Introduction

Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?

Observing both brothers as an "invisible" servant, Margaret learns she may have misjudged Nathaniel. Is it too late to rekindle his admiration? And when one of the family is nearly killed, Margaret alone discovers who was responsible. Should she come forward, even at the risk of her reputation and perhaps her life? And can she avoid an obvious trap meant to force her from hiding?

On her journey from wellborn lady to servant to uncertain future, Margaret must learn to look past appearances and find the true meaning of "serve one another in love."

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Excerpt

The only aristocrat known to have disguised herself as a servant is Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, in 1786.
—Giles Waterfield and Anne French, Below Stairs
Chapter 1
London
August 1815
He is reading my letters now too. . . .
Margaret Elinor Macy sat at her dressing table, heart pounding. Her face in the looking glass shone pale beneath curly dark hair, her light blue eyes anxious. She glanced from her reflection to the letter in her hand. The seal had been pried open and unsuccessfully re-pressed. Her mother’s new husband had obviously begun checking her post—perhaps fearful the next invitation she received would not be to a ball but rather to take refuge in another house, out of reach and out from under his power. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. How would you like to have a servant (or servants) living in your basement, attic, or guest room? Would the help be worth the loss of privacy to you?
2. If you lived a few hundred years ago, do you think it more likely you’d employ servants or be a servant? Why? If a servant, what type of work would you do best?
3. Did anything surprise you about the life of servants in the early 1800s? How well do you think you would cope if you found yourself in service in Regency England tomorrow?
4. Why do you think the author chose the opening quotation “Judge not according to the appearance.” How might that relate to the story?
5. Does Margaret change during the course of the novel, and if so, how?
6. Other than that of Nathaniel and Margaret, what relationship in the story intrigued you the most? How so?
7. If you could choose one character from the book to have over for dinner, which would you choose? What did you like about him or her?
8. Which characters, if any, would you like to know more about? What would you like to see occur in their lives after the story’s end?
9. If this book were ever made into a movie, which actors could you see in the leading roles?
10. If you had to choose one, would you prefer to live in a large country manor like Fairbourne Hall, a charming cottage like Lime Tree Lodge, or a posh London town house?


From the publisher

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»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Author Julie Klassen's book club page

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