How much did the lady of the house have to do with running the household? She was completely in charge of it. If she could afford it she had help in the form of a housekeeper, cook, butler, footmen and maid. The housekeeper would keep her apprised of things that were needed, i.e. linens, or if there was damage to anything in the house. She would also inspect and inventory household items with the housekeeper. The cook would give her menus to approve or to make changes to. The lady of the house would, many times, have her own recipes and remedies that had been handed down in her family.
Although the butler actually worked for the master of the house, he was responsible for serving the lady tea, refusing visitors, inquiring if the lady was receiving, instructing footmen to run errands for her, directing the footmen in the meal service and numerous other things. Therefore, the butler also took orders from her.
Most members of the gentry had at least a cook and one or two maids of all work. Any household who could afford it had a butler and a footman.
#RegencyTrivia
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Ella Quinn ~ Author 
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