Lady's maid

A lady's maid waited on her employer alone rather than on the whole house. She helped with hair, clothing, jewelry and shoes, removed stains, mended and altered garments, and might bring breakfast or draw a bath. General dusting and cleaning was left to the housemaids.

The post was the female counterpart of a gentleman's valet. It came with room and board and some standing among the other servants, so in a census it marks a servant in a well-off household.