True Love

Garrick

The next morning after a breakfast of cinnamon buns and coffee Ross told his father he was going to see Elizabeth.  Joshua just nodded, he may not of wanted his son to be tied to a woman like her, but it was his choice after all. Joshua called after Ross, "son please keep one thing in mind I don't want anyone to know of our financial status. I haven't told the family yet, because they are tight with the Warleggans and the Chynoweth's both who have a vendetta against me". "I won't mention our financial status Dad."
Ross arrived Crossgrave the Chynoweth estate. He knocked at the door and Elizabeth answered. Upon seeing Ross she fainted. Picking her up he noticed her stomach was protruding like she was pregnant! He placed her on the couch and she was roused. Ross said, "your with child?" Elizabeth nodded, "it is Francis's, We met and fell in love. It has been so long since you left. We invited you and your father to the wedding!" Ross said, "yes but there was a name missing from the invitation my fathers ward or my mothers step niece!" Elizabeth said, "you really don't expect us to invite a poor miners daughter do you?" Nodding he told her, "if you want my Father or me there you will invite Demelza" Elizabeth nodded and asked, "if he could forgive her?" Ross shrugged and said, "it will take time but you know how fast that can happen from your own experiences!" He turned and left.
On the way home he stopped at Twenwith. Mrs Tabb opened the door and exclaimed "well bless my soul!" Ross smiled and said, "is any of the family home"? She led him into the parlor. First Verity came in, then Aunt Agatha, then Uncle Charles and finally Francis. Verity exclaimed and ran to him hugging him fearlessly, Aunt Agatha said "our boy Ross so good to see you again!" Uncle Charles clasp his hand and said "good to see you boy." Francis hung back, he said,"Ross I assume you heard, it just happened and with you being gone the next thing I knew." Ross interrupted "you knew we had planned to marry.  You are my cousin, we were closer then that, you were as close as my brother, now to find out my fiancée is with child to you, I don't think I can ever forgive you!" Ross turned away from him. "Will me you and Uncle Joshua attend our wedding it is our dearest wish," Francis asked? "Depends if father and Demelza attends I don't know as of yet if I will still be here. It was nice seeing you all I am going to head back to Nampara."
Once he reached Nampara he went into the kitchen and cut a couple slices of leftover meat from the night before and placed it on bread, he poured himself a glass of lemonade and decided to go to his room. Opening his door he ran into Demelza or rather she ran into him. He caught her right when she was ready to fall. She said, "I am sorry sur, I was trying to get this all done before you got back." He noticed the room was cleaned. He said Demelza, "you are not a servant here, why are you doing this?" She backed away and hovered in the corner. Ross went to touch her and she cowered away from him. Ross said, "what are you doing child what is the problem?" Joshua came in at that moment and accessed the situation "Demelza he won't hurt you, nobody will ever hurt you again you are safe here!" She started sobbing and Joshua held her and looked at Ross as he patted Demelza's back! Once Demelza was quiet Joshua said, "Ross you want to go to the mine?" Ross nodded his head.
While they were saddling the horses Ross said, "what was that back there?" Joshua sighed,"I told you how she was abused, if her brothers did anything wrong it was Demelza or her mother that took the brunt of it! Her mother showed me Demelza's back! It has multiple healed scares from the belt buckle. The last time, before they came, her mother didn't have her fathers tea ready on time and he then said it wasn't steeped properly, so since her mother is dying he took the kettle and poured it over Demelza's shoulder. The skin was so red and blistered that was the last straw for your Aunt she knew she couldn't let that girl stay with him once she died he would kill her or worse! She must of thought she displeased you someway." Ross said, "I spoke harshly telling her she wasn't a servant I didn't mean anything by it." "Tell her that, I did the same thing it will take time for her to realize we are not her father!" Ross nodded and they went to the mine.
Demelza finish cleaning the downstairs and dusted since Prudy and Jud had disappeared again. She went out and found some flowers, rose hips and holly berry's for the vases she placed around the hose she also gathered some rose hips for jelly. While she was out there she heard whimpering and went to see what was making the sound, she found a little black and white dog it had really large paws that didn't seem to match it size. She looked around to see where it's mother was and found a dead dog not far from this one she determined that this was a puppy the mother had been shot . She picked it up and calmed it then taking it and the flowers in. She made a stargazey pie for supper and while it baked she pulled the copper tub out and heated water. Once she determined there was enough water she  put the puppy in and scrubbed him, she was laughing at the puppy's antics when Ross and his father walked in. "What's this," Joshua said as Ross bent over petting the puppy? "I found him out there in the long meadow his mother been shot and he was whining so I brought him home. He won't be surviving out there on his own. May I keep him? Please I will take care of him?" Ross snickered knowing it would be yes, this girl had his father wrapped around her finger! Joshua said "by the size of those paws he will be gigantic!" "Please sur can't I keep him?" Joshua nodded and looked at Ross and said, "don't say a thing Son!"
After Joshua left the kitchen Ross snickered again "it looks like you had a bath as well as the pup! What are you naming him?" Demelza studied the puppy and said, "I think Garrick!" Ross nodded again and then said! "Demelza I am sorry I upset you earlier I didn't mean to sound angry it is how I talk. I will try to sound less angry but please know I would never hurt you!" Demelza smiled and Ross felt a twinge in his chest and wondered if he had a heart problem. Ross smiled and at that moment Demelza knew she loved Ross Poldark!
She she went to her room to change out of her wet things thinking she would ask Prudy to help her with washing her hair this evening after the dinner and the kitchen cleaned!
She came down took the pie out. There was still enough cake left for desert so she went and set the table as Prudy and Jud was still missing. After they were done eating. Ross and Joshua proclaimed her pie was the best they ever tasted and they finished the cake. Demelza started to clean the dishes and kitchen. Joshua said "let that for Prudy" . Demelza hung her head and said, "I was hoping to have Prudy help me with a bath after the dishes. After bathing Garrick I am still chilled and my hair can be hard to handle." Joshua nodded and seemed it time he spoke to his servants, since Demelza came Prudy and Jud has been away more then here, leaving Demelza mainly to do their chores. Sitting in the parlor reading both Ross and Joshua was thinking, Joshua on how Demelza's load could be lightened. Joshua finally spoke up and said, "Zacky has daughters around Demelza's age does he not?" Ross nodded his head wondering where his father was going with this. "Do you think we could have one come in to help around the house, if Prudy does not shape up! I don't want Demelza to be our servant which is what she is turning into!" Ross said, "I think it is a fine idea." Demelza came in and said she was going to bed since Prudy hasn't returned yet. Ross said "I can help you take the water in and comb your hair out if you can wash it?"Joshua said, "I think that is a fine idea for tonight we don't want you getting sick!" He looked behind her and started laughing the puppy was hiding behind Demelza like he was afraid he would throw him out! When Demelza started walking to the kitchen, Garrick couldn't get any closer. Ross got up and put the tub in Demelza's room. He told her once the water was heated to call him and he would help her get the water in the tub. When Ross came back out Joshua told him, I am going to talk to Zacky tomorrow, Ross just nodded his head. After Demelza was done in the tub Ross sat in the chair and asked Demelza to sit in front of him. She had a loose shirt which Ross recognized as his. While he was brushing the curls her shirt slipped down her shoulder and he saw the burn mark in her skin. His vision went red, if he got ahold of her father he would give him the same. He knew it had to pain her terribly and wondered how she dealt with it. He asked if she wanted him to braid it and she told him she could do it herself. Ross thought since the tub was already set up maybe he could also enjoy a bath. He asked Demelza if she minded if he bathed while the tub was already half filled which she she said "no sir it is your house!"  He put on some more water and took some out of the tub to warm it up. Demelza found a shawl and wrapped herself in it while Joshua and Demelza waited while Ross soaked and washed his hair! Ross thought he would go and visit Margaret tomorrow. When he came out Ross told his father and Demelza he was thinking of going to Turro tomorrow. Joshua said "why don't you take Demelza with you?" Ross shot his father a look then said, "I may be staying the night!" Demelza said, "that's okay I plan on doing some washing tomorrow!" She could tell when someone didn't want her company and it broke her heart! She kept a smile on her face until she was out of the room Mister Ross would never have feelings for her not with the beautiful Lady Elizabeth around! Joshua said, "you hurt her feelings." Ross said, "what did I do?" Joshua sighed, "it is my fault, I never taught you how to read a woman. Demelza is very perceptive she could tell you didn't want her around. I bet if you went to her door right now she would be crying!" Ross said, "we'll she better get a thicker skin if she wants to survive!" He did feel bad after he said, that not many women nor men could have handle what she had been through, maybe he could be pick her something up tomorrow while he was in town. The next morning Prudy and Jud was not around again so Demelza made pancakes and bacon for breakfast and then asked Joshu and Ross if they had any dirty clothes since she had a few things that needed laundered. Joshua sighed and said, we will bring them down!" He made up his mind that he needed to talk to his servants and also to Zacky.
After they brought their clothes down for Demelza, Ross and Joshua left to go their own way. Once they left Demelza set to work, her thoughts were surmising the fact that although Master Joshua had wanted her to be a Lady she was always going to a miners daughter. Her best chance at survival would be to look at her own class for a man that would treat her well. As she laundered the clothes her tears mingled with the wash water. She took extra care with the whites to get them their whitest. It was one thing her father beat her mother and her for when he determined they weren't white enough!