girl to the ballroom at one in the afternoon.”
“Very good, my lady.”
***
“I am sorry, Mrs. Hodges, but I am not certain that I understand.”
“Well, you were seen dancing with Jack, and the mistress needs someone to help Miss Alice with her dancing! It is simple enough, stupid girl.”
“But Edith…?”
