The Clearing

by Lina J. Potter

  A Medieval Tale.

  The Clearing

  Lina J. Potter

  Copyright © 2017 Litworld Ltd. (http://litworld.com)

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase another copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Contents:

  Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Book Recommendations:

  But the true voyagers are those who leave

  only to move: hearts like balloons, as light,

  they never swerve from their destinies,

  and, without knowing why, say, always: ‘Flight!’

  Those whose desires take on cloud-likenesses,

  who dream of vast sensualities, the same

  way a conscript dreams of the guns, shifting vaguenesses,

  that the human spirit cannot name.

  Charles Baudelaire. “Le Voyage”

  Chapter 1

  Do I even like children?

  Lily doubted it.

  At first glance, Miranda Catherine Earton was a charming little girl, with dark hair, blue eyes, chubby cheeks and a gap where she had lost one of her front teeth. One thing, however, was clear: she did not see her stepmother as an authority figure, didn’t love her and had no intention of obeying her orders. That much became obvious five minutes after her arrival, when the castle halls echoed with her high-pitched wail “I won’t stay here!”

  She didn’t approve of the room they had given her.

  Mary came running to Lily – what should she do? Lily shrugged and said to let the child pick her own room. So, what did the little wretch do? That’s right. She chose the countess’ private suite. The very rooms where Lily was living quite comfortably. She had fixed up the rooms to her liking, getting rid of the pink wall coverings, cleaning the floors and chinking up the cracks in the window frames.

  The same improvements were being carried out in all the other rooms, with Emma, the Virmans and Lily supervising. There was no reason to indulge the tiny person.

  Lily listened to Mary’s frightened report and issued a brief order. “Give Lady Miranda a basin and some water for washing, and then have her come down to the dining room. Is dinner ready?”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “What are we having?”

  “Vegetables, just as you ordered. Baked pot…potty…”

  “Potatoes.”

  “Yes, my lady. And boiled meat, fresh greens and fruits.”

  “Perfect.”

  Lily wanted to have a dinner party for the people who would make up her team, but it wasn’t time for that yet. And she suspected that Miranda would do her best to spoil any event she put on. That was almost guaranteed.

  When Lily saw Miranda sitting at the table, she nodded to herself. She had been right: the little girl was sitting in the chair normally reserved for the countess and looking about her defiantly. Or at least she was trying to look defiant. The massive wooden table spoiled the effect, since it hid everything but her eyes and ears.

  Lily had no intention of stopping or changing course. She calmly walked up to her chair with her Virman guards behind her. She knew that she didn’t have the child’s love or respect, so she would use what she did have – her size and her imposing guards. Miranda’s nurse, who was standing behind her, turned pale at the sight of the heavily armed warriors.

  Am I overplaying this? I don’t think so. Even the famous educator Anton Makarenko was rough with street kids before he tried to educate them. Miranda’s no street kid, but she’s a spoiled brat who only knows how to care about herself. I should know, I was the same as a child.

  She meant Lilian Broklend. Aliya Skorolenok had never been spoiled. She’d been too busy trying to survive.

  Lily looked down at the girl with open disdain. She lifted the child’s chin and studied her face. She sniffed.

  She hasn’t had a bath. Wonderful!

  The best way to tame a child is to start by surprising and unsettling her.

  “What do I see here? Lady Miranda, has someone been using you to clean chimneys?”

  Miranda stared. She shook her head, but Lily held tight to her chin.

  “N-no…”

  “And you smell like an outhouse. Is that how you suppose the daughter of an earl ought to smell?”

  The girl was confused. She was better prepared for her stepmother to yell at her. Cold irony was something she had never encountered before. Nobody – not her father, or her other relatives – had ever spoken to her this way before. And she didn’t dare pitch a fit with the Virmans scowling down at her. On their faces she read a deep disregard for her title. She had had her ears boxed a few times in the past by her father when she threw fits in his presence. Since then, she had maintained tolerable behavior whenever he was around, and she preferred to take no unnecessary risks around these grim strangers. Children are fast learners.

  “N-no…”

  “Exactly. Therefore, I shall postpone dinner just long enough for you to get cleaned up. You are the daughter of an earl. I want you to look and smell like one. Do you know what it means to have a title?”

  Miranda just stared at her, so Lily continued. “It means that you are to set an example and offer protection to those who live on your lands. And here you haven’t even bothered to bathe. For shame, Lady Miranda.”

  Miranda blushed beet red. She was shocked.

  I’ve won this battle, but the war is just beginning.

  Lily nodded at Emma, who was standing in the doorway. “Please help Lady Miranda wash up quickly. Pay special attention to her hands.”

  Miranda obeyed. Lily sat down in her now empty chair and reflected that it would take a great deal of effort to tame the child. But it had to be done.

  Why bother?

  The romantic answer was that Miranda was a child. She was all alone and helpless at the home of a stepmother she barely knew. Lilian ought to feel sorry for her and care for her, if only to continue the family line.

  But Lily was no romantic. The practical answer was that Miranda was a tool she could use to manage her husband. Jerrison Earton might not love his wife, but he was sure to have feelings for his daughter.

  He has to love his daughter. Doesn’t he?

  Lily rubbed her temples. She had no memory of Jess’ feelings for the girl. She would have to have a quiet conference with Emma on the subject. Emma could have tea with the servants who had accompanied Miranda and then report back on the latest gossip.

  Miranda reappeared. Now that she was clean and had had a chance to collect herself, she was ready to throw her fit. Lily was prepared.

  “Do you like baked potatoes, Lady Miranda?”

  “What?”

  “Baked ground apples.” Lily smiled. “That is what we are having for dinner tonight.”

  “I want to sit there!” Her finger pointed at the countess’ chair.

  Lily shrugged and moved to another chair.

  Miranda sat down and gave a squeak.

  Three minutes prior, Lily had ordered the servants to remove the cushion from her chair. As a result, Miranda’s entire head was below the level of the table.

  “Lesson two,” Lily calmly explained. “Before you demand something, think about whether you really want it.”

  “Did you do that on purpose?”

  “Of course. You were planning to throw a fit, weren’t you?”
<
br />   Miranda sniffed. She had no cards to play. This strange lady was not like the other adults she knew. She didn’t yell or stamp her feet or beg Miranda to do anything. She didn’t fit into any of the adult roles Miranda was so familiar with. So, the girl took out her favorite weapon, the one that always worked.

  She cried.

  Lily looked down at the small, tear-stained face. She supposed she ought to kiss the girl, wipe away her tears and make everything all better. But she couldn’t. That would be the end of her. So, Lilian Earton snapped her fingers. When Ilona appeared, she issued an order. “Please bring in my dinner. And bring Lady Miranda an onion. Unpeeled.”

  The girl’s curiosity was stronger than her annoyance. If Lily had waited another five minutes to order the onion, after Miranda was in gale force hysterics, it wouldn’t have worked. But she was still calm enough to be curious.

  “What’s that for?”

  “So you can cry longer. You see, crocodile tears tend to dry up quickly.”

  “What tears?”

  “Crocodile tears. Don’t you know what a crocodile is?”

  Miranda shook her head.

  “Then listen. I’ll tell you all about it while dinner is served.”

  Lily told her about the crocodile that cried as he swallowed his prey, and about the bird that cleaned his teeth, and about the elephant’s trunk… she still remembered all of Kipling’s tales.

  Miranda listened with her mouth open. Her nanny was always telling her tales of knights and ladies. She had never heard about elephants and crocodiles before. This was something entirely new, and that made it interesting. Lily was a good storyteller. And the baked potatoes tasted good. Miranda didn’t even notice herself using a knife and fork. An earl’s daughter, especially such a pretty one, should have pretty manners, shouldn’t she?

  After dinner, Lily carried Miranda back to her room (the child was heavy, but it had to be done). Then she sat by her bed while the little girl fell asleep. She even sang her a lullaby.

  It was the one her own mother had sung to her.

  Moonlight shining on the fields, night as bright as day…

  She didn’t have much of a voice, but it didn’t matter. Miranda fell asleep holding her stepmother’s hand. When she was breathing deeply, Lily carefully freed her hand. She reflected that she really ought to sew something for the child. Or knit her something. It would take any time at all to make her a soft toy.

  Miranda Catherine Earton, it looks like we’ll be spending the winter together. By spring, you’ll love me as much as you love your own father. For now, it’s time to sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day.

  In the early morning, Lily had a dream about an elephant. It sat on her chest and whispered, “Have you paid your taxes, my child?”

  She startled and opened her eyes.

  It was no elephant. It was Miranda Catherine.

  “I’m already awake! Why are you still asleep?” she asked in a chipper voice.

  Lily looked out the window. It was barely light outside. And cold. She looked at Miranda.

  The girl’s wearing nothing but her thin nightgown in this medieval icebox!

  “Have you lost your mind?” she cried and pulled the girl under her blanket, just like her own mother used to do.

  “What?”

  Miranda found herself getting tickled and kissed on the nose.

  “Look at you! Running around barefoot on the cold floor. Your feet are cubes of ice. Where’s your nanny?”

  “She’s asleep. I wanted…”

  “To catch a cold, I suppose.” Lily tweaked the child’s nose. “Stay right here under the blanket!”

  “Will you tell me another story?”

  Lily sighed. The diagnosis was clear. Miranda woke up in the wee hours. Her nanny was asleep, so she decided to take a tour of the castle, and Lilian’s room was right next door. Miranda was staying in what was normally the earl’s bedroom. So here she was.

  “I will, as long as you promise not to go running around barefoot anymore. At least put on some thick socks.”

  “But…”

  “Or call for me and I’ll come to you.”

  “But if I call out, Calma will wake up.”

  “Is Calma your nanny?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then how about we hang up two bells?”

  “Bells?”

  “One for you and one for me. Tied together by a long string. You can ring for me when you need me, and I’ll ring when I need you. How does that sound?”

  Miranda thought that sounded fine. Lily smiled. “We’ll stop by the smithy tomorrow and order two bells, then.”

  I need to see the blacksmith anyway. And it will keep you from running around the castle and getting into trouble. I’m the only one who can deal with you, so you’ll have to go on my errands with me.

  Miranda snuggled up to her. “I want a story.”

  Lily tousled her hair. Her mind was blank. Then she remembered something.

  “I’ll tell you about the armadillo.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s a little animal.”

  She sent up a word of thanks to her English teacher, who had made them read Kipling.

  Too bad I can’t use my English skills here. I wonder if I could teach the Virmans to speak English. Or perhaps Miranda?

  These thoughts in no way prevented Lily from telling the story. Her tongue could operate independently of the rest of her. Soon Miranda was warm and comfortable. She fell asleep on Lily’s shoulder like a kitten.

  That’s a big name for such a little girl.

  She petted the child’s head.

  Miranda Catherine Earton. How about Mirrie? Mary? No, that’s not right. Katie? Kitty cat? I’ll call you Kittie. Or Mirrie. Since you’re going to live here, you need a pet name.

  Lily made herself comfortable and fell asleep, too.

  Once it was light, the morning got off to a rough start. Miranda’s nanny started screaming when she realized the girl wasn’t in her bed. None of the servants thought to check Lily’s room. The screaming and hollering went on for a good ten minutes until Lily gave up and got out of bed.

  Walking quickly (I’ll invent some slippers before another day goes by!), she went to the door leading to the earl’s bedroom and hissed, “Quiet!”

  The servants didn’t hear her right away, but once they did, the fell silent. The countess was a fearsome sight first thing in the morning. Picture an angry mammoth in a pink nightgown.

  “You’ll wake the child!”

  “My lady, is she with you?”

  Miranda’s nanny tried to push her way into the countess’ bedroom, but Lily filled the doorway so that even a germ stood no chance of getting through.

  Might as well use my size while I still have it.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “My lady?”

  Lily’s voice was threatening. “Just look at yourself. Your hair is a mess, your nightgown is dirty, and so is your face. I could plant turnips in the filth under your fingernails. Go wash yourself. Then you can come for the child.”

  The nanny’s voice shook, “His lordship instructed me to stay by the little lady…”

  “And here’s a big lady telling you to go wash up. Emma will show you where to find water.”

  “But my lady, the pastor says that water…”

  “I know. He says that water is harmful. Let him say it all he wants. I don’t want to smell you. You either take a bath or I’ll have you kicked out of the castle. Is that clear?”

  The nanny’s eyes got big. She took a deep breath and prepared to say something nasty.

  Lily narrowed her eyes. “Of course, you can always complain to the earl. But I would remind you that we can hire a hundred women just like you.”

  Suddenly she remembered Filatov’s famous line: “Foolish woman, think before you jeer. He is there, but you are here.”

  Then she went on without the help of the classics. “The earl is far away.
If you write him a letter today, it won’t get to him this year. And in the meantime, you’ve abandoned your charge. What kind of a nanny are you, anyway? The child got up and left the room and you never heard a thing. I should have you whipped! At the stable!”

  The nanny’s face paled.

  “I’ll whip you and throw you out of my estate without a single friend to accompany you. My Virman guards will give you a swift kick to speed you on your way.”

  Judging by the look on the nanny’s face, she knew the game was up. She was ready to take a bath and even shave her head, if necessary.

  Lily turned to go back to her room. “Miranda is with me. We will have our breakfast together and then we will go for a walk.

  “What about her tutor, my lady?”

  “Her tutor?”

  Lily learned that the earl had sent three tutors with his daughter to spend the winter at Earton. One taught dancing and etiquette. The second taught mathematics and writing. The third taught history and literature. She was delighted. Professional tutors would come in handy, indeed.

  “Excellent. The child should learn. I will sit with her and monitor what they are teaching her.”

  And I’ll learn, too.

  If her husband had walked in just then, Lily would have refrained from punching him. That’s how pleased she was.

  What a good thing he has done!

  “My lady?”

  “Take a bath, wash your clothes and keep your voice down. I’ll take Lady Miranda down to breakfast. After that, I want you to look over her clothes. The castle is cold. Lady Miranda must not get sick.”

  Then she turned and went back to her room. She looked at the little girl curled up in her bed.

  What am I going to do with you, Miranda Catherine Earton?

  Lily peeked out into the hall. Two Virmans were standing guard outside her door. She asked them to call a servant girl. Shortly there was a knock at the door. It was Emma. Lily raised her eyebrows.

  “Where is Marcia? Or Irene? Or Mary?”

  “My lady, I wanted an opportunity to speak with you.”

  Lily nodded and lowered her eyelashes.

  “Order hot water for my bath and then we can talk.”