Demelza woke she tried to move and realized there was two bodies lying next to her. Drake and Willie were fast asleep. She looked toward her fireplace and noticed her two wingback chairs that had pink flowers matching her coverlet and curtains. She heard a soft rapt at the door and Ross opened her door and smiled he whispered, "I was checking on the boys and was worried when I didn't find them in their room." She nodded but didn't say anything. He said, "I was wondering if they needed help getting ready for breakfast." Demelza moved waking first Willy then Drake. Demelza said, "good morning my lovers." Both boys hugged her and said, "we missed you and our room was lonely!" Ross thought to himself how can I be jealous of two little boys? Then he wondered where that jealousy came from. Demelza chased the boys out of bed and told them to go to the relieve themselves wash and get clean clothes on. Ross said, "I will instruct you on washing before you start the day." Demelza said "can you please let me know when their done." Ross nodded. Demelza remembered she needed to instruct what was to be made for meals, she should have been up hours before so she could prepare breakfast for everyone. Ross knocked on her door and let her know the water closet was free. She went in and noticed water already heated she had a picture she put the heated water in it and carried it back to her room. She washed dressed in a work dress and headed downstairs. The table was set, and it seemed that Ross, Joshua and the two youngest brothers were the only ones there. Demelza asked about the others. Joshua said Bobby is housed with a widow and her family and has started an apprenticeship for ship building. Sam and James stayed at Reith cottage and wanted to prepare their own meals. Sam was to start at Wheal Leisure this morning and James was starting to work in the fields. Demelza looked at Jenny and said, "thank you, you did good." Jenny had pancakes, jams, toast and eggs on the table. Edna came in with a sour look, Demelza smiled at her, but she just grimaced back. It didn't go unnoticed by Ross or Joshua.
Demelza remembered she needed to ask Joshua about the boys and his soiree he was having, if the boys were to attend and if so, they may need some new clothing. "Joshua", looked up, Demelza continue "are the boys a going to attend this function in May?" Joshua said "Of course," "Drake has the clothes from Claude Anthony, I can make shirts for the older boys but the britches I don't think I have time. Sam has the one from Ross, I can take it in." Joshua said "Ross and I must go to the mine today, how about tomorrow I let Ross go to the mine and I take you James, and Willie to get their clothes. As for Sam, we can ask him what he prefers." After the meal Demelza helped clean up the breakfast dishes. She went and got the clothes that were dirty especially Rosses and Joshua's shirts. She took great pride in keeping their shirts white and free of tears. Dwight stopped and said "Demelza what are you doing your ribs are never going to heal." "I feel fine today Dwight please stop fussing." She went in and got the dusting rag and polish she started to polish the furniture. Edna said, "I think today we should sweep and scrub the floors and then tomorrow we can dust the furniture." Demelza said "that might be so, but the rooms get very dusty here with the coast wind hitting. So, the furniture should be dusted daily, floors swept daily and scrubbed every two days. Beds washed once a week. Other wash daily. A full breakfast meal will be made each day. Lunch should consist of whatever is leftover from the supper before or sandwiches can be made. Cheese ham and fruit platters also can be served. There should be lemonade cold constantly and the boys will have milk with their meals. A desert will be served and scones she be made daily along with bread. I will direct what is made for dinner each day and it should be made plentiful with enough for the farm workers, servants and family."Edna said, excuse Demelza but is this what you want or Master Joshua?" It is what Master Joshua expects, thank you, Edna."
Dwight arrived at the mine, going into the mining office, "Ross, I thought I was clear that Demelza should stay in bed for at least three days." Joshua replied, "boy you obviously don't know our Demelza nothing less than dying would make her be still. I have Jenny watching for any issues." Ross flinched at the thought of Demelza dying how would he go on without her, again he wondered where that thought had come from.
Demelza polished the furniture in the entire house by the time it came to make lunch. She stopped in the kitchen noticing the bread was getting short and decided she would make more this afternoon. She decided she would make chicken pot pie for supper and ask Edna to go and tell one of the farm hands to bring her in a chicken, and to go to the root cellar to get her the carrots, potatoes, onions, some parsley herbs, chives, rosemary and some thyme. She then set to heating the leftovers up and seeing no desert leftover she placed the scones on a plate. Jinny walked in a few minutes latter and not seeing Edna she says "Mistress you are going to have your hand full Edna, she does not believe you have any right to tell her what to do. I just finished sweeping and I still need to see to the scrubbing." "What has she been doing," asked Demelza? "Going through the kitchen looking for waste?" Demelza said, "I will give her a while longer and if it is still antagonistic, I will address it. How are you feeling?" "Fine Mistress." Jenny replied. Demelza started the dough for the bread. She was wondering what was taking Edna so long and decided to go and look for her. She found her in the root cellar and grumbling to herself. Demelza asked "what are you doing can you not find what I sent you for?" She said, "this food just sitting here and people struggling in the village." Demelza said, "I know Joshua is a fair man he pays decent wages. He gives food to those who ask, what more do you want him to do. Yes, he has wealth, but he works hard to give all the miners and fisher folks here about a decent living. If men spend that money in the kidleys is should be their wives that take that to task. My family never had enough money for food, but it wasn't because of not getting paid for there work. The men took it upon themselves to drink or gamble it away. Do not bite the hand that feeds you." Demelza gathered her supplies and held the door open for Edna. When she reached the kitchen door, she told her she could start by scrubbing the upstairs rooms and then work her way down.
Demelza started on making the filling for the pie, then the door opened Drake, Willie and Garrett, they came running in telling her how they chopped off the chicken's head and it ran around. She said and where is this chicken, Ned is plucking it, is it what we are having for dinner. Demelza said you will have to see. Edna remained standing in the kitchen. Demelza said "Edna do you not know where the bucket and mop is?" Edna huffed and said, "I am sorry Demelza, but I don't believe I should be taking orders from anyone but Mister Joshua." Mister Joshua walked into the kitchen with Ross. Joshua said to Demelza, "My dear what have you been up to, I see our shirts on the lines, and I can see dough rising and it looks like you or baking. May I ask what you have instructed your servants to do? Edna gasp, Ross said, "I must have been unclear Edna, Demelza is Mistress of Nampara you will do well to follow her orders if you cannot than you may want to find another position."
Joshua said "Now my dear come and eat lunch with us." Demelza looked at the boys and said, "let's go wash your hands and faces." Ross said, "come my fellows I will help.?" After everyone had washed Demelza washed her face and hands and stirred the pot minus the chicken that still hadn't shown up. Jenny and Edna sat down at the kitchen table, Demelza said you are allowed to sit with the family for your meals, Edna said "thank you Mistress" but stayed seated. Demelza didn't miss the disgust of her voice. Jenny shrugged and Demelza went to the dining rooms. Joshua asked "Jenny and Edna not eating in here?" "I think Edna is a little upset," Demelza told him. The boys told Joshua and Ross of the chicken running around with no head. Joshua asked the boys what else have you been up to. They said learning to milk the cows, feed the chickens and goats, gather the eggs. Joshua said "no playing? "The boys looked sheepish, Drake said, "does jumping in the haystacks playing or running in the yard or going down to the ocean?" Demelza and the two men looked at the boys. Joshua said, "you been down to the beach?" Willie nodded, both boys cowered because this would surely get them a good lashing. Demelza spoke up "Drake, Willie, please don't go there again without an adult with you. It is a dangerous place, and I would be so sad if either of you would get hurt. Will you promise me not to do it again?" Thy both said, "we promise." Joshua added, "that is one promise I hope your boys will uphold." Ross smiled at the boys and then at Demelza. Demelza thought how can I persuade my heart when he smiles at me like that. Then she remembered what he did to try to trick her. While Demelza was taking the dishes into the kitchen she noticed Edna sitting and watching Jenny filling the scrub bucket up. Ross said, "Demelza you should go and lay down for an hour or two." She shook her head; "I think I should talk to you and Mr. Joshua in private." Ross led her to the library, Joshua followed. "I don't think Edna is going to work out." She explained about the words she spoke to Demelza and what Jenny said she did all morning and how she herself caught her going through the root cellar, stating that it was a sin that all that food was there when people were starving in the village. Both Joshua and Ross were incensed with her statements toward Demelza. In fact, both heard her stating just that when they walked in for lunch. Joshua rang the bell and Edna came in to see what he needed. Demelza asked, "where is Jenny?" Edna said, "she is scrubbing the upstairs." Demelza glared at her, "did I not instruct you to do that?" Edna said, "I believe she knows how to please you better then me!" Joshua looked at Edna, "you displease me Edna, I knew you brothers and parents, Ross is a great friend to your bothers but for some reason you seem intent on making an enemy of your Mistress. I am sorry but I don't think we will need your service. My intent on hiring you was to take some of the burden off Demelza and Jenny! I can see it is not achieving that goal. So, you can do the dishes then gather your things and I will leave you pay here. Demelza after the kitchen is cleaned to your Standards you can give her final pay." Edna just nodded and said "I don't believe working here suits me either." She gave Ross a quick glance and went to the kitchen.
Demelza made the bread into loafs and the pie dough she then mixed-up batter to make a lemon cake. The chicken had been waiting in the sink when she came in from library. After the chicken was cooked and mixed with the vegetables and herbs, she rolled out the pie dough and made the pie. Edna said, "I don't see how I can get the kitchen cleaned when you keep making a mess." "Mr. Joshua paid you for a full day and a full day he shall get," Demelza said. Edna growled and said "you are no more than me a mere miners brat that happened upon a kind family. You are going to be the ruin of this family. What makes you think you are better than the rest of us." Jenny came down, "Edna, I have to say that MISTRESS DEMELZA had never put on airs, she would help anyone in need she would even help you, though you have been horrible to her!" Ned came in hearing shouting. Demelza went into Joshua's study and got the envelope for Edna. She then took it out and handed it to Edna and said, "please leave and don't come back. I wish you well!" Edna said, "don't worry about me my friend works at Twenwith where there is a true Mistress." After she left Demelza finished her pie and placed it to bake. She took the cake out and frosted it with a lemon frosting. She then got a bucket and scrubbed the dining room parlor and kitchen. Jenny just finished the upstairs and Demelza said tomorrow we'll scrub the library, and study.
Sam and James joined them for dinner and told them of their days. James was as animated as Demelza ever saw him. Joshua said, "tomorrow your sister and I will be taking James, as Willie and Sam to get the clothing for a soiree I am holding for Ross's homecoming and your sisters sixteenth birthday." Demelza said, "could we just make it a celebration of Ross's homecoming." Joshua said, "indeed not, what brought this on?" Demelza shrugged her shoulders. Jenny spoke up, "Edna," she said, "she told her she was going to be the downfall of this family and she will never be like the Mistress of Twenwith!" Ross said, "maybe we don't want her to be like the Mistress of Twenwith." Joshua said, "I want you to be you Demelza." The three younger boys said "we love you Milz," Demelza smiled at her brothers, but Ross noticed it did not reach her eyes. She got up and went and got desert. She brought in the cake, Ross said, "I cannot get enough of this cake." Drake rubbed his stomach and said, "I think I am going to get fat!" After desert Demelza helped Jenny clear and clean the dishes she wiped down the table and swept the floor again. Garrick rubbed his nose against her, and she gave his hunches a couple good smacks. He followed the boys around, but he was all Demelza dog. Once done she ask Sam to come to her room and he tried on the old outfit of Ross's. She questioned Sam whether he would like a new suit or if he wanted her to alter the old ones. "I prefer these, but will you have time sister, I don't want to over burden you". "Sam, you know I would do anything for your boys, if you really want to me to make alterations, I can find the time. I also have a lot of britches and shirts and a coat that I could alter as time allows." He kissed her cheek and said, "Edna does not know what she has loss in a Mistress,"
Demelza went in and drew bath water to heat. She went down the steps and asked the boys if they could wait to bathe, she told them she was going to wash her hair and take a quick bath. Then the boys will be able to use the water. She didn't know how much water was available for bathing. Joshua said, "Demelza at this point there is no need to conserve water we have three tubs full of water and I can have the men take more up tomorrow if it is low." She said, "if they were to bathe first, I would say yes but I am not that dirty, and they can use mine, James or Sam would you like to bathe." Sam said, "I can bathe in the ocean, James piped up and said I will go with Sam." Drake and Willie looked imploringly at Sam "can we bathe in the ocean to?" Ross laughed and said, "yes but since Uncle and your sister are taking you tomorrow for clothes it would be best if you bath in the tub tonight." The three boys nodded. "Right", Demelza said, "I better get moving so I can be done for you three to get in before you are too tired. Demelza went to Jenny and Jim's room and said, Jenny can you come and comb my hair later?" Jenny nodded.
Demelza washed with her lemon soap once done, she wrapped in a robe ad called knocked on the boy's door and told James to bath next giving him an old shirt and the smallest pair of britches she could find. He didn't take long and Drake and Willie. Sam went in to help the boys and to make sure their hair was washed. Ross caught Jenny going upstairs telling she told him, "she was going to comb the Mistress's hair."
He told her would take care of that and he went to his room and got a comb for the boys to comb their hair, James took it and combed his then said he would do the same for Drake and Willie. Ross knocked on Demelza's door thinking it was Jenny she said, "come in." Ross entered all Demelza had on was a night rail. Ross could see her figure through the thin material. Demelza jumped up and grabbed her robe. Ross voice was husky when he told Demelza he was there to comb her hair. Bye the time he was done Demelza could barley keep her eyes open, He kissed her forehead and said "goodnight."
YOU ARE READING
True Love
RomanceWhat if Grace and Demelza's mother were step sister. Ross still is betrayed by Elizabeth and and Francis but the story is different for Demelza and her brothers. Joshua lives. Winston Grahams characters but a different story.
