Everything There is a Reason

Forgive or Not to Forgive

Demelza was in the kitchen making the cake she had promised her children. Ross sat at the table pretending to read a book but was enjoying his family laughing and enjoying each other. Demelza was starting to get tired but she kept going for her children. She was still occupying Joshua's room and she kept Ross at a distance. It didn't escape her notice that Ross seemed to be wherever she was. If she was in the barn he was there helping along with the children. If she was cleaning, she was in the room where she was. If she was in the kitchen, he sat at the table talking to her and the children. Although she would not entertain his conversations about their marriage. She had told him numerous times their marriage was over. Something Ross would not accept. After getting the cake done, she wanted to sit but realized she had much to do. Purdie hadn't been seen this morning and Jenny was home with her children. She started out the back door. Going to get the clothes off the line.

She had just taken one of Ross's shirts off of the line when Hugh Armitage came around the corner. He walked up close to Demelza. Demelza raising from the basket she just placed Ross's shirt in faltered and was falling when Hugh caught her. Jeremy and Clowance were on their way out to tell Demelza they thought the cake may be done. Ross saw red, the young pup had his hands on his wife. He said, "by God get your hands off my wife." Hugh picked her up, she had regained her equilibrium but still felt weak. Hugh said, "your wife nearly fainted, if I did not catch her, she would have fallen. Ross went to take her and Demelza put her hands around Hugh's neck saying, "Please Hugh if you could take me to the pump, I believe I need a drink." Hugh realized that Demelza did not want Ross to take her off him, he went to the pump. Looking at Jeremy he said, "son could you go and get your to mother a cup." Jeremy nodded and ran inside. Clowance came up to Demelza and put her hand on her face. "Momma alright."

Demelza said, "Momma's fine I am just not used to being the only servant." Hugh looked up sharply, "what is this servant," then looking at Ross he said, "Mr. Poldark it is not enough you humiliate your wife with the trash of Twenwith but you now have her acting as a servant." Ross said, "I do not answer to you, Demelza you need to stop this foolishness you are not a servant; you are my wife." Demelza shook her head, "I have told you and told you I am nothing more than a servant, you have made me so. I am no longer your wife." Ross drew in a long breath then looked at Hugh, "well what do you want." Hugh smiled at Jeremy who had just brought the cup out for Demelza. She said, "thank you, my lover." After Demelza had a drink, Hugh told her, "after bringing her home from London I decided to check on her. She was much distressed by her findings there." If she is no longer your wife and a servant then I would certainly ask that I be allowed to court you Demelza. Demelza was going to explain that she had no time when Ross roared, "you cannot go on to another man's private estate and ask his wife to court you." Hugh looked at him, "through her own words she doesn't consider herself married to You. I would like to court you, my lady. You can't work twelve hours a day even if you do, if you sleep eight hours that still gives you four hours that you and I can get to know one another. Ross was growing angrier ad angrier. Demelza said, "those four hours I spend with my children and I don want to give that up. Working I don't get the quality of spending time with them. Although I at least get four hours now before I had to hand them to someone else because along with my chores, I had the mine and farm to do. I did not have the luxury of ignoring or forgetting my responsibilities." Ross paled.

Hugh help Demelza takes the rest of the clothes off the line. He carried the basket into the house. Ross was watching from the barn where Jeremy and Clowance were teasing the little pigs. Going into the kitchen she took the cake out to cool before she could frost it. She stirred the stew she was making for supper. She talked to Hugh about what was happening around Cornwall and what was going on in London. They talked until it was time for her to set the table for supper. She placed the dining table for Ross and the children. She set her place in the kitchen, she asked Hugh if he wanted to stay for dinner. Seeing her discomfort, he declined but asked if he could come and see her sometime again. Demelza said, "Hugh I don't want to give you false hope I love Ross, always have, and always will. I may not be sharing a marriage bed with him but I could never betray my children or my feelings. I am sorry." Hugh sighed, "I understand I wish I had a woman that loved me as you love him. He doesn't deserve your loyalty." Demelza smiled, "maybe not but he has it." She stood and watched him leave. She waved as his carriage drove away.