True Love

Wedding Eve

Demelza woke up the next morning thinking about how attentive Ross was, then she remembered how Ross and Elizabeth had embraced and kissed when she went to bed. She washed and fixed her hair and went down to the kitchen. Looking at the house she figured she would be busy putting it right. Going into the kitchen she finds Ross, Joshua and all her brothers except Luke. "Sam," Demelza inquired, "have you heard any Sam?" "Sam saw the sadness in his sister's eyes and new it was because Luke was not there, they were so close growing up closer than any of them. When his father started hitting Melza and his mother couldn't protect her, Luke started stepping in. He answered his sister, "I haven't heard from him, but I think I may head to Illugon soon and see him. Demelza, you know the whole time that you were gone he missed you everyday he would look out the window and say morning Mel. He loves you too." Joshua and Ross sat and listened to the siblings speaking, they could see the grief in her eyes, Ross said I have some things to take care of today Sam could you go with me. Sam said I have a shift in the mine, Joshua said good thing you know the owner then, go with Ross." Looking at his son he thought he knew what he was going to do. And he was right!
After breakfast Ross asked Demelza to accompany him for a walk. Demelza wanted to tell him she made the decision about marrying him. They were quiet for the until the hit the cliffs. Demelza said, "I saw you last night after I went to upstairs. I came out of the water closet and there you were with Elizabeth kissing her." Ross went to speak, "she held up her hand and said I am not done. I said yes last night because of your pretty words. After seeing that I will not marry you. I can accept a man that will never love me but not infidelity I can not accept that." Ross said, "may I speak now?" Demelza nodded. Ross continued. "Last night what you saw was Elizabeth maneuvering the scene to make it look like I kissed her and put my arms around her. She placed my hand on her waist. She kissed me, my father from his position saw it all. Believe me, marriage to me is sacred, I have no intention of betraying our vows." He stopped and turned Demelza toward himself. Taking her hands, he said "believe me love, when we marry, you will be the center of my world." He drew her nearer and kissed her tenderly then smoothing her behind her cheek he kissed her more passionately. At first Demelza resisted and then she returned his heat with her own. After several minutes he took her hand and said, "tomorrow is your birthday, we need to marry as soon as possible, because your father my be granted bail. I've been told that he intends to give you to Tom Harry as bail payment. So, I think it best we marry tomorrow. "Demelza didn't know how to respond why would they grant him bail, "what about my brothers?" Ross said, "I don't understand?" Will he try to take them I can't let them go back to living that way!" Ross pulled in close telling her "I will talk to Mat Pierce!" Demelza knew he would do everything possible to protect her brothers nodding she said. "Okay." Ross said, "then we marry tomorrow!" They walked band to Nampara hand in hand.
When they returned, Joshua asked Demelza, "I take it Ross explained what I saw with Elizabeth? I would like to impart some wisdom to you that I imparted to him. I can see some people such as Elizabeth and Alyse causing issues in you relations, what you and Ross must do is believe in each other and talk before you act. If you would have talked before you ran off that day with Alyse, you would not be in the position of hurrying your wedding because Tom Harry would not be involved. Although I think, Ross wants to make, you're his bride as soon as possible because he wants to be with you!"  Ross said, "absolutely I can not wait to make you the true Mistress of Nampara. I must see to issues, you my love need to decide what you want to get married in. Father, we need to wait until tomorrow to ask people to attend the wedding, less time for them to get her father out of prison." Joshua nodded, Ross. Should I call Jim, John, Bobby in to help right the furniture?" Demelza said, I can help and if Anne sweeps, Mary dust, and I scrub! Joshua frowned, "Demelza you are Mistress!" Demelza frowned right back a Jenny's time is coming fast, where does it say a Mistress cannot help?" Joshua sighed, then Jenny spoke up, "I can dust and maybe Mam and you can scrub together?" Mary said, "that is a wonderful idea, sur how many are we looking for lunch tomorrow?" Joshua said, "mostly Ross's friends, Poldark family and Carne family." "Demelza, have you made any friends you would like to come?" She said, "only the ones you have mentioned." Joshua said, "lets count on fifty we'll cook two geese, a couple of lamb roast, have tarts and potatoes, and a couple of dishes that you think should be made for weddings, maybe ask Mrs. Zackey.  Demelza, do you have a frock you would like to wear if not I have a green silk day gown that was Graces, it may have to altered but that can be done in no time," Joshua questioned. Demelza said "may I see it?" Joshua went to the library and came back with the gown, Demelza asked Joshua if he was sure she could wear it?" Joshua responded, "My dear she would be thrilled to have you wear it!"
Demelza got the boys ready for bed after Bobby recalled to them stories from his life in Falmouth. His apprenticeship in ship building and living with the widow and her children. He genuinely enjoyed living and working away from their father. He told them of Mr. Blewit and the money he was making. Bobby's tales enthralled Drake. James and Bobby told each other about how life has been treating them since they've been separated. They were close both in age and where they fit in the family. Sometimes Demelza felt sorry for them because they forgotten in all the turmoil. Although she did remember the time that Luke and Sam tried to stop their father and those James took Willie and Drake out and Bobby joined their brothers. It was the first time they stopped their father and when her father turned deadlier and waited for the older boys to be out. Demelza thought about Bobby she knew in her heart this brother was going to be alright, it was another thing that they had to be thankful to Mister Joshua for. She put the boys to bed. She went to the water closet and drew herself a bath. She was going down to get Jenny to wash and comb out her hair when she heard her bothers laughing and talking in their room, smiling to herself it was such a pleasant sound and one she didn't hear before.  Going downstairs she met Jim. He was in a state, he told her it was Jenny's time. She told Jim to go get the surgeon then get Jenny's mother.  She yelled up the stairs, brining Bobby to the landing. Bobby takes the water off the heat in the water closet Please! Bobby said, "what's amiss?" Demelza replied, "its Jenny's time!" Demelza went into Jenny, "I don't know what to do I don't know anything about birthing babies or even how their made." Jenny giggled, "you will soon enough you be getting married today, yelled in pain as another contraction hit. Demelza did what she could to make Jenny comfortable holding her hand talking to keep her mind off what was happening. Dwight arrived and had Demelza get the fire burning hotter than bring me clean sheets older ones will make them the birthing sheets. Coming down the stairs Joshua came in, "what are you doing up?" Demelza continued to Jenny's room and yelled "it's Jenny's time, Dwight is with her!" She stayed with Dwight helping where she could. Dwight handed the little one to Demelza to clean, she was drying the baby when Mrs. Zacky came in and hurried to her daughter, "why didn't you tell me sooner." Jenny retorted; I didn't want to make you worry you." Mrs. Zacky said, "well how did that work for you?" She went over to Demelza and took the dressed babe from her taking it to Jenny. "Demelza," she said, "can you get Jim and let the others waiting know she had a fine strong girl?" Demelza went to the parlor, going in she saw Zacky, Bobby, Joshua, Ross, and Jim, "Jim you can go into Jenny your babe is here!" He left almost running to their quarters. Zacky spoke then, "how is Jenny and babe doing?" Demelza smiled, Ross's heart jumped in his throat, he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and she would be his wife tomorrow Ross heard Demelza say, "you have a fine granddaughter her and her mother is doing fine!" Dwight walked in he went to Demelza, "thank you, your help made it so much easier on her you have a career of being a midwife." Ross walked up to them he put his arm around her waist and said, "as of tomorrow she will be having a career of Mistress Ross Venor Poldark." Dwight gasped, "she is only sixteen?" "Old man Harry is trying to broker a deal for her hand through her father we are trying to circumvent that," Ross told him. Demelza's heart sank is that the reason he his marrying he, even after his pretty words spoken earlier that morning, she still had doubts. Looking at Ross she said, "can't I do both learn midwifing and your wife?" Ross said, "as you wish," it seems not only did she have Joshua wrapped around his little finger as well, "it is time for you to be in bed you have a long day tomorrow." She bid the gentleman gathered goodnight and went to bed, her bath forgotten. Tomorrow would be her wedding day to a man, that she knew wanted her body she could see the lust in his eyes, but did she really have his heart. She knew he had hers embedded so far that she knew she would never love another. She fell asleep with those thoughts.
Ross and Dwight watched her go up the stairs and into her room. Dwight finally spoke, "I understand why the hurry Ross, but don't break her heart. I seen you with Elizabeth time and again. If you had to choose between Elizabeth and her, who would you choose, if it isn't her than don't marry her?" Ross said, "I would choose her, she is everything that Elizabeth is not!" "Then let her know Ross, make her believe it, make us all believe it!" Dwight said before he walked away. Ross watched him walk away and Joshua spoke up, you have a wise friend. I remember what I said, "talk to your wife let her know your feelings let her feely your love for her. Demelza has had a hard life, a life that kept her from trusting men. She is envious of Elizabeth; she thinks she can't compare with her in beauty in her society. "But she is more beautiful and more gracious than the Elizabeth could ever be," Ross told his father. "Well then, his father said then tell her show her until she believes it. Never give her reason to doubt it!" Joshua slapped Ross on the back and said goodnight and they retired for the night. Ross laid in bed for hours thinking what his father and Dwight said. Did he really give everyone the impression thought Elizabeth was so much better than Demelza? He did feel that Demelza was less beautiful, NO Demelza was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Elizabeth did have more social grace then Demelza, but he never cared for social grace besides Demelza had graciousness, love of good people and she loved them back, and a heart that never stopped loving those around her. "Please God let me love her the way she needs! Mother, Aunt Demelza please help me if I start to fail her.