She can't take her eyes off them. Demelza has engulfed Ross in her arms, squeezing tight. Elizabeth imagines how it must feel, having him in her arms, solid and very much alive, after having been so close to losing him. Her whole being longs for that feeling. Longs to be that woman, holding him in her arms. She could have been.

The familiar sharp pang of bitter regret stabs her at the memory of the moment she chose Francis, moved by his promise of unlasting devotion, and afraid of going against her family. What's left of Francis's promises now ? All what she have now was a tepid, solitary life, a life that would have been empty if not for her son. He meant everything to her.

She's had several years to reflect upon her decision, to justify it. She knows that if Ross had not tried to fight for her, it was out of pride. Because he hadn't the financial means of giving her the life she was used to. And indeed, would she have toiled in the house and the fields, like Demelza ? She knows she couldn't have led that kind of life without resenting him in the end.

Besides, deep down, she knows that Ross and her were not fit for each other.

He's wild, passsionate, generous to the point of living almost like a peasant to keep his tenants properly fed. She's collected and never forgets her own interest. He despises and rejects all the social conventions and rules of his class. She has been raised mainly to remain always the proper lady. He's indomitable, as his speech to his jury has just shown once more. She's never admired him so much. But that very speech has shown again how reckless he is, to the point of lacking of the most elementary sense of self-preservation sometimes. Whereas she's cautious to the point of marying the man who seemed to have the better prospects instead of the one she loved. Cautious, even, to the point of composing with the unveiled interest of the man who has bankrupted her family.

No, she has repeated herself times and times. Ross and her would never have been happy together. She would have resented him for their poverty, for their neighbourg's dispapproval of his behaviour. She would have disappointed him so much that nothing would have been left of his admiration, his devotion to her.

Maybe it was mostly because of that, because she knew she wouldn't be able to live up to his idea of her, that she had let the family marry her to Francis.

Demelza was a much better wife for him. Demelza, with her own indomitable spirit, her unconventional way of thinking and her open heart to all living creatures that had helped her in her brutal social climbing, as well as the strongest self-confidence would have. With her own reckless streak, too, that was so well matched with Ross's. In Demelza's place, would Elizabeth have gone to take care of a whole sick family, at the risk to bring the disease to her own child ? She knew she would have thought immediately of the risks, but apparently Demelza hadn't, or hadn't taken them into account. So yes, in many ways, she was a much better wife for Ross.

But none of these bitter truths matters, as she watches Ross bury his face in the crook of Delmelza's neck, so deeply that only his shiny balck curls remain visible. At that moment, she'd want so much, so much to have earned the right to be in her place. At that moment, she'd want so much to be her.

This story is inspired by the TV show only. I didn't read the books. These are the thoughts that could have been in Elizabeth's head, IMO, considering her expression. Please leave a review, to let me know if you think I'm right, or what is your opinion of Elizabeth's character. I think that because of the restrained way Heida Reed is playing her part, it is open to many different interpretations.