Demelza could hardly sleep she wondered why she agreed to allow Ross to court her. Since she couldn't sleep, she gathered the cloths so she could take them to the washroom and wash them. She had to sneak into Ross's room to get his clothes. She decided she would also wash the bedding in his old room and have it cleaned for any guest that might stay. Once downstairs she also gathered Joshua. Neither of the men woke, she giggled at their snoring once she was out of their hearing. She had the wash out on the line and the bread dough rising. She was starting to gather the breakfast items when Jenny joined her asking if she was ready for the new servants? Demelza nodded then asked Jenny, "Ross asked me if he can court me, what do you think of that?" Jenny was about to answer when there was a knock at the door. Jenny answered it presenting, Mary Jim's mother, Alyse Jim's oldest sister, and Anne his youngest sister." Demelza greeted each one think, then said Mary you will be helping me in the kitchen, Alyse, I think you and Jenny will do the scrubbing,and Anne, I think you will oversee dusting. I assume your son has joined the men in the fields? Mary nodded. Also, since Jenny is with child we need everyone to chip in to help keep Nampara running smoothly. Alyse said, "what is it you do?" Mary and Jenny both gasped at once and yelled Alyse. "I am in charge of the household as per Master Joshua. Now if you don't mind there is breakfast to set on the table." She had Anne making orange juice, she had Alyse making the bacon, Mary handled putting the bread in the pans. Jenny making toast. Jenny and Alyse set the table, and Anne puts the Jam out along with the bacon and orange juice. Demelza had also made cinnamon roles but decided to save them for supper.
The boys came down first and then Ross and Joshua followed, Alyse came in and greeted Ross first and than Joshua. She was standing around when Ross asked where Demelza was. When she replied. "in the kitchen!" Ross then then told her, "you should go relieve her so she can join her family for breakfast." Alyse went into the kitchen in a huff, she told Demelza she was required in the dining room. Jenny caught her arm and took her to the washroom "Demelza when it was just me and Jim, we wanted to eat with you because we figured it beat us eating by ourselves, but Mary wants to cook for her family at the gatehouse and wants me or Jim to eat with them at night and we think we should eat in the kitchen it would be better for everyone please understand!" Demelza said, "that is your choice you eat where you're happiest. Know you will always be welcome at the main table." Jenny hugged Demelza and said, "thank you!"
Demelza sat down at the table, Ross gave Demelza a smile that melted her heart. Demelza realized the coffee was not on the table. She went to get up, but Joshua rang the bell. Alyse came in and gave Demelza a withering look Joshua looked at her and said, "Could you please bring the coffee in my dear and what is your name?" She looked at Ross and said "my name is Alyse and yes I can bring the coffee in." Demelza realizing the eggs were missing asked "Alyse could you please bring in the eggs also." She glared at Demelza, and Ross didn't miss the look. Alyse brought in the items that Joshua and Demelza requested. Seeing Demelza sitting at the table she sat down beside Ross seeing there was an extra plate there. Ross said, "Alyse don't you want to eat with your mother and your family?" Alyse replied, "I just thought that since Demelza was here that I could eat with the family to." This remark set Joshua seeing red. "Excuse me Alyse but Demelza is my step niece and part of OUR family, and since Ross has asked to court her, she may soon be my daughter in law. So, she has every right to sit here." Joshua retorted. Alyse got up and at stormed off to the kitchen. Demelza hoped that was the end of the Alyse issue. Drake asked, "what does court me?' Joshua responded, "it is when a man and women get to know one another and see if they want to marry.," Willie screamed "Ross is marrying Melza!" Ross chucked "Nothing would make me happier!" Alyse heard what was being said in the dinning room and it upset her after all Ross and her have known each other since they were small. She has put a lot of energy into getting him to notice her. It is Jim's fault he keeps reminding Ross of their poor status. Mary told Alyse to put those thoughts she was thinking out of her head, she knew her daughter. She knew she was looking at this job to get Ross to notice her, but she was going to put the whole family in danger of losing this amazing opportunity and she was going to watch her like a hawk. Joshua asked Demelza what she was going to do today. Ross spoke up and said, "I want to go and talk to Pierce about the China Clay that Sam mentioned, and I was wondering if Demelza wanted to go with me. Demelza said, "I would like to look for some material to new curtains in the parlor and the spare room before the party?"
Once everyone was done eating. Demelza went out and told the three women she was going to town with Ross. She said, "please make sure the clothes are brought in and lay the lunch, sandwiches, milk for the boys and place a fruit and cheese platter." Alyse said "Yes Mam" Mary slapped her arm, and Jenny let Demelza know she would make sure everyone did what needed done. Demelza told them they could make the stew for supper.
After Ross and Demelza left, Joshua went into the kitchen, he said hello to Mary then he told all the women that comments and attitudes such as Alyse showed while they were eating their breakfast would not be tolerated. He then told Alyse "You have chased Ross since you were ten. He is not interested in you. If you don't want to abide by what is going on in my family, you can leave now. I am clear?" Since Alyse didn't answer him, Mary spoke up "We understand sir!" After he left Jenny said, "What did you say Alyse?" "I said nothing, but if Demelza could sit with them for breakfast so should we. I thought you told us that you and Jim ate with them," stated Alyse? Mary was furious, "I told you Alyse that we would eat in the kitchen as servants do, and we will eat at home for dinner!" Jenny retorted "Demelza is a good Mistress, we heard Master Joshua say that Mister Ross is courting her, so know your place, Alyse!" Mary told her daughters to mind what Jenny told them and to start on the daily chores. Once Anne had dusted all the furniture in the house, Jenny told her to get the clothes off the line and iron them. Alyse had swept and was now scrubbing the house. Jenny was working to get Dinner started, while Mary worked on getting lunch.
Ross and Demelza arrived in town, while helping Demelza off her horse, Ross heard a voice he was very familiar with, Margarethe Vospar. "Captain Poldark" she called "its nice to see you during daylight hours how are you 'My Lord'?" Demelza saw Ross's cheeks blush, she didn't have to think to hard what their dealings were. She had heard of ladies like her from people in Illugon. Ross said, "Mistress Vospar, may I introduce my intended Demelza Carne, Demelza an old acquaintance Mistress Vosper." "Not that old wasn't it February you sought my company; Margarethe chuckled? Isn't Demelza the name of the miner's daughter from Illugon, if I knew you were looking for a wife I would have accepted, it would not have been such a drastic social jump." Ross countered, "I wasn't looking but I found and no Margarethe you would not have satisfied me." Margarethe refuted, "never had a problem satisfying you before!" Seeing this conversation was making Demelza uncomfortable Ross took Demelza by the hand, "Excuse us we have shopping to be done." They walked away from the courtesan. Ross saw Demelza's woeful smile and told her "I went to her one night after Francis and Elizabeth's child was born. I have not been there since." Demelza shrugged and kept on walking. He dropped Demelza at the mercantile first, she picked up some more seeds and asked about peach trees. She picked up some more floor, sugar, salt. Once she was done there, she went another shop where she could pick up cheap material to make wash rags, towels and bath blankets, she picked up shirts for all the men and boys since they weren't of great quality but would suffice for work, she purchased a couple extra for Ross since he was the hardest on his shirts. She was leaving the shop when she saw Ross, he was speaking to Elizabeth, they were standing very close in a serious conversation. Demelza walked over to them thinking Ross would acknowledge her, he didn't in fact when Elizabeth said, "excuse us this is a private conversation" Ross said nothing. She turned and said "Ross if you could get the flour, sugar and salt from the mercantile I would appreciate it" he still said nothing to her. She bypassed the fabric shop went to the stables, mounted Molly and went to the Mercantile. The owner helped her put the sacks on her horse. She didn't see Ross and told the shops owner if Ross Poldark came in to tell him she picked the items up on her horse. The shop owner said he would make note and she started her journey back to Nampara.
Ross had taken Elizabeth to a tearoom to speak, she was telling Ross of all of Francis's short comings. He listened, interjecting when he could. When Elizabeth found out he was going to the dress makers she went with him. Ross thought it was nice that he and Elizabeth was having a congenial talk. They walk into the shop and Ross asked if Ms. Carne was still there. The dressmaker replied, "I don't believe she has been in!" Ross told her, "She had red hair, slim?" the dressmaker said, "sorry sir she hasn't been here." Elizabeth stated, "don't fret Ross she is a miner's daughter she can handle herself." Ross thought about where she could have gone, he and Elizabeth walked around town. Finally, they came to the stable, Ross checked to see if Molly was still there. When she wasn't he thought she would not travel back to Nampara by herself would she? He told Elizabeth he had to go, and she tried to stop him, but he needed to catch up to Demelza why would she have left? He went to the mercantile to pick up the items Demelza asked for, where the store clerk informed him, that Ms. Carne already had it placed on her horse a few hours before. Ross was sick a few hours, how long had he been with Elizabeth, how long had he left Demelza on her own. He spurred Darkie on hoping her could catch Demelza.
Demelza arrived at Nampara, she did not see any farm hands to help unload her purchases. She took the shirts up to her room then changed her clothes. Going through the kitchen all the house servants were there. Jenny asks where Ross was, Demelza waved her off. She went outside bringing in the sugar, then flour and the salt since they were twenty-five-pound bags she did it one at a time. Putting her purchases in the lauder she asked if everything was done. Anne said yes and she pressed all the clothes, Demelza said to place Master Joshua's in her room, she would have asked for Ross's to, but she be damned if she made sure he looked his best for Elizabeth. She told Jenny she was going for a walk but instead decided to work in the garden planting the seeds and bulbs she picked up today. She ordered 10 peach trees which would be delivered in two days to be planted on one end of the orchid. Ross got home and went in to find Demelza, Jenny said she came home brought goods in and went for a walk. Ross thought she went to the beach where he had saw her sing. He walked the beach looking for her. It was dinner by the time he got home and noticed everything was ready, he went to wash ad saw that Demelza was helping get the meal ready. He went to her and said, "may we talk?" She turned "you ignored me in town and now you want to talk in private, I think not." Ross thought, when did I ignored her, he went to say more but Jenny got in his way? They were all sitting around the table, and it didn't go unnoticed that Demelza wasn't eating, Joshua asked, "my dear what fabric did you purchase today?" I didn't go to the shop to get it. I went to the mercantile and purchased the flour, sugar, and salt. Then I went and got some material to make some towels, bathe sheets and purchased some low-cost shirts for you all to wear while working to save your better shirts. After that I was tired, thinking since I could shop and walk the town by myself, I could go back whenever it is convenient for me." Joshua looked at Ross. "What do you mean by yourself, wasn't Ross with you?" Demelza said "he was otherwise engaged." Ross went to say something, Demelza placed her napkin on the table and said, "excuse me I am really tired." Jenny was refilling drinks and she stated, "no wonder carrying those sacks in yourself. Joshua was seeing red, "what do you mean where was the farm hands, where were you, Ross?" Jenny followed Demelza out of the room. Joshua repeated, "Ross where was the farm hands why did she carry the sacks?" Ross sighed, "When I went to the dress shop and was told she wasn't there we looked for her. I found out she left two hours before to come home. I spent the rest of my day looking for her." Joshua looked puzzled "you said we, who were you with?" Ross turned his head, "Elizabeth". Joshua threw his napkin on the table "consider my permission denied!"
Ross for the life of him didn't understand what he had done wrong, but it was clear the household except for Alyse was on Demelza's side!
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.
