#poldark book 1: ross poldark

[love-little-lotte]

A Look Into My New Guilty Pleasure: Poldark (2015 Series)

My biggest weakness is period dramas — especially period dramas with a talented cast, sweeping romance, terrific scenes (preferably set in some kind of country/provincial side), and lots and lots and lots of just sitting around and talking.

That's probably why Poldark has captured my heart. As a big fan of Outlander, it's no surprise that I fell in love with this show. Outlander and Poldark have so many similarities that I may make a lengthy post about it, but for today, let me just rant about my new guilty pleasure. I'm so obsessed with this show that I actually finished watching the entire five seasons in one week!

Poldark is based on Winston Graham's novels and adapted by Debbie Horsfield. I was so excited to start this show, with a male protagonist originally written by a man, created and written for a series by a woman. I haven't read Graham's novels (I'm going to one of these days, I swear!), so I'm not sure how well Debbie's adaption worked. I've read many Reddit threads, though, and some fans of the novel are not that impressed with how she omitted and added details to the show (will get back to this once I've read the books or at least the seven ones that were used in the show). The show has also been adapted in the 70s, so this was not the first time Graham's novels were seen onscreen!

Despite not having read the books, I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the cast! The show follows Ross Poldark returning to Cornwall after fighting in the American War in the 1780s. He looks forward to marrying his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth but, believing him to be dead, is now engaged to his cousin Francis. He then tries to resurrect his family's mining business and hires a young girl Demelza to be his kitchen maid (whom he eventually marries) while also crossing paths with the villain George Warleggan, a corrupted banker who stops at nothing to ruin Ross's prospects and personal life. As the show progresses, we also meet other characters, including Prudie and Jud, Ross's servants, Verity, Ross's cousin and Francis's sister; Ross's friend Dr. Dwight Enys and his love interest Caroline Penvenen; Sam and Drake Carne, Demelza's brothers, and Morwenna Chynoweth, Drake's love interest.

Yes, this show has a large ensemble cast, and trust me, there always comes a point when you hate or love them. Especially our protagonist Ross Poldark. Ross... is an interesting character. He's terribly, terribly flawed and many times times, I'm so infuriated with him to the point that I want him to suffer. I swear, you cannot go through this series without screaming at Ross. (When that moment came up in Season 2, I swear I had my middle finger ready every time Ross showed up on my screen from then on.)

But my favorite character in the show is Demelza, Ross's wife who started as his kitchen maid. She's the heart of the show, the voice of reason, and even though she makes questionable decisions along the way, you can't help but get on her side no matter what. She's the perfect fiery yet gentle match to Ross's stubbornness. He treats her like shit many times in this show, which makes me angry to no end, but they eventually grow to be understanding, loving partners.

And it also helps that Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson have one of the best romantic chemistries I've ever seen. They're terrific actors as well and they bring the characters to life so effortlessly. They just seem like they have the best time shooting this show. I kind of want to rewatch Loving Vincent now just because they're in that movie, even just in supporting roles.

Poldark is a roller coaster, with so many ups and downs (mostly downs, to be honest, please give Demelza a break!) My favorite season has got to be Season 1. Season 1 had the best Ross and I loved the early stages of his relationship with Demelza. It also has my favorite episode: Season 1, Episode 8. That episode broke me so much, thanks to Aidan and Eleanor's perfect performances. It's the only time I ever cried watching this show. I usually cry in period dramas (I've cried countless times in Outlander and Downton Abbey), but for some reason, I only cried once in Poldark. Most of the time, I'm annoyed and infuriated (hahaha but I still love it!)

The romance in Poldark is also quite unique, something I haven't seen before. Ross and Demelza emotionally hurt each other many times in this show, and they don't have the best communication. It's not an ideal marriage, but that's what makes it so raw and real. It hurts when Ross sleeps with his first love Elizabeth or when Demelza falls for the much-sensitive Hugh Armitage, but these are challenges people face all the time, and it's interesting to view it in characters and circumstances through 18th-century lenses. Plus, it can be very tiring to see perfect couples onscreen all the time. So watching Ross and Demelza's relationship thrive, suffer, and reconcile is very refreshing to me.

Nevertheless, Ross and Demelza are still able to work together. Seasons 2 and 3 showcase the worst moments of their marriage, from infidelities to insecurity, but the love between them still perseveres and they learn to forgive. In the end, they realize that they belong together.

And despite the unconventional marriage, Poldark is not a stranger to grand romantic gestures. Two of my favorite Ross and Demelza moments occur in Season 2:

A real funny, old-married-couple type of bicker in The Beach Scene:

And of course, showing all intimacy in The Stocking Scene:

(Let's just not talk about what happened 2 episodes after this!)

The romance in Poldark not only ends with Ross and Demelza. We also got two really good couples in the series: Dwight and Caroline and Drake and Morwenna.

And these love stories don't just happen! They're fleshed-out characters with proper backgrounds and their own problems, especially Drake and Morwenna's relationship. Morwenna is one of my favorite characters, and she doesn't deserve all the shit thrown at her. The last season of Poldark is not the best (bordering on bad, actually, especially the last two episodes), but watching Drake and Morwenna get their happy ending is worth it.

Finishing all five seasons is bittersweet. I enjoyed most of the story and fell in love with different characters. I kind of regret watching everything in one week haha. But what can I say? As soon as I finish each episode, I'm so tempted to start another episode. I think the last time I stayed up until 5 AM the next morning to watch TV shows was Yellowjackets. Poldark's just too good to binge! It's one of my favorite TV shows now. Maybe I'll watch Sanditon next...

I want to write more about Poldark soon, maybe a comparison with Outlander or maybe just a post about each character. I realized I hadn't talked much about Elizabeth, Francis, and George in this post; I was too preoccupied with the love story aspects and Ross and Demelza. We'll see!

[pegleggysue]

“Demelza… Stiff old silk of the dress… The hooks. What had gotten into her? He had been drunk, but was it with liquor? The expense of spirit in a waste of shame is lust in action… past reason hated—how did it go? He had not thought of that sonnet the previous night. The poets had played him false. A strange affair. At least there had been an expense of spirit…”—Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787 (The Poldark Saga Book 1) by Winston Graham

Interesting to read the entire sonnet.

[asoiaf-fancasts]

Eddard Stark - Fancasts

Age: 08 - 36

18 - 20 [Tourney to End of

Rebellion]

26 - 27 [Greyjoys’s Rebellion]

Appearance: He has a long face with long brown hair. His beard is closely trimmed with grey starting come in making him look older. He has dark grey eyes. He is shorter than his brother and is allegedly plainer looking.

Character: Edmund Pevensie

Actor: Skander Keynes

Movie[s]: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian & Voyage of the Dawn Threader

[He’s 13/14 - 16/17 during the first two movies so good for when he is being fostered by Jon Arryn. He is the perfect age for during the Tourney of Harrenhal in the last movie. He has brown hair, dark eyes but not grey. He wears medieval ish clothes/armour along with 1930’s/1940’s clothes.]

Character: Piero di Lorenzo de Medici

Actor: Louis Patridge

Show: Medici [2016] [Season 3]

[He was 15/16 during this season so good for Ned being fostered by Jon Arryn. He has a long ish face,brown hair, dark eyes but they aren’t grey. He wears 15th century Italian clothes.]

Character: Gilbert Blythe

Actor: Lucas Jade Zumann

Show: Anne with an E [2017]

[He is 17 - 19 during this show so good for just before the Tourney at Harrenhal and during Roberts Rebellion. He has a long ish face, brown eyes that are dark but not grey. He wears 18th century clothes so he is better for close ups.]

Character: King William

Actor: Sam Claflin

Movie: Snow White and the Huntsman [2012]

[He was 25/26 during this movie is the right age for him during Greyjoy’s Rebellion. He has a long ish face, long brown hair, a closely trimmed beard and his eyes are a dark grey/brown. He wears fantasy medieval clothes.]

Character: Gawain

Actor: Dev Patel

Movie: The Green Knight [2021]

[He was 30/31 during this movie so too young for him in the book timeline. He has a long face with long dark brown/black hair and his beard is relatively short. He has dark eyes but they’re not grey. He wears fantasy clothes.]

Character: Uthred of Bebbanburg

Actor: Alexander Dreymon

Show: The Last Kingdom [2015] [Season 4]

[He is too young for Ned during the books at the start of the series at 32 but is around the right age for Ned in season 4 at 36/37. He has a long face, long brown hair and has a somewhat closely trimmed beard. His hair from season 1 is more accurate to Ned though. He unfortunately has light eyes of the wrong colour. He wears Norse ish clothes.]

Character: Alfred

Actor: David Dawson

Show: The Last Kingdom [2015] [Season 2 & 3]

[He is too young for Ned in season 1 but is around the right age for him in season 2 and 3 at around 35-36. He has a long face, his has somewhat long brown hair and a closely trimmed bread that has grey in it that makes him look older than his age.His eyes are dark but not grey. He wears Saxon clothes.]

Character: Ross Poldark

Actor: Aiden Turner

Show: Poldark [2015] [Season 4 & 5]

[He is too young for Ned during the first book at 32 -34 in earlier seasons but is around the right age at 34/35 - 36 in the last two seasons. He has a long face, long dark brown hair and dark eyes but they’re not grey.He wears 18th century clothes.]

Character: Robert Bruce

Actor: Chris Pine

Movie: Outlaw King [2018]

[He is a couple years too old for book Ned at 37/38 but I think he’s still okay because Ned is said to look older with the grey in his beard. He has long hair but it’s more grey than brown and his eyes are light blue. He does face a long face with a brown and grey beard. He has a wife that looks like Catelyn but is too young for book Catelyn but has a daughter perfect for Arya.He wears 14th century clothes.]

[thoughtsonpoldark]

ROSS POLDARK’s FALL FROM GRACE

A Mammoth monster edition essay on that 9th May 1793 incident with Ross Poldark and Elizabeth.

'In lust there is always conquest and destruction.'

‘Ross Poldark’ (Internal Book 1 Chapter 18 Part 2)

[capinejghafa]

tagged by @totchipanda thank you sooo much (pls enjoy the last lila update!)

top 3 ships: tenrose, kanej, diego and lila... as of now, but these have been pretty consistent for a while now.

first ever ship: jason and kimberly, mmpr :D i said what i said.

last song: ocean avenue by yellowcard... don’t judge me this song still holds up... kind of.

currently reading: i’m currrently inbetween a “few” books. (1) the roommate by rosie danan (almost done); (2) angels’ blood by nalini singh (i actually dnf this book originally and i’m retrying it again... it looks like i might not finish again); (3) a great and terrible beauty by libba bray (reread, trying to figure out why i liked it so much when i first read it; almost done); (4) book of just (#3 bohemian gospel trilogy) by dana chamblee carpenter (just kind of started); and (5) ross poldark by winston graham (it’s fine but also a little dull, I wanted to read it before i started the show but I also acknowledge that it’s very slow for me)... i start and stop books a lot. i do tend to give books a lot of chances to get better if it takes me awhile to get into which is why my reading pile is always so high. i also read a lot of fanfics when i don’t want to get invested in new characters/situations, aside from a few familiar characters... it sometimes helps. i have these moments where i need new characters! and then I get disappointed by the new characters lol i’m the problem.

last movie: i don’t watch a lot of movies these days BUT i did watch how the grinch stole christmas for xmas with my fam

currently consuming: candy that my next door neighbor brought me, she does this for holiday season

currently watching: rewatched iwtv and it is very multi-layer and excellent commentary on race and racism... and religious zealots. but also gay vampires and my murder daughter, claudia.  i also watch a lot of yt essayist/reaction/recap idk what they’re called these days lol

currently craving: to have an utterly boring next year lol like that’s it that’s the bar. i don’t want quiet per se but something very close to that.

tagging (no pressure): @willsilvertongue @enidsinclaiir @petersthree @kendalroys @marvinetta

[legopoldark]

LegoPoldark Poldark S1E1 Ross & Demelza first meeting (via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NVQhB7vF2w) from Ross Poldark, Book One, Chapter 6

“What is your name?” he said. “Demelza.” “Your Christian name, though?” “Please?” “Your first name.” “Demelza.” “A strange name." “Mother were called that too.” “Demelza Carne. Is that it?” She sighed and nodded, for she was well filled and the dog under the table grunted with her. 

[ms-march]

You mean to tell me that the Marquis de Lafayette is the man directly responsible for the three sexy seconds we got of Dwight Enys with a queue?

[thisbluespirit]

Endless list of ships: Demelza Carne/Ross Poldark (BBC 1975-1977).

“It won’t be forever.  Nothing is forever.  Take it while we can.  Live it.  Love it.  Laugh it.  Take whatever life gives and call it ours.  What danger, what chance, what love, what happiness.” // “I’m happy now.”

[autumncottageattic]

[legolaslovely]

you know, I was just minding my own business, drinking my tea and watching my nature shows on PBS when 

BAM

this very soft, very loving face appears on my tv for a moment just long enough for me to spit out my tea and dive face first into the warm, cushiony goodess that is Poldark season 1 and 2 (and all the books).

Goodbye cold cruel world, hello Ross and Demelza. 

[nervousladytraveler]

The Alibi

Inspired by the kiss prompt: A + B are in an argument, then they stop, just stare at each other, and then crash their lips together, because, like i said... fuck this shit Ross and Demelza

Requested by the lovely @veryflowerobservation

---

“God damn it, Demelza! I told you not to follow me tonight!”

For the last eight miles, Ross had been looking over his shoulder while Demelza drove. No one was behind them on the dark road, and it was most likely they’d been unseen, yet he continued to anxiously watch. There was nothing that would quiet the churning adrenaline that came from such a close call.

“Well it's a good thing I did follow you, otherwise…” Demelza snapped back at him.

“Otherwise what?!” He cut her off before she continued in what sounded like another self-righteous justification. Her words rang empty to him--she’d acted impulsively and it was just dumb luck that she hadn’t made things worse.

“You seriously ask me that?”

“Demelza, I would have sorted it instead of both of us being in danger!”

“No, Ross. In case you didn't notice I just saved your skin before you had anythin’ to sort. And you can’t just sort a thing like this with the police, by the way. Not even you. But now that’s a moot point and no one is in danger. Of gettin’ hurt or bein’ arrested--precisely because I came.“

Without any warning, Demelza took a sharp left at the Blowinghouse Turn bus stop, then minutes later turned right on the B3284 towards Truro. This whole time she’d kept the tiny Kia Forte steady at 30 mph, a frustratingly slow pace that further agitated Ross--and she was well aware that it would, no doubt. But she was right in her refusal to drive any faster. The last thing they needed now was trouble for speeding.

“Why didn’t you stay on the…” he started but stopped once he caught the acid look she flashed him. “You seem to know what you’re doing,” he mumbled.

“Yes, Ross. Yes, I do.”

To their relief, the road ahead remained empty. Then again people didn't really tend to be out driving at 2AM on a Tuesday unless they had urgent business. Or shady business.

“So was this all your plan all along--that you’d come out tonight and spy on me?” he asked.

“Spy? You’re not very good at keepin’ secrets, you know,” she sputtered. “Besides, you already told me what you were up to, just not when or where…”

“For good reason! Because I didn’t want you involved. But you told me that you’d stay home--you lied to me!” Ross’s dark voice filled the little car.

“Lyin’? You’re really speakin’ to me about lyin’?” Her laugh, bitter and sarcastic, met his anger head on.

Demelza Carne had worked for Ross Poldark for years now--since she was a teenager really-- first as an all around office assistant and recently as his bookkeeper. And she’d shown him time and again that she wasn't cowed by his moods. She was one of the few people in his life who wasn’t. She was also one of the few people in his life who hadn’t abandoned him once his business prospects began to fail. He shouldn’t have expected anything different from her tonight.

“But no, Ross, I hadn’t planned on interferin’ with your business. I do have a life of my own you know...“

“Demelza--wait--are you claiming I lied to you?”

“When you omit somethin’ on purpose, that’s also a lie,” she said calmly, then a moment later her agitation boiled up again. “Jesus, Ross! What were you thinkin’?! Comin out here on your own to meet those smugglers? You didn't think it was a set up?”

Smugglers. It rankled him that she insisted on calling Trencrom and his men smugglers as though this were some 18th century French scheme or an Enid Blyton novel, rather than a simple business arrangement.

But no matter what term Ross preferred, tonight proved it remained a dangerous business. And while the charge of “improper importation of goods chargeable with a duty which has not been paid” certainly sounded less exciting than smuggling, it still carried a severe penalty.

Tonight would have been Ross’s third transaction with Robert Trencrom, a local businessman who had approached him last summer with a proposition. It seemed that from time to time Trencrom and his associates had in their possession certain goods acquired through less than proper channels. What Trencrom needed was an unassuming place to store these goods until such a time when they could be distributed without suspicion. Nampara, Ross’s derelict farm, might provide the perfect cover since there were so many unused outbuildings, several that still had solid walls and intact roofs. It had been decades since the farm produced anything that needed storing, so why not let the space to others whilst Ross made a little cash on the side?

The past two times it had been Belgian cigarettes--not massive quantities but enough that the whole endeavour still carried a risk. Yet Ross’s involvement had been truly minimal, just as Trencrom had assured him. In fact, Ross had not even been home when the goods were delivered. Trencrom’s men had tucked the plastic barrels behind some rusting mowing machines, and Ross was only made aware that the goods had been removed some weeks later when an envelope of cash was left for him in his car.

And since these were cash transactions, Ross considered hiding them altogether from Demelza, who minded his books for him. But in the end, he explained in vague details what he had done and asked her not to question him further. Clearly she hadn’t approved but she said nothing.

It wasn’t drugs or weapons--or people--so it could be worse, he’d told himself. And as soon as he just got a little more out of debt, he’d cut ties with the lot.

When Ross didn’t hear from Trencrom all winter, he’d assumed the connection had faded and sighed in relief. He’d miss the income but not the entanglement.

Then a few weeks into May, Trencrom reached out again.

This time Ross was to be more involved and actually take delivery of the cargo himself. Naturally there would be considerable compensation--a figure Ross didn’t think he could refuse considering his current financial status. Trencrom hinted he’d been worried about the loyalty of such a big crew and so for this job he wanted to keep his circle small. He’d instructed Ross to meet them at the Rugby Football Club carpark just after midnight.

In the hours leading up to the hand off, Ross was determined to pass a quiet evening at home. So when his friend Dwight stopped by unannounced for a drink and a game of cards, he’d welcomed the diversion. He was also relieved that Demelza, who lived in one of the tiny cottages adjacent to the main house, seemed to deliberately be giving him a wide berth that day. She knew about the “business” Ross had later, but having already made her objections clear, there was nothing left to say on the matter. Normally she would have stayed--she liked Dwight Enys and the two of them playfully teased Ross as only true friends could. But tonight she left Ross with Dwight and went home early.

It was around 11PM that Ross received another call--the exchange point had apparently changed. He was now to meet Trencrom’s men at the airfield at 1:30 and he was to come on foot--without his car. The barrels were already loaded in a van so there was no need to remove them to another vehicle.That last detail did seem odd to him at the time. But once Ross had left for the appointment, he found it was a mild night, and figured he’d park at the beach and enjoy the walk to the airfield.

He was still almost a mile away when the familiar black Kia pulled up next to him. His every muscle tightened and he could hear the blood pounding in his ears.

“Demelza,” he’d hissed. “Get out of here!’

“Get in the car now, Ross,” she’d said simply.

“Look, Demelza, I know you don’t approve of this...” There was something in her eyes that made him take notice. Like an animal being hunted, she was on high alert.

“Get in,” she’d said again. “It’s a trap.”

“What?!” he’d asked, shaking his head in disbelief but still he climbed into the car without waiting for a satisfactory explanation.

“Seatbelt,” was all she’d said. He could hear the tension in her voice but she concentrated on the road ahead of her and didn’t even offer him a glance. “There,” she said finally and bid him to look to the right.

She drove on without slowing down so it was only a flash to him, still the chilling sight registered in his brain. Just beyond the tall hedges at the entrance to the airfield were three police cars, and two others that looked unmarked, all waiting in a circle with their headlamps off.

Demelza had been right--it had been a trap. And one he would have literally walked right into had she not shown up when she did.

It was doubtful that Trencrom was the one cooperating with the cops--it must have been one of the others in his crew. So Trencrom did have good reason to want to draw his circle closer. Ross wondered if he’d actually known there was a rat amongst them or just suspected it.

Ross knew he should be grateful for Demelza’s timely rescue but he couldn’t help resenting that she’d been right. She may have had a right to be so smug, but he didn't have to enjoy listening to her rub it in.

“I knew this would happen…” she muttered and drove on.

“Oh, you most certainly did not,” he growled. “No one did.”

“No one?” she laughed. “Well let’s see, Ross...the cops knew and someone else most certainly knew--whoever grassed on you, that is…”

“I would have thought, knowing you as I do, that you’d understand why I had no choice…”

“No choice? What sort of bullshit is that, Ross? Have you run round in your head how that really sounds? You know that's not an actual legal defense?”

“I mean I needed the money. I have a mortgage payment due and…”

“Yes, I am aware of that, Ross. Knowin’ me as you think you do, you should have talked this over with me. I’m your bookkeeper, for fuck’s sake.”

He didn’t want to think about what he should have done and whether he’d pushed her away as she claimed. He had good reason not to involve her--he’d wanted to avoid just such an argument with her.

And he also wanted to protect her.

“Turn left up here then pull over at the top of the hill and let me drive,” Ross grumbled as she rolled into the sleeping town.

“You’re most certainly not drivin’ my car!” she huffed but nonetheless turned as he had directed and pulled into the car park at the back of the Star and Garter Inn.

It was a clever move. They hadn’t spoken it but they both knew their friend Jinny Martin would be working the desk tonight. Perhaps she could get them a room and they could wait it out there until morning.

Demelza switched off the headlamps and then after a moment’s hesitation, the engine as well.

Ross heard her take in a sharp breath--more like a hiss--and waited for the tempest to continue.

“Well, yes,” he said just a beat before she opened her mouth to speak. “When the pick-up location changed last minute, I might have seen it was a set up.” It wasn't an apology but he hoped he could buy himself some time before her next eruption. “But I never imagined anyone involved in this arrangement would ever inform on me…”

“Oh Ross! I would have guessed it, and am surprised it didn't happen sooner. Honour amongst thieves and all that.”

“They aren’t--we aren’t--thieves.”

“Ok, not thieves per se but it’s still criminal activity to take delivery of smuggled cargo. Ross, you think you’re such a great judge of character but that lot...they’re greedy bastards and they just aren't your friends.”

“And you are?”

She stared at him, wide eyed and open-mouthed, unbelieving that he’d actually questioned her loyalty when she’d just saved him from a possible seven year prison sentence.

“Demelza, that came out wrong,” he said. Again it wasn’t an apology. At least not in its tone.

“Everythin’ you say comes out wrong, Ross. Or do you actually mean to be such an absolute arsehole?”

“Can’t you just admit that you could have put yourself in danger back there? With both Trencrom’s crew and the cops?” He put his hand on her arm and was surprised at how strong her muscles felt as she gripped the steering wheel. Instinctively he pulled away.

“Can’t you just admit how stubborn and stupid you can be?” Usually so bright and reassuring, her voice was hoarse from such rough use tonight.

“I’m stubborn?” he asked.

“No one saw me, Ross. And the important thing is that the police didn't see you. So you’re safe.”

“Well…”

“I suppose even if the cops had your name as someone possibly involved, since they didn't actually catch you doin’ any illegal activity, they can’t arrest you. Besides I’m your allibi for this evenin’. We can stay here overnight in case they’re watchin’ the house, and I’ll take you back to to pick up your car in the mornin’.“

“Wait! What if there’s CCTV here?” Ross felt a renewed jolt of panic tear through him.

“All the cameras are on the front of the building and the side where the guests park. This section is for employees.” She pointed to the few other cars around them. Older, tatty, bought second hand on the cheap but still at a cost as they most likely required constant maintenance. These were the cars of service workers--night clerks, cleaners, cooks. He recognised Jinny’s old Skoda with it’s Leicester City FC sticker on the rear. That car had been in the Martin family for almost two decades now and somehow, through mechanical expertise or through sheer will, her resourceful father had managed to keep it running. No one would bother these cars with the shiny new BMWs and Audis on the other side of the hotel.

“What about traffic cameras? Back along the road?” Ross asked, not sure if he was being cautious or paranoid.

“Maybe, but Ross, there’s no law against bein’ out with a woman.”

“Who happened to pick me up on the side of the road in the middle of the night…”

“Well, let’s assume we had to meet up in the cover of dark to avoid gossip since you’re my boss...and because of your jealous girlfriend.”

“Demelza, you know I don’t have a girlfriend,” he grumbled. “This is ridiculous…”

“I know that, but the police wouldn’t. A clandestine affair--a fake one of course--is a perfect cover for sketchy behaviour. But if you’d prefer I not be your alibi…”

“This isn’t a game!” he snapped again. He couldn’t stand that she’d laughed just now. Then a thought hit him and he had to ask. “How did you even know where I was going? That I’d be heading from the beach towards the airfield on foot?”

“Dr. Enys told me.”

“What? This just gets more unbelievable! Dwight knew this was top secret--why the hell did he tell you?”

“Top secret but still you told him?” she snorted. “Well, I’m glad you did, I suppose. He couldn’t follow you himself--he’d a call from one of his ‘patients’, which I think was actually code for Caroline wanted him to come round’--so he thought I might be able to stop you. At least he has some faith in me.”

“Oh come on, this isn’t about what I think of you…”

“Isn’t it though? You clearly don’t trust me and you don’t think I can handle myself and you think I’m silly.”

“Silly?”

“Oh sorry--ridiculous was the word you just used. Anyway Dwight was wary of the whole arrangement and thought it stank to high heaven.”

“Why didn’t he tell me that himself?!”

“He said he did--did you actually listen? And before you get angry at him, you should thank your lucky stars that he was still at Nampara when Trencrom sent word of the ‘new’ meetin’ point...”

“It wasn’t Trencrom who rang me,” he corrected her. “It was Charlie who told me the meet up was moved to the airfield.”

“Charlie Kempthorne? That tosser? Are you shitting me? And you didn’t think it was suspicious that Charlie would be privy to some secret revised plan and you wouldn’t?” she scoffed. “But really, Ross, you should be fucking grateful to have Dwight as a mate. He’s a real friend, you know.”

“I never said he wasn't.”

“No, you just said I wasn't,” she snorted.

“Oh come on, Demelza. You know I didn't mean that. What are you going on about?”

“In case it isn’t clear, Ross,” she hissed, “I am still so angry at you.” She spoke through clenched teeth. “That you got involved with those weasels in the first place, that you shut me out, that you almost...”

“It’s none of your business!” he shouted. “Why are you being this way?”

“Okay, it’s not my business and I’m not your friend, just some stupid girl who works for you and is used to clearin’ up your messes--and who knows she’ll be out of that job if--no, sorry--when you get nicked. Fuck this shit. And fuck you, Ross!” Without looking at him, she stepped out of the car and slammed the door.

Ross immediately followed her, afraid that she’d keep shouting and wake the hotel. She stopped in her tracks a few yards away and stood silently. It might have been the first time in nearly thirty minutes that she’d stopped yelling at him. Ross leaned against the still-warm bonnet of the car and exhaled.

Perhaps she’d known what she was doing, parking the car in a farthest corner of the lot, under a broken street lamp. They were completely hidden in shadow, still Ross could make out her face--her narrowed, feral eyes, her gnashing teeth that gleamed in the faint moonlight. For a moment he thought she might bite him.

He cautiously took a step forward then paused to read her posture.

The chill in the air--and in the words they’d just thrown at each other--was causing her shoulders to shake. He noticed she was wearing a blue jumper just a shade darker than her brilliant eyes. The sleeves were too long, and she’d had to repeatedly push them up, but they wouldn't cooperate and now hung past her fingertips.

It was his, he then realised, the old one he usually left hanging on the peg by the front door.

He almost asked her what she was wearing--or rather why she was wearing it--but instead, aware that he’d been moved and not all sure of the reason, he did something else. He made two broad strides towards her.

Startled, she looked up at him. Her shining eyes lit the night.

“Yes, like you said...fuck this shit…” he laughed and put his hand on her elbow, pulling her towards him. He expected resistance, but he found none.

It was only a moment that they just stared at each other but it felt eternal, and then at some unspoken signal, they crashed together.

It was an untidy and urgent kiss--almost violent in its clumsiness had it not been fueled by such sincere desperation. Then, as they both found their breath, their arms found each other. A great weight had been lifted--one that neither Ross nor Demelza even realised they were shouldering until that moment.

He wove his hands through her hair and kissed her again. This time their lips worked together, carried by the flood of surging desire and long-sought release.

“Demelza, I’m so sorry I got you in this.” His voice was low but soft. Now his hands framed her face, afraid she might slip away like sand through his fingers.

“Ross, I was just so scared for you.”

He could hear the tears she was trying to hold back and understood why she’d been so angry with him. He’d been such a spectacular idiot, and in more ways than one.

“Me too. When you turned up, Demelza...my blood ran cold at the thought that I'd lured you into danger. I would never let anyone hurt you…” He ran the backs of his fingers gently down her cheek then kissed her pulsing temple.

“I couldn't leave you Ross, I just couldn't,” she cried into his neck.

“Thank you for caring for me even though I don’t deserve it. Come, you’re shivering. Let's go inside. We can talk more…” But instead of letting her go, he pressed her closer until he was certain he could feel her heart beating against his.

“I don't want to talk anymore,” she sniffled.

“Me neither. I just want to touch you and know you are safe.”

“Will you, Ross?”

Good god, I’ll never let you go, he thought.

“And can you trust me?” When she looked up at him, the hunted, defensive animal was gone. Now she was raw, vulnerable. She was softly opening herself to him, and doing so completely.

Ross understood what would happen next, what was happening now. He felt it in his gut and knew things would never be the same.

“Of course I do,” he whispered. “More than anyone.”

The darkness of the night--their secret accomplice--wrapped herself protectively around them.

Demelza lifted her face towards him and Ross kissed her once more.

[kaciefaithkress]

Alright fellow bisexuals. Give me some of your “I would marry either of them” straight couples.

Idc if they’re celebrities or characters from movies, books, etc. Here are some of mine:

1. Ross & Demelza (“Poldark”)

Even better if they’re the book versions.

2. Alex & Elisa (“Quien Mato a Sara”)

3. Charles & Monique (“The Serpent”)

Monique and Villanelle are my style icons.

4. Sylar & Elle (“Heroes”)

Yes I know I very obviously have a very bad thing for serial killers. And yes I am concerned about it.

5. Nick & Adalind (“Grimm”)

I first watched this show when I was 10 and y’all...

6. Wolf & Virginia

I literally love these two.

7. Daenerys & Daario

Show-Daenerys is kind of lame but she’s hot.

8. These Two (“In the Dark”)

I’m sorry I forgot their names...

Okay I’ll stop now. Please reblog with your answers!

[exlibrisfangirl]

Tagged by @angel-in-a-big-blue-box 😘

I'm going to assume we're talking exclusively about romantic ships here, so...

1. First ship:

Han/Leia (Star Wars)... a looong time ago, in a galax- well, you get the idea. It was a long time ago, way before I knew what "shipping" was (and before the internet existed).

2. First OTP:

Sorry but all of my ships are OTPs. It’s OTP as in they are the ONE TRUE PAIRING FOR EACH OTHER….obviously. <- I am not even going to change a single word of this, because Anna is 100% CORRECT (but the answer is the same as above: Han/Leia).

3. Your ship since the first minute:

Fitzsimmons (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

Henry Tilney/Catherine Morland (Northanger Abbey)

Ross/Demelza (Poldark)

Jamie/Claire (Outlander)

Anne/Gilbert (Anne of Green Gables)

Aramis/Anne (BBC The Musketeers)

Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens)

Rory/Jess (Gilmore Girls)

Olicity (Arrow)

Will/Djaq (BBC Robin Hood)

Captain Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Malec (Shadowhunters)

Danielle/Henry (Ever After)

there are probably more, I'm tired

4. Current favourite ship:

Derek/Chris (Teen Wolf)

Hardison/Parker/Eliot (Leverage)

Supercorp (Supergirl)

Lois/Clark (Superman & Lois)

Penelope/Colin (Bridgerton)

Nina/Matthias (Shadow and Bone/Six of Crows)

Wayhaught (Wynonna Earp)

Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens)

5. Ship that most of the fandom hates but you love:

I honestly can't think of any.

Now if you were to ask me about ships fandom loves that I... well, lol. You know what? I'm going to add that question, because goshdangit... I want to answer it!

5b. Ship that most of the fandom loves but you... don't:

Sterek (Teen Wolf)

Darklina (Shadow and Bone)

Merthur (BBC Merlin)

Arthur/Gwen (BBC Merlin)

Guy/Marian (BBC Robin Hood)

Bagginshield (The Hobbit)

Reylo (Star Wars)

Wolfstar (Harry Potter)

Bellarke (The 100)

6. You don’t even watch the show, but you ship it:

Destiel (Supernatural)

Flint/Silver (Black Sails)

Uh... no idea.

7. Ship you wish had a different storyline:

Literally every single one where one half dies and the other is forced to keep going <- BRO, SAME. There are so many of them, too. 😩

Every, single ship I ship from Babylon 5: Delenn/Sheridan, Susan/Talia, Susan/Marcus

Wash/Zoe (Firefly)

Mary/Matthew (Downton Abbey) <- that messed me up so badly I stopped watching, lol

Queliot (The Magicians)

Hotspur/Kate (Henry IV Part I, The Hollow Crown)

Olicity (Arrow)

Jon/Ygritte (Game of Thrones)

I know there are more, but my brain is just laughing at me now...

Then there are the ships where BOTH DIE:

Remus/Tonks (Harry Potter)

[Redacted because I realized it would be a major spoiler for one of my mutuals who is currently watching this series for the first time. *waves* You're welcome!]

Aaand then there's the ship where one of them permanently turns into a TREE:

Eretria/Amberle (The Shannara Chronicles)

Oh, and the one where Half Number 1 spends the rest of her life living in an alternate dimension with a CLONE of Half Number Two:

Ten/Rose (Doctor Who)

8. Ship you wish was canon:

Eretria/Amberle (The Shannara Chronicles)

Kahlan/Cara (Legend of the Seeker)

Supercorp (Supergirl)

Morgan/Garcia (Criminal Minds)

Derek/Chris (Teen Wolf)

9. Ship you wish had become endgame:

Rory/Jess (Gilmore Girls)

Choni (Riverdale)

Ten/Rose (Doctor Who) <- nO, TenToo does not count

Han/Leia (Star Wars) <- I was so upset that the sequels broke them up, I refused to watch after TFA, lol

10. Favourite ship that is endgame:

John/Aeryn (Farscape)

Sheridan/Delenn (Babylon 5)

Stydia (Teen Wolf)

Olicity (Arrow)

Captain Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Will/Djaq (BBC Robin Hood)

Aramis/Anne (BBC The Musketeers)

Fitzsimmons (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

Monrosalee (Grimm)

Malec (Shadowhunters)

Riker/Troi (Star Trek: TNG)

Jamie/Claire (Outlander)

Danielle/Henry (Ever After)

Faramir/Eowyn (LOTR) <- but honestly more the book version than the films

Xena/Gabrielle (Xena: Warrior Princess)

Anne/Gilbert (Anne of Green Gables)

John Thornton/Margaret Hale (North and South)

Elinor/Edward (Sense and Sensibility)

Fanny/Edmund (Mansfield Park)

Benedick/Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing)

and probably lots more I am forgetting!

Tagging: @seven-oomen @takadasaiko @dreamersscape @mostly-vo1d @voidstilesplease @oddwriter @magic-multicolored-miracle @rebakitt3n @jchthys @faithfire @woozapooza @ardricael @shieldmaidenofsherwood and/or anyone else who wants to do it!

[thoughtsonpoldark]

Moving on From Elizabeth is another great essay! I look forward to your insights. I would love to know your view on the meeting between Ross and Elizabeth at Sawle Churchyard. She hated Ross, hadn’t talk for years and tells him about George’s suspicions. That is a loaded scene. Then Ross’s internal thoughts after, why he didn’t tell Demelza of the meeting, “So all must be kept secret. And all must be left unsaid.” - that whole section. Then the question of who was Valentines father.

Hi there. You are right that the Churchyard meeting is very loaded. That’s since they did not see each other for so long and there were so many issues to address. What happened that May night, who was to blame, how they feel about each other and the issue of Valentine's paternity etc.

Elizabeth’s Hatred

I think Elizabeth’s hatred of Ross was understandable on three levels. Firstly my position is that she was the victim of Acquaintance rape which can have a different reaction from the typical victim response to a stranger rape. Secondly as Ross said he did an offence against Elizabeth that night that was 'indefensible' but his failure to come back to see Elizabeth either to explain and/or apologise was an additional and ‘crowning’ insult. Thirdly by the time of this meeting she had faced turmoil over the paternity of Valentine, the deception she was having to keep up against her husband and the damage his suspicion was causing to their marriage. So the consequence of Ross’s assault add additional layers to her anger and hate.

Answers on consent or not for 9th May

It is natural that readers would play close attention to the dialogue in this scene to try and decipher if that May night was consensual. I think Winston Graham does a good Job at still not making their dialogue so blatantly conclusive. However if you have seen my post on a Judgment Of Rape (A Case of Rape or Not For Ross Poldark) I think this is largely because like Morwenna with Reverend Osborne, Elizabeth’s fight or flight response was to flop and not to resist after the first shock. That means that while Ross is able to taunt Elizabeth that she did not treat him like the devil, he was unable to suggest that she clearly participated willingly as a joint venture. Overall, aside from that Ross repeatedly made comments where he seemed to accept the blame and which she agreed with but as if to find some way to pull her in to holding some blame too, he engages in victim blaming that it was her behaviour towards him over the years before that played a part in why he acted the way he did.

Ross’s diplomacy for peace

Aside from the above it is clear that Ross wanted to foster peace with Elizabeth at this meeting as Graham wrote that ‘As he grew older his own tendencies were to try to repair the breaches that past enmities had made.’ This is consistent with him later thinking that he tried to make Elizabeth think he loved her. We know that in a way he still does but not in the way she would want him to still love her or that competes with his love for Demelza. Yet he made sure to speak with blurred lines and to say that he had done what he did that May night because he loved her and that she had been the love of his life. Ross had a good tactic there because after all her catty, angry sarcastic replies to him Graham wrote ‘She was silent. Then in a voice somewhat changed, as if his words had at last made a difference....’  It is clear that he had appealed to her vanity and her need for admiration. However this is against a backstory of Ross from at least the second book starting to question if he really did love her. (‘Was it because he loved Elizabeth – or because her knew her less?’ ‘Jeremy Poldark’  Book 2 Chapter 6 )

What stands out for me from this discussion is

1. Ross saying in respect of what he did to her and to deny that he had said something to make George suspicious about Valentine "Love can't turn to that much hate." In my post ‘Ross Poldark's Fall From Grace (A Thin line between lust and hate for Elizabeth)’ , I document that 9th May was motivated largely by Ross’s momentary anger and hate for Elizabeth rather than his love. Therefore this comment from him seems to support this and that hate was definitely in the mix but to a certain extent.

2. Despite admitting what he did was wrong Ross does not actually apologise for what he did to Elizabeth! Instead he is more defensive at times taunting and not really apologetic in tone.  

3. Ross admits that until seeing Elizabeth and how angry she was, that he did not regret it 9th May. Given all his thoughts in Warleggan about how badly he had behaved this should be an eyebrow raising comment. In a way that is almost insulting for both Demelza and Elizabeth. However based on his discussion with Demelza at the end of Warleggan it seems that Ross saw his night with Elizabeth as the very thing that made him realise that what he had with Demelza was a different league (real love) and killed the feeling of missing out with Elizabeth having realised he did not truly love her. So in a sense he didn't regret it because he viewed the incident as one that helped him in coming to that discovery once and for all- that he did not have second best.

Not telling Demelza about the Meeting

I think Ross did this due to fear and a small dose of PTSD from his 7 month separation with Demelza as a result of what happened with Elizabeth and also Demelza nearly walking out on him when he did eventually try to be honest and confront the issue of his infidelity head on. It seems that nearly losing Demelza really did affect him and he mentioned this near loss a year later in the next book. Here after meeting Elizabeth he took the view that when it came to his infidelity with her ‘ ..this was the one subject on which Demelza’s wisdom could be drawn off course by the lode star of her emotions. You could expect no other. It was a dangerous and nasty situation that he saw ahead…’  He thought ‘ once bitten, twice shy’  and that there would be ‘ hell to pay…´if what happened before happened again where they got into an argument and said things they didn’t mean. This includes his comment to Demelza about gratifying Captain McNeil which made her run up the stairs and pack her bags only for Ross to reassure her in the rain that he had not really meant what he said. Ross was genuinely fearful and thought of this in quite strong terms that this last blow up had nearly led to the break up of his marriage. So whilst he did the wrong thing here in his secrecy, on a human level, based on his fear I think it can be understood why he decided it was not worth the strife.

Not telling Demelza Valentine could be his

I think that in many ways Ross compartmentalised this paternity issue almost to the back of his mind and it is not something he is shown as dwelling over much. If so his main concern was not the truth but that whatever the case George did not have the suspicion that he, Ross was the father. Secondly, just like Demelza did on some matters with Hugh, there was a withholding of the details by Ross so as not to create another point of conflict and one that would forever cause the other person pain or even embarrassment by speaking openly and in detail about such a matter. It seemed that both Ross and Demelza at times preferred to leave things unsaid or unconfirmed while knowing that the other had an idea of the truth. This was also in relation to Demelza actually physically cheating with Hugh. Ross kind of knew this might have happened but didn’t want details- or chose not to seek it out. That is self protection and a coping mechanism. Equally Demelza kind of knew Valentine could be Ross’s but never pushed for confirmation either or to discuss this in great depth. In the later books they talk about Valentine as if they both know he might be Ross’s but don’t really say it out in the open to each other until the last book. That approach is often done when a topic is too painful to address and confirm so very explicitly. Ross’s plan to keep this secret is an awareness of the pain and hurt it would cause to Demelza and it also explains why Ross was fuming when John Treneglos visited him in ‘Bella Poldark’ and spoke as if Valentine was his son despite the risk that Demelza could have been around. Ross stated that if Demelza had heard she would have been upset and affronted by John’s suggestions. Again, even though he knew Demelza kind of knew the truth these were delicate matters where pain could be saved if withheld or these 'mistakes' was easier to cope with when treated as mere possibilities.

Also to be fair to Ross Valentine's paternity was a matter that was never and could never be confirmed, so that was another reason not to burden Demelza a painful issue that was just a possibility at that stage after he met Elizabeth. As Valentine grew up and they both saw it was more likely they began to skirt more closer to this in conversation.  

[immobiliter]

People I’d like to know better

1. Alias / Name: Lottie 2. Birthday: 27th June  3. Zodiac Sign: Cancer 4. Height: 5′7″ 5. Hobbies: writing is the obvious one, but gaming has also become much more of an active hobby for me over the past year or so. i’m also trying to get back into reading. 6. Favourite colour: purple 7. Favourite book: my two all time favourite novels are Jane Eyre and Emma 8. Last played song: When I Grow Up, West End cast of Matilda  9. Last film / show: i was meant to start watching s2 of Penny Dreadful as i promised @iniziare​ i would do next, but then i saw that all five series of Poldark were on netflix and so here i am, already partway through s2 and enjoying watching actual human disaster ross poldark in action lmao 10. Recent reads: the last book i actually finished was Ruin and Rising, but i’ve recently returned to Drums of Autumn determined to finish it and never have to read it ever again.

11. Inspiration: my inspiration to write comes from all sorts of things ( and it’s more likely than not that my inspiration to write is higher whenever i’m not at my computer and able to write lmao ). for my ‘bigger’ canon muses, i have youtube videos saved that always help me get into the characters’ headspace, and several muses are lucky enough to have their own spotify playlists too, as well as pinterest boards that give me a lot of visual inspiration ( i’ve learned over the years that i’m a visual and auditory learner so those are the best two means of tapping into my creativity as well ). all of these things help me particularly when switching between two muses on this blog because -- in short, when it comes to writing here i tend to always pick two or three muses that i want to focus on over a certain period ( usually over the course of a couple of weeks ), as that helps narrow down my focus as if i was writing on a multimuse with a much smaller roster than i currently have lmao. grouping my muses by genre on my muse page has also helped, as i can then decide ‘okay i want to focus on my sci fi muses for the next two weeks’ and i have a visual indication of who those muses are. sometimes, however, the muses i pick are from complete opposite ends of the spectrum ( so i might pick jamie and garrus, for example ), in which case having those visual and audio cues from playlists, pinterest boards and the like helps me to switch between the two settings as well as the two characters. 12. Story behind URL: it’s really not that exciting. i picked this url back when latin urls were in vogue, taking immobiliter as to mean immovable / fixed because the muses i had on the blog at the time all fitted that description in one way or another. it’s far less relevant now because my muses are so broad, but the brand has stuck and now i’m reluctant to change it lmao.

13. Fun fact about me: i read this and literally forgot every interesting thing ever about me but uhhh something that was always quirky about me when i was younger in particular is that i’m right-handed but left-footed. i used to play a lot of football (soccer) when i was young ( only in terms of you’d always find me on the football pitch hanging out with the boys in my class in true tomboy fashion lmao ) and it was always something that was commented on by people.

Tagged: @iniziare​ Tagging: if you’re reading this, you are tagged!

[thescorpioracer]

Seeing your Demelza posts on my dash makes me so happy 🖤 I loved the books, she’s one of my favourite female characters written by a man and yes, the final season of Poldark was… not great.

Hey friend 🌊 I was going to reply with an unfiltered rant about that final season to commiserate with you, but honestly I’ve blocked so much of it out of my mind that I really can’t remember any details lol

That show used to be a comforting watch, something substantial that wasn’t overly complex. I’ve only read one and a half of the book so far, but the show was such a nice way to do a period drama adaptation, especially when the story and the main relationship spanned so much time.

That last season felt like the creators were trying to be Woke™️ but for all the wrong reasons. They somehow villainized Caroline and made Demelza into this housewife, and then it just ends (spoiler alert) with Ross abandoning his family because he’s restless and needs new adventures leaving Demelza alone while pregnant with his child?? He regresses all the way back to his pre-season 1 self and then that’s the end? Really, that’s all we get? And Geoffrey Charles’ plotline went nowhere so I don’t know why we spent all that time on it, and then Morwenna just lets her son go? Like maybe it’s #HistoricallyAccurate if it happens that way, but come on, the show is like an intelligently written romance novel, why are we doing this?

Because of that ending I’ve completely forgotten that it was a show I once liked until a nice gif comes across my dash. And those are nice, because the show is so so pretty and was the reason my friend and I went to Cornwall last year lmao