Chapter 5 Part 2
Demelza's pregnancy had been kind to her, after the morning sickness had abated, although the last six weeks she had become uncomfortable. Still she was afforded more luxury than her mother ever had, Prudie and Ginny helped with all the heavy work, that sometimes she felt like a right fraud or a real lady. The day she had first felt the baby move within her she had cried tears of joy, Ross has been passing through the house on his way from the meadow via the front door and onto the kitchen when their eyes met as she stood still in the parlour, her eyes misted with unshed tears and her hand resting over her belly.
"What?" He has asked, alarmed written all over his face, but she had just smiled at him as she felt the warm tears run down her cheeks. He was standing close to her before she knew it and his worried expression had not changed at all as he placed his hand over hers, she felt the familiar tingle of desire, the moment was incredibly intimate and yet innocent in its beauty. "What?" He asked again, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper.
"'Tis nothin' to be worryin' about," Demelza assured him as best she could. "I just felt the baby move for the first time, is all…here…. can you feel anything?" She moved his hand and then placed hers over it and they stood like statues with the winter sun shining at them the through the window making a serene picture.
Ross took a sharp intake of breath "That?" He asked her, "and that?" Ross looked up and met her gaze and she smiled and nodded through new tears which had gathered.
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It became a ritual after that in the evenings when they lay in their bed, they would whisper and share their hopes and aspirations to the new life growing inside of her. Her child. His child. Their child. A precious gift that she had every intention of being the best mother she could, of providing her offspring with all that they needed, including her love. Not to work as a family skivvy as soon as the bairn could walk as she had done; had been for her mother, brothers and father. Although she had no doubt in her hart that her mother had loved her well, taught her all she knew in that short space of time before that final pregnancy had killed both her and the child within.
She didn't tell him of her fears about the birth and other than a fleeting glance of concern in his eyes she heard no worries spoken from him either. Although they were there, every woman had them, having a baby was dangerous; always had been she mused. But she was strong and healthy and she knew it would be alright deep down. She sought advice from Ginny who unlike Prudie had experienced it first hand, Prudie was full of advice on the subject but none that Demelza could truly take heart from. Ginny as well as being a trusty servant, became a very good friend. And she needed friends, as 'friends' from Ross' kind were far from her shores.
It was the little moments she treasured a smile or a touch from Ross or the inner satisfaction of sewing an infant nightgown and making a shawl for the coming babe, that mattered. But the true happiness came every time the baby showed her he was alive, full of life and vigour and waiting to meet her when he kicked and moved around, sometime the pain of it making her uncomfortable, but it meant the babe lived and she was content with life.
