I thought he died in the war. The man I fell in love with was a soldier of the enemy. Captain Ross Poldark.
We met during the war, I was trying to run. I knew that I was in great danger, but Ross kept me safe. I refused to talk to any of his men...
I went to the back to wait with Angelica for the verdict. I didn't dare look back at Ross even though I could feel his gaze burning into the back of my head.
"Go talk to him." Angelica insists.
"I just need to know the verdict. My nerves can't take talking to him at the moment." I argue.
After about an hour of waiting, we finally got our verdict. Ross Poldark was found not guilty.
I felt like I could breathe again. I was about to go greet Ross when I see a woman embrace him. I faltered and felt my heart drop as the woman kissed Ross. As they pulled away, Ross glanced my way. The woman turned around to look at whatever Ross was looking at. Next thing I know, she is dragging Ross toward me.
I was taken back by the similarities between this woman and I. Both of us had very fair skin, light blue eyes, and ginger hair.
I would have fled if Angelica hadn't held me to stand my ground.
"Miss Washington, I can't thank you enough for what you've done for my husband." the woman says once she and Ross are standing right in front of me.
"Husband? I wasn't aware that Ross had gotten married. You are a very lucky woman indeed." I say politely, trying to hide my pain.
"Oh Miss, you are too kind. My name is Demelza." the woman says, her face genuinely pleased to be talking with me.
"Just happy I could help." I reply.
As Demelza continues to talk to me, I avoid Ross's gaze. I knew that if I were to look at him, I'd break and start crying.
I was taken back when Demelza offered me to join them at their home for tea. She was so persistent I couldn't say no to her.
***************************
I felt very out of place in Ross's home. I sat at their table as Demelza talked to me as we waited for the tea to be ready. Ross sat across the room in a chair by the fireplace. He was quiet and had been watching the two of us.
I didn't know what to do. The man whom I was in love with, who I thought was dead, was alive. But he was now married to a woman who looked a great deal like me. I didn't know what to think of it. There were things he needed to know, things I had to tell him. But with his wife there, I couldn't. Not without revealing the true relationship Ross and I had had.
Somehow, the topic of family came up.
"Well, my father was brothers with my uncle George. Both of my parents died when I was young and my uncle and his wife took me in. He's always treated me like a daughter." I tell Demelza.
"And you never found someone you've wanted to marry?" she asks.
I blush and look down at my hands.
"There was one man. But it never worked out. I was told he died at the end of the war." I answer quietly.
"Oh I'm so sorry. Loosing someone you love to death is heart-wrenching. Ross and I lost a child." she says.
I must have forgotten in some part of my brain that Ross was there, he had been so quiet this whole time.
"Yes, loosing a child is like loosing a part of your heart. You never really are the same afterward." I mutter.
"You had a child?" Ross asks startled.
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I slowly look up at him.
"I- I lost it before- she died before I could give birth to her. Very view people even knew I was pregnant." I say, desperately trying to keep my voice even.
"And the father?" Ross asks, his breathing ragged.
"The one I lost in the war." I reply quietly.
"Excuse me, I need some air." Ross says before storming out.
