The household staff was considerable because the estate itself was the same. The Pennysworths, who could never remember the names of the individuals they needed, hired an individual that would remember and would summon the required person at the appropriate time. This individual's name was Clayton. And although he appeared to be the busiest person in the household, he was merely the most requested, with the exception of the dog.
Clayton was not British, which was a pity. He was not schooled in protocol. He didn't know a dust rag from a dust jacket. But Clayton had what no head staff person could do without, the wisdom to call a person who did know. Clayton knew all of the ways others could feign knowledge, having gotten his job with the same ploys. The staff he finally assembled were honest, courteous, hard-working, highly-paid and threatening to quit on any day of the week.
It took a strong hand to keep such a large staff operating as an unit and Clayton did just that. He was charming and blunt. He was demanding and sympathetic. He was ruthless and generous. And he loved his job. All of it. The bartering with storekeepers and tradesmen for the best prices. The settling of staff disputes and demands. The planning of special events and arrangements. When staff complaints became too insistent, he knew when to hire, and conversely, he knew when to say, "I am releasing you from the burdens of this engagement to pursue your dreams, and to find what will make you happy." It sounded so empowering and positive that the surviving staff had to explain to the employee that he had just been fired.
Mrs. Pennysworth was a feathery breeze that whisked from room to room behind her husband. She was the family accessory, stunning in appearance, but not of any practical use otherwise. Her own family, the Collins, had a lengthy pedigree and a brief portfolio, mainly because they had worked on the losing side of the Prohibition issue years ago. Nevertheless, Mr. Pennysworth loved her dearly and as proof of his love, actually married her without a signed pre-nuptial agreement. As was mentioned before, they were childless, rich and happy. And as a bonus, the dog was progressing nicely in his studies.