Watching again the last episodes of the series, I decided that some additions to the lines was definitively needed in order to make Ross look less like a jerk. So, here's a revisited version of the scene between Ross and Demelza after the new lode has been found.

She could return to herself the question she had asked Ross.

Why was she still there ?

It had been more than a month since that horrible night she had cried herself to sleep only to wake up on the morning to the same nightmare. Elizabeth and George Warleggan were married now, and had gone for their honeymoon. From Demelza's point of view, they deserved each other perfectly.

Ross had just gone to the mine, again. He'd told her about a new lode they had found, and had tried to make her rejoice with him

"Has it come too late ?", he as asked.

Yes, it had. She would have given all these new prospects of wealth to be back to the years of hardship and happiness she had lived with him.

So she hadn't replied, and silence had filled the room.

Then, he'd launched into his usual protests of love, and of innocence of any kind of relationship with Elizabeth during the days following his night with her.

"Demelza, I'm so sorry I hurt you, I'd give everything to undo what has been done. How can I make you understand that you're the one I want at my side ? How many times will I have to swear that I haven't set foot at Trenwith since that cursed night ? I let her marry George, Demelza."

Had honor actually prevented Ross from going back to see the woman who had become his mistress ? But how could she believe that he hadn't made any other attempt to convince her not to marry George ? She had seen his pain, the day of the wedding.

Or maybe, after that night, he had waited for a sign from Elizabeth that had never come. The fine lady certainly had a keen eye on her own interests. Facing a choice between being a rich man's wife or a destitute one's mistress, she might have decided to deny once again her own feelings for the benefit of a life of luxury.

Of course, it wouldn't be like Ross to give himself credit for a restaint that was not his doing. But then, betraying her with another woman wasn't, either.

She knew that Ross would always feel honor-bound to stay with her. She knew as well what a poor liar he was.

So if he said that she was the one he loved, he had to believe it, in a way. Or rather, he pretended to believe it, not to have to face the facts, to admit them, even to himself : his undying and hopeless love for Elizabeth, who would always remain between them.

Only she wouldn't be able to resign herself to be an eternal second best, as Francis obviously had, in the last part of his life with Elizabeth. And she couldn't neglect her marital duty and find solace elsewhere either, as the same Francis had done before. She'd proved herself unable to.

What was left for her ? She couldn't spend her life, day after day, with a man who certainly cared for her, but who would always find her lacking in one essential point : she wasn't Elizabeth. She herself loved that man too much. It was too painful.

So why was she still there ? Why coundn't she find the strenght to get away from him ?