True Love

Momma

The next morning Ross and Joshua went to the mine after breakfast. Jenny and Demelza worked on getting the bread made and then they set to cleaning the house. Jim was feeding the animals. Demelza went out to check on the horses, seeing they had food, water and clean bedding she walked around the yard, Garrick following close. She saw some small signs of spring. Green poking through the ground and looked at the garden. She went to the shed and got a hoe and rake so she could clean the garden and examine it to see if there was anything salvageable. It was while she was doing this that Elizabeth arrived. Demelza noticed how she looked down her nose at Demelza.
Elizabeth questioned, "is Ross was in?" Which Demelza replied that "he was at the mine but should be home shortly?" Elizabeth got off her horse and walked around the garden observing Demelza. "Demelza what are you hoping to gain by coming here?"  "Mam, I am not sure of your meaning," Drmelza replied? "Only that you coming here and ingratiating yourself into Joshua's life, you are damaging the Poldark ancient family name, Elizabeth chastised her! It was then that Joshua and Ross came upon them for lunch.  
Ross jumped from his horse and grabbed Elizabeth's hand. To draw her into the house. Joshua looked at Demelza and asked, "what are you doing child?" Demelza said, "looking at Aunt Grace's garden to see if there is anything salvageable from the herbs and plants." "Are you joining us for lunch," Joshua asks? Demelza shook her head, "No Sur Jenny knows what to set out. I would like to continue out here." Joshua went indoors.
Ross and Elizabeth were sitting in the parlor speaking and Joshua wondered how much of the renovations she had seen? Elizabeth was seeing a difference in the cottage. It was brighter cleaner and a lot of little touch's that was missing before. She asked Ross if they gave any more thought to coming to her wedding! Ross said, "I thought I made it clear if Fathers ward is not invited neither are we!" "Ross did you not see she is nothing more then a glorifed servant, why she is outside now working in the dirt, hardly a lady!" Ross told her, "that was my mothers garden!" Elizabeth said, "yes and look at the damage she did to the Poldark good name!" Joshua came in and said, "would you like to join us for lunch Elizabeth?" Declining she told them she had to get back since there was still a great deal of planning for her wedding. "Oh Ross would you like to go riding one day this week I believe Francis will be in London for a few days?" Joshua raised his eyebrow and left the room.
Ross escorted Elizabeth out to where her horse rested. Elizabeth asked, "Demelza bring her horse to the mounting block!" Demelza went to get up but Ross said, "that is not necessary Demelza I will get her horse!" While she was mounting Ross said, "Elizabeth was that necessary?" "What Ross she is no blessed innocent, she has to know her place!" Ross snarled, "her place is the ward of my father and a niece to my late mother. Don't come back if you cannot treat her with a little respect!" Ross came back to the garden and asked if Demelza was joining them for lunch? When she declined his brow furrowed, he hoped she wasn't skipping meals, she didn't look like she could afford to skip any that was for sure.
Having started the stew for supper earlier. She went in after a few more hours working in the garden. She had found a great many items that she could save and she was happy, realizing she could contribute something to the household. She went in and placed the dough in pans for the bread. She asked Jenny to hep her place the tub in her room, began heating the water. She was dirty from sitting in the garden and her back was aching. Jenny asked if she wanted help in washing her hair, Demelza smiled and said, "if you don't mind." After her hair was washed Jenny went to the kitchen to check on the stew and bread. After a while Demelza got out of the tub, dried herself and then got dressed, she called Jenny and asked, "could please help fix my hair." Later she asked, "Could you ask Jim to please empty the tub into the garden later she would be most grateful."
Demelza and Jenny set the table for five people. Jenny questioned her who was coming to dinner? Demelza said "there be Mister Joshua, Mister Ross, Jim, You and I". Jenny said, "surely not Jim and me we should sit in the kitchen!" Demelza told responded, "we have this lovely dining room table that should be used. Jenny I would greatly appreciate it your we eat together, you are like family to me!" Jenny hugged Demelza and said, "I am so glad Mister Joshua asked for us to come!"
Demelza cut the bread and placed it in the basket for the table.
When Ross and Joshua came in they cleaned themselves for dinner. Jenny and Jim also washed and they all sat down to eat the stew. Joshua asked Jim, "how are the wedding preparations going?" Jim said, "they had the first bans read on Sunday!" Joshua said, "Demelza you look very lovely this evening!" She thanked Mister Joshua and noticed Ross didn't even look up. While Ross was preoccupied with his own thoughts everyone else was enjoying the meal and desert. There was a knock at the door and a letter was delivered for Ross. Mr. Tabb waited for a response and Ross wrote his response and gave it back to Tabb to take back to Twenwith.
The letter Ross received was from Elizabeth asking if he would go riding with her the day after tomorrow, since Francis would be in London. 
Jenny and Jim cleaned the table. Demelza picked up her mending basket and went to go to her room leaving Ross and Joshua alone in the parlor. She wished them good night. Joshua said "why don't you sit here my girl?" She shook her head and then said she preferred to be alone. She hated that she couldn't stand to be ignored by Ross, which left her distancing from both father and son!
Garrick started to whine a little while later and Demelza decided she would take him out for a walk. It was just starting to get dusk but the moon was full. So she headed to Nampara Cove. It was low tide while walking at edge of the water she picked up quite a few treasures. She sat down on a rock and watched the water ebb little by little. She sang a song her mother taught her it had a mournful tune that fit her mood that evening.