Told against the backdrop of the happenings in Pride and Prejudice this is the story of Sarah, an orphaned housemaid in the Bennet household. She spends her days washing, scrubbing the laundry, and looking after the five young ladies of the household. Her story entwines with the one we know - Jane and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and Lydia and the scoundrel Mr. Wickham. In this telling, however, it is the servants who take center stage. Mr. and Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, and Polly, another orphaned housemaid, form the nucleus of this story along with Sarah. Against the lives of those lovely and privileged young women, Sarah's life is harsh and offers little room for fun and enjoyment.
Until, that is, James Smith arrives to become the new footman for the household. His arrival opens up long-kept mysteries and wounds and awakens Sarah to what else the future might hold for her.
As I read this book I found myself constantly measuring the life of Sarah against the story I knew - the story told by Jane Austen and popular in movies for years. If life was regimented for the middle and upper classes, it was even more so for the working class. Sarah was a valued employee yet her feelings and needs were rarely taken into account. On the few occasions when she does assert herself her actions are met with astonishment and disbelief from her "betters."
As the story progresses Sarah comes to terms with what life has to offer...and takes steps to find the happiness she knows she deserves.
An intriguing look behind-the-scenes and one I enjoyed a great deal. I was anxious for the book to end so that I would know the outcome but sorry when the last page arrived.
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