I envision servants as the Twitter/Facebook of the 19th century. There are may who will broadcast whatever they know to whoever will listen.

Not to stray too far into Austenuations, but I always think of P&P: "her mind opened again to the agitation of hope, by an article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master" articulated so well by Mrs. Phillips in P&P2 "Mr. Bingley is coming back to Netherfield and the whole town is talking of it." Why is the 'whole town talking'? Because the servants share with the tradespeople who share with the gentry until everyone knows.