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MAID to MATCH

Bethany House Publishers

Chapter One

Like a butterfly breaking free from its confining cocoon, Tillie Reese emerged from the barren, tan-colored servants' hall into the opulence of Biltmore's main level. These predawn hours were her favorite. All was dark, no one stirred, and she had the entire floor-easily a half acre in size-all to herself.

She'd walked this path many times and could navigate it without candle or lamp. For just a moment, she imagined herself mistress of the chateau. Elegantly dressed, gliding across the parquet and trying to decide whether to have Chef prepare petites bouchées or puits d'amour. Whether to spend the morning reading Yeats, Browning, or Dickens. Whether to call the carriage round for a drive through the country or ride one of the thoroughbreds waiting in the stable.

Tightening her grip on her housemaid's box, she inhaled deeply. The polish she'd made of linseed oil, vinegar, turpentine, and wine tickled her nose. She allowed herself a sneeze-something strictly forbidden were anyone about.

The click of her heels echoed throughout the vast, wide-open area as she skirted the sunken atrium filled with palms, exotic plants, blooming shrubs, and a large fountain sculpture yet to be turned on. She finally reached the tapestry gallery and paused, listening to the silence, enjoying the anonymity of the dark.

Let there be light.

She pushed the familiar white button. Electric lights flared, illuminating a room so long it could hold two modest houses. Several groupings of sage brocade sofas and chairs filled the area. Huge tapestries lined one wall. Opposite them stood a wall of windows and French doors.

The soft hum of the Edison bulbs bid her good morning. The thrill and miracle of the electric lights never failed to stir her. But this morning something else warred for her attention, and suddenly, the light made her feel exposed, vulnerable, naked.

She touched the black button. Darkness slammed back down like a closing trunk lid. All was quiet again. Not a whisper of sound.

She held her breath. Felt her heart hammering in her breast. And allowed the thought she'd been hiding since last night to fully form in her head.

Bénédicte was leaving. Returning to France. Leaving the new Mrs. Vanderbilt without a lady's maid.

A lady's maid. Next to housekeeper, the highest-ranking position for a woman. The servant who had morning tea brought to her by the first housemaid while the second housemaid made up a fire in her room.

The servant who was free to take a bath as often as she liked. Who traveled with Mrs. Vanderbilt. Who read books-books!-aloud to Mrs. Vanderbilt. Who was required to dress in the same fashions as Mrs. Vanderbilt. Best of all, a lady's maid earned quite a bit more money, so she could help her family and others in the community who were in need.

Tillie, as head parlormaid, would surely be considered for the position. The housekeeper had requested a private audience with her before breakfast. Lord willing, it was to discuss just that.

After hugging the thought one last time, she carefully returned it to the recesses of her mind. Dawdling in fantasies when she should be setting the gallery to rights was no way to put her best foot forward.

Pushing the white button, she again flooded the room with light. If the entire first floor was to be in complete readiness before the master and his bride descended for the day, she'd best get busy.

* * *

Chatter, laughter, and the clinking of plated ware filled the servants' dining hall, but Tillie participated in none of it. She avoided eye contact with the long row of liveried men sitting opposite her and the equal number of uniformed women beside her. She took particular care not to glance her brother's way. One look at Allan and he'd know something was up.

The dining hall servant, a young girl of sixteen, refilled Tillie's glass of milk. "Is everythin' to your liking, Miss Tillie? You've barely touched your liver and bacon."

"It's fine, Nell. Delicious, actually."

Nell glanced at the clock but said nothing as its minute hand jumped a step closer to the half-hour mark.

Tillie took a large bite of potatoes. She'd have to eat quickly if she was going to finish before eight-thirty. But after her meeting with the housekeeper, her stomach had lost its ability to digest.

"May I have your attention, please?" From the head of the table, Mrs. Winter made her request only once, and just that quickly, a hush fell over the room of servants. As housekeeper, she was second only to the Vanderbilts, outranking even the butler.

Her gaze briefly touched the butler's at the opposite end of the table; then she surveyed the long rows of men and women between them. "As you know, Bénédicte has decided to return to France as soon as a replacement for her can be found."

All eyes turned to Mrs. Vanderbilt's lady's maid. She sat immediately to the right of Mrs. Winter and across from the hallboy, underbutlers, and footmen. The dark green fabric of her gown strewn with pink and yellow blossoms caused her olive skin to glow.

From what Tillie had been told, between the language barrier and the isolation of Biltmore, Bénédicte could not adjust. She wanted to go home.

Next to Bénédicte was Tillie. On Tillie's right, the head chambermaid, then the first housemaid and so forth all the way down the table to the laundresses and scullery maids.

"Rather than importing someone from France or England, or even from Newport," Mrs. Winter continued, "Mrs. Vanderbilt has decided to award Bénédicte's position to one of our current staff members."

The attention immediately shifted to Tillie and the three girls to her right-the leaders of the domestic corps.

"After much consideration, she has narrowed the choice to either Tillie or Lucy."

Dixie Brown bent over her plate, capturing Tillie's attention. The excitement and delight on her friend's face was unmistakable.

Tillie offered her a slight smile, then glanced at her brother. Allan's brows had converged. His thoughts unreadable.

Mrs. Winter took a sip of coffee. "While Mrs. Vanderbilt is deciding, Tillie and Lucy will be called upon to take on a few of Bénédicte's duties. As a result, some of you will be required to take care of whatever chores they leave behind."

To Tillie's immediate right, Lucy Lewers sat tall and confident, her caramel-colored hair coiled neatly beneath a snowy cap, which was nothing more than a piece of frilly cloth resting on the crown of her head. Long lashes framed eyes the same caramel color as her hair. Her skin held no blemish, her profile no flaw. With the slightest lifting of her chin, she looked down the table at all the underlings, as if her appointment to the position was imminent.

"Finish up," Mrs. Winter admonished. "The day is calling."

* * *

Allan cornered Tillie on the way to morning prayers.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Grabbing her by the arm, he propelled her into the canning pantry and closed the door. He stood a half foot taller than she, with wide shoulders and hair every bit as thick and black as her own.

"I only found out myself just before we sat down to breakfast." She rubbed the place he'd squeezed.

"What are you going to do?"

She cocked her head. "Do? I'm going to work my fingers to the bone and beg God for His favor. What do you think I'm going to do?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "It'll change everything. You'll be one of them, the swell set."

She smiled at the term referring to the butler, chef, lady's maid, and valet. "But I want to be one of them. Can you imagine all the opportunities I'll have? The pay? The clothes? The privileges? The travel?"

"Travel? You can't so much as look at a carriage without getting sick. How, exactly, do you plan to manage that?"

She stiffened. "I'm older now. I'm sure the motion won't affect me like it did when I was little. Besides, think of the freedom I'll have every single day. I'll be able to-"

"Freedom?" he scoffed. "There's no such thing as freedom with that job. You'll be at her ladyship's beck and call all hours of the day and night."

"But that's just it. I'll be confidante to Edith Stuyvesant Dresser Vanderbilt!"

"You won't be on the fourth floor with Dixie and all the other girls. You'll be stuck on the second floor with her and the high-and-mighty Mrs. Winter. You won't be able to have dessert, or tea, or gossip with the rest of us. You'll have to retire to Mrs. Winter's room with the swell set."

"And partake of the same desserts the Vanderbilts are having!" Tillie shook her head in mock sorrow. "That will certainly be a burden."

He tightened his mouth. "You won't be able to get married."

She frowned. "None of us can get married. Not unless we want to lose our jobs."

"You could get married. It would just mean you couldn't work in the house. You'd have to work on one of Mr. Vanderbilt's farms or in the dairy or something like that."

"Why would I want to do that when I can work here? Are you crazy?" She reached for the door.

He pressed his hand against it. "A lady's maid position will eat up the best years of your life, Tillie. Then the minute a gray hair pops up or a tiny wrinkle forms, out you go. Only the young and beautiful can be ladies' maids."

"Gray hairs? You're talking to me about gray hairs? I'm eighteen."

"I know how old you are."

"Then what are you so worried about? I'll be careful with my earnings. And when the time comes, leaving my job won't be a concern because I'll have enough to live on for the rest of my life."

"Alone. With no one to keep you company. And not at all in the style you'll have become accustomed to."

Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms. "I thought you'd be happy for me. If I get this position, Mama will think she's died and gone to heaven."

"Conrad's in love with you."

She stilled, then slowly lowered her arms. "Conrad? The footman?"

She pictured the gangly young man who was so skinny he stuffed his stockings in order to give himself shapely calves.

"You know any other Conrads?" Allan asked.

Anger surged through her. "Well, he'd better put me right out of his mind. I'm not caring which nor whether about him nor anybody else, and if he jeopardizes this for me, I'll have his head on a platter." She hammered a finger against her brother's chest. "You understand me?"

"You don't even like him a little? All the girls flirt with him."

"They'd better not let Mrs. Winter catch them or they'll be the ones sacked, not him." She took a deep breath. "I want this job, Bubby. I want it more than anything I've ever wanted in my life. You tell Conrad to stay clear of me. You hear?"

Sighing, he released the door. "I hear."

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from MAID to MATCH by DEEANNE GIST Copyright © 2010 by Deeanne Gist . Excerpted by permission.
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