True Love

Courting

Ross and Joshua left the planning of the soiree to Variety.  Jenny told them the widow declined not willing to give up her home.  Jim's mother was agreeable. They wanted to be close to Jim and Jenny and the baby. So, they asked if they could fix up the old gatehouse which was behind the house on the cliffs.  Ross told, "them it would take a lot of work!" Jim said, "it was better then what they were living in currently. "Jim told them his sister is working as a bal maiden eighteen years old, his sixteen year old sister and the youngest was a boy fourteen.  He said if he could employ one or all his family and let them live in the gatehouse, he would be most grateful, since he felt since his father died, he was responsible for them. Joshua said he would employ them all, he also asked, "does the eighteen old have aspirations of marriage?" Jim said, "as yet there does not seem to be any interest. Jenny looked a little disturbed by that statement! The second sister was young, but he believed she would be a hard worker. His brother was more then willing to work on the farm since his mother did not want him in the mine. Joshua said, he would agree but Jim would have to fix the gatehouse, so it was not falling in around them. Jim agreed and said he would tell his mother and they would start tomorrow.
Next Morning
They all went to breakfast and told Demelza about Jim's family coming to work for them. Jenny was happy which made Demelza happy.  Joshua let Jinny know that she must inform all that Demelza was the head of the household, she must be obeyed, and insults will not be tolerated. Jenny nodded, thinking to herself her oldest sister-in-law Alyse may be a problem. Alyse was eighteen, she turned down many offers of marriage because she believed she should marry in a higher station.  Anna would be fine she was tidy and tried to please.  She did not want to mention any of this because she didn't want to preconceive any hard feelings.  Besides Jim's mother Mary would keep her under control. Demelza noticed Jenny contemplating something and said, "Jenny is something troubling you?" "No Mistress it is fine," Jenny answered.
Demelza ironed and mended the clothes she was washed the night before. It seems Ross made it a mission to putting holes in his shirts. Willie had a habit of putting them in his britches. After putting the clothes away, she put the ones to be mended in her room. Then she swept the upstairs bedrooms, then dusted. She thought of Ross's kisses and wondered what his game was, but he did admit to herself that his kiss did rouse something in her soul. She wanted him to hold her to kiss her, she just wanted him.  After she had everything upstairs in order, she went down and found Jenny in the kitchen doing the morning dishes, she went into some of the downstairs rooms and wondered what had been done this morning by Jenny, because it didn't look like she did any housework.  She went back to the kitchen and gave Jenny a hard look.  "Jenny, are you feeling well," Demelza asked? Jenny said, "the baby is unsettled this morning." Demelza then told Jenny, "You must go and lay down, your health is more important than the housework." Jenny then told her after she finished the dishes she would go.  Demelza got lunch ready and put it on the table right when the men came in, she called the rest to come in to.  Drake and Willie were so excited they spent the day with James and Jim working on the garden. They boys were filthy from being in the dirt, so she went to pick Drake up, Ross said, "wait Demelza he is too heavy for you to be lifting! Father, we had a stool that we used to reach the pump is it still here?" Joshua said, "Yes in the milk room." Ross went to and retrieved the stool and placed it at the pump Drake climbed up and washed, then Willie did the same. They sat down to eat, and Jim asked where Jenny was then went to their quarters.  Joshua said, "I'll happy when we have more help here that you will not be needing to be overwhelmed by all the work." "I do not mind the work, it helps calm me," Demelza said. Joshua grunted and Ross said, "you my dear Demelza are too beautiful to work constantly you must enjoy some of life greater pleasures." Joshua astounded looked at Ross. Ross returned his gaze then turned his head to stare at Demelza. Demelza put her hands on her lap and put her head down.
After they finished lunch. Demelza sent the Willie and Drake to pick the strawberries they had found.  She made a pound cake, and then some whip cream. She swept and dusted the other rooms. She started dinner then finished cleaning the dishes, then the floors.  She had made more bread and placed the loafs to bake. She got to darning the Ross's shirts. She just finished the first when the boys walked in with the strawberries. She had to laugh at the boys because it was evident, they had indulged with eating as many as they gave her.  She added the ingredients to make a sugary syrup to the strawberries hoping they will like the desert. She set the table and waited for everyone to come home for dinner, she picked up the second of Ross's shirts. She started on a pair of Willies britches, when everyone came in for dinner.  Everyone was busy talking about their day and Sam asked Joshua and Ross if they ever heard of Kaolinite or China Clay? Ross and his father told him no. Sam told him he believes he found a deposit of the mineral by Reith cottage and that they may want to investigate the possibility of mining it. Ross said, "I will investigate it, what have you heard of it Sam".  Sam Said, "It is easier to extract it since you pull it out from the top of the ground, it easier on the people working  it doesn't affect the lungs. It is used in paint, paper products also for Fine China and earthenware products." Joshua said, "is there a marker for it."  Sam said, "what I heard yes, and with it being easier to get to it cost less to mine. Also, I think the profit is higher.  It might be good idea to think on it."  James told Demelza about planting some of the potatoes, carrots, and beans. Tomorrow we will plant the turnups and cabbages and maybe some corn. Drake and Willie chimed in and said we helped James and Jim. Joshua asked where Jim was? He was informed that Jenny and Jim decided they wanted to eat in the quarters again.
Demelza stood and went and brought the dessert plates and placed them on the side table. Then she brought the cake and the strawberries, then the whip cream. Everyone was wondering what desert she was serving up. First, she cut the cake and placed it on the plates, then she spooned the strawberries over it. At this Ross jumped up thinking helping her serve it would enabling them to taste it faster. When he went to distribute the first one, she stopped him and said she had more to put on it. She then put whip cream on each piece and told him he could hand it out.  Ross was salivating by the time everyone had their desert and Demelza had sat back down he was ready to dig in. He knew there was more of all three and thought a late-night snack may be needed. Joshua remarked about how much he enjoyed it as did the boys. Ross said, "as the heir apparent I would inform you all the leftovers are mine." Demelza told the boys they needed to keep an eye out for more so she could make Jam with them. They said they knew where there was more and would get them tomorrow. Demelza gave them a nod.
Demelza collected the dishes, Ross watched from his seat.  He was thinking of how beautiful she was, and she never complained about the work, always smiling, always loving those around her and them loving her back. He knew Alyse, and her idea of grandeur she would have to be watched so she didn't push her work off to Demelza. He got up and cleared some more dishes, watching him do this, each man and boy at the table also picked up dishes. They had gathered everything from the dining room. When they reached the kitchen Sam asked if he could wash, James snatched a towel for drying and Joshua put the dishes away. Ross took the rag and wiped the tables and sideboard down, then he snapped up the broom and swept the dining room, once the dishes were done and put away Ross wiped down the surfaces and swept the floor. They had dismissed Demelza, and she had gone and got her sewing basket and brought it to the parlor where she sat and started the alterations to Sam's clothes. The men and boys came in and sat in the parlor the younger ones playing on the floor and the elder ones sitting and talking between themselves. Ross thought to himself his father was not so animated since his mother passed. When Demelza told the boys it was time for bed, Sam said he would take them up to get them ready.  Joshua and Ross were taken by surprise when the two young boys rushed to them and gave them a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  Drake said, thank you both for taking care of us and giving us food. Willie spoke up, and clothes and shelter we never imagine all that we have been given. Demelza smiled serenely, she told the boys she would be up to see them before they went to sleep. James said, "sister tomorrow can you show me your root cellar?" Demelza said "tomorrow is going to be a very busy day, but I will show it to you the following day."
Ross said, "Demelza, Jim's older sister may challenge you; don't let her get away with anything put her in her place." "Why would she do that," Demelza asked?" Joshua spoke up, "she had her sights set on Ross here when she was younger, now that Elizabeth is spoken for maybe she will pick up that undertaking again." Ross said, "Do not worry I am not interested and never have been interested in her." "I am not worried who you marry is no concern of mine, you made that clear." Demelza retorted as she got up to go upstairs. Ross yelled "Demelza" as she walked away.  Joshua spoke, "it is going to take more then words to convince her, Ross." "I think I love her father; I dream of her when I sleep, I think about her constantly, I hear her voice and see her face all the time. Father, I want to court her," Ross revealed. Joshua said, "I grant you the right, there is not a better woman I could pick for your wife. I know she will help you in your trails to come and she will stand by you.  Promise me you will never hurt her." "Father, I would never intentionally hurt her," Ross declared. Joshua just bobbed his head.
Ross went upstairs to tell the boys goodnight again her heard Demelza singing again, he thought he could listen to her singing everyday and all day long. She was singing:

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold
Once, amid the soft and silver sadness in the sky
There came a man of fortune, a drifter passing by
He wore a torn and tattered cloth around his leathered hide
And a coat of many colors, yellow, green on either side
He moved with some uncertainty, as if he didn't know
Just what he was there for, or where he ought to go
Once he reached for something golden, hanging from a tree
And his hand came down empty
Soon within my tapestry, along the rutted road
He sat down on a river rock and turned into a toad
It seemed that he had fallen into someone's wicked spell
And I wept to see him suffer, though I didn't know him well
As I watched in sorrow, there suddenly appeared
A figure, gray and ghostly, beneath a flowing beard
In times of deepest darkness, I've seen him dressed in black
Now my tapestry's unraveling, he's come to take me back
He's come to take me back
Songwriters: Carole King

Ross loved hearing hear voice he never heard the song before, but it fit her voice. She kissed her brothers' heads and wished them sweet dreams."  Ross came in through the door and came over to the boys and wished them a good night. Ross reached out and touch her hand they walked out of the room together.  Once outside, he said "Demelza I asked father for his consent for me to court you. Will you allow me the indulgence to get to know one another?" Demelza shook her head in an affirmative and Ross kissed her and wished her a goodnight.