Brief summaries of all the manga chapters. To read them, go to the downloads page. Chapters are usually around 25 pages; each of the early ones ends with a page titled "Sequel" which works like an epilog.
Volume I
Chapter 1: "Visit" (Episode 1)
William comes to visit Kelly, gets bruised by a door opened by Emma, and is smitten. Kelly gets a call and has to shoo William on his way; he "forgets" a glove, and Kelly sends Emma to take it to him. The two are soon deep in conversation.
("Sequel": in the park, William rambles about the Great Exhibition and Emma listens.)
Chapter 2: "Eyeglasses"
A maid of William's announces the arrival of a package (a model plane), then tells him his father is calling. Emma shops; William runs into her on the street. After learning that her eyeglasses are weak, William offers to get a new pair (with an adorably bad poem). That evening, Emma flashbacks to when Kelly bought her current glasses. William ends up buying her a handkerchief instead.
("Sequel": Emma fingers the lace, only putting the handkerchief away when Kelly calls.)
Chapter 3: "A Visitor from the South"
Elephants arrive in the harbor. William is doing business when a flustered servant announces visitors: Hakim's exotic entourage. Kelly and Emma read about it in the paper. Hakim takes William for a nerve-wracking elephant ride; he ends up at the Stowner house, motion-sick. Hakim is struck by Emma's beauty, and remains quiet the whole way home.
("Sequel": an illustration of one of Hakim's girls.)
Chapter 4: "Love Letter"
Emma gets the mail, which contains love letters, including one from the postman himself. William gets the mail too: jewelry with Emma's name engraved on it, which he learns was ordered by Hakim. William lurks to see Hakim visiting Emma. After asking if Emma is William's girlfriend (she says no), Hakim confesses his love. William buys Emma a card at the Leyton shop, then learns from friends just how popular she is. Emma stays up late composing replies to all of the letters. William says up late worrying.
("Sequel": William's friend buys a card at the Leyton shop, addressed to the shop girl.)
Chapter 5: "Photograph"
Kelly dreams. She thinks about herself, then about Emma and William. It rains. Al, playing cards, gets a call from Kelly ordering him to show up and fix the gutters. She then has him help move furniture; he talks to Emma about Kelly's husband Doug. Kelly falls on the stairs, twisting her ankle and breaking her necklace. Forced to stay seated, Kelly things about Doug, and begins asking Emma about William. Emma fixes the necklace based on the photograph.
("Sequel": the young Kelly, Doug, and Al examine the photos that have just arrived; Kelly sends Al to buy sugar.)
Chapter 6: "Pocketwatch" (Episode 8/4)
Scenes from a funeral. The Jones maids gossip about Hakim, who drives through the house in a car. Kelly winds her husband's pocketwatch, as per her routine. The car runs out of fuel, leaving Hakim and William stranded; Hakim drags William into Mudie's, where Emma is checking out books for Kelly (and Hakim finds Victorian pornography). The three have a brief encounter, and William learns of Kelly's condition.
("Sequel": A mechanic asks after oil for the car in the shop where Al is.)
Chapter 7: "Richard Jones"
A ball; William stands to the side. Robert comes over to talk to him. Flashback to Richard Jones lecturing his son about refusing invitations (and making Stevens write his apologies). William tells Robert that he came with Hakim (who's dancing with a beautiful girl); Robert encourages William to mingle. Lady Campbell introduces her daughter Eleanor (this is Eleanor's first society ball), and William consents to waltz with her. Emma buys asparagus at the market and learns that one of the girls there is going to go to school. Richard Jones and William visit Kelly, who still can't walk; Richard tells Kelly that he and the Campbells are arranging a marriage between William and Eleanor. William objects, but can't directly tell his class-conscious father about Emma (who's standing right behind him).
("Sequel": Eleanor talks to a maid about William.)
Volume II
Chapter 8: "Crystal Palace"
William, in bed, tells Stevens not to wake him up; flashback. Emma is hand-delivered a note; Kelly recognizes that something's bothering her, and gets Emma to ask for some time off. Kelly gives her a whole day off, and lends her a nice dress. Al stays with Kelly for the day, and they discuss Emma's chances with William. The couple tours the Crystal Palace, and are still deep in conversation after it's been locked up for the night. Locked in, they end up kissing under the moonlight. The next day, Eleanor comes calling, but William is still asleep; Richard invites her to a dinner party on his behalf.
("Sequel": workers find Emma and William, and let them out.)
Chapter 9: "Family"
Emma takes care of Kelly, who reassures her about William. William's siblings arrive at his house: Grace, Arthur, Vivian, and Colin. The family catches up on each other's doings. Hakim meets the siblings (flirts with Grace, and stuns Vivian). Grace brings up Eleanor, to William's discomfort; Hakim mentions Emma. William reveals that Emma is a maid, outraging Arthur and Vivian. While they're shouting, Richard returns, and puts his foot down: if William tries to be with Emma, he'll be disowned. The doctor speaks gravely of Kelly's condition.
("Sequel": Emma sleeps in Kelly's room; Kelly tells her that everyone grows old.)
Chapter 10: "Alone"
Emma flashbacks to her arrival at the Stowner house. She dresses, cleans, scrubs, and looks into Kelly's empty room. Al arrives and asks how she's doing. Brief flashback to Emma racing into the shop to find Al; Emma reassures him that she's recovering. Dusts, sorts, wipes; gives a stray cat milk. That night she wakes to turn off a dripping faucet, and can't get back to sleep; she starts a fire in the fireplace and sits by it, tearing up again.
("Sequel": another cat arrives to be fed.)
Chapter 11: "A Dinner Party with Eleanor"
At the dinner party, a distracted William and a nervous Eleanor talk. It's awkward, but the food gives them conversation topics. In the kitchen, the cooks rush around; at the table, Eleanor and William's small talk leads to William revealing a fierce opinion about tradition. Parents make suggestive remarks about William and Eleanor. The women retire to the drawing room, where Eleanor talks about William. On the ride home, William is miffed with his father; one of the cooks remarks that there's not such a difference between them and the nobles.
("Sequel": Emma's maid undresses her; she goes to bed thinking about William.)
Chapter 12: "Farewell, Emma (Part One)"
William runs through the park. Vivian climbs a ladder to the balcony to talk with Hakim. Emma comes to the Jones house, to learn that William is out; Stevens has her wait in the parlor, and the siblings chatter about her outside the door. Hakim shows up and learns that Emma plans to go home; she came to say goodbye. Vivian thinks that Emma's a gold-digger, and chews her out until the other siblings catch up and drag her out. Hakim orders Emma to talk to William. Al finds William on the Stowner steps.
Chapter 13: "Farewell, Emma (Part Two)"
Al talks with William, about whom he's heard Kelly talk. They retire to Al's home, where he tells William about Emma's past. She was born in a seaside village and raised by her uncle; sent off to sell clams one day, she got kidnapped along with two other girls. The kidnappers tried to sell her to a brothel, but she made a break for it. She went around to back doors, asking if she could help; one sympathetic maid gave her a bit to eat, and an urchin showed her how to make flowers to sell. Kelly discovered her and decided to test just how far education could go. Brief recap of what we already know of Emma's youth; in the present, Hakim watches Emma and Emma watches the clock.
Chapter 14: "Farewell, Emma (Part Three)"
Emma has left, and Hakim gripes about how she and William should be getting married. William leaves Al's house to look for Emma again. Emma takes a carriage to the train station. The train station is crowded and bustling, and a woman mistakes Emma for her own maid, Tasha. Emma buys a flower. William arrives home; Hakim sends him after Emma (who's sitting across from Tasha on the train). William dashes to the station, but the train is gone. He buys a flower as well.
("Sequel": William despondently goes home.)
Volume III
Chapter 15: "Wind"
The train moves. Tasha strikes up a conversation, learning that Emma is a maid as well. The discussion picks up. Tasha puts Emma's flower in a cup with some water, and then opens the window; they enjoy the wind.
("Sequel": some boys near the tracks catch a bead that Tasha drops out the window.)
Chapter 16: "Where the Gaze Falls"
The Jones siblings ride in the country, along with Eleanor, Robert, and the inseperable trio Alice, Eliza, and Fanny. They go boating; the conversation is brisk. William and Eleanor end up next to each other in a boat, and Eleanor strikes up a conversation. When they land, the trio goes to fetch food, and chatters about males. The group picnics (aided by maids), and the trio suggests that Eleanor offer William some tasty dishes; but William is clearly distracted.
("Sequel": Grace discusses her worries about William and Eleanor with her husband, who cheers her up.)
Chapter 17: "Intermission"
William starts accepting invitations, to Grace's surprise. He shows up on time for dinner; he socializes at the party and accepts an invitation to go hunting. In the library, his siblings discuss it; Arthur and Vivian approve. William volunteers the Jones house's theater for a charity play. Grace almost discusses her worries with Hakim, but William walks by. Richard and Stevens discuss William's change of style with approval. The play (Romeo and Juliet) is held; during the intermission, William slips out to the parlor, where Hakim confronts him. William explains that, since Emma is gone, there's nothing left for him but to throw himself wholeheartedly into the life of his class.
Chapter 18: "A New Life"
Emma puts on her new uniform; flashback. After a brief interview, she's accepted for a two-month trial period as a maid in the same household as Tasha, owned by a German family. The mistress tells the household manager, Mrs. Vick, that they're shorthanded, so it should work out. Emma is given a new uniform by the head maid, Adèle; she is introduced to the other servants and shown around the house. She makes mistakes in the work, but learns quickly. She ends up sleeping in Tasha's room; Tasha reassures her before going to sleep.
("Sequel": Ad`le and her roommate, Maria, discuss Emma.)
Chapter 19: "Night of the Full Moon"
The servants get a party on the birthday of the daughter of the house, Ilse; and a half-day holiday the next day. All are delighted except the realist Hans and the quiet Emma. After Ilse gets her present from the servants and goes to bed, they break out the drinks and the music and start grooving. Hans and Emma wash dishes, letting two minor cooks go up and party; Hans tells Emma that the household is German. Dishes done, they return upstairs. Emma has a bit of rum and asks if there are class distinctions in Germany. Adèle takes her upstairs, where Emma sees the full moon, remembers the Crystal Palace, and starts to cry.
("Sequel": Tasha comes up to the room, drunk and still singing; Emma's in bed.)
Chapter 20: "Emma and Möders House"
The servants wake up, dealing with their hangovers and getting back into their routines. There's a discussion of the Industrial Revolution, and how the Möders profited from it. Ilse wet the bed, so her nursemaid and Emma clean up; while carrying the sheets to the laundry, Emma rescues Ilse's brother Erich's squirrel Theo, who's stuck in a canopy. The Möders discuss their children's educations and their need for a good social standing while the maids dress Dorothea. She's going on a trip; Adèle and Mrs. Vick discuss who to send with her, and settle on Emma.
("Sequel": Erich tells Ilse that boys don't wet the bed, but stops her from double-checking with Adèle.)
Chapter 21: "Mrs. Trollope"
On the train, Dorothea tells Emma that they're going to visit her friend, called Mrs. Trollope. The house has oriental décor, and as they enter Emma is jumped on by a monkey; Mrs. Trollope, with her short-cropped hair, startles Emma. She and Dorothea converse, and Mrs. Trollope gives Dorothea a necklace. It comes up that Mrs. Trollope and Emma both used to live in London, and that both like the Crystal Palace. As Emma and Dorothea ride on, Dorothea muses about Mrs. Trollope's eccentricities; meanwhile, Mrs. Trollope wonders if William is about Emma's age.
("Sequel": Little William, lost in a store, is found by his father and Grace; his mother's lost too.)
Volume IV
Chapter 22: "William Now"
Colin draws a picture and tries to show it to William, but he's distracted - first by Grace, then by business, then by Eleanor's arrival. In the garden, a nervous and overtalkative Eleanor converses with a diplomatic Grace and a spaced-out William. At a party, Robert asks if William's okay. At home, William reads an invitation, and collapses into his chair, exhausted. He smokes a cigar, thinks with increasing desperation of Emma, and breaks into tears. Full-page drawing of Emma. Colin again approaches with his drawing; Stevens announces a caller. William hesitates. Colin says he can wait, and William pats his brother's head gratefully before leaving.
("Sequel": William deciphers Colin's drawing easily. With four younger siblings, he's had practice.)
Chapter 23: "Echoes of Love"
Grace is sick, so William goes to the opera with Eleanor in her place. Grace gets a letter from her mother. On being picked up by William, Eleanor panics, and hurriedly gets herself even more prettied up. The opera begins: "The Barber of Seville". At the intermission, Eleanor is glad that nobody dies. The romance in the plot picks up. Eleanor drops something, and William gets down to pick it up; they both end up on the floor, and Eleanor whispers in William's ear. Grace reads the letter, which asks how the siblings are doing and mentions the visit from Dorothea.
Chapter 24: "Rain on Rotten Row"
Eleanor is riding with the trio when her sister Monica pulls up alongside them and takes Eleanor. They talk; she reveals that she doesn't love her husband (Frederick), but he worships her, so it's all right. It starts to rain. Eleanor tells Monica that she's "sort of engaged to" William; Monica leaves her under the shelter of a tree and rides home. She pulls out an address book, sends someone to get Eleanor, and rides off to find William.
Chapter 25: "Monica, Angry"
Monica bursts into the Jones house, dripping wet and demanding to see William. She bursts into Hakim's room at first, but makes it to William, and chews him out for toying with Eleanor. William is somewhat baffled, as he hasn't said the things Monica believes he has. Eleanor bursts in and tries to hold back her sister; William corrects the record, and then proposes. Hakim decides to leave. Richard decides to make William his successor.
("Sequel": Monica flashbacks to her as a child being separated from Eleanor for the night; Hakim asks if she's going to cry.)
Chapter 26: "Emma Now"
Tasha drops a basket in the garden; Adèle reports it to Mrs. Vick, who says this has been happening often. Adèle says it's because of Emma. The maids gossip about Emma and London while Tasha panics. The menservants gossip about Emma and London too; one says he thinks Emma's hot, but he's afraid of Hans. Emma, Hans, and two other servants ride in a carriage to London, and discuss tourist spots. In the carriage ahead of them, Dorothea and Wilhelm discuss their social plans for London.
Chapter 27: "The Bell Tolls"
Big Ben tolls; a nude Dorothea quotes; Emma, preparing her clothes, recognizes the quote. She helps Dorothea dress; Wilhelm arrives and suggests shopping, as a change from their socializing. They flirt; Emma slips out, blushing. She passes Hans on the way. The Möders go out, the other servants take off, and Dorothea runs into Mrs. Trollope in a jewelry store. At dinner, Mrs. Trollope explains that she's here for her son's wedding, though her maid protests that she doesn't have a lady's maid. Emma visits Kelly's grave, and puts flowers on it.
("Sequel": Al arrives at the grave, and notes that there are flowers that he didn't put on it.)
Chapter 28: "Reunion"
Dorothea takes Emma to Mrs. Trollope's: Emma is to be lent to her as a lady's maid for the party. A whirlwind of preparations commences, in which an embarrassed Emma is pulled in and out of assorted dresses, and her hair put up. Dorothea and Mrs. Trollope are so impressed with her appearance that Dorothea decides she won't be a lady's maid, but an attendee. At the party, Mrs. Trollope guides Emma carefully, since her glasses are off and she can't see. Grace meets her mother. William and Eleanor are congratulated by excited friends. Grace brings William over to see his mother - and he's shocked to see Emma beside her.
Chapter 29: "Emma and William"
Mrs. Trollope cheerfully introduces Emma to William. Grace brings up Eleanor; Emma trembles, begins to shake, and collapses. As she's carried out, Richard pulls William back into the socialization; Mrs. Trollope waves to her husband, who's surprised to see her. When Emma wakes up, she panics; Mrs. Trollope calms her. William hears and orders that she's not to leave. As soon as everyone's gone, William dashes to Emma's room. Maids come by, so William ducks inside; Emma collapses into his arms, and they sink to the floor, embracing, both crying. They kiss. Mrs. Trollope walks in. Though a little startled, she's not entirely surprised.
Volume V
Chapter 30: "Tradition and Lineage (Part One)"
In 1872, at a society ball, socialites discuss the "new rich" with disdain. One of them enters, and tries to find a dance partner, but they all refuse. The young Miss Hartwick, whom the gossips remark is unaware of gossip, catches his eye; he asks for a dance, and she hesitates, then explains that she's bad at it. They dance; they talk; they hit it off; they introduce themselves: Richard Jones and Aurelia Hartwick.
("Sequel": A younger Stevens asks how the evening went; Richard confesses that there was one thing he liked.)
Chapter 31: "Tradition and Lineage (Part Two)"
Aurelia and Richard walk together in a park, listening to the birds. He proposes. To his surprise, she accepts. The servants discuss how much gossip this'll spark. The two ride off together. Flash forward: Aurelia holds baby William. Forward again: Aurelia, William, and Grace read about the Crystal Palace; Richard reminds them of social obligations. Forward: Aurelia falls asleep during a piano recital. Forward: Little Arthur tries to show his tired mother a drawing; Richard shoos him away. William takes him. Forward: Aurelia's health worsens after Vivian's birth. During a ball she begins crying without knowing why. Forward: The doctor says she needs a change of climate. She says her goodbyes to the children and baby Colin, and calls her old servant Martha to come help her. Present day: she looks at a family portrait. Richard enters.
("Sequel": By the fire, Aurelia tells Richard that "Trollope" comes from "misanthrope".)
Chapter 32: "Resolution"
Emma wakes up and realizes where she is; gets up, remembers the night before, and sinks to the ground by the door. A maid brings breakfast; after it's arrived, Aurelia knocks on the door. They sit down together, but Emma doesn't eat; Aurelia is realistic but reassuring. Tasha waits at the window for the return. When the carriages arrive, the children run to greet their parents; Tasha and the other maids shoot Emma eager looks. The male servants interrogate the three that went along, while the maids interrogate Emma, until Adèle puts them back to work. In a garden, Aurelia talks to Richard; in her room, Emma gets back into her maid outfit.
("Sequel": Erich and Dorothea enjoy the presents that Wilhelm got for them.)
Chapter 33: "A Different Person"
Emma and Tasha shovel coal, with Emma (to everyone's surprise) chattering away. Polly and Alma wonder what's up. A fire starts in one of the fireplaces; Emma immediately runs for ashes. Hans helps, and the other maids join in. When it's safely out, the maids discuss the mess made; Emma joins in the conversation, joking and laughing. Hans catches her alone (and humming) and demands to know what's really going on with her, mentioning a visit from a well-dressed man after the ball, and that she's changed. Mrs. Vick sorts the mail and finds a letter to Emma.
("Sequel": menservants discuss that Hans was coming on to Emma.)
Chapter 34: "Exchanged Letters"
Emma reads a letter from William, and writes back. Mrs. Vick and Mr. Bruch discuss Emma's boyfriend in London; from the handwriting, Mrs. Vick guesses that it's a noble. William writes, another letter, addressing Emma as "My love." Eleanor slumps. Emma writes about Tasha and the house, and adds, "I love you." William asks for a lock of Emma's hair; Emma asks for one in return, wrapping it in her lace handkerchief and tucking it in her corset.
("Sequel": Eleanor writes "Mr. William Jones", has nothing else to say, and goes back to her slump.)
Chapter 35: "A Visit to Haworth"
William takes the train to Haworth and a shaky cart to the Möder house. Dorothea, Wilhelm, and Erich read the paper; Dorothea glances out the window and sees William approaching. The maids see it too; Emma catches on, dashes out the door, and runs into William's arms. Tasha, the other maids, the menservants, and even Hans are shocked; Adèle lets out a whistle. Dorothea smooches her husband and exclaims, "Now that's drama!" The maids fight over who's going to take tea up to William until Adèle cuts in. Wilhelm, Dorothea, and William talk about Emma; the Möders seem to be on William's side. Richard and Aurelia meet with Eleanor's parents.
("Sequel": A distraught Emma and a falsely-cheerful Tasha try to hold a conversation.
Chapter 36: "The Upstarts"
Two young men in a theatre turn their binoculars on a woman in the balcony, who turns out to be the prostitute Violet Grey, watching with Viscount Campbell. The Campbells discuss Eleanor and William with the Joneses; the viscount and Richard talk opera. When he leaves, the viscount shakes Richard's hand; as the carriage leaves, he pulls off his gloves and tosses them out the window. He walks in on Violet and a young man in the middle of dressing; he whacks the man, sends him running, and snaps at Violet. Richard wonders that William isn't back yet.
("Sequel": In Haworth, William can't sleep.)