Lady's maid

The role of a lady's maid is similar to that of a gentleman's valet.

[1] Traditionally, the lady's maid was not as high-ranking as a lady's companion, who was a retainer rather than a servant, but the rewards included room and board, travel and somewhat improved social status.

In the servants' hall, a lady's maid took precedence akin to that of her mistress.

A lady's maid would also remove stains from clothing; sew, mend, and alter garments as needed; bring her mistress breakfast in her room; and draw her mistress's bath.

However, she would not be expected to dust and clean every small item, as that would be the job of a housemaid.

Illustration depicting a Parisian lady's maid in the 1630s. The illustration is made in the turn of the 18th-19th century, by Georges-Jacques Gatine [ fr ] (1773–1848)
Mistress and Maid by Johannes Vermeer .