Chapter 8
It was the day that Ross was going to meet up with men to talk about the mine. I didn't know much about it, nor do I care for it at the time. Demelza and I were working outside.
Ross came out of the house and went to his horse. He looked over to us before he got onto his horse. As he rose onto the horse he spoke to us.
"Ali and Demelza, you two look weary to the bone. Have they been making you girls a beast to burden?" He asked and glared at Prudie and Jud, making them walk off to do whatever.
"It's fine, Ross. I don't mind working. It gives me something to do." I replied.
"It be that Jud, Sir." Demelza spoke up and I placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her, but she continued. "He sayin' I got ideas when I ain't! I know my place."
"Your place is where I say it is." He paused for a moment. "Demelza go get your cloak."
"Sir, I ain't never had no cloak." She said.
Ross nodded, I think to himself. He probably felt like he was neglecting Demelza.
"Get on; I need to go to town. You can try to bargain with a merchant to get fish for us." Ross said and helped Demelza get on. "Ali, you go get some rest. You look very tired."
Before I could answer, he was gone. A hint of jealously coursed through my body. How come he took her to town when he hasn't taken me yet? Am I an embarrassment to him?
I didn't rest at all. Instead I did small chores. I was still seething from yesterday when Ross and I fought. As I was kneading dough I heard Ross's horse neigh.
In came Demelza with a huge smile on her face. She twirled and spun around in the kitchen. She had on a new cloak. It was brown on the outside and red on the inside. It suited her very well.
"That's very pretty." I said to Demelza after hearing Ross making his way inside.
"Thanks! I pick'd it out me self." Demelza said and spun around again.
I felt Ross's eyes on me and I turned to see him watching me from the doorway of his study. I smiled very slightly before I went back to kneading the dough.
"Ali, may I speak to you in my study?" Ross asked and I stopped kneading the bread.
It took me a bit before I answered him, not knowing what he could want. "Sure." I said and cleaned off the flour and dough from my hands.
I walked into the study and saw Ross leaning over his desk. He looked very serious and I had so many thoughts running around in my head. What could he want?
"Close the door, please." He said and I did so. "I want to make amends with you, Ali. We both said things yesterday that were uncalled for."
"I do regret speaking out of line, Ross. I don't know what came over me." I admitted, but I knew what did.
"You're very protective over me, as well as I am over you. When you asked me how I would feel if you went out sleeping with whomever, I thought about it. I wouldn't be happy with your choice, and I regret mine." He sighed before adding more. "I need you to be honest with me though."
"I've been honest with you." I said, although just a moment ago I lied to him.
"I know you have and I thank you for that." He walked over to me and held out his hand for me to grab.
I put my hand in his, staring at our touching hands. "Are you going to kick me out?" I asked.
"No, nor will I ever do that. I would never bring myself to have you leave." He said before pressing his lips to my knuckles. "Do you like being here?"
"Yes." I said without hesitation.
"You're right, you're not my maid. I'm sorry I treat you like one." Ross ran a thumb over where he kissed.
"You do sometimes, but moment like this I feel that you treat me like a woman." I admitted.
"Do you want my honesty?" He asked, looking at me and I nodded. "I needed stress relief. The dance was hell." He looked away from me but still held my hand. "If I came home that night, I might have taken it out on any of you. I don't want you to see that side of me."
"So, you had sex with some stranger to relieve yourself?" I asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes…" It looked like he was trying to come up with something to say. "Ali…I-…"
There was a knock on the study door. Demelza was on the other side.
"Sir, there be a lady here to see ye." Demelza said.
Ross looked at me. I could tell he was very confused, and frankly so was I.
We both walk out and find a lady sitting down. I had no idea who it was but judging by Ross's face, he knew her. Was it the prostitute he slept with?
"Elizabeth, have you been offered some refreshments?" He asked
Elizabeth, that name sounds familiar.
"Your maid has done her best." Elizabeth said, looking over to the food and drink.
Ross looked over at Demelza and smiled at her. "You can go."
Elizabeth looked over at me and tilted her head slightly. "And who is this?"
"Elizabeth, this is Alianna Shields. A couple of days after I had gotten back, I found her alone. She needed a place to stay and now she lives here." Ross explained and looked over at me. "I'd like to talk to Elizabeth private. You and I will talk later. I promise."
I nodded and then curtsied to the best of my abilities. Demelza and I were probably on the same level when it came to that. I walked away to go be with Demelza. Before I found her, I stayed in the next room. I was only in the other room and I could hear everything they were speaking of.
"Oh, Ross…!" Elizabeth cried out.
"What is wrong?" Ross asked.
"How do I even put it in words?" Elizabeth asked frantically.
Jud came into the house with firewood. He was going to stalk the fire. I frowned a bit to myself. Elizabeth is the woman who hurt Ross. How dare she come over?
"Just try. You love Francis, I love Francis. This cannot continue." Ross spoke with such sincerity.
Jud walked into the room that Ross and Elizabeth were in with the firewood.
"Out!" Ross commanded.
Jud was attempting to speak back but was cut off by Ross ordering him to leave again.
"You must speak with the both of them!" Elizabeth begged.
"I'll follow you directly." Ross said and Elizabeth left the room. I could tell Ross was talking to Jud because he was using his not so happy tone of voice. "Saddle my horse and remind me to thrash you when I return."
"Aye, if I recall, Mr. Ross." Jud said with a low voice.
I heard the door shut and my heart sank. I imagined that Ross was going to his uncle's house, judging by the conversation I heard. So Ross and Elizabeth were going behind people's backs and seeing each other? No, he's a good man with loyalty and honor. Ross would not do such a thing.
A/N: Yay an update! :) What did you think?
