Clarissa and the Poor Relations by Alicia Cameron Page A

wondered sadly if it was only his position as an employee that allowed this equality of ideas to bloom. Would he allow his wife to offer ideas as an equal? Something of Mr Elfoy’s joy and warmth as he looked at Clarissa suddenly dispelled her cynicism.
    Lord Staines had been delayed in paying his call Clarissa by the arrival of unexpected guests. The Earl of Grandiston and the Honourable Charles Booth, to be precise. Staines and Booth had been at school together (though Staines had been the elder) and Grandiston was a man far too important in society not to be welcomed warmly to any home. They announced themselves to be passing from Grandiston’s home further north on their way to London. Naturally, they were invited to stay and later to prolong their visit with some shooting and fishing on Lord Staines tidy estate. Much to his surprise, both invitations were accepted and Staines imported this to his superior hospitality, as he confided to his mother.
    His mother, resplendent today in a yellow gown and pink shawl, agreed with him faintly, ‘Very likely, my dear. They do seem set to make a rather longer visit than I thought, though. Lord Grandiston has no height of manner, has he? He may be able to do you a great deal of good you know, with his relationship to the Royal Princes.’
    ‘Indeed, by his reputation for pride he is much maligned. He has offered to introduce me at his club.’
    However much Lady Staines may abhor gambling for large stakes she knew what a social coup it was for her son to be introduced to Waiters by someone of Grandiston’s standing. ‘My dear boy, you will be made socially. I daresay everyone will receive us.’ She bustled off to see cook about dinner feeling jubilant but still with a nagging doubt as to their good fortune. Why should so great a man be at his leisure here when he had so little in common with her rather less brilliant son.
    She received an inkling at dinner when she prattled on to cover her distress at the dreadful entrée (which had spoiled under the cook’s anxiety about having to produce so many elegant dinners)
    ‘We have a new neighbour at the Great House, gentlemen. A Miss Thorne is come into the estate after the sad death, so young, of her cousin the Viscount. I believe that she has taken up residence there but we have not yet visited, have we my dear boy?’
    Her son looked displeased.  ‘I do not believe that she is to be our neighbour. Indeed, her brother as good as sold the land to me. I consider it quite settled.’
    Grandiston drawled, ‘I do not believe her brother is the owner, or would not he have come into the property?’
    Lady Staines was sometimes a silly woman but she had a woman’s intuitions. Distinctly, under the drawl, she heard an interest in Grandiston’s voice.
    ‘No,’ said her son, ‘a half-brother, I believe. Not a noble family but quite respectable. As her nearest male relation, he naturally would be the one to guide her in what she must do. Her land would round mine off very nicely. It is my ambition to make Staines a Great Estate.’
    ‘A worthy ambition, my dear fellow, you should lose no time in visiting the young lady. Perhaps we could accompany you on the morrow.’
    ‘Are you acquainted with Miss Thorne, Lord Grandiston?’
    ‘No indeed, Lady Staines, but I am always ready to make new acquaintance. It intrigues me, too, to meet a young lady who sets herself against her brother’s wishes.’
    Mr Booth, hearing the subtext in this, regarding Miss Petersham, gave a shout of laughter but upon the Earl’s eye being cast his way, he controlled himself and apologized that his mind had wandered. Lady Staines watched and wondered.
    Though they rode over the next day, they were denied entry by the imperturbable Sullivan. Lord Staines left his card and inquired to a morning when he might find the young lady at home.
    ‘As to that, sir, I could not say. Miss Thorne is very much engaged with estate business at the moment.’
    Staines