Honoria and the Family Obligation

by Alicia Cameron

  Oriana’s eyes sparkled then dulled again, ‘If only I could, my dear. We do not know the people… they would have to come to trust us Clarissa, but with the help of a good agent…’ She tried to look in Clarissa’s eyes for signs of the charity that she would so deplore but saw only hope and determination. ‘Oh, could we?’ she said.

  Clarissa leapt to her feet and danced Oriana to hers. ‘My dear, so you’ll come.’ She and Oriana shrieked and danced about the room. Just as abruptly she stopped and turned to Miss Micklethwaite.

  ‘Dearest Waity, you know that I shall need you to help me set the house in order.’

  Miss Micklethwaite’s frown became more terrible. ‘You do not need me to feed as well.’

  ‘For all my Greek and Latin, I have not learned any of the housekeeping things a lady should know, for how could dear mamma teach me what she did not know herself? And we need you to scare away the dragons, Waity. Just think what attentions I might receive from mushrooms like the curate if I have not you by me to lend respectability. As for Oriana, you know we dare not send her out without she comes home followed by some smitten gentleman.’

  A gasp from Oriana at this made Miss Micklethwaite smile sourly.

  ‘And I should so value your support my dear Augusta,’ said Miss Appleby gently, ‘for in the absence of any gentleman, I cannot but feel you are the next best thing. - Why, what can I have said to make you go into such transports of laughter, Clarissa, Oriana.’

  But the young ladies were laughing so hard at the outrage on Waity’s face that they had to grasp onto each other to keep upright. Miss Micklethwaite’s forehead smoothed a trifle.

  ‘I think, Louisa, that you and I will be needed to keep these two in check.’ she said.

  ‘Well, if you think so, Augusta, then of course we shall go.’ said Miss Appleby in a confused voice.

  ‘I do,’ said Miss Micklethwaite, her grim voice repressing the unseemly levity of the young ladies, ‘And what is more we had better go now to change for dinner. Perhaps I can find some knee breeches.’

  ‘Knee breeches. Whatever can you mean?’ said Miss Appleby to the retreating back of her friend. ‘Girls?’ she uttered vaguely. But it was no use the two young ladies had collapsed in an unseemly heap onto the sofa, in helpless gales of laughter.

  Later that evening, Clarissa sat in bed hugging her knees. A life with her brother and his wife was a bad enough thought, but she was determined that no such fate must touch her friends. She had seen too well the life of the despised poor relations, women who drudge for their families for a little more status than a maid and less money - for rare indeed was the family who took on the responsibility of a portionless female with any acceptance of equality. They must be grateful for the benefits of their position, the benefits which might include insult, humiliation and exhaustion from the performance of a hundred thankless tasks each day: the complete inability to order a second of one’s own life. Even if she could bear it, her dear, dear, friends must not.

  Chapter 2

  The Ladies Contrive

  If they were to quit the Academy before the arrival of Mr Thorne, the ladies had a great deal to do. Miss Micklethwaite did venture the opinion that it would be better to await his arrival and inform him of her decision, but when Clarissa declared that it would be better if he were faced with a fait accompli she could not but see the force of it. A young man of overbearing manner who was ten years her senior, Mr Thorne would not take kindly to his wishes being overset. No doubt, thought Augusta, he also had some plans as to how to manage Clarissa’s money for her: plans that might be to his advantage. Of this, she said nothing, merely marshalling the ladies in the packing.

  They could now take all the books that they had been so unwilling to leave behind (even though Basic Arithmetic for young Scholars was unlikely to be of use in a country house), for Sullivan had declared his intention of travelling ahead with the trunks, whilst Mary could accompany the ladies on the hired postchaise. This was a relief, for who knows what state the house would be in and Sullivan could be depended upon to provide the basic comforts for their arrival.

  He had something to say to Clarissa before he left. ‘You have not been wont to worry much about your mode of dress here miss, quite understandable, I’m sure. But it will not do to arrive in Hertfordshire looking, well…’ Sullivan paused, embarrassed.

  ‘Shabby genteel. I know.’ said Clarissa. ‘But there is hardly time…I’ll discuss it with the ladies. Thank you Sullivan’

  ‘Very good, ma’am.’

  Oriana had already done some thinking about this she confided when Clarissa brought up the subject. ‘And I believe I have the very solution, if you will not take it amiss. Your mama’s wardrobe and some chests of fabric that I found have given us some unexpected treasures. If you would not object to having her black silk evening gown altered for you, I should think that would be the very thing. Plus the two black muslin gowns that Mrs Trimble in town is making for you will be sufficient for daywear until we find someone in Hertfordshire.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Clarissa, blushing, ‘But will they be grand enough for the lady of the manor? I wish to be taken seriously when I deal with the locals. I do not want feminine folderols, but only to at least look like a lady of quality rather than the silly schoolgirl that I fear I am.’

  Oriana suppressed a sigh and grabbed at her hand. ‘Only come with me and see what your mamma has been hiding…’

  getBook.at/Clarissa