One Moment In Time- Joanne Oneshots

1907

England

Dianne crossed the tasteful hall while mentally crossing things off her list of chores for the day. She tried to hurry in order not to disturb the family while they were dining but her thoughts always trailed back to the opulence of the household. She stopped for a moment and imagined what her life would have been like if she'd been born into this family. Endless parties and money and beautiful, fine dresses! She shook the thought away and upon hearing chairs being pulled back from the dining room, she quickly made her way downstairs to the servants hall. She took a seat at the long kitchen table and began her mending.

"Where were you Dianne?" asked Amy, a fellow ladies maid and her closest friend at the house. 

"Just getting Lady Caroline's coat sorted, it's so cold at this time of year," answered Dianne. 

"It's dreadfully cold!" sighed Amy who loved the summer months. "But it means that the Servants Ball will be here soon!"

Dianne smiled at the thought of the Ball. She hadn't been here for one since she joined the team of servants in the spring and it was held every New Year's Day. It was a night that the servants could relax and socialise with the members of the upper class family whom they waited upon every single day. 

"I should imagine it's quite unusual though?" said Dianne and seeing Amy's inquisitive look she pressed on. "Eating and dancing with the family and talking to them as though we're all equals,"

Amy looked thoughtful. "I suppose it is rather. But it's nice just one night out of the year to pretend,"

Dianne agreed but internally knew that she would feel nervous anyway. She needed this position and she wouldn't let a night of frivolity ruin her career in service. 

//

"Joseph?"

Joe looked away from his valet tying his shoes and towards his mother who was standing in the doorway. She was dressed and ready to go to the Ball and seemed as though she wanted a word with him. 

"Thank you Jones, you can go now and see you tonight," Joe smiled. He had a good relationship with his valet and made a conscious effort to treat all the servants in the house with respect. Jones left the room and his mother shut the door after him. 

"You look very handsome my dear," said his mother, Tracey. 

"Thank you mother, you look lovely," he said straightening his bow-tie. 

"I had a letter today from Lady Rutherford," she said lightly. Joe's hands stilled and he looked his mother in the eye. 

"Alice Rutherford is a nice girl mother. But I'm not sure if I want to marry her. There's no getting out of marriage for our kind of people so I want to be sure I pick the right girl," he said. 

His mother looked disappointed but smiled at him. "I understand. She is a lovely girl but I do understand," she made to leave the room but turned back. "Joseph, you are heir to your father's title, you really ought to be married soon," And with that she left the room and Joe was alone with his thoughts. 

//

The Servants Ball was in full swing. All of lower and upper class alike were intertwined throughout the entire room and if it weren't for the differing attire, you couldn't tell that in the morning, all parties would be back on their sides of the crippling social divide. Dianne took a sip of her drink and watched as the footmen and the maids danced with members of the family and wished she was involved. 

"Do you need a partner?"

Dianne looked up to be confronted with a pair of dazzling blue eyes. They reminded her of the great ocean that she had crossed from her motherland to pursue a career that would support her family. She then noticed the teeth that were set into a kind smile. Dianne's throat went dry as she looked at Joseph Sugg, first son and heir, properly for the first time.