Rita Barrington

Maisie Dobbs entered domestic service in 1910 at thirteen, working for Lady Rowan Compton. When her remarkable intelligence is discovered by her employer, Maisie becomes the pupil of Maurice Blanche, a learned friend of the Comptons. In 1929, following an apprenticship with Blanche, Maisie hangs out her shingle: M. Dobbs, Trade and Personal Investigations.