Clarissa and the Poor Relations by Alicia Cameron Page B

have found an admirer, just not so ridiculously soon. He saw Grandiston admire the circlet at her breast, saw her move the ringlet which had fallen over her shoulder so that he could better see, and burned.
    Clarissa was enjoying herself more each moment. She did not see that she was flirting with Grandiston, for her knowledge of the ways of the world was small. Yesterday had filled her with such a wonderful confidence that her heart sang and she was at her prettiest. Her companions were the best in the world: she thought Grandiston devilishly attractive and charming and Booth the greatest of young bloods. She had never been in such male company before and she was relishing it--men who, like her father, were just as pleasant as women. But although she seldom looked at him, it was Elfoy for whom her heart sang and as he bent to listen to Miss Appleby she thought, ‘Tristram.’
    Waity watched it all whilst occasionally replying to remarks made to her with her usual acerbity. When she told the Honourable Charles (upon hearing his well-turned compliments to Oriana) that if his mother did not know how to deal with that sort of behaviour, she did, he gave a bark of laughter and declared himself her slave. ‘-When you threw my hat into the mud the first time I met you my fear has held me in your sway.’
    ‘At the Inn. That was you. I knew then that you were a reprobate and I haven’t changed my opinion.’
    She liked them, though she would never have openly declared it. Booth is after Oriana, and I could have sworn that Grandiston’s hers. Now he’s flirting outrageously with Clarissa whilst Elfoy and Oriana look, well…what? They are getting themselves into a pretty pickle. She looked at Grandiston. I could trust a man with that jaw to get me out of many straights, but matters of the heart? Well, I’ll step in if needs be, if only we can send this brother of Clarissa’s packing. She looked at Miss Appleby fluttering her eyelashes and her handkerchief in equal time. Oh, Louisa, aware of no more than her own beating heart.
    ‘Why do you take the Dower House, Mr Booth?’ inquired Clarissa presently.
    Grandiston achieved an interested expression, ‘Yes why is that Charles?’
    Mr Booth ignored him, ‘An inveterate love of the country Miss Thorne.’ he said jovially but untruthfully. Since even his country buckskins and top boots bore the cut of the best town tailor, not to mention the daringly nifty yellow waistcoat that he sported today, this was a little surprising to the ladies.
    ‘But do I not remember that your family own a great estate in Yorkshire, sir?’ asked Oriana
    ‘Well, yes ma’am, that is to say, well…it is a little far from town. I can travel to London from here in a day’s ride in case business should call me.’
    ‘Ah,’ said Clarissa, still mystified ‘I see. Well, I hope you will be very happy here.’
    There could be no doubt of that. When the gentlemen took their leave they had stayed for a full hour beyond the polite twenty minutes allotted for a morning call and they had agreed to Clarissa’s invitation for dinner that evening. When a chance remark by Miss Appleby announced the younger ladies habit of taking a walk after their light luncheon, the gentlemen elected to come back later and accompany them.
    Oriana had to wait for three hours before her chance to talk to Grandiston presented itself. She dropped her shawl and he retrieved it so that they fell a little behind the others. She was a little stiff, though she had no idea why until Grandiston said gently, ‘You may have misunderstood me yesterday. When I came back from the Peninsular and heard the news of your father, I sought you out at once. Your brother would not give me your direction.’
    She turned to him and her eyes shone, ‘I knew I could not have been mistaken in you.’ she said impulsively. ‘He did not want our acquaintance to know I had become a school teacher.’ She saw his eyebrows rise at this intelligence and