Canada, 1928
If a woman worked for a household in Europe, especially for a lady, few expected that she would form her own relationship beyond the family that employed her. It wasn’t considered proper that she might meet or marry anyone outside their world and leave. There were men who tried, of course. Those of us who were staff to the nobles knew we could only fancy those at a similar station. By the time I’d been with the Caetanis for a decade, I was familiar with the play and pull of staff along narrow halls, up back stairs and in the attic quarters of manors, villas and palaces around Europe. The families knew as well, especially the ladies. Better to have us find romance within the household than to lose good staff.
I spent several months of the year abroad with the Caetanis, a few
