True Love

The Wedding

Demelza woke up, today was her wedding day but did she really have Ross's love, she knew he lusted after her, but would that be enough? He said he loved her; she knew she loved him. Oh well she really did not have a choice if it came to Ross or ole man Harry, Ross won easily she thought with a shiver. She heard a knock on her door, pulling her blankets up, she said "enter." Anne enters with a tray then said, "Momma said, "you need to wake up and get dress for your wedding! Here is your break your fast and I will get the tub ready for you, while you eat. I will also wash your hair if that is okay. Momma said she will fix it. We will help you get dress. You will be the most beautiful woman Master Ross has ever seen, he will only look at you! Not that he does not do that now," she put her head down. Demelza said, "thank you Anne how is Jenny and little Benji?" Anne perked up and smiled, "they are doing fine, I hear thanks to you, I hope someday you and I can be friends like you and Jenny?" Demelza laughed, "Anne, I consider you my friend now, you are a sweet understanding woman, you are close my age. I feel like Jenny is an older sister, I can consider you my younger one, how would that be?" Anne smile, "I would greatly like that Mistress!" Then you must call me, "Demelza like Jenny." Anne said, "if you don't mind, I prefer Mistress?" Demelza said, "but it feels like you think I am better than you and I am not!" Anne said, "No, it be not that, it will be better, so I do not slip and call you the wrong name in front of guest. I love working here." Demelza said, "you may dear my friend, can call me whatever you like, I am glad to have you as my friend. I expect you and your family to attend the ceremony?" "Yes, Mistress we already have our church clothes ready."

Demelza finished eating what she could, her stomach was too nervous to eat, Anne was fixing things in the water closet when she went in. She took her robe and night rail off, placing her foot in the tube she noticed it was a little too hot, she asked, "Anne could you please add a little cold water it be a mite to hot!" Anne bowed her head in shame and said, "sorry Mistress." Demelza felt bad she did not think she was scolding her, "Anne, there is nothing to be sorry for, would you rather I not say anything and suffer or let you know when I am uncomfortable?" Anne looked at her, "you must always tell me Mistress." Demelza said, "As you should tell me, yes!" Anne smiled and nodded. She could not understand why Alyse had hated her, she was kind and generous. Alyse was always jealous she was even jealous of her. She should have told her mother the night Alyse tried to have her give herself to that man, she ran got away just in time. Alyse came home that night furious, and she had a black eye and bruises, how mother did not notice she did not know!

Demelza was ready for Anne to wash her hair, Anne made sure the water to rinse was hair was not to hot or cold. She used the lemon wash it smelled so good, while she was washing her hair. Demelza said, "any time you would like to bathe in the tub you are free to do so, Joshua assured me there is adequate water. Jenny use to jump in when I finished all the time, because I hate wasting the water when it is not even dirty. You can use the downstairs closet also. You could use which ever you desire. Feel free to use my wash if you like I have lemon and strawberry, Ross I think prefers the lemon. It does not matter to me." Anne laughed, "are you saying I stink?" Demelza blushed, "Oh JUDAS, not at all! I just thought you may enjoy it." Anne laughed harder, "I was just joking Mistress, thank you." She said as she spoke through the giggles, Demelza was now giggling too. Demelza told Anne, "My hair is more manageable when it is wet, that is why I always ask someone to comb it." Anne said, "would you like me to comb it now or when you get out. Demelza said, "if you want you could do it now, then I can try to relax a little I am so nervous!" "Why are you nervous, you are marrying a man that loves you?" Demelza said, "that is just it does he, or is he doing it out of responsibility to his mother?" Anne and Demelza are having their own thoughts as Demelza washes and Anne combs her hair.

The Anne speaks, "I do not think he is doing it as a responsibility he loves you, I can tell he watches you constantly. He questions where you are when not in sight. It is like he is afraid to lose you." Demelza said, "I have never noticed him doing any of those things." "It is the same for you." Anne states, "I know you love him too; you worry about him, you think about him all the time, I see the dreamy look in your eyes. It is just like Jim and Jenny; I can tell they love each other very much." Demelza said, "you are very perceptive most people don't delve in other actions or try to figure out their emotions it seems you are an emotional empath."  Anne tells her "I do not know what that means?" "In old times it they say that humans born with spiritual strengths connected to the angels and fairy's, they can help resolve conflicts, they can sort out when a person is lying or be tellin the truth. I believe, I also have these traits. Do you have the knowledge of plants, I was a nature healer, because I can figure out the right plants to heal people, they are also empaths?" I would be a good person if married to the right person, because I can help guide them on the right path also, I would be a good mother because I want to nurture beings whether it be animals or may own children. So, I am an empath to." Anne thought for a minute, "do you mean like a witch" "No," Demelza giggles, "it is a gift from God himself, to help his children here on earth. It is a good thing, but I guess, there are people would consider it evil that is why it. It is a taboo now, not talked about much. You are the first person I have ever told. I am wary of telling people because they would believe me to be a witch, which, I am not nor are you!" They both burst into laughter, Mary heard them laughing and thought this is the kind of person Anne needs in her life, Alyse had already brought so much negativity. She knocked and went in smiling as the girls were still giggling, she said, "be you ready to dress?" Demelza said. "Yes, Anne do you have your clothes, you know what we are about the same size, why not pick a dress from my clothes and wear today, your mom can fix my hair, you can dress." Mary said, "that is very kind of you but are you sure the master won't find a common maid wearin your clothes?" Demelza giggled, "what was I, but a miner's brat when I came here. They are my clothes, and I am offering, please allow her to do this for me Mary?" Mary looked at Anne's and Demelza's beseeching eyes and nodded. The girls clapped, Demelza told Anne to pick one, she picked the one that was simple but pretty, she showed it to Demelza and her mother they both thought it would be perfect, she went to the water closet for her first tub bath. The water looked so dirty when she got out,  Anne was embarrassed wondering how she went so long with out a proper bath. She got out dress in Demelza's pantaloons and petticoat and went into Demelza's room. Demelza and Mary could not believe how pretty Mary was in the dress and Demelza told her she must keep it. After Demelza had everything but her hair done she told Mary to do Annes hair but first, Sam and Bobby needed to make sure her brothers were ready to go. Mary came back in and started on Demelza's hair she asked if she wanted to wear it down pulled back and intertwined with pearls and ribbon or if she wanted it in a high with a drop curl." Demelza said do you know how to braid it. I would like it to be like a crown flowing town the back intertwined with pearls." Marry point to the dressing table and Anne brought a box over that held a diamond tiara in. Demelza gasps. Mary said, "from Master Joshua to his daughter" Demelza started to cry, Mary patted her back and said, "let see what if we pull it back then form curls running down your back your hair is spectacular." Then Anne brought another gift over, "this is from Master Ross," When Demelza opened it, she saw the emerald necklace that matched the bracelet and her ring on the note it said to my wife, with the eyes that these emeralds cannot compare. Now Demelza was full on sobbing they put the necklace and bracelet on she already was wearing the ring. Then while Demelza calmed down Mary fixed Anne's hair. The last thing they needed to do was fix Demelza paint. She told them she did not want it heavy just a little rouge to make her cheeks pick and maybe some coal to highlight her eyes, then some a little lip color. Mary went down to clean and change to go to the church. There was a knock at her door and Joshua came in, Demelza went to him giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "How can I ever thank you Uncle?" Joshua said, "Do you think you could call me Father?" Anne jumped in and said, "don't make her cry her paint will smear!" Both Joshua chuckled and Demelza giggled. Demelza and whispered in her ear, "see empath!" They both started to giggle, Demelza turned to Joshua and said, "Well Father, how do I look?" Joshua smiled a smile that could light up the night he said, "my beautiful daughter, I thank the day your mother brought you to me, you look beautiful, my son is a lucky man! Now before you start to ruin your paint as Anne calls it, the coach should be returning soon, Mary, Jenny, Anne, you, and I will ride in it on our way to the church. The rest are already there. Demelza thought I wish Luke were able to be here. She went downstairs she had a pair of flat shoes, not heals because she did not like walking in them. Joshua looked at Anne and said, "Anne, I don't think I told you how beautiful you are!" Anne blushed, Mary came out and they all went outside just as the coach approached. Joshua helped the women get into the carriage, taking extra care with Jenny, Mary held her grandson while Jenny got in. When they got to the church, Demelza and Joshua was surprised to see how full it was for a secret wedding. Nothing in Cornwall is a secret for long.  Joshua wondered how he kept his good fortune hidden so long and the renovations to. Now matter now it was all out in the open and his son was marrying a wonderful girl.

Walking into the Swale church was like entering a magical garden. There were flowers on every pew and decorating the alter were candles that every corner even in the balcony, it was mystical look to it. In the front pew on the Grooms side there was Uncle Charles. He sat glaring at Joshua, Aunt Agatha, Francis, with Elizabeth beside him. Andrew Blamey sat behind the boys. Behind them was Ruth who glared at Demelza. Joshua told her "My dear not to pay any attention to the first to rows on the left because they were jealous nobody's."  Verity came up beside her and kissed her cheek. She said, "my dear you look beautiful!" Joshua said, "did you decorate?" she responded, "me and about all the families from Mellon."  She pointed to the people that Demelza had made friends with. Demelza realized her side was as full as Ross's Demelza beamed at them all. Jenny whispered in her ear, "Demelza I would have loved to stand with you today, but I just can't."  Demelza whispered back, "I understand, I will ask Anne!" Jenny, Mary, and Anne went to sit with Jim. Demelza grabbed Anne's arm and said, "will you take Jenny's place?" Jenny smiled at her and nodded. Demelza said, "you just stand up in front of the pew on the right and wait for Verity she will show you what to do." Ross was standing at the front with Dwight when the music started. Demelza and Joshua hidden by the inside door waited for the wedding march to begin. Anne walked down the aisle first, Ruth made a disparaging noise. Ross glared at her, then Verity went down they were both carrying smaller bouquets in the same fashion of Demelza's, Ross ordered them when he was in town. They had Cornwall flowers as well as some yellow roses in the maids, and white in Demelza's. Then the wedding March came on, Ross could not believe his eyes, Demelza was beautiful, not just beautiful but gorgeous. Never had he before and he knew never again, see such a beauty. Demelza only had eyes for Ross he was the handsomest man she had ever seen, tall, broad shoulders, muscled arms. Demelza knew very well what laid under that shirt, vest, and waistcoat. She could not believe this was going to be her husband. Elizabeth and Ruth frowned when they saw Ross's face, Elizabeth thought I am losing him to the imp. Ruth thought how he can choose her over me! When they reached the front of the church, and Reverend ask who giveth this woman, Joshua stepped up and said I do, Charles coughed and snickered, then from the side of the alter a door opened and out stepped Demelza's bother Luke he said, "Me as her eldest brother!" All the boys said, Aye and clapped, then Luke looked at Ross and said "ee best be treatin her right!" Demelza was on the verge of tears until she heard that, and she started to giggle, that be my brother Luke my protector she thought.