#poldark

Well, well. Could it be a long overdue update to this little tale?

Demelza gets used to life in Cornwall without Ross (again). And Ross? Well, Ross is...Ross.

Read Chapter 79, "Local Flora and Fauna" here and Chapter 80, "Minister of Falsehoods" here.

Chapter 52

Wedding Day! Number One?

Finally!!!  I apologize for taking so long on this.  I’ve actually been sitting on this and working on it, trying to get it to where I was pleased with it.  I finally decided to release part of it in order to get something out there for you, and so that I can keep working on the rest of it.  I thought these chapters would be easier to write.  Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this chapter.  

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Ross began to make breakfast for Demelza and himself on this, their wedding morning, when he saw half a face peek around the corner, watching him. He smiled knowing that it was his mother watching him, longing to help him.  

With an eyebrow arched and a smirk on his face, “You know mum, I’ve been cooking my own breakfast and Demelza’s breakfast for quite a while now.  But thank you.  I appreciate the thought.”

“But you look like you could use some help.  I doubt that you’ve cooked on such old skillets as those are.  Why don’t you let me fix the eggs…” she grabbed the carton of eggs from the pantry.

“Mama I cook in a skillet just like this one almost every day.  In fact, it’s the same skillet that you gave me when I moved out because you said that I wouldn’t find a better cast iron skillet to cook on than that.  And thank you for getting the eggs for me, but I would prefer to cook the eggs myself, because I know just how Demelza likes them.  And since I am going to be cooking them for her every day of the rest of my life…I would prefer to cook them for her today on the day that she becomes my wife.”

He looked up and found that his mother had tears in her eyes, “You’re crying already?  But why?”

“Because that was the most romantic thing that I’ve ever heard.  I’ve taught yo

Ross looked his mother in the eyes and hugged her, in a soft voice, “Yes mama, you have taught me well.”  Ross held onto his mother so that they both could savour the moment.  “Mum, why don’t you go back to bed and get some more rest before the day’s festivities burst out of the seams?”

Grace finally let go of her son, “Maybe I will.  I didn’t sleep well with your father and Ray Penvenan working out the security for today.  Nothing like two old fools with their heads together!”

“Does it sound like they got it all worked out?”  Ross was flipping bacon and getting bread in the toaster.

“I think so.  Your father called the security team at the company and is going to be using whoever isn’t on duty there.  Ray was going to call a company first thing this morning, and possibly some off duty policemen.  How was Demelza last night?”

“You know mum, I’m marrying a tough woman.  I’m glad that I told her what was going on.  She handled it well.  We’re both determined not to let it ruin our day.”  

Grace grabbed the toast and started buttering it, “Well, that’s a great attitude!  I’m proud of you for thinking like that.  And I’m glad that you told Demelza as well.  How does Demelza like her tea, dear?”

“A teaspoon and a half of sugar, thank you very much,” Ross began scrambling the eggs.

“A teaspoon and a half?”

“Yep.  That’s how she likes it,” Ross grinned.

Grace pulled out a breakfast tray and started getting it ready.  “There’s some leftover fruit from yesterday that I”m going to put on the tray.”

Ross nodded his head, “Sounds good.  Bacon’s done, eggs are almost done.”

Grace spotted some champagne in the fridge, “Oh Ross do you want mimosas?  We have champagne?”

Ross laughed with his mother, how could he say no to her help, “No I think that’s for later.  I’ve got almost everything ready.  Is the tea ready.”

“Yes sir!”  She put a rose on the tray along with the tea and the rest of the fruit.  Ross loaded up everything else.

The boy leaned down and kissed his mother, “Thanks mum.”

“You’re welcome my sweet boy.  Now I’m going to lay back down.”

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Ross opened the bedroom door and set the tray down, sing songing…“Happy Wedding Day my love!”  He jumped in bed next to Demelza and kissed her temple, “Happy Wedding Day my love!  Time to wake uuuppp!”

Demelza smiled before she opened her eyes and stretched, “Happy Wedding Day, my lover!”  She raised up to sit in his arms.  Ross proceeded to ply her with kisses all over her neck, her hair, her cheeks, her nose.  “My love, sweet love of mine, I have made a wedding breakfast fit for a queen!  I fixed all of your favourite things despite my mother trying to do all the cooking herself.  She forgets that I’ve been living on my own for several years.  We have scrambled eggs with cheese and dill, crisp bacon, some roasted potatoes with rosemary, fruit, toast with butter and jam, and of course a cup of tea.”

Demelza’s eyes were as wide as the saucers, “It looks delicious, but Ross there’s enough food here, to feed everyone in the house!  There’s no way that I can eat all of this!”

Ross smiled at her response, “Oh don’t worry darlin’ I plan on helping you eat some of it,” he scooped up a forkful of eggs and fed it to Demelza.

“Mmmm Ross, those are delicious!  They’re better than mine!  Are you sure that your mother didn’t make them?”

“Hey now!  I’ve watched very carefully how you cook your eggs, so give me a little credit,” he fed her some potatoes.

“Ross, I can feed myself…”

“I know but this is nice…just the two of us,” he leaned in for another kiss which was interrupted by Seamus barking next to the bed. 

Demelza giggled, “Do you need to let him out?”

“No, I already let him out, I even kept him on his lead so that he wouldn’t go rolling around in the grass and mess up his hair before the wedding… No Seamus, lay down,” Seamus just tilted his head and put his paw up on the bed.

“Aww look at that face Ross!”

“No Seamus, you’re not getting up here where all this food is.  I can just picture it flying all over the place,” Seamus whined some more and laid down.

“Oh Ross you’re so mean to him!”

Ross looked at her in astonishment, “What?  How am I mean, making sure he doesn’t eat all of our food!  You, you’re too soft on him…”

Demelza laughed at Ross now, watching him get all bent out of shape over Seamus, “Ya know, I’m startin to think that Seamus loves you more than me now… you spoil him too much…”

Demelza lifted a forkful of eggs to feed Ross, “Mm maybe, but I love you more than I love Seamus.”

Ross finished chewing his eggs, “I should hope so, I make more money than Seamus!” they both looked at each other and laughed.  

Ross began kissing Demelza again on her neck, then down her shoulder, while his hand started caressing her breast, then Demelza spoke up, “No, no, no!  Not until you’ve made an honest woman out of me Ross.”

He looked up at her, “Are you feckin kidding me?”

She had a grin on her face but shook her head no, “No sir!  You get nothin until after the wedding Mr Poldark.”  She knew this was going to get him fired up.

“Demelzzaaa c’mon love!”

“Sorry! Here, eat some more breakfast,” she lifted a piece of toast to his mouth.  He bit down on it furiously, “You’re so mean to me!” letting out a growl at her.

“Oh you’ll get over it,” Demelza told him laughing at his exasperation.  She really didn’t mean to hold off sex until after the wedding, but it was so much fun teasing Ross that she couldn’t resist.  After they finished breakfast, showered and changed, they finished packing up what they wanted to go to the B & B, which was everything.  By the time they got downstairs with all of their luggage, the rest of the house had woken back up and were eating their own breakfast.

Grace watched them load up their belongings and got a lump in her throat.

“What’s wrong lov,” Joshua asked.

Grace sighed, “Oh nothing.  It just feels a little funny watching him load up their things.  It’s like he’s moving out all over again…” she had a lonely tone to her voice.  

Joshua furrowed his brow, “Bloody hell Grace, Ross left home 10 years ago!”

“Oh I know!  But now he’s…gone for good…so will be starting his own family,” Grace couldn’t hold back her tears now.  Everything seemed to be a bit too much now.  Overwhelming.  The thought of her only surviving child, getting married, starting a new family life in London.  It felt so final to her.  Even though Ross had been on his own for several years, he still considered Nampara his home, but that feeling for him will soon fade away.  She knew it was only natural, and she dearly loved Demelza and couldn’t have asked for anyone better for Ross.  

“Mama, are you crying again?”

Ross’s tone jerked Grace out of her thoughts, “What…huh? Oh, um I’ve got somethin in my eye is all.  Did you get everything loaded up?  You ready to go?”

Ross could see through her pretense, smiled and leaned down and pulled her into his arms, “I love you mum.  You know that don’t ya?”  

“Yes, my handsome, I do.”

Grace looked up and saw Demelza standing there watching everything with a perplexed look on her face.  She really didn’t understand what was happening.  She didn’t understand the thoughts of a mother, or a father for that matter.  Demelza thought for the sake of a mother’s love, she should change her expression, so she tried to give Grace an understanding smile.  She knew how close Ross was with his mother, which didn’t bother her and she would never try to come between them.  Not many of her friends had close parental ties.  At least Caroline had her uncle.  It was at times like these that she felt like a misfit from the Land of Misfit Toys from the old Christmas classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 

“Demelza you must think I’m an old fool carrying on like this over her adult son getting married,” Grace wiped her tears away.

“Not at all, it’s all very sweet.  I’m sorry to intrude.  Ross, I just need to load up my cello and then I’ll be ready,” Demelza commented.

Ross stood up, “Oh, yeah right.  I almost forgot about the cello.  I’ll go get it.”

Joshua cleared his throat, “Sit down Demelza, take a load off before the day gets away from you.”

“Right.  I’m not sure when Ross will be ready to go to Killewaren.  Did he tell you that we’re taking family pictures after the ceremony?”

Grace was now smiling, “Yes he did.  I can’t wait to see you in your gown!  Ross said he thinks you chose the dress he picked out?”

She looked around her for signs of Ross, “Yes, I did, but I didn’t tell him that!  I can’t wait for you to see it.  I feel like a princess every time I put it on.”

“Oh Demelza, that’s the way you should feel!  I’m so happy for you,” Grace added.

“Thank you Grace,” Demelza leaned in to give Grace a hug.

Ross walked in carrying the cello, “What’s this?  More crying?”

“Oh, never you mind!” Grace sassed her son back while Joshua begrudgingly got up to hug Demelza as if it was torture.  “We’ll see you at the wedding Demelza.”

Ross shook his head at his father and grabbed Demelza’s hand and walked her out to their vehicle.  They both got in the car and she was giggling about Joshua’s gruffness, “Sometimes I just don’t know how to take your father, Ross.”

He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes, “Don’t worry about it luv, I don’t either.”

When Ross and Demelza pulled up to Kilewaren, Caroline, with giant curlers in her hair, came out to meet them shrieking her head off, then Demelza started screaming at Caroline and they both started hugging each other and laughing.  Dwight came out to help Ross with everything and both men were staring at the women, shaking their heads.  

Both men were laughing at the women carrying on.  “You’d think they haven’t seen each other for a year!” Dwight said.

“Right!  They just saw each other like 14 hours ago,” Ross was laughing, and then Ross jumped into Dwight’s arms and the two guys were screaming like girls and going on about the other one’s hair and makeup.

“Stop teasing us, Ross Poldark!” Caroline yelled at them.  

“Bloody hell Ross, you’ve put on weight!  I can’t hold you up like I used to,” and Dwight dropped Ross to the ground.

Demelza yelled at Dwight for dropping Ross, “Oi! Dwight, he can’t get hurt until after the wedding.”

Dwight picked up some of Demelza’s luggage, “That’s for damn sure.  See you later mate.  Don’t be late!”

Caroline and Dwight carried Demelza’s things upstairs while Ross and Demelza said good-bye.

Ross took both of her hands in his and smiled up at Demelza, “Well, I guess it’s about that time Mrs Poldark.”

“Ayes, a couple more hours until you can say that for real.”

Ross’s voice got softer, no more teasing, “I cannot wait.”

“Don’t forget Seamus,” she teased.

He chuckled back, “I won’t.”

“Right.  So I guess I’ll see you later then.  Don’t be late,” she warned.  “I’ll be the one wearing white.”

Ross tilted his head and sighed, “I’ll remember that,” he gently placed his hands on her face and pulled her in for a kiss, “I love you with all of my heart Demelza.  I’d do anything for you.”

A tear made its way down her cheek, “Oh Ross,” she whispered, “I love you,”  they leaned their foreheads together and sighed..

“I guess I better go,” Ross said softly.

“I guess so.”

He started to walk away and then turned back, “I’ll be the one wearing purple!” he joked.

“Better not Poldark!” She yelled back.

So it turns out I haven't made a WIP Wednesday post since December. Ouch. Anyway, for those who have been following this tale, here's a snippet from a future chapter of Duty.

Good old resourceful Ross.

....

“Mr. Phelps...erm…I mean…Sir.” The hotel page stammered, not sure what name to use with Ross now, his eyes darting nervously to see who might be within ear shot. They were alone in the dark corridor but Ross appreciated his caution all the same.

“This came for you, hand delivered. Messenger wouldn’t wait but I was to wait until you read it. He said to see that you received it straightaway.” 

The young man handed over a small envelope with R. Poldark elegantly scrawled across the front. Ross recognised the slightly old fashioned fist behind it at once. The stationery was heavy, expensive–another marker of its sender, one who would never skimp on manners or style, even when dashing off an urgent piece of correspondence.

Instinctively Ross paused before opening it. It wouldn't be welcome news. He fished in his satchel for his pen knife, then carefully lifted the thick wax seal without damaging the flap.