Making Her Own Way

Life Goes On

Eleanor was glade when the week was over Joshua and her traveled back to Nampara where she told the staff she was working from for at least the rest of the week. Sunday night Dwight and Caroline stopped by in time for supper bringing Caroline's uncle Ray. They all had a pleasant meal and where Eleanor put together a Taco bar. Telling Ross he had to eat his vegetables or no desert, which happened to be chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. The famous Poldark pout came out. After the dishes and the dining room was cleaned. They decided to play cards, Caroline and Eleanor were partners as were Ross and Dwight. Ray and Joshua played on there own because the youngsters just couldn't play a proper hand if they tried.
Caroline brought up that Uncle Tays birthday was coming up and they were going to have a dinner dance since he was going on seventy five. Ray said "Caroline I told you I wanted no party". Caroline said "yes uncle but you do know how I love giving parties". Ray and Dwight rolled their eyes and shrugged their shoulders. Eleanor asked if she needed help and Caroline said "you know planning parties is the only thing I do better then you so no"! Ross enjoyed the evening very much and thought this is how life should be.
Eleanor was floating between one week and the Penthouse the next. She worked from from Sun rise to well into the night. While at Nampara she took the time to cook meals. Ross and Joshua soon realized if they weren't at Nampara she didn't bother to eat  properly, she would nibble on crackers or toast. So they made there trek into the city as often as they could but still fell short. They were fixing up the cottages to rent them out. Joshua and Ross developed a Resort plan that they were going to go through with Cornmore., they worked on this for months, meanwhile Charles health was failing.
Elizabeth and Francis was married in a Grans ceremony Joshua was surprised at the weight loss and how sickly Charles looked. It was a surprise when he passed away the second week of Francis's honeymoon. Francis rushed back to be with his family but to no one surprise Elizabeth stay at the resort for spa treatments. She told Framcis "your father is dead, what good can I do him? Go back if you must but I am not cutting short my honeymoon. After the funeral Francis stayed on Cornwall attending to his fathers estate. While Elizabeth stayed on her honeymoon.
The itinerary for the honeymoon was for a month going to Paris and Rome all she went on her own. What nobody suspected was she was not alone George he was her.
When she had been home for a few weeks, Francis came to Joshua. Going into the study Joshua asked "what can do for you"? Francis explained that Elizabeth over spent while he was here. Now he was short for maintaining Twenwith since his father bequeathed it to him. Francis said "Uncle Joshua nine shares especially now that Eleanor cut the amount that was given each share was not enough to maintain his lifestyle and Twenwith".
Joshua told him "he would talk to Eleanor and Ross to see if a solution could be decided"! Francis said "what the solution is you give me my fathers ten shares". Joshua raised an eyebrow, "Francis you should be able to maintain Twenwith with the shares you have your father did with only one share more! You
Want more money, work for it or make the slag you married work for it. As I said My family will talk it over and see what can be done".
When Francis got home, Elizabeth met him and said, "well"? Francis told her what Joshua said. Elizabeth said "so that common troll will decide how we will survive, this is unreal"!  "You need to fix this Francis I need to have money to fix the nursery, buy baby furniture, maternity cloths, baby outfits. We need another vehicle for when we take the baby out. We also need to hire a nanny fix a room up for her and also have a play room, music room there is just so much that needs addressed in this house." Francis said "if you wouldn't have over spent on YOUR honeymoon. We wouldn't be in this mess"! "I need to live my life to my standards, which you knew before you got me pregnant". Francis was frustrated he and Elizabeth had not had sex since the first night of there honeymoon. Now she wanted to remodel Twenwith when he was broke.
That evening after their meal, Joshua brought up the subject of Francis's visit. He told them about the over spending and his inability to maintain Twenwith. Eleanor spoke up "we could give him a job at Cornmore maybe a manager on the floor, does he have any marketable skills"? Ross said "what about making him manager of the resort he would have to be taught what is expected of him". Eleanor said "you could give him more shares but doing that puts more shares in Elizabeth hands". Ross frowned at her and said "if it helps why not"? Joshua out right laughed he told him "because she is a outright viper and would bring this company to its knees, no that isn't an option". Ross said "dad she isn't that bad". Both Eleanor and Joshua gave him an incredulous look, then Eleanor said she "tried to kill your father"! Ross shrugged and said "we had no proof". Eleanor was hurt after all that woman did he still defended her. She thought that Ross and her was thinking about being in a relationship now she was questioning, whether he really wanted that or not.
She told them "this really don't concern me you two let me know what you decide". Joshua went to grab her hand which she pulled away and Ross nodded his head.
Eleanor went outside to the barn and sat with the horses. After all these months She thought Ross wanted to move to a relationship with her. Where it appeared he just wanted to be with someone who would take care of him. What he wanted from her was a maid. Not that she minded doing those chores as long as he loves her in return. So what if she wasn't as beautiful or refined as "his Elizabeth" she had other qualities. She didn't realize she was crying until her shirt began to get wet. She decided she needed to put some distance between Ross and herself. She was going to go to the penthouse and would stay there and make sure she was unavailable to cook for them.
She went in and up the back stairs to her room. She packed her bags and walked down the steps. She left a note stating there was an emergency at the company and needed to hurry back.
Ross and Joshua talked about a couple of alternatives and came up with they could buy some of the adjoining land from Twenwith that was better land then what Ross had then they could purchase the land from Truverance for the resort keeping Nampara in the middle of both.
Ross saw the kitchen was dark so he went up to Eleanor's room and knocked to see if she wanted to go for a walk. There was no answer so he opened the door and noticed it looked immaculate, like she cleaned it and changed the bed clothes. He went down to the kitchen and seen the note, he didn't understand why she didn't come in to tell them. He showed the note to his dad. His dad shook his head and said "I was afraid of something like this how you defended Elizabeth to her". Ross said "what I did no such thing". Joshua chuckled, "you did, we have no proof of her trying to kill me, really Eleanor saw her? In that statement you told her you believed Elizabeth over her." Joshua shook his head and said "I am going to bed".
Joshua called Eleanor the next morning and told her there idea about purchasing all bu two acres of Twenwith grounds. That would give a influx to Francis for now. He also told her to  ask "him if he would like a floor managers job at the company". Eleanor informed him she would and called Francis.
It took a week to get the deed and transfer of Twenwith grounds to Cornmore, leaving two acres and all out buildings still in Francis position. She then contacted Truverance to purchase the track of land they needed for the resort. After this was done another month went by.
Ross and Eleanor had a couple dates where they went to dinner or over Dwight and Caroline's. Caroline, they always enjoyed there time together. Since they were closer to Nampara they decided Eleanor would spend the night there. They sat in the car making out until they heard a rap on the window. They pulled apart. Ross said "what do you need dad"? He said "Ross I just received a call from Twenwith Francis was in a car accident". Eleanor got out of the car and Joshua and Ross drove to Twenwith.  Verity answered the door and told Ross she was going to the hospital. Joshua told her he and Ross would go with her when Elizabeth came running out and threw herself at Ross. Ross held her and told her it would be okay. Ross, Verity and Ross drove to the hospital. They passed the accident site, it appeared his car went over the cliff outside of Grambler, from the shape of the vehicle it didn't look good. When they arrived Margaret Carwell was there she was known as a high end escort. She told Ross that Francis had just left her about twenty minutes before. When she heard the news and thought she would come and wait with him but no one would tell her anything. Ross went over to Verity and Joshua they were led into a family waiting room. Verity said this isn't good this is where they bring you when it is something serious. Joshua trying to alieve her distress said "nonsense this is just because of our last name". The doctor came in ten minutes later it was Dwight and he had a nurse with him. He took Verity's hand and said "I am sorry" but and Verity broke down. Joshua went to his niece and hugged her. Dwight told Ross everything he knew. He said "I spoke to Andrew he is on his way for Verity. You may want to phone Elizabeth's mother and father to have them with her for when she receives the news". Joshua told Verity he would call the funeral home in Sawle to collect Francis's body and then they could discuss with Elizabeth the arrangements.
They got back to Twenwith and told Elizabeth she cried on Ross's shoulder and said "what am I to do this poor child will have no father", she cried as rubbing her expanding belly. Ross reassured her that he will be there for Francis's child and for her. Joshua just shook his head. Elizabeth fought Verity on all the arrangements. Verity finally said "you know what you handle the arrangements, I have to much on my plate as it is". Ross heard this and said "Verity how can you do this you know of her condition"? She looked at Ross "you forget what she did to this family"! Ross let the statement go.
Eleanor watched as Elizabeth clung to Ross and he didn't leave her side at the  funeral. She thought I can't begrudge her having someone to comfort her. Once this is over we can get back to our life.