If she paused quietly at the top of the stairs to the servant's hall, looking down before anyone noticed her, she saw things Carson would never see. Bates and Anna stealing a kiss; Ivy giggling behind her hand; Jimmy running his hands through his hair; Thomas (that is, Mr. Barrow) watching Jimmy running his hands through his hair; O'Brien's snaky whisper to her nephew.

A good housekeeper uses all the tools at her disposal.