Ross pulled Demelza gently out of the church into the bridge sunshine of midday. He positioned her just outside the church doors to greet the Trenwith Poldarks. She was part of the family now. Verity, of course, moved to embrace Demelza first, and even kissed her cheek.
"My dear, I am so happy for you," she said, but though the smile was evident in her eyes, Demelza also sensed a heavy sadness before Verity moved quickly to embrace Ross.
Elizabeth Poldark was next. Demelza tensed slightly, not knowing what to expect. Elizabeth, however, was perfectly cordial as she gripped Demelza's hands and wished her joy.
Francis was the most subdued, though that wasn't unexpected since Demelza knew he disapproved. "Demelza. Cousin." He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Welcome to the family," he said, swiftly moving to Ross and almost pushing Elizabeth away from him.
Demelza watched Jud and Prudie skulk out of the church, bypass her and Ross completely, and move off in the direction of Nampara. Turning back to face Ross, she saw Odgers' sour face still in the church. Obviously one who had not approved, but at least he hadn't told the whole county when the wedding would be. She still had some time to prepare to meet the rest of Cornwall society.
Lost in her musings for a moment, she startled when Ross put his hand on her elbow. "Are you ready, Demelza? Francis says Trenwith is ready for a celebration."
Demelza nodded and said, "Yes, Ross." Even after being on her finger less than an hour, the ring felt natural on her left hand, as if made for her. She looked down the path and saw that Verity, Elizabeth, and Francis had not waited, but were already far ahead and walking quickly. "Should we catch up?"
Ross shook his head. "Francis told me to take our time. There is no rush."
She nodded again, and noticed that she could feel herself smiling so broadly it almost hurt. "I'm that pleased, Ross. It seems like we spent a lifetime waiting."
"And now belong to each other, wife," said Ross. "I'm pleased myself. Now shall we take ourselves to Trenwith?"
The walk to Trenwith was silent, as the one to the church had been. What more needed to be said? As they began to go up the drive, they both noticed several carriages outside the house. Demelza stopped in her tracks and forced Ross to stop as well. "I thought you said a family celebration?"
Ross shook his head. "That is what Francis told me." He gripped her hand strongly and then took the other i his clasp, pulling them both to his mouth to kiss. "I won't leave you alone for a moment. But you know it would look strange if the bride and groom didn't show to their own wedding celebration."
Demelza closed her eyes. "I hate when you are sensible," she said with a sigh. She blinked rapidly. "I also expect you to tell Francis of my upset. If he was my brother I'd box his ears."
Ross nodded, the cocked his head toward a large carriage with a prominent 'W' displayed on the door. "Believe me, Demelza, I want to do quite a bit more than box his ears. I know you can bear it."
She began walking again. "The sooner we can go back to Nampara the happier I will be," she said.
Verity and Elizabeth both met them at the door. "Oh, Demelza," said Verity. "I'm so sorry. I know you didn't want a fuss. Somehow George heard about it and it seems like the whole county may as well be here." She leaned in then to whisper in Demelza's ear and said, "Watch for Ruth Teague: she's mighty cross she wasn't able to snare Ross."
Demelza forced herself to not sigh. "It's alright, Verity. Best to get everything out at once, I suppose." Ross acted as silent sentinel behind her as they entered Trenwith.
"Everyone is in the parlor," said Elizabeth. She gestured for them to follow. Demelza noticed that neither Verity nor Elizabeth was comfortable, so they must not have known what a shambles the "family party" had become.
Upon reaching the parlor, Elizabeth put Demelza and Ross just inside the door to "greet the guests." What it really meant was a regular stream of people circling the room to offer their (real or feigned) congratulations.
Those who knew Ross best came up first: his banker Harris Pascoe; nearby neighbors such as the Treneglos father and son, Horace and John; and Mr. Henshawe, who ran the mine for Ross. Mr. Henshawe invited her to visit the mine and she simply nodded in agreement. Of course, none of Ross's "lower" associates from the mine had been invited: even Mr. Henshawe was considered below the line with whom most of Cornish society operated.
Demelza recognized many from the opening of Wheal Leisure, but of course that was not only about six months ago in time but may as well have been a lifetime in life changes. Though now, just as then, when she turned to see the crowd of people she could tell there were people gossiping about her. Demelza knew she and Ross would have to make the rounds of the room soon, especially to speak to Aunt Agatha and Charles Poldark. Most people spoke to Ross before giving her a quick nod and a "ma'am" before moving on. None stopped and spoke to her, but she kept the smile on her face.
That worked until she saw a man she did not recognize coming towards them, and felt Ross tense beside her. She turned to him. "Ross?" she questioned.
"That's George Warleggan," he said simply.
"Oh." She didn't think she had ever seen the man before. He had not been at the Wheal Leisure opening. She knew the name, of course: not just from Ross, but from taking to Jinny Carter. She knew Jim Carter had worked at a mine owned by a Lord. That Lord had borrowed money from the Warleggans and they would not extend them. The Lord had put a pistol in his mouth, and the mine had been closed and then repossessed by the Warleggans for debt.
George looked to be about Ross's age, she thought, and was accompanied by an older gentleman. He had a sour look not dissimilar to Reverend Odgers, she thought.
George put out his hand as his said, "Ross Poldark! This is a surprise. I had no idea that you enjoyed snubbing Cornwall society so much, but congratulations."
Demelza, looking at Ross rather than the hand George extended, noticed him wince slightly and his countenance turn to some close to anger. After nearly four years, she had plenty of practice dealing with Ross's moods. "I have no idea what you mean, George, but I appreciate the good wishes," said Ross. He grasped the hand for as brief as moment as possible before letting it go as if it burned him and then turned to Demelza. "I don't believe you've met my wife, Demelza. Demelza, this is George Warleggan. He, Francis, and I were at school together. And this is his uncle, Cary Warleggan.
Demelza made a brief, shallow curtsey before looking straight at George Warleggan. "Lovely to make your acquaintance, Mr. Warleggan. How did you hear about our marriage? I understood that this was to be a family party." She was able to put a slight emphasis on the word family and her face felt so stiff it would ache later, but she wasn't going to let the smile come off her face until she and Ross were back at Nampara.
She could tell George did not appreciate being put in the wrong. "Why, Mrs. Poldark, I think Francis mentioned it to me." The way he put his own emphasis on the word 'Mrs." made her hackles rise. "Or perhaps Elizabeth said something, I saw them both in town earlier this week."
Demelza forced herself to continue to smile. She understood now at least part of Ross's dislike for the man. He had mentioned after their last visit to Trenwith that George liked to push the cousins into competition or disagreement. She had to wonder how Francis continued to let himself be led in such a manner to let George push him to that with Ross. She wondered what else George might push Francis on.
"Well, I thank you for your good wishes as well, then," she said, as courteously as she could.
The older man, Cary, also stuck out his hand for Ross to shake. "What news of the mine, Ross?"
Ross ignored the hand and put his own in Demelza's. "I don't wish to talk business today. Demelza, we must see my aunt and uncle."
Demelza just nodded before giving another brief curtsey, saying, "Gentlemen," before allowing Ross to lead her across the room.
While paying their respects to Agatha and Charles, Demelza situated herself to watch George Warleggan. She saw him try to ingratiate himself with Elizabeth, bait Francis, and ignore poor Verity. It became clear to Demelza that while the three men may have gone to school together, what actually kept them in competition with each was who had been able to entice and keep Elizabeth Chenowyth, now Poldark. And Demelza sensed the other woman enjoyed the attention. Even Demelza had heard the rumors about Francis having a mistress in Truro.
Charles Poldark, looking wan and drawn, shook Ross's hand, but with minimal enthusiasm. Agatha Poldark took Demelza's hand and said, "Lovely, bud. Be sure to call one afternoon here at the house." Demelza nodded, but had no intention of coming back to Trenwith if she could help it, and especially not without Ross.
Looking around the parlor, Demelza saw a young woman, probably around her own age but perhaps a bit older, nearly hanging off the arm of John Treneglos. She looked familiar, as did the older woman standing behind her. She had the same sour look as Cary Warleggan and Odgers, and though she tightly gripped the arm of John Treneglos, she stared at Ross like a besotted cow and glared at Demelza in turn. This must be Ruth Teague, Demelza thought. Obviously now that Ross was off the marriage market, she needed a new victim to dig her claws into. Poor John Treneglos. Both he and his father had been kind to her at the Wheal Leisure opening, and, of course, old Horace Treneglos was a mine shareholder.
Ross's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Demelza?"
The smile she had still not let go of remained on her face. "Yes, husband?" she asked, forcing herself to not let the smile turn into a smirk.
Ross smiled too. "I like that word. But not as much as I enjoy the word wife in relation to you. Have you had enough? I wish to return to Nampara."
At this she did let her smile broaden. "Oh yes, Ross."
He nodded. "Let us make our goodbyes to Francis and Elizabeth and go home." He steered her through the crowd with his hand on the small of her back. Even that small intimacy was fairly taboo, but she relished his touch.
Finally reaching Francis and Elizabeth, Ross said, "Thank you very much for the party, Cousin, but we should way home. My wife is tired."
Francis began to stutter. "But you won't stay for a meal? Please?"
Elizabeth patted Francis's arm and said, "I'm sure they wish to rest at home, Francis. All these people."
Demelza watched Francis's mouth purse into an angry pout. She couldn't tell if it was the reminder that Demelza was now in the family or Elizabeth's reproach that made him angry. "Of course, so much excitement." He reached for Demelza's hand and kissed it, saying "You must be exhausted, cousin." He released her then and moved to embrace Ross.
Verity appeared just at that moment and said, "I will walk you out." This left Elizabeth scant time to curtsey to Demelza (and her back) and say goodbye to Ross.
Verity walked with them to the front of the house. "I know it wasn't what you expected," she said, embracing Demelza in an encompassing hug, "but you did well."
Demelza nodded and said, "Thank you, Verity."
Ross received his own embrace from Verity before they could start on their way back to Nampara.
As they walked in the warm afternoon breeze from the sea he said, "She's right. You did do well. Even with George."
"Yes, Ross," was all she said.
"At least now your introduction into society is complete and we can go on in our own way," was his next comment, to which she could only nod in agreement.