The Shadow of Great Britain

503: Chapter 267: Fame and Fortune (5K)_3 503: Chapter 267: Fame and Fortune (5K)_3 Compared to male servants, female servants were in an absolutely disadvantaged position in this employment relationship.

In Britain’s traditional view, women, especially unmarried young women, were considered to have minds similar to children, and therefore absolutely incapable of full agency.

Employers were not only their employers but also their guardians, and thus enjoyed authority over their lives.

Such great power naturally brought many problems, such as various economic or physical punishments by employers against maids, or those often occurring plotlines from the single-volume novels in Eld’s bookcase.

Miss Megan and Miss Catherine, as mentioned by Becky Sharp, who turned to the sex trade, were mostly former maids who were dismissed after improper relations with their employers were discovered.

Once maids acquired such a reputation in the industry, it became quite unlikely for them to find work again.

Therefore, many among these maids, faced with the pressure of survival, naturally could only turn to the sex industry.

According to general statistics, domestic maids are indeed one of the main sources of prostitutes.

Their proportion is so significant that some social commentators, frantic with anger, outright declared, “London has been overrun with prostitutes, all because of the constant influx of maids from all corners of the country.”

However, despite the intolerable corporal punishments and risks in the maidservant industry, relative to textile workers earning only six pennies a day or laundry women with even lower incomes, domestic maids with free food and lodging and no risk of dismissal during slow seasons still attracted girls in droves.

Not to mention the stories circulated in the maidservant circles that still made it impossible for them to give up this occupation that most easily allowed women to climb social ranks.

Generally, maids who had served in the homes of the nobility were naturally sought after in the marriage market, coveted by the emerging middle class like fashionable novels.

Maids serving rich families often received dowries from their employers upon retirement, ranging from ten to several tens of pounds and, in rare cases, even up to a hundred pounds.

Some maids also received portions of their employers’ inheritances.

As for the remaining maids, their ultimate dream was to overthrow their mistresses and wage a thorough battle for reversal of fortune.

Even if none of these goals were considered, most British girls would still choose maid as their preferred job after becoming capable of work.

The reason being no other, working as a maid had almost become an important part of traditional British values; the Southampton region even legislated in the 17th century that unmarried women aged 12-40 must undertake servitude or else be considered illegal.

Becoming a maid was almost as essential for women as military service was for men; those who strayed from this path were almost certainly derided, called ‘unruly women’ in the shadows.

On this conservative island where everyone was labeled, ordinary people naturally could not bear the tremendous risk of straying from the norm.

So, regardless of whether they needed to earn money this way, most people had better spend a year as a maid while they were young.

If you consider it from this angle, there was no reason to doubt Becky Sharp, and since she was sent over by Fiona, with her shrewdness, she surely wouldn’t pick a simpleton.

But could a clever girl indiscriminately say such a lengthy monologue?

Arthur thought this and suddenly heard Becky Sharp, sitting across from him, say,

“Miss Yvonne told me that you need a maid who is skilled at mending and doing laundry because it seems you’re not very adept at handling these matters.”

Arthur raised his eyebrows and asked, “I’m indeed not very good at it, but I think I’m still doing better than the fat man I live with.

At least I don’t rub holes in my own trousers.”

Becky Sharp’s cheeks were rosy, and her eyes seemed to sparkle as she heard this, “Then hiring me would be the right choice!

Brick dust and clay can remove grease stains, alcohol can wash away grass stains, kerosene works on blood, and milk can remove urine and fruit juice.

But if you encounter lemon or onion juice, you have to use a little secret weapon, although I regret I cannot fully disclose it.

However, if you’re willing to hand over the laundry to me, you won’t have to worry about stains on clothes at parties ever again.”

The Red Devil whistled, “Oh…

that’s quite professional!

Arthur, this girl seems to have come prepared.

It looks like she’s set on getting the job today.”

Arthur looked at Becky Sharp’s eyes full of expectation.

He felt he was quite good-looking but certainly not to the extent that could make girls’ eyes shine like that.

The dazzling light in Becky Sharp’s eyes was mostly due to the twelve shillings weekly wage he had offered, a sum that normally could hire a competent housekeeper.

After some thought, Arthur finally nodded with a smile, “Alright, Miss Sharp, it seems I can’t find anyone more suitable than you for now, your merits have impressed me.”

Upon hearing this, Becky couldn’t help but smile joyously, standing up and saying, “Does that mean…

you agree?”

Arthur smiled and pointed to the address written on the clipping in front of him, “36 Lancaster Gate.

Pack your bags and you can move in anytime.

I will have the work contract ready by tomorrow, but if you want to rest for a few days that’s fine, although personally, I hope you can move in sooner.

Due to a performance, my expensive shirt and coat have been stained with too much dye that’s hard to clean.”