Hey Guys! Here is chapter 2!
The day of the wedding finally arrived. I was changing in a separate room attached to the master bedroom. The dress I was wearing was a lavender color with short sleeves that laid a bit above my elbows. After tightening my corset and tying up my dress, I wrapped a pale pink ribbon around my upper stomach. I pulled hair from each side of my face pulling them to the back of my head and braiding it, pulling it over my shoulder I tied a small lace ribbon around the end. I opened the door to the master bedroom to see Ross standing in front of a mirror straightening his shirt collar. His hair was combed back and behind his ears. He had a nice white shirt on with a black over coat and long black pants with matching shoes.
"Here let me. I said and fixed it for him. He smiled at me lightly, "shall we go?" I nodded.
The wedding was elegant and pleasant. Afterwards we met at Ross's uncle's house for a celebration. Ross, Verity and I were walking from the church to Trenwith when a carriage came past us the drive ordering us to move to the side.
Elizabeth and Francis were dancing lost in each other's eyes. Ross and I stood next to each other talking, "I wish you could dance Ross." I said quietly.
"I thank an American musket for sparing me the ordeal." Ross said with a slight smirk on his face.
"Well..." I said holding his arm, "that excuse will not avail you when your wound has healed." He smiled down at me kissing my forehead softly. There was talk to the far left of us.
"Pitty they waste her on him." Said the lord Warleggan to his nephew: George, "these Poldarks have nothing beyond the name." I glanced at two.
"Mine on its knees and mortgaged to the hilt, Warleggan Bank may send in the bailiffs as and when it chooses." Lord Warleggan seemed to boast. Ross kept looking at him then looked down in sorrow.
"This is elegant talk for a wedding, Uncle!" George cut him off.
"Talk of profit is always elegant, George." His uncle responded. George cleared his throat then walked over to Ross and I. I looked up at him.
"Might I have this dance?" He asked me bowing his head lightly. I glanced at Ross, "if you mean to return her in one piece." He said.
"Of course." George smiled at me. Slowly I let go of Ross's arm and grabbed the arm of George. He led me out onto the floor as another dance started. As we started to dance I saw Ross walk into another.
"I hope he is not to upset that I took you away." He said.
"I'm sure he can cope." I said as we danced.
"I was sorry to hear of your parents." George said softly. I nodded.
"Who and I have something in common, both my parents are gone as well." He added.
"I'm afraid that is where are similarities end." I said as the song ended. George held me for a moment longer, "it doesn't have to end there." He whispered in my ear before letting me go. I walked out into the parlor with the other women. Ross came over to me after a few minutes, I could tell that he too had a talk with George. After the celebration was over towards the end of the night we left for Nampara. Back at home we laid in bed his arm around me as he stared up at the ceiling, my head lay on his chest feeling his heartbeat.
"What did George talk to you about?" He asked.
"He said he was sorry to hear of my parents." I told him quietly playing with the sleeve of my night-gown, "what did he want with you?" I asked, "I could tell you had been talking to him." Ross sighed, "friendship mostly."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"It could be, he wants to become something bigger than what he already is." Ross explained. I nodded slowly. We talked a bit more before falling off to sleep.
Early the next morning Ross was outside fixing a wooden trough as I fed the chickens with Prudie. I looked up as the sound of horse hooves came nearer, Uncle Henry was riding towards the farm, he got of bowing his head to me then continued over to Ross. Prudie, Jud and I walked inside. Prudie looked out the window at them as she washed dishes, "I wonder what they be the talking about." Prudie said.
"I couldn't tell you Prudie." Was my response from the table where I was sitting reading. Ross was gone for a bit more than an hour, when he came back he ordered Jud to get his father's pocketwatch and go with him to market. I was saddling up my horse when he joined me with his horse, "what did your uncle say?" I asked.
"He tried to bribe me with a trip to London, Oxford." He answered.
"Without me?" I asked glancing at him. He nodded keeping quiet.
"And?" I asked.
"I refused, I won't just leave you here, no matter the pressure from Conrad or from my uncle to return you to him." Ross said grabbing my hand gently.
"Thank you." I said quietly. We rode into town with Jud where Ross sold his father's pocketwatch and bought a cow. We walked around the market looking. Ross was wearing his hat and brown over-jacket with a white undershirt and gray vest. I was wearing a light blue simple dress and with my hair down. Jud followed us with the cow. Ross and I smiled as we walked past children laughing while watching a puppet show. My smile wavered as we walked near to a crowed of rugged looking men cheering, a dog mean looking dog was in the middle barking. Ross put his arm around me as we stood with them.
"He can't fight himself!" One man yelled. Just then another man came through holding a smaller golden yellow dog and sat him down in front of the other dog. The smaller dog started to whine. The men shouted happily. I looked at them all my stomach turning.
"HEY!" A boy shouted trying to break in the circle, "THAT'S MY DOG!" I looked at the boy as he struggled, "get away! Garrick!" The lad kept screaming. The men grabbed him and threw him to the other side.
"Ross..." I said to him quietly looking away as the boy got hit in the back. Ross patted my arm gently then rushed over to help the boy, who was on the ground groaning quietly.
"Enough!" Ross shouted stopping the man in charge as he walked over to the boy. I rushed over to the boy on the ground and started to talk to him quietly.
"You take my advice, you run." Ross said sternly pushing him back.
"Or else?" The man asked spitting at him. I looked up as Ross hit the man on the cheek with his cane. The crowed gasped. Ross knelt down next to me and the child.
"Did they hurt you child?" He asked.
"Don't you 'child' me mister!" Snapped the child shaking off my helping hand and glaring up at Ross. I looked at the face of a girl not a boy.
"I think we've provided enough sport for one day." Ross told the villagers that were still standing around. I helped the girl up. Ross gently pushed her toward the Red Lion pub and followed her putting an arm around me. We settled there and Ross bought for her food setting the plate before her, "does anyone know this child?" He asked. A man glanced at her, "that's Clyde Carnes daughter. She'll be in trouble if he catches her here, and in her brother's clothes." He finished and turned away. Ross walked up to the table, the girl moved away quickly.
"Easy girl, no one's going to rob you." Ross said putting a hand up, and gently putting a cup of water on the table near her the girl drunk the water quickly. The door to the pub opened and Elizabeth stepped in, I looked up at her and so did Ross, she stepped forward, "I came to see if the boy was..." She trailed off and looked at the girl.
"Oh." She said realizing the girl was a girl she looked back at Ross, "you were right to step in." she said.
"I'm glad you think so." Ross answered.
"I'm sure the child is grateful." Elizabeth spoke again.
"I doubt it." Ross said glancing at the ground. The door opened and Francis stepped in, "Elizabeth?" Elizabeth bowed her head slightly to me then left with her husband. Ross turned and started to walk over to the table, he looked at the girls back slightly, "they did hurt." The girl pulled her shirt tighter around herself, "not they."
"Then who?" Ross asked still standing. She mumbled something softly.
"What?" Ross asked.
"Father." She said plainly.
"He beats you?" I asked shocked.
"Most days." She said looking at me.
"Family?" Ross asked.
"Six brothers?" She answered.
"Do you love your father?" Ross asked another question, I glanced up at him.
"Bible says I must." She responded wiping her nose.
"What's your name?" I asked gently. The girl looked up at me and Ross, "melzacarne." She spoke quietly and with her mouthful, looking down at her plate.
"Speak up girl." Ross said.
"Demelza Carne." She loudly.
"Ross Poldark." Ross introduced himself and me, "this is Addison." Soft footsteps approached.
"Befriending the rabble, Ross?" George asked coming into view, "one would never guess you were a gentleman."
"It takes one to know one, i believe George." Ross said glancing away momentarily. George smiled at me kindly then walked away. I looked down at the table.
"Come." Ross said standing, "I'm taking you home to Illogan." he gestured to Demelza, who looked up at him timidly. Demelza rose timidly and walked towards the door, I stood and followed her out with Ross. Jud had gone home with the cow, we found our horses, Ross helped me up onto mine then got on his along with Demelza. As we made our way home Demelza started to sing.
"Illuggans that way." Ross said stopping his horse at a fork in the road. Demelza slid off the horse, "thank you, sir. Ma'am" She said to us both. Ross nodded and so did I. Demelza started to walk down the path to Illuggan.
"We're in need of a kitchen maid." I said before she got too far. The girl turned and looked at me, Ross glanced back at me as well.
"You'll get food, lodging, proper clothing." I continued, "we need someone strong, for the work his hard."
"How far?" She asked.
"Too far to run home." Ross said, "but perhaps you don't wish to come."
"There be Garrick, sir. Him and me be friends, and where I go, he goes." She explained a bit roughly. Ross looked ahead. I nodded to her smiling slightly. She smiled and walked back over climbing on the horse again, Ross and I galloped our horses the rest of the way home. Jud and Prudie met us at the front of the house.
"Who we have here?" Prudie asked.
"This is Demelza." Ross answered, "she's to help in the kitchen." Ross said dismounting his horse, then came over and helped me off.
"Picking up brats, will bring you no end of trouble." Jud said stepping forward to get the horses.
"See to the horses." Ross said holding my hand as we walked past them, inside.
"She be seething with crawlers." Prudie said.
"Not if i give her the same treatment I gave you." Ross answered.
"Tisnt right, 'tisnt fit, 'tisnt fair, 'tisnt proper." I heard Jud say. Ross took Demelza to a pump and started to soak her hair while washing it, "If you work for me, you must be clean, do you understand? No lice." I stood next to him with a towel.
"Yes sir." Demelza said uncomfortably.
"Ain't no vittles for her." Prudie said coming up to us.
"Find some." Ross said.
"We can scarce feed ourselves, how are we supposed to feed another?" She asked her tone unhappy.
"Leave that to me." Ross answered. Prudie scorned at him then walked away. Ross was in our bedroom when I walked in leaning on his desk with silver candle holders, and a compass on it. I went over quietly and put a hand on his back softly, he glanced at me.
"It's going to be alright, you know." I said.
"How?" He asked turning towards me, pulling me closer.
"Because," I began and looked up at him, "we have this land, hope, will, and each other."
"Thank goodness, I have someone like you." He said before kissing me softly. Ross put a hand around me as we walked towards the door and down the stairs. There was indistinct chatter from the kitchen, Ross removed his arm and walked a few steps over to the desk by the stair wall, "Prudie, when did this letter come?" He asked.
"Just now sir, from your Uncle Charles." She answered. Ross opened it slowly, inside were many thin pieces of paper: all worth ten pounds. Ross sighed, "he still wishes me to go to." Ross spoke softly. I grabbed his arm gently. The day slowly turned into night, and I retired to my chambers for a warm bath, I sat in the hot waters letting my body relax, there were soft footsteps in the room bedroom.
"Ross?" I called, a few seconds he looked in from the side of the door, "yes?" He asked. I shook my head, "nothing, just making sure it was you." Ross walked in and knelt down near the bath and kissed me softly, "It will always be me." He said pulling away. I smiled, "hand me that towel?" I asked gesturing to the tall on the table near the wall. Ross grabbed the towel and held it open for me. I stood up slowly and Ross wrapped the soft towel around me, kissing my shoulder lightly. I smiled pulling my hair to one side.
"Go, while I change." I said stepping out of the bath. He nodded kissing the top of my head before leaving. I changed into a soft white night gown, then proceeded to put my hair in a braid. I opened the door slowly, Ross had a fire going in the fireplace, he was in our bed sitting looking over the money his uncle gave him. I walked over to the right side and crawled into bed beside him, settling next to him I glanced at the papers.
"You know," I said glancing up at him, "we should be wed soon." He nodded, "how about next week sometime?" He asked.
I laughed, "I'm serious." He looked down at me, "so am I."
"Really?" I asked. He nodded, I leaned up and kissed him softly. He pulled back slowly turning setting the papers on his nightstand. He turned and laid down next to me, putting his arm around me. I snuggled into his side, slowly I fell asleep.
So that's the end of chapter 2! Hope you guys enjoyed it. I'll update again soon. And let me know in the comments if you guys have any ideas for future events! Thanks.
