Clarissa and the Poor Relations by Alicia Cameron Read Free Book Online Page B

to participate, asking questions that Mr Elfoy saw at once to be apposite and full of knowledge that he had not believed young ladies to possess. Indeed he was stunned by how much of what was said that Clarissa grasped and he was hopeful that, at last, a good landlord might put the estate to rights.
    ‘The truth is, Mr Elfoy, that all of what you say needs done must be done from what revenues we now have. I bring no money to help with any of this,’ said Clarissa with her usual candour, ‘Perhaps you believe it cannot be done?’
    Mr Elfoy blushed again, to his own irritation. ‘There may be some help with this, Miss Thorne, but we must act fast. Of course, it will not cover all the repairs and improvements, but…’
    Oriana laughed, ‘For goodness sake, sir, we are all agog. What is it?’
    ‘The Dower House: it has been well looked after by an aunt of the previous Viscount and is now vacant. If you would not object to a tenant, Ma’am, I believe that the rent might allow us to begin. The last Viscount would not have tenants since he liked to have his, well his privacy….’
    ‘ Don't be mealy-mouthed, young man,’ interrupted Miss Micklethwaite, ‘we all know what a libertine the late Viscount was. We can imagine that he did not want his – pleasures - to be overlooked by the world.’
    ‘Indeed, yes,’ said Clarissa, ‘my late cousin seems to have been a strange person - but never mind that. Let it be a tenant sir, and as soon as maybe. We shall leave the matter entirely in your hands. Do call tomorrow and ride with Miss Petersham and myself around the estate, I shall be most obliged if you could introduce me to the tenant farmers.’
    As Mr Elfoy left with a singing heart, Clarissa began to be teased by her companions. She did not attend, however. She had thought that she had just wanted to play a trick on Mr Elfoy, but she discovered that his obvious admiration had had an effect on her as did his easy grin and his sense of the ridiculous. Never had she felt so - so elevated in the presence of a young man. She knew, however, that it would be wrong to think of him. Their situations were very different. Though as a gentleman’s son of small means he might have been a proper suitor for her six months ago, he would no longer feel himself equal to court the lady of the manor. It was unfortunate, but her mind was too full of the tasks ahead to feel much pain.

 
Chapter 6
Settling In
     
     
    In the days that followed, a pattern developed. Clarissa and Oriana rode on the estate with Mr Elfoy, meeting her tenants and Miss Micklethwaite and Miss Appleby set to on the linen and the hot houses making energetic use of their time. The girls that had been employed to help had never worked so hard and soon order began to be established and portions of the house polished and shone as it had in its glory days.  They banished tired and damaged furniture to the attics and discovered beautiful pieces in the plethora of upstairs rooms to replace them.
    When Clarissa evinced a desire for the grounds (at least those immediately around the house) to be put to rights, Mr Elfoy led her to meet Muggins, a tenant farmer on the estate whose father had directed the regiment of gardeners in her uncle’s time.
    Oriana, a little behind Clarissa and Mr Elfoy saw a strong square man with a look of defiance on his face and wondered if trouble might not come. He was a broad, fiercely strong man in his twenties wearing a striped shirt that was frayed but had been put on clean this morning. The yard had a well-kept look to it and Oriana deduced a good tenant. So what was making his good blunt face so dark?
    Mr Elfoy explained their errand and asked if Muggins could get some men together to help in the gardens.
    ‘I darsay, sir.’
    `Clarissa bent forward in her saddle and held out her hand. ‘Thank you Mr Muggins, it would be very good of you,’ she said with her frank smile.
    Muggins wiped his hand on his breeches before he shook it,