Weeks later...
Elizabeth kept putting off the memorial service for her husband in hopes that somehow he would turn up alive. Elizabeth tried to stop Francis, because she believed he was abandoning his family. He wrote in the note that he chose to join the Navy-a life at sea. Blamey was a sea captain. Francis had chided Blamey's lifestyle but what were Francis's hopes-to become a naval hero? Was he trying to prove himself a man to her? Ultimately, Elizabeth believed Francis lacked the true confidence or courage for such a life. There were reports that the ship he was on had wrecked leaving him in peril at sea-presumed lost. That day-the day of Ross's rescuing her-she had gotten on a different much smaller boat. Some local townsfolk-allowed her passage to follow him many hours later, because they were headed to the same destination port. She wanted to talk sense into him-to tell him to come home. Neither of the boats should not have sailed in such wind, fog, and rain either. The boat was in distress. Somehow, she alone ended up on the shores near the cove.
It was not much longer before she was coaxed into holding the service. The pain she felt was more for the man Francis was before they were married, and yet it was deeply felt. When Ross delivered the news the day she was in bed at Nampara, it was a shock. The realisation that she would never see him again in this life had not immediately set in.
Verity remained with Elizabeth at Trenwith for several weeks.
"Elizabeth, Demelza has sent a note asking me for tea at Nampara. She heard you were mostly wishing to keep to your bed these weeks, else I'm sure she'd have invited you as well. I wonder if she'd mind if you'd come too? We both need the company of friends.
"Oh, I would appreciate more company, though...I wonder if it would be wise? I shouldn't think I could welcome myself to her and Ross's home so soon. I'm sure Demelza has grown tired of seeing me." Elizabeth responded.
"In the note, it was said that Caroline Penvenen was also invited but had another engagement and so declined." Verity said.
Elizabeth & Verity were stepping into the carriage when young Geoffrey Charles approached her with some Roses gathered from the garden and instructions as to who they should be given.
Demelza answered the door at Nampara to see Verity and Elizabeth in their mourning tea gowns standing there. Elizabeth stood carrying a basket of Roses.
Demelza smiled graciously as a welcome and let them inside.
"Demelza, I hope you don't mind my coming...but..." Elizabeth paused,
Demelza interrupted, "Oh!" she tried to ignore Elizabeth's words, "how lovely- colourful Roses."
Elizabeth then stopped at hearing those words and held the basket out to her.
"They're so beautiful." Demelza subtly bowed her head in thanks with a slight bite-of-her-lip sort of smile.
"Yes, I've been given strict instructions from my son Geoffrey Charles to give these to you-to the 'good lady who helped take care of his Mama'...as a thank you."
"Tis Ross done most of the work...as only you know." Demelza spoke so fast it was a bit of a mumble.
Elizabeth blushed.
The ladies had their tea in the sitting room.
"I can only apologise again for being such an inconvenience to you. You are an angel. And Ross...I consider myself so very lucky to have been found when I was...and by him."
"Will you bid me ask...How are you managing without Francis?" Demelza's change of subject came forth a bit abruptly.
Elizabeth's gaze transformed to sadness.
"You shall think me foolish, but...I still have hope that he shall return to us. What if...What if...Perhaps he was not on that ship as was thought? They cannot confirm for certain that he is dead. Until then, he might still be alive...somewhere."
"Elizabeth, are you suggesting Francis would lie to abandon his family?" Verity was appalled.
Demelza glanced at Verity and then turned her eyes to Elizabeth awaiting a response.
"Francis was not of sound mind when he left. That is what the note proved, but...he could be in France...anywhere...any place across the continent. Perhaps what he said in the note was untrue and he was not joining the Navy. Perhaps...he was looking for an excuse to leave."
Elizabeth answered.
Then, Demelza's mind flashed back to recall the contents of the letter Francis wrote. She had uncrumpled it after Ross left the day of Elizabeth's rescue to read it herself.
Verity and Elizabeth entered Verity's carriage to leave.
Elizabeth stared out of the window and suddenly lifted her gaze by surprise when Ross scything in the fields came to focus. Their carriage drew closer towards him and he turned.
He bowed his head with a slight wave of his hand to bid them goodbye.
Elizabeth's eyes kept their melancholy gaze, with only a slight upward turn of her lips to acknowledge him. The weight of the world and her place in its existence overwhelmed her then. She was cursed with the regret of her life's decisions. If only Ross had never left for America at all...those many years ago.
