It was morning, and Demelza, still exhausted from the previous night's events as well as all others at Nampara, remained abed. All except Ross. Ross rose slowly. He followed the short path to the room where Elizabeth lay asleep.
Ross saw Dwight remained asleep sitting up in a chair next to her bed. Ross drew closer to look upon Elizabeth. Her eyes were closed but her cheeks were tear-stained as if she slept fitfully, though she looked peaceful now. She was still quite pale.
Slowly, Elizabeth's eyes opened, frightened at first until Ross's face came in to focus.
"Ross," Elizabeth drew the covers higher and against her body shyly, "Why have you come here-to me? Demelza will be missing you." She spoke gently in a soft almost whispery tone.
"I wanted to see, that is, to know...you were on the mend-that you were calm and safe once more."
"Thank...you," Elizabeth blushed.
After this brief exchange, Dwight awoke.
"Forgive me, Ross, excuse me...I shall return in but a moment to check on you, Mistress Elizabeth."
Elizabeth bowed her head slightly in gratefulness to Dwight, and after he left the room, continued to speak.
"Well, in any case, Ross, I...have been meaning to speak with you concerning...for weeks now..."
"Do not exert yourself, Elizabeth. You must rest."
"Ross, I have received an offer of marriage." She blurt out though quietly. Her face looked slightly pained.
"Marriage," Ross repeated. "What? From whom?"
Elizabeth paused as if trying to gain the strength to speak.
"George Warleggan..." Elizabeth spoke slowly and closed her eyes as if bracing herself.
"GEORGe...WArleggan?" Ross seethed with anger soon to erupt.
"Ross, you must see that...after what's happened, I am in no position to refuse him."
"You would marry George Warleggan? My greatest enemy?" Ross tried to remain rational, but his heart raced.
"You do not love him. You cannot." Ross spoke in efforts of persuasion and reasoning.
"I do not have the luxury of marrying for love. Trenwith is in ruins. I am in ruins. I have nothing." Elizabeth replied.
"Elizabeth, don't condemn yourself to such a life. You must know he seeks to possess you as a prize to be won-stolen from..." Ross paused, and Elizabeth cut in after knowing what he meant to say if he were to continue.
"I was yours long ago, Ross, but Demelza is your wife."
"But, don't you see, Elizabeth? In George's eyes, you are mine. You will always be mine. He seeks to claim you to get at me."
"How dare you, Ross. George cares for me. Yes, I seek comfort in a man's protection and that comfort can never more come from you. I don't wish to argue. I am truly grateful for your risking your life to rescue me last night and sheltering me here. You can't know the depth of my gratitude. I apologise for any anguish and pain I've caused any of you. I must come to terms with what I must do. My fate is not in your hands now. You must forget me. To Demelza, you must stay true. It is wrong of me to wish for what might have been. We can never go back."
"Ross,". Elizabeth continued in a beseeching tone.
Ross was shaking his head in disbelief that Elizabeth was of a mind to accept George Warleggan as her husband. His eyes sparkled with the rage beneath.
"Ross, you know that a piece of my heart will always be yours as yours will always be mine. I have no wish to hurt you, but you must see I have no choice." Elizabeth explained.
"Elizabeth, don't do this." Ross's eyes were filled with the emotions of dark anger and resentment.
