Free Clarissa and the Poor Relations by Alicia Cameron

break…’
    Sullivan announcing Mr Elfoy, coming as usual to ride with the ladies and look at the progress of their plans interrupted her.
    He bowed over Miss Micklethwaite’s hand and then turned to Oriana, ‘Work has begun on draining the top field and I thought we might begin there today. It was a very good notion of yours, Miss Petersham. My attention was taken too much by the tenant’s troubles to notice the possibility. Muggins has organized the other farmers into a work party. He is a splendid fellow. I do not know where he gets his energy from.’
    Oriana blushed at the compliment. ‘It is only that my father made a great deal of money by doing the same at my home. It improved the yields he said. We shall have to find a way to further reward Muggins.’
    Mr Elfoy’s face took on a soft look. ‘He can be a difficult man, but Miss Thorne totally won him over. She is a remarkable young lady, do you not think?’
    ‘I have always thought so,’ said Miss Micklethwaite dampeningly. It would not do to encourage him. Mr Elfoy was aware of betraying himself and looked studiously at the carpet.
    At this point Clarissa entered the room, still wearing her muslin dress, her eyes suspiciously pink. She wore a resolute expression, however and she said in an even tone, ‘Mr Elfoy, will you marry me?’

 
     
     
     
Chapter 8
Hearts and Tenants
     
     
    There was a stunned silence then Miss Micklethwaite let out a sharp ‘Clarissa.’ in a tone that Clarissa had not heard since she had spilled ink carelessly in the schoolroom. Her heart had been beating fast since she had opened her mouth. It had seemed simple and easy to explain her thoughts to Mr Elfoy who had come to be her friend. She had kept her eyes on his face with a semblance of calm however and saw how stupidly she had been mistaken. His face flushed with humiliation, he looked like a man who had been offered an insult of the most grievous kind. Waity’s voice brought her to her senses—whatever her troubles, how could she expect this excellent young man to give up all hope of domestic happiness for financial gain? Her composure crumpled, ‘I -I’m so sorry.’ she cried as she ran from the room.
    Mr Elfoy took up his hat from the side table, stiff as any marionette. ‘Excuse me ladies,’ he said punctiliously, ‘I must be going.’
    Oriana grabbed at his arm ‘Please, dear Mr Elfoy. Let us explain. Clarissa is overset. It is all the fault of a letter we received this morning.’
    ‘Indeed sir,’ Miss Micklethwaite added, ‘You must hear us out.’
    And so Mr Elfoy let himself be coaxed to sit down and recovered himself as the ladies explained about Thorne’s orders and Clarissa’s fear of being ousted from Ashcroft. He listened and felt his humiliation recede as his understanding grew- he began to feel pity for the ladies’ plight.
    Presently he went and found Clarissa pulling leaves from a rosebush in a distracted way. She was in a little arbour near the house that had been rediscovered as the men had pulled apart the neglected brush around it. She looked at once so miserable and so beautiful that Mr Elfoy had to check the instincts of a man in love and take her into his arms. For such he was, as Clarissa’s question had shown him. He had hidden his true feelings even from himself until that moment when he was offered what he could never have hoped for and at the same second realized that he could not take it. Now Clarissa sat, pulling at the silly leaves, her large eyes liquid with tears her head drooped disconsolately.
    ‘Miss Thorne.’ he said gently joining her on the arbour seat. Clarissa started and turned her face so that he might not see that she had been crying. She dashed away a tear from her cheek and said with her usual impulsiveness, ‘Oh, Mr Elfoy, I never meant to ... to ...’
    ‘Miss Petersham explained ...’
    ‘I am so sorry, Mr Elfoy, it is my stupid tongue that gets me into these awful scrapes. It is just that my only