4. In Private Belle Was Treated Like a Family Member but Not In Public
As the top 5%, or possibly even higher, Belle lived a life of privilege that was very rare for a person of her origin in the late 1700s. But even so, her life was not entirely like everyone else, especially when looking at her companion Lady Elizabeth Murray. For instance, if the Murray’s had guests over, Belle could not eat with the family. However, she was also too high class to eat with the servants. While no one knows where Belle ate when the Murray’s had guests, some speculate she merely had to eat in her room.
However, this does not mean that Belle did not join the part later. As Thomas Hutchinson wrote in his diary, Belle entered the family festivities after the meal. She was usually seen by the guests when they would meet in the library or parlor for a social visit after the dish. Belle would also be known to show up while the family and guests went for walks around the Kenwood grounds. But this also seems only to have happened when the Murray’s had guests. When it was just family, Belle was with the family for a meal and all other activities.