Creamy Clam Soup

Name: Creamy Clam Soup
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 185 ml (6 fl oz/¾ cup) cream; 1 bay leaf; 85 g (3 oz) long-grain white rice; 1 large carrot, chopped; 2 large leeks, sliced into rings; 1 onion, chopped; 1 celery stalk, chopped; 1.8 kg (4 lb) clams, cleaned; 60 g (2¼ oz) butter; 1 litre (35 fl oz/4 cups) fish stock