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T here is going to be a ball here at the house,” Mr. Durston informed the staff at dinner. “The Season is starting up again, it being October, and her ladyship will be one of the first to entertain. It is important that the house be seen at its very best!”

“Which means a lot o’ extra work fer all of us, “ Edith muttered to Lydia.

“Miss Alice is getting dance lessons,” Letty said. “She will be allowed to dance with her father and some of Lord Greenfield’s old friends. Sort of a practice for her, you know, before her come out next year.”

“I thought she had already had dance lessons?” Nancy asked.

“The dancing master told Lady Greenfield that Miss Alice needs more practice,” Letty explained.

“Miss Emily is an excellent dancer,” Nancy said, tossing her head. “Evidently her sister has not the same grace.” There was no rivalry between the two sisters, but the same could not be said of their maids.

“What dances is she learning?” Lydia asked, eagerly.

“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…?”

“Will have to do your afternoon chores as well as her own. Not the first time. And not your concern, in any case.”

It was very much Lydia’s concern, and she explained to Edith as soon as she could that she had not asked for this and would have preferred not to have to do it.

“Not want to! Ha! You swanning about in the ballroom while I am mopping floors!”

“But I did not ask for it, Edith! I know it is not fair for you to have to do extra work.”

“And how did all this dancing come about, in any case?” Edith stood over Lydia, hands on her hips.

“I was teaching Jack a few steps, is all, and Cook saw it.”

“Stay away from the footmen, I told ya!”

“You did tell me. I am sorry, Edith.” Lydia hung her head.

Edith finally relented. “It is not yer fault, I s’pose.”

“No, it is not my fault. But I think it is you Jack wants to dance with, so you may need to learn as well.” She grinned when she saw Edith’s face.

***

At one o’clock, Lydia was waiting in the ballroom, her hands twisting nervously in her grey skirt.

Miss Alice arrived a few minutes later, wearing a simple day dress. “I understand you know some of the dances, Lydia?” she said, kindly.

“Yes, Miss Alice,” Lydia said, staring at her feet.

“Come, Lydia, no need to be shy. I need help, I truly do, and I would be most grateful if you could provide it.”

At that, Lydia looked up. She took a deep breath and said, “Very well, let us begin! I used to take the gentleman’s part when I danced with my sisters because I was the tallest, and I shall do the same with you.”

***

An hour later, Lady Fielding peeked into the ballroom. Miss Alice and that maid, Lydia, were dancing together beautifully. Lydia was humming the tune of the dance, and occasionally calling out directions, which Alice followed with increasing ease.

Lady Greenfield immediately made her way to the housekeeper’s room. Mrs. Hodges rose to her feet at once.

“Mrs. Hodges, that Lydia appears to be an excellent instructress. I should like her to present herself in the ballroom at one o’clock every day for the remainder of the week.”

***

The lessons were a great success. When the dancing instructor returned to Greenfield House the following week, he professed himself extremely impressed with his pupil’s progress. “For you know,” he confided to Lady Greenfield. “I had truly begun to think that she would never become a proficient.”

Lady Greenfield would have very much liked to tell him that a maid in her employ had turned out to be a better instructor than he himself, but she managed to hold her tongue.