Southampton
"The curtains need to be cleaned," Mildred Westmoreland instructed as she walked through the parlor, Tessa and a new girl, Sarah, close behind her. "Take them all down, take them outside, and beat them until the dust is all gone. Do you understand?"
"Yes, madam," Tessa replied with a nod.
"How do we get them down?" Sarah asked, but a sharp elbow from Tessa silenced her, and if Mrs. Westmoreland had heard, the question was ignored.
"This floor is never clean anymore. Sarah, if you must get down and scrub it, then do so," the mistress of the house continued. "I'm tired of having ladies over for tea only to see them grimace at the floorboards."
"Yes, madam," Sarah answered, learning her lesson from the last time.
"When you are finished with that, come and check with me. I
