MEN FIRST AND NOT THE LADIES by Marisa Masterson

Borrowed from Pinterest.

Hoop skirts. Bell-shaped skirts. The nineteenth century introduced these fashions. Did you know women wore up to six petticoats to achieve the bell look?

All those underskirts, as well as the length of the top skirt, made stairs difficult and dangerous. Boys and girls alike received instruction on rules for ascending and descending the stairs. Key to the rule--The man always goes first.

Borrowed from Pinterest

Boys understood they had a special role to play when they became men. They had to walk in front of a woman as she went down the stairs. This saved the woman from embarrassment, should someone see her ankles. She was less likely to fall with the man walking in front of her.

The man would also go first when ascending the stairs. Again, this was to pre
vent him from peeking when the woman lifts her skirts to climb the staircase. 

Rule like this add to a story's historical setting. For me, they take readers to a long-ago time. Here is an example from my next release, Freddy's Sudden Farm:

Reluctantly, Ann Marie pulled her hand out from under Freddy’s. Lifting her skirt and petticoats, she carefully made her way down the stairs. Her mother would have clucked at her for not letting the men go first. Mother taught her to let men always lead when descending the stairs. Doing so preserved a woman’s modesty by hiding what little of her legs she might be forced to show.

Ann Marie knew Emory would not peek. Her claimed brother treated her like family. He did not care about her legs or stockings. Freddy might look, and she hoped it teased him.

 

While the ladies no longer wear six petticoats, this rule is still smart to observe--and not just for men. Many people like me need help on stairs. If you are with someone who does, going down in front of them is a huge assist. I speak from experience.

Available May 29th. Reserve your copy today!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT1L62ZN

For fans of historical romance and unexpected love stories, "Freddy’s Sudden Farm" is a must-read. If you enjoyed "Montana Rose" by Mary Connealy, you'll love this novel.