Poldark Fanfiction : What If ?

What if Demelza was not a miner's daughter, but a wealth lady instead ? Ross Poldark comes back from the battlefield and discovers that his first love is engaged to his cousin. Some weeks after their wedding, Ross decides to comfort himself by attending to a sumptuous ball. There, he meets a wonderful young woman with astonishing green eyes and long ginger hair…

Prologue

She is married.

Ross felt his blood boil in his veins. Even if it was not the first time that the thought reached his mind, it still strongly angered him. Elisabeth, the love of his life, his soulmate, had married his cousin. Francis.

Francis.

He frowned. When he was at war, he was constantly thinking about her. She was the only reason he wanted to go back. He often imagined himself reaching the altar to see her in a sumptuous white wedding dress, ready to be his wife. His lovely, gorgeous, wonderful wife. He could not stand the idea that Elisabeth was about to be a Poldark, but not by marrying him. When Francis announced him their engagement the night he arrived at Trenwith, Ross firstly believed that it was a bad dream, or at least, a bad joke. But it was not. He was living a total nightmare. Nempara was a mess, his father was dead, and he was completely alone in his sadness.

Watching the ring he had passionately kept on his finger as a symbol of hope, Ross could not fight against the heavy feelings that invaded his mind. Anger, jealousy and regrets were playing with his nerves. While a tear fell on his left cheek, he finally threw the ring away with all of his strength.

"Where is Demelza ?"

"I have no idea, Father."

Mr. Carne frowned at the answer. His daughter seemed to be always outside as if she could not resist the lure of fresh air. Leaving the room, he asked one of his servants to bring him his horse. Even if he had nothing against his daughter's will to walk alone as often as possible, it was too late for such a thing. Plus, he also knew that Demelza chose to go outside in order to clear her mind. The last time he saw her, a few hours before, they both had an energic quarrel, and the young girl had left with rage and tears. Even if he was sure that he was right about the delicate matter, Mr. Carne did not love to see her in such distress. Knowing her independent spirit, he had decided to leave her some space. But now, Demelza was unfindable and in a little hour, the sun would go down.

Sitting at the top of the hill situated near her father's domain, Demelza quietly watched the magnificent landscape in front of her. The white cliffs were far, but she could still see them, along with the great blue sea which seemed to dance upon them. Although the water was calm, she could feel some tension in the air. Lifting her head, she saw that the sky had turned grey. The atmosphere seemed to reflect her own mind. Even if her walk had appeased her, she was still strained. Taking a great breath of air, she suddenly heard her name.

"Demelza!"

Turning her head, she saw that her father was coming. He was on his black horse, his favorite one, Cinder. She did not move and refocused on the cliffs and the sea. Realizing that she was still upset, Tom approached a little more, but slower, as if she was a savage fawn. Once he was close enough, he rode down and walked to her.

"Please, Demelza, don't be so stubborn."

No answer. She did not even look at him.

"It is time to go home. Your brothers are waiting for you. We will take a proper supper together and think about something else."

"Of course, Father. I will follow you, as the adorable and loyal daughter that I am, and then I will politely wait for you to find me an "honourable man" that would be the perfect match for me and allow our name to stay in its centuries old dignity."

She had spoke quite calmly, but her tone was cold as ice.

"Demelza, stop this," said Mr. Carne who started to be exhausted.

"Why should I stop this? It is unfair!"

"Demelza, you are eighteen, and you are the only daughter I have. Do you think your brothers will take care of you when I will be gone?"

The idea to lose her father and the feeling to be a burden made her shiver. She bit her lip and stood proudly in front of him.

"I am already aware of this, Father. But I hate the idea to share my life with somebody I barely know and to be devoted to him. I do not want my life to be so devoid."

"Knowing your temper, your life will never be devoid, my child. I know you want liberty, but I prefer to be sure that you will be well without me."

Touched, she finally smiled at him.

"Please, we have to go home."

"You are right. It is time to leave."

Tom kissed her forehead. Even if she was obstinate and impetuous, he admired his daughter for her good heart and her cleverness. She looked like her mother. He finally helped Demelza to ride Cinder and walked beside her as she lead the horse in direction of Carne House.

"Dear Ross,

I am glad to announce you that a ball will be organised by one of our common acquaintances on next Saturday evening. Sir Adam Smeaton and his wife went to Trenwith this week in order to congratulate the newlyweds, and they also invited us at the same time in their event. I told them that you had returned home – an information they were happy to learn I can assure you – and they spontaneously decided to invite you too. I told Mrs Smeaton that I would propose you through this present letter, but she insisted to write you a proper invitation herself. I hope you will receive it soon.

Life at Trenwith goes on with joy. We are all happy for Francis and Elisabeth, but also for your presence here, in Nempara. I cannot wait to see you, my dear cousin, but I have to end this letter now. I hope you will attend to the ball.

With all my love and trust,

Verity."

A ball! He! At a ball!

After what he had to face during the wedding of Elisabeth and Francis, his cousin now begged him to go to another feast organised by the upper-society ! He hated balls. Most of all, he did not want to meet any of his relatives, neither Francis or Charles.

But Elisabeth and Verity?

Even if the sight of the first one caused him pain and distress he constantly tried to hide in public, seeing her was still a relief. He loved to suffer, if it meant to suffer for her. He could accept to love her in secret after all. But to do so, he had to show nothing of his passion to her or to anyone else. Even if the idea was pleasant, Ross did not know if he could face it perfectly. And of course, Ross loved to see Verity. She was by far his best friend and confident.

But going to a ball? Knowing all the things he had to do in Nampara and Wheal Leisure?

At first reluctant, Ross finally decided to accept the invitation. After all, the Smeaton were indeed good friends to the Poldarks, and they also were in relations with other great families of the county, families composed of ingenious men that could eventually be good investors or partners. It was definitely not by staying in his domain like a rat in his hole that Ross would manage to bring his father's enterprise its past prosperity. Plus, it would be a way to see Elisabeth, even though it would mean stay cordial with her in order to respect Francis.

Ross decided to wait for Mrs Smeaton's official invitation, which arrived some days after. Happy to read the polite writing of the lady, he chose to give this event a chance.

At least, if the ball appears to be a fiasco, there still will be alcohol and gamblers.

Taking a feather and a piece of paper, Ross wrote a positive answer to the invitation and asked Prudy to send it.