Chapter 7

"You have a beautiful daughter," Charles said.

"Is all forgiven then?" Ross asked

"I was talking to Annabelle," Charles said.

Ross knew then that his Uncle and Francis had really come to see Annabelle so quietly slipped out leaving them alone. He felt sad that there was this wall between them and wished there was some way he could undo the damage that had been done. His thoughts then turned to George Warleggan as he knew George would get out on bail. He would pay George a visit and beat him to a pulp for what he'd done to Annabelle. It was deplorable and disgusting and he didn't know if he could ever forgive George. It would feel good to give George what he deserved and he'd feel better after. When he finally returned inside Francis and Charles had gone.

"I'm sorry that your Uncle pushed you away like that," Annabelle said.

"I should have expected it. They only came here to see that you were ok. They couldn't care less about me," Ross said.

"Their anger will pass," Annabelle said.

"Once George gets out on bail, and I know he will, I'm going to pay him a visit," Ross said.

Annabelle guessed straight away what Ross would do to George.

"You're going to hurt him for what he did to me aren't you," she said.

"Yes I am. I'm going to beat him black and blue for what he did. He deserves it," Ross said.

"I have forgiven him," Annabelle said softly.

"You've what?" Ross said.

"I've forgiven him. As a Christian I have to forgive those who have wronged me. If I don't how can I expect God to forgive me. He has hurt me but I am being the bigger person here," Annabelle said.

Ross knew she was right but he was still extremely angry with George.

"I hope you make George regret what he did to me," Annabelle said.

"Oh I will you can be sure of that. He's going to be sorry he ever touched you when I am through with him," Ross said.

Annabelle nodded and smiled.

"Is George likely to be sentenced to transportation?" Annabelle asked.

"No if convicted he will be off to the gallows. A short drop with a sudden stop," Ross said.

"I feel sorry for his family. He has bought shame to them," Annabelle said.

"Yes Nicholas and Cary are good men. They must be disgusted with George as I'm sure they would have raised him to treat women better," Ross said.

Annabelle passed Grace to Ross who held her and cooed to her.

"When will George be likely to be out on bail?" Annabelle asked.

"He probably already is," Ross said.

The next day news came that George was indeed out on bail. Ross immediately had Blackie saddled and set off to go and pay George a visit despite Annabelle's protests. He didn't return for a few hours and when he got back his hair was wild and he looked dishevelled.

"I caught up with that low life miserable excuse for a man. And you know what? He gloated to me about it. Tried to tell me you enjoyed it and wanted it.

"I most certainly did not want or enjoyed it," Annabelle said.

I beat him to a pulp for what he did to you," Ross said.

"Thank you," Annabelle said.

A few weeks later Annabelle was worried as she had begun to suffer from nausea and suspected she was with child again. She and Ross still hadn't consummated their marriage so she knew if she was pregnant that the child would be George's. He had been committed to stand trial at the next assizes. These would be at the time of the next general election and would be in Bodmin.

"I believe the judge will be Justice Lister," Ross told Annabelle when she asked about it.

"Is he a fair judge?" Annabelle asked.

"Very" Ross said.

"I…I need to tell you something," Annabelle said hesitantly.

"What is it?" Ross asked.

"I think… I think I might be with child again," Annabelle said.

"What? How can that be. Dwight said you couldn't. Breastfeeding," Ross said.

"Perhaps he was wrong. What am I going to do? If I am with child it is George's child as we still haven't consummated our marriage," Annabelle said.

"You can't be serious. I could never… never raise that low life's child as my own," Ross said.

"I don't want this any more than you do," Annabelle said.

"I will get Dwight to come and have a look at you. If you are with child I guess we will have to figure out what to do," Ross said.

He had Blackie saddled then rode over to Dwight's. Dwight was shocked to hear that Annabelle could be pregnant.

"How can that be. I didn't think a woman could get pregnant while breastfeeding," Dwight said.

He got his bag and the two saddled his horse.

"If Annabelle is pregnant is there anything you can give her to… to cause her to lose the baby?" Ross asked as they got going.

"I can't believe that you would ask that of me. If she is pregnant the child is a new life growing inside her. I swore to preserve life when I became a doctor. So no... I would not do that," Dwight said.

"I cannot raise HIS child as mine," Ross said.

"How does Annabelle feel about it?" Dwight asked.

"She doesn't want the baby any more than I do," Ross said.

"Still no reason to deny it a chance at life," Dwight said.

The two rode the rest of the way in silence and once at Poldark House Ross had their horses attended to and the two went inside. After examining Annabelle Dwight told her and Ross that she was undoubtedly with child again. Annabelle nodded.

"So it is as I'd feared," she said.

"Ross said you don't want this child. He asked me… asked me if I could give you something to cause you to lose the baby. I refused as it would be taking a life and against the oath I swore when I became a physician," Dwight said.

"He is right. Neither of us want this child. This is most unwelcome news," Annabelle said.

She was horrified at the news but was hiding it well. After Dwight had departed Ross re-joined Annabelle.

"What do we do?" Annabelle asked.

"There is NO way I am raising HIS child as my own. Not now not ever," Ross said.

The next day Ross was summoned to Trenwith where Charles lay, deathly ill having suffered another heart attack. There was nothing that Dwight or Choake could do and Charles wanted to talk to Ross before he died. Ross rode over to Trenwith and when he got there he had Blackie attended to and went inside. Entering Charles' room he cleared his throat.

"Uncle it's Ross I'm here," Ross said.

He crossed to the bed and took his uncle's hand in his.

"Ross my boy it's good to see you. I sent for you as I need to apologise to you and put things right with you before it's too late. I was wrong to push you away as I did. Can you forgive me?" Charles said.

He coughed violently then smiled at Ross.

"Of course Uncle," Ross said.

He could see from Charles' face that a weight had been lifted off him.

"Thank you my boy. I can now die in peace," Charles said.

"Does Verity know that your time is near?" Ross asked.

"I asked Francis to write her and express my regret at what had happened and to ask her for her forgiveness," Charles said.

Ross nodded.

A short while later Ross came out of Charles room his eyes wet with tears.

"Was it peaceful?" Elizabeth asked?"

"Thankfully yes. Francis came in just before he passed and Uncle was able to witness us reconcile," Ross said.

Elizabeth hugged Ross then smiled.

"How is Annabelle?" she asked.

"We just had the unwelcome news yesterday that she is with child again. George's child. We haven't yet consummated our marriage so it has to be his," Ross said.

"That's awful. I wouldn't wish that on anyone," Elizabeth said.

"Nor would I. Dwight didn't think she could get pregnant while breastfeeding but obviously she could and has," Ross said.

"Does Annabelle want the baby?" Elizabeth asked.

"No she doesn't," Ross said, "And I don't either. There is no way I could raise George's child. Not after what he did to Annabelle," Ross said.

"What's this about a child?" Francis asked, joining them.

Ross broke the news about Annabelle being with child to him and he looked shocked.

"How did Annabelle take the news when Dwight told you?" Francis asked.

"She isn't happy and nor am I," Ross said.

"I don't blame you. A child conceived in such a manner would be most unwelcome," Francis said.

Ross was invited to stay to dinner and accepted. He sent a message to Annabelle who joined them a short while later with Grace. She was delighted to hear that Ross had reconciled with Francis and saddened to hear of Charles' passing. Ross, Annabelle, Elizabeth and Francis spent the afternoon planning Charles' funeral and notifying Charles' friends so they could attend his funeral. Over dinner Annabelle found herself talking about her unwanted pregnancy.

"At least George will be dead before he finds out since his trial is just a few weeks away," Elizabeth said.

For Annabelle that was a blessing as she didn't want George to know she was pregnant. If he did and he wasn't sentenced to death or jail, he would no doubt want to see his child and would probably take it from Annabelle.

"Are you sure he will hang for what he's done?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes as a guilty verdict will result in him being hung," Annabelle said.

"And that is what he deserves for doing that to you," Francis said.

"I just wish I didn't have to have his child," Annabelle said.

"Perhaps it won't come to that," Elizabeth said.

The next morning was Charles funeral and Ross attended, apologising for Annabelle who wasn't able to attend due to not feeling well. A good crowd had turned out to farewell Charles and after the funeral there was a luncheon at Trenwith. Annabelle was feeling well enough by then to join the guests at Trenwith and passed a pleasant few hours there. It was nice to see those who had been guests at her wedding and to for them to coo over Grace who she had with her. Over lunch memories of Charles were shared and there were tears and laughter. It was a happy but also sad time as everyone knew that Charles was at piece but at the same time they missed him and his presence at Trenwith. Francis was now the head of Trenwith as it was now his estate.

"Do you think Francis will be able to keep Grambler running now he's in charge of it?" Annabelle asked Ross.

"I hope so but he doesn't have his father's eye for business," Ross answered.

"I intend to try," Frances said.

"Do you think you'll ever re-open Grace?" Annabelle asked Ross.

"At this stage I don't know," Ross admitted.

"You'd need to discover a new vein of copper or other mineral to make it worthwhile re opening right," Annabelle said.

"Yes that is it," Ross said.

"Grambler needs to stay open as Geoffrey Charles will inherit it one day. Just like this estate will one day be his," Francis said.

A week later it was the day of George's trial as the next assizes were taking place in Truro. George had had to report to Bodmin Jail the day before and Ross, Demelza and Annabelle went there the same day in a stage coach and stayed in a hotel overnight. Grace was left at Nampara with Prudie looking after her as she was too young to travel. At the hotel they discovered that Dwight, Francis, Elizabeth and Verity had also come to attend the trial. Andrew had not come which was a blessing as it would undoubtedly have been awkward between him and Francis if he were there. Everyone entered the courtroom and awaited the arrival of Justice Lister and the jury. Just before they entered George and a man dressed in black came in and took their places as did the lawyer who Ross had asked to prosecute George. After the jury and Justice Lister had entered Justice Lister called the court to order and read out the charge against George then asked George how he pled.

"Not guilty," George said smugly.

The case then got under way and soon it was time for Demelza and Ross then Annabelle herself to give their evidence. Demelza spoke in a clear calm voice describing the state she had found Annabelle in and then Ross gave evidence that he too had found Annabelle in the same state. When it was Annabelle's turn to give evidence she described what had happened to her, breaking down in tears by the end. The man in black stood and Annabelle learnt that he was Tankard, George's defence lawyer. To Annabelle's horror he suggested that she wanted it, and had led George on by the way she'd looked at him. She strongly denied such an idea, breaking down in tears again.

As Tankard presented George's defence it was plainly obvious to Ross and Annabelle that George had paid people to lie for him.