Book Description

Lady Georgina's fascination with the life of the working classes leads her down a path of no return as she sinks deeper and deeper into her pretend persona of a lady's maid. What starts out as an enticing fantasy for the bored and spoiled Victorian-era heiress and an aspiring actress she hires for the game, slowly evolves into something far bigger as, step by step, she surrenders her status, her wealth and even her family name to live the life she was destined to live - that of a simple servant girl. This dark tale of social downgrade is set in 1880s London, grimy Manchester, and New York when cultural and social differences between a lady and her maids were as rigid as the former's corsets and as regulated as the latter's black-and-white uniforms."A young maidservant, dressed in a black long-sleeved dress with white cuffs and a collar, a large apron tied around her waist, entered the room. It took Evelyn a few seconds to realise that the servant girl in front of her was Lady Georgina Ashburton. The contrast with the rich heiress that she just spoke to a few minutes ago was too great! The only giveaway was Georgina's hairdo, which was far too elaborate for a simple maid, but her head was now partially covered by a snowy cap, contributing to her overall appearance as a humble servant, awaiting her demanding mistress's orders.Georgina made a step forward and curtseyed, looking at Evelyn expectantly."Did Madame ring?" she said, her voice trembling just a bit.Evelyn moved toward Georgina - the irony of the fact that a combination of her natural tallness and the high heels she was now wearing forced her to look down on her "maid" did not escape her - and slowly walked around her, examining the black-and- white uniform. Did she have it made for herself or just took it from one of the maids that quit, she wondered. Most certainly the latter.Either way, she could now completely understand why Sarah found it so difficult not to chuckle when playing this game - the maid's dress was clearly made for a much bigger girl and Lady Georgina looked quite comical in it, especially considering her somewhat scared facial expression."You would need a better uniform. This one would do for now, but if you want to continue serving me in this house, you should consider getting the one that fits you well. I will not tolerate untidy appearance,'' Evelyn said matter-of-factly, as if lecturing Georgina on how she should be dressed was the most natural thing in the world. "I know a good store just off Bond Street. They sell the most exquisite maid's dresses, caps and aprons. They are not cheap, but you'd thank me later - they are top quality and would last for 10 years.""Thank you, Miss", said Georgina, who wasn't expecting her guest to take on the role of a demanding and contentious mistress so quickly. Clearly, Evelyn did not really expect her to get a new uniform and that was just part of the game? "That's settled then, I will book you for a fitting. All will be deducted from your pay, of course. Now, draw a bath for me," said Evelyn, turned her back to Georgina, sat down by the vanity and began studying her flawless expression with great interest.Georgina wanted to protest - obviously she was not planning to go to a shop to try on maid uniforms and Evelyn was clearly overplaying her strict mistress act - but she had to admire her guest's apparent skill as an actress as well as her ingenuity. Truth be told, the maid's dress she had on was well-worn and totally out of size, but she always thought it was more than adequate for the purposes of the game. There was nothing in the script about a new uniform so Evelyn came up with the idea herself! And, unlike Sarah, she sounded so natural, just like an upper class mistress issuing orders to her maid. Georgina decided to play along, she could always stop the game if it went too far. But for now Evelyn was merely doing her best to portray the character she was commissioned to play."