True Love

The Miners Wedding

The day came for the Carter Martin nuptials. It was a beautiful sunny day. Demelza put the flower crown on Jenny's head it was made of blue bells and yarrow! in her bouquet she made of Bluebells, Yarrow and Birds Foot Trefoils. Demelza and Ross waited in the front Pew for the ceremony to begin. Jim had asked Ross to stand for him since he had no brothers and Ross had helped him gain the ability to make an honest woman of Jenny. Jim came to the front of the church and Ross was to stand below the alter on the groom's side. Demelza got up at the same time and she had decided to wear the navy blue, white lace trimmed neckline she wore the bracelet that Ross purchased for her. Her hair she had fixed with the long drop curl off to the side. She looked and acted every bit of a lady but with the love very seldom seen in the gentry. Ross looking at Demelza thought she was beautiful as beautiful as Elizabeth, but the personalities were so different.
Once the ceremony was over the celebration began the barn was full of food, but the dancing and drinking moved outside. Joshua, Ross, and Dwight were watching the dancing. Demelza was laughing and talking and enjoying herself, Ross could not help himself to smile at her. Shortly after other women in the group asked Ross to dance. He joined in, he and Demelza ended up dancing together. Dwight was brought into the group, and he ended up partnered with Rosina Hoblin. While Ross was off having a drink Demelza danced with Joshua, when that dance ended Dwight asked for a dance. It was at this point that Ross came back. He held himself back so not to allow his anger to flare. Once he was calmed, he lit the bonfires. There was dancing, drinking, and men trying to form a bond for the night. He saw Dwight heading for Demelza and decided it was up to him to protect her from the men trying to entice her into some debauchery. When Ross came to stand beside her, she told him she needed to give Jenny her gift the other she could wait to open but she wanted to give Jenny hers so she could wear it tonight. Ross laughed and said, "do you think she will be wearing that tonight?" She blushed and said, "it would be nice to have a new night rail for her wedding night!" So, she went to get her present while Ross went to find Jenny, they were to meet back in the kitchen. Ross and Jenny went into the kitchen and found Dwight and Demelza standing talking. Ross saw red he said, "Dwight come with me I want to show you something in the library!"
After they left Demelza gave Jenny her gift!" It took Jenny's by surprise "Demelza you didn't have to give me anything the flowers were more than enough!" "I wanted to besides, you have been so good to me, go on open it!" Jenny opened the tissue paper and found the most delicate night rail she has ever seen. She hugged Demelza and said, "I am the luckiest person to have you as my Mistress!"
Ross meanwhile pulled Dwight aside, "Dwight I am asking you to back off of Demelza!" Dwight said, "why Ross she only had a couple more months until she is sixteen?" Ross said, "I think I am interested in her myself, and I don't want to be in a competition with one of my best friends!" Ross thought that sounded reasonable. Dwight said, "I knew it, you do have feelings for her I could tell the way you looked at her!" Just then Joshua entered the library and Dwight said he was going back outside to have a cider, then told Ross "Do not worry mate she is safe, but if you decide you do not want to be involved with her let me know. She is beautiful, intelligent, living and kind she is what most men long to for!"
Joshua asked him what that was about, Ross told him "Dwight was getting a little to bold where Demelza was involved, and I was trying to be a buffer." Joshua said, "is that fair unless you have feelings for her?" Ross said, "Father I have my sights set higher than someone who is a common miner's daughter. I knew she is your ward, but she is hardly an Elizabeth!" Joshua sighed and said, "this plan of yours is going to tear her heart apart if she finds out!"
Demelza was outside the library door when she heard what Ross said about her not being an Elizabeth and he wanted someone grander. She went to her room and wept, after a while she got undressed and laid in bed thinking over how Ross had treated her and she made her decision to try to try to stop longing for him after all she promised her Mam, she would not settle for anything less than she deserved.
Ross went back outside to join the festivities and Joshua went to his room. Joshua went past Demelza's door and heard her sobbing thinking it was just emotions from the day he left her to cry.
It was near sunrise that Ross and Dwight came in Ross was drunk and Dwight being he did not take to drink more than two was sober.
Demelza got up early in the morning and the sun was just rising. She made the bread and left it rise. She took some leftover ham slices and eggs to make breakfast she went out for a walk determined to see who would be around to eat. She decided she still had some time and went for a walk on the beach trying to clear her head from her feelings for Ross. Francis was riding his horse along the beach when he saw Demelza sitting watching the waves. He shouted out to her so not to startle her. The he got down from the horse and sat beside her. He asked what she was thinking of, and she told him her mother who had just passed away. Francis said, "she was Aunt Graces sister?" "Stepsister" said Demelza. She said, "the last things my Mam said was to my own self be true and never settle for second best and right now I am failing in that promise"! Francis said, "May I ask how"! "I don't think it would be proper for me to tell you"! Demelza jumped up and said I must get back I have things I must do!" Francis said let me escort you please, so they walked the horse up the cliff to Nampara.
Demelza was making breakfast for Joshua, Dwight, and Francis, the others all went to the Martins for breakfast. Ross woke up with his head aching and having to go relieve himself. He heard voices coming from downstairs and decided he could get something for the pain in his head and a cup of coffee. He nearly stumbled when he saw Francis sitting at the table besides Demelza. He sat down beside Dwight and asked if he could have a cup of coffee, Demelza went to get up. Joshua put his hand on her hand and he got his son a cup and put the pot on the table. The other food was already in bowls and plates for each to serve themselves. Joshua said, "Jenny is off this morning so you can serve yourself!" Ross looked at Demelza and realized he just treated her as his servant. Ross looking at Francis said, "Francis what are you doing here?" "We'll Ross I was riding along the beach and came across a beautiful young lady sitting on a rock and thought I was imagining things, it turned out to be our Demelza." Demelza blushed, Ross was growing angry "I didn't realize she was anything even remotely to 'ours' and don't you have enough beach on your own to ride?" Demelza had enough "right Ross because one never knows who or what might show up on Hendren beach, Nampara cove, or the caves?" She left the kitchen and headed to her room. Francis said, "what was that about" Joshua said "her and I was out the other week and found some undesirables on the beach!" Ross knew what or whomever she was referring to, he just did not know what he did to set her off. Dwight just sat taking it all in. Francis said he had to get back to Twenwith because Elizabeth wanted him to escort her to town. Then he told Dwight if he was not busy on Saturday to come to his wedding. It dawns on Dwight then that this was the cousin who the girl Ross spent the whole time talking about in America was marrying. Dwight told him depending on the status of how things went with the mine this week would determine if he would be there or not.
After Francis left Joshua asked if Dwight would like to come to the mine with him since it did not look like Ross would be moving very fast for the next few hours. Ross told his father he wanted to take Dwight to the gatehouse to see if that would suit him and Joshua told them that they would come back for lunch and then they could go there.
Demelza hearing the hooves beats thought all the men had left. When she got there Ross was still there. Ross said, "why did you make that comment to Francis?" "Maybe I think someone like the perfect Elizabeth should be shown what she really is" she said! Ross responded, "pray tell what is she?" "A woman with no morals, what proper lady would steal off to a cave with her fiancée's cousin? I may just be a miner's brat but at least I know right from wrong, do you?" She turned and went to the root cellar to get away from Ross.
Ross sitting wondering where all the anger came from. He was tired and not feeling all that well he decided to go back to bed. Demelza came back to the kitchen washed the white clothes so she could hang them out. Then she cleaned the kitchen and dusted, swept, and scrubbed all the downstairs rooms. Once that was done, she prepared the food for lunch. Joshua and Dwight came in! Joshua asked where Ross was and Demelza shrugged her shoulders, Joshua went to Ross's room and woke him. They all were sitting at the table, Demelza asked if it would be possible to clean the rooms upstairs. Joshua grabbed her hand and said you are not a maid. She said I am just a miner's daughter and will never compare to the lady of Twenwith. Ross knew then that she heard last night what he told Joshua.
Joshua said, "speaking of Twenwith are we going to the wedding"? Ross said, "if you are going, I am"! Then Joshua asked Dwight who informed him he would properly go. Joshua being concerned for Demelza he said, "do you have a dress picked out?" Demelza said "I was not invited she does not want a miners brat!" Joshua then said "Demelza this is a family event and whether you like Elizabeth or not I need you there!" Demelza clasp her hands and looked down "I've seen so many families broken by it, and she acts like there is nothing wrong with it!" Then she sighed and said, "If I am honest with myself, it is my own jealousy causing these feelings, I'll go!"
Joshua smiled and touched her hand. Ross just looked down. He knew if Elizabeth and he continued the path they had Francis was bound to be broken!
The next morning Joshua told Ross he was going to have to go to the mine today because Joshua had to go to Turro. Dwight asked Ross where he could find someone to clean the Gatehouse. Demelza decided she would surprise Dwight by having it cleaned when he was at the mine. It was getting late in the day and Demelza had finished doing everything in the Gatehouse. She was out getting some spring flowers when she was bit by something on her forearm. She noticed a large, raised rash, she went to the water pump and splash cold water on the area. She started to walk home when the dizziness and wheezing started. she felt weak and she notice her hand started swelling. She was hoping to get back to Nampara but did not think she was going to make it.
Ross was heading home from the mine when he came across Demelza, he noticed her having a hard time breathing and she was stumbling. He jumped off Darkie put his one arm under her legs and the other behind her back. He picked her up and she put her arms around his neck he placed her on Darky and got behind her he turned the horse around and went to the Gatehouse.
When Dwight saw Ross carrying Demelza he did not know what to make of it. He noticed immediately her wheezing, he noticed the swollen hand, then he noticed the rash and raised area. Dwight said Demelza did something bite you"? She said "Hor se fly "Dwight gave her antihistamine, and something for the pain then he cleaned the wound and placed a cool wet cloth on it. While Dwight was sitting and keeping a cool rag on the bite site. Ross looked around and said, "I thought you said it needed to be cleaned?" Dwight smiled and said,
"it did a little Fairy must of came in,!" Looking at Demelza, he said, "is it you I owe thanks?" Demelza nodded her head. "Thank you" Dwight said. When Dwight saw that his antihistamine was working, he sent her home under Ross care telling him to call if she got any worse.
Joshua put the dress on Demelza's bed. He walked out to the kitchen and thought he saw Ross carrying Demelza. Joshua immediately questioned Ross what happen?" Ross told him "Horse fly bite? Do we have a small piece of ice ?" Joshua brought the ice out. "Demelza cleaned the Gatehouse hopefully there is not any more horsefly's in there." Joshua asked "Jinny to take the box off of Demelza's bed and put it in my room.