The Poldark Saga: Books 1 - 3 by Winston Graham

Author:Winston Graham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2018-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

That week another invitation reached the Poldarks. George Warleggan had decided to hold a party on the day of the celebrations. His guests would sup at Warleggan House, then go on to the Assembly Room for the evening, returning to Warleggan House to sleep. He would be glad if Ross and his wife would be of that number.

Ross wanted to refuse. With a rupture certain between himself and George he had no wish to be beholden to him. But for Demelza it was the last step of ambition to see the Warleggans at home, and though she trembled and hesitated after the fiasco of the christening, she would have been desperately disappointed to miss it.

So Ross chose to give way and, once the acceptance had gone, he quietly looked forward to the day, as he always looked forward to taking Demelza out. When Mrs. Kemp came, she was not allowed to go near the spinet but, instead, was pressed into teaching Demelza the steps of the more popular dances and giving her lessons in deportment.

Since Demelza’s good humors were so pervasive as to give a lead to the whole house, the mood at Nampara became one of pleasurable anticipation. Julia, kicking in her cot, crowed and laughed and joined in the fun.

On the sixteenth of April, Ross had gone up to the mine and Demelza and Jinny and Jane were brewing mead.

They were enjoying themselves. They had stirred six pounds of honey into a couple of gallons of warm water and added some dried elder flowers and ginger. It was on the fire to boil in a large pan, and Jane was skimming it with a spoon whenever a frothy scum formed on the surface.

Upon the domestic scene fell the shadow of Zacky Martin aslant in the afternoon sun. As soon as she saw him Demelza knew something was wrong. No, Captain Poldark was not here; he would be up at the mine. Zacky thanked her stolidly enough and moved off.

Jinny ran to the door as he went. “Father. What’s amiss? Is it to do wi’ Jim?”

“No, there’s no call for you to worry,” said Zacky. “It was just that I wanted for to see Cap’n Ross on a point or two.”

“Well, I thought—” said Jinny, half reassured. “I thought as…”

“You’ll need to get used to me in and about the house now, Jinny. I’m workin’ for Cap’n Ross, you did ought to know that.”

She watched him move away and then returned to the kitchen with a troubled face.

Zacky found Ross talking to Captain Henshawe among the mine buildings on Leisure Cliff. He gave Zacky an inquiring glance.

“Well, sir, it is about Jim. You mind what that man said at the ticketing about Bodmin Jail being crowded with the rioters who’d be there till next sessions?”

Ross nodded.

“Well, this morning, getting about more, y’understand on business, as I do now, I heard tell that many of the old prisoners had been moved to other jails to make room.”

“Was the word reliable, d’you judge?”

“’Twas, I reckon.

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