"Well, Ross?" Charles asked as they walked to the study. "Some plan for Wheal Leisure?"

Ross sighed internally. Charles Poldark would not approve of this scheme at all, he feared. "Yes, uncle. We are yet to strike a large lode of copper at Leisure. We find enough to keep us working, but not enough to induce a smelting company to purchase." Both Francis and Charles were following his train of thought, he could tell. "I still have to pay my workers, uncle. And keep myself and my servants fed. I thought, perhaps, if I could contribute to the tonnage Grambler takes to auction, that would be a steady stream of cash until we strike significantly."

Charles let out a guffaw. "The cheek of you! Just like your father."

"Uncle..."

"You know the prices we are getting from the smelting companies barely ensures my own income."

Ross frowned and let his eyes pass over to Francis briefly. "I did not, uncle."

"I doubt any ore that Leisure could add to the tonnage would help increase the profits."

"I am sorry to hear that," said Ross. "It appears that I will put that ore aside until it can be added to the tonnage from Leisure eventually." He sighed, this time not to himself.

Charles grinned, though not kindly. "The hazards of owning a mine, as you remember me telling you?"

"Of course, uncle," Ross replied.

"Of course, I'm sure your betrothed has nothing to bring to the marriage," said Francis, frowning.

Ross felt himself bristle as he turned to Francis. "I was well aware of what I was getting into when I proposed, cousin." He took the opportunity to take another sip of brandy. If it took nearly the whole of the glass, well, neither of the other men commented.

"Ross."

His uncle so rarely used his given name that he couldn't help but turn back to the older man in concern.

"You know you don't have to do this. There are any number of eligible girls in Truro that would consent to be your wife. Is she demanding you marry her? Your father was known for his philandering, both before and after your mother..."

Ross put up his hand to stop his uncle's tirade. "Uncle. I asked Demelza to marry me. She is not blackmailing me." His emphasis on the word made it clear that he found this whole situation sordid. He looked at Francis, whose face was wan and drawn. This couldn't be the same situation Francis had had with Charles about his marriage: Elizabeth was ideal for his purposes. Elizabeth. The thought of her simultaneously made his heart beat faster and a knife twist in his gut. It wasn't fair to Demelza to continually think on Elizabeth. It wasn't fair to Francis or Elizabeth to continually think of her.

Charles merely let out a hmph of dissatisfaction and left the room to return to the parlor. Obviously the discussion of money, copper, Grambler, and Leisure was at an end. Ross, too, turned to go down the hallway back to the parlor when he was stopped by a hand on his arm. "Francis?"

"I could speak with George about a loan, Ross."

Ross let out a small breath. "Money is not truly the issue, Francis. I have Pascoe as my banker, and he is willing to let me take out another loan if I need it, with Nampara as security. I... You are friends with George, but I am not. We cannot be easy in each other's presence, and I would not take out a loan from him unless I was most desperate."

Francis reared back as if slapped. "Ross. Yes, he is my friend. I believe him honorable..." Francis trailed off as Ross shook his head.

"Francis. Wheal Reath closed because the Warleggans would no longer extend loans. I'm no lord, cousin. If Lord Bassett could not convince the Warleggans to continue his loans and felt the only way out was a pistol, I'm not sure that if I fell on hard times I could do much better. The miners, the villagers, Demelza: none of them deserve that if I couldn't meet my obligations." It was not something Ross liked to contemplate; he was sure no man did. "I have to keep my hopes up about Leisure and striking copper."

Ross could tell Francis was glad for the small change in topic. "You have Wheal Grace as well."

"I can't reopen Grace until we find something at Leisure. It's almost entirely underwater and has been for nearly twenty years. I also don't have a comprehensive plan for it. I'm afraid Leisure will be my priority for some time to come." Ross paused. "And what of Grambler?"

"Mortgaged. At least half of it, from what I understand." Francis grasped his hands behind his back as the two began to walk again. "Father does not share much with me. He keeps the secrets of mine-owning to himself."

"That is...unfortunate," said Ross. "Especially with him being in ill health, though I'll grant he looks fair today."

Francis let out a bark of laughter so like Charles's that Ross nearly turned, thinking the older man was behind them rather than already in the parlor. "Choake hasn't bled him yesterday or today. He's a fool. Promising Father to make him well for Christmas dinner."

Ross looked straight into Francis's eyes: they were of the same height and Ross could easily read the worry and fear there. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know."

"Of course. LIkewise," said Francis. He turned away then, not wanting to further the discussion.

They passed the threshold back into the parlor and both were surprised when the three younger women looked at them with concern. Before the subject could be broached, however, Mrs. Tabb, the housekeeper, announced that supper was ready.

Agatha, belying her age, was up and about faster than anyone expected, with Charles giving her his arm to lead her from the room. Verity quickly followed to ensure everything was ready, and then Elizabeth and Demelza stood. Demelza hung back, allowing Elizabeth to go to Francis and leave before making her way to Ross. She gripped one of his hands in hers, tightly squeezing it. "Demelza? Are you alright?" he asked, squeezing back.

She nodded. "I just don't want to shame you."

"You could never. Now come along."

The front reception room where they had entered Trenwith now was the main dining room. The long table had been moved to the middle of the space and set with seven places. Charles already sat at the head with Agatha on his left. While the dinner was formal, they would not fill the entire table, so Francis did not sit at the foot of the table in the other primary position.

Ross felt Demelza grip his fingers again as she realized that she would possibly not be sitting near him. The men were outnumbered by ladies, but only just. It was customary that husbands and wives not sit together to dine. However, that would probably mean that Ross would be sat next to Elizabeth, and that thought sat poorly with him. So he pulled Demelza with him as he sat next to Agatha and gestured for Demelza to sit beside him. That would also keep her away from his uncle.

Francis and Verity both looked puzzled at his actions but said nothing. Francis led Elizabeth to the chair on Charles's right, sat next to her, and then Verity sat next to him. Both Demelza and Ross breathed a sigh of relief.

The dinner continued well, with the food and wine flowing copiously and the small talk being enough to keep everyone content. Ross could tell that Demelza was watching him and Verity like a hawk stalking a mouse to ensure she did everything correctly. It was something he had not even considered: when they ate together at Nampara everything was so much simpler, from the fare to the dishes they ate off to the lack of servants. More than once he had gently put his hand on her waist to keep her from jumping up to take care of something that a servant would then do. Instead he made sure she ate, knowing she had a good appetite and hoping her nerves had subsided.

Some of the talk was political, including discussion of the situation in France and in America. The exiled French minister Calonne had recently come to Britain, and was being wined and dined in London despite the fact that France had so recently been an enemy of Britain in the American war. It turned Ross's stomach, but he kept his mouth shut on the subject. The most recent news from America was of a failed revolt in Massachusetts and the subsequent calling for a stronger national government. Another subject on which he would keep his own counsel. It seemed there was much that would fall under that category for him.

Ross thought to himself that the evening had gone well, when he noticed the shadows of twilight beginning to creep through the windows. He tapped one finger on Demelza's wrist to get her attention as she had been speaking with Verity as the last of the food had been cleared from the table. "Ross?"

"We must be going, Demelza. I don't wish to be abroad with you when it is full dark."

"Oh, of course," said Verity. "My apologies for not thinking of it."

Ross shook his head. "We both appreciated the hospitality of your table, and invite you all to Nampara at your leisure."

Verity gave the order to one of the servants to bring Ross's coat and Demelza's cloak. "Thank you both for coming," she said. She reached for Demelza's hands. "I so enjoyed speaking with you, my dear. And I shall call soon."

Agatha was left dozing in her chair and Charles did not follow them to the door, but Francis, Elizabeth, and Verity did. "Thank you so much for coming, Demelza," said Elizabeth.

"Thank you for having us," said Demelza, as demurely as possible. She gave a slight curtsy as Ross had instructed her, the ladies responded in kind, and Francis gave a short bow. Ross tipped his hat to them and embraced Francis before taking Demelza's arm.

"Thank you," he said to the group before turning and leading Demelza away from the house for their return journey.

Neither looked back to see Elizabeth watching them.