The Lady's Maid

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I especially appreciated the clear presentation of the way different strata of society lived, demonstrated both in description and simple comments about how only the wealthy have the luxury of not knowing how much coin they possess. A lot of drama and twists of fate before the happy ending coupled with an unexpected turn-around in circumstances. Kate hurried homeward as fast as the iron-clad pattens would allow, wrapping her thin shawl a little tighter around her head and shoulders. It begins in the night on a hill where a Romany woman awaits the birth of her daughter’s illegitimate child for whom she has arranged a home. The story begins with an awkward friendship between a spoiled, manipulative lady and her lifelong friend who begins the book as a beleaguered housemaid.

In this novel, they just seem to happen upon each other, in the wrong part of the country and for no apparent reason other than that it needs to happen to continue the story. If you like historical fiction with strong personalities, tangles built out of society’s expectations, a love story, and a touch of mystery, this is one not to miss. Bottom line, the story is nicely resonant of its historical setting, shedding light on the biases and foul behaviors as much as the strength of bonds even when society would frown on them. Although the reader can see the way the book will go the reader stays interested and needs to find out how things unwind.The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. I never truly liked Josie, raised as a lady, because she is unthinking, hypercritical, and selfish, but I came to appreciate her flawed but contrite nature. Other than being Dumbledore's name in the Harry Potter books, I am not sure what the term meant in this book, as it wasn't used as a name, but I laughed when I figured this out. Two female babies denied their birth mothers and brought up in very different, yet side by side circumstances.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. As the years have passed, Kate has grown up knowing only poverty and servitude, whilst Josie's world is one of privilege and luxury.Normally a protagonist of hers falls on hard times, and is destitute in London for most of the novel. The Romany grandmother finds a safe home for this girl as well, both children growing up believing themselves legitimate.