Poldark 2.05

Previously: Francis died just as he was becoming a decent human. Ross has to cough up 1400 pounds by Christmas.

Day over the mine, and Ross is looking over his domain. Elizabeth, in black, places a vase of fresh flowers under Francis’ portrait in the study. Verity also comes in, and weeps. D also stand above a cliff in the wind, stressed and worried.

In the mine, Henshawe muses that it’s hard to think of Francis being gone, and Ross agrees, especially when he was so excited about the samples that were just fool’s copper. “Leaving his widow with nothing, but debt and shares in a failing mine.”

At Nampara, Ross is leaving for Trenwith to check on Elizabeth. This is clearly a common thing, as D asks if Verity’s company isn’t enough for Ross. Ross is unwilling to have this argument, and kicks Seamus into a trot, and then a gallop along the cliff.

Inside Trenwith, Elizabeth is in her riding habit (and doing that cheek-pinching thing), while she primly tells Verity and Aggie that Ross is bringing Geoffy-Chuck to the mine, and since she is the trustee of the estate, he brings her weekly reports (“Sometimes twice weekly,” Aggie tells Verity). Geoffy-Chuck enters to announce that “Uncle Ross is here, mama” and Elizabeth snaps, “Who else can I depend on?”

Oh, George. George is in his drive, when Cary comes out with the demand letter for Ross’ debt (“paid in full”) the day after Christmas. “Do they serve plum pudding in debtor’s prison?”

Outside Wheal Grace, Ross and Geoffy-Chuck are on Seamus, and Elizabeth is on her horse. Ross offers her his coat, but she says no, she must learn to grow a thicker skin. Then she admits that she misses Francis, and Ross says he misses him, too. Elizabeth never thought Francis was the most “practical” of men, but that he dealt with things more than she knew-finance and the estate and now she has to make all the decision. Ross reminds her that she can always call on him, and she’s like, I do, way more than I should! But Ross has all these other worries! Like the promissory note! (“The amount is MUCH exaggerated.”) And the mine? Eh, Ross says. They’ll figure it out, and she’s not to worry her pretty head. “Uncle Ross takes care of us so well!” Geoffy-Chuck smiles in that way kids do when they’re humoring an adult. (You know, a fic of this story from G-C’s point of view would be FASCINATING.)

At Nampara, Demelza, who knows what it’s like to be super poor, is hiding food in secret panels. She tells Prudie not to mention it to Ross – she doesn’t want him knowing that she fears the worst. But, Prudie says, if the worst does happen, then they’ll need more than that to see them through. D tells Prudie to hush up, if this is going to be Ross’ last Christmas at home for a while, she’ll make it a good one.

On the beach, Enys, Rosina, and Charlie find a body washed up on shore, probably from a wreck off of St. Ann’s the night before. Enys examines the body a bit, and then tells Charlie to take Rosina home, and he’ll take care of the body. Charlie offers his arm, and when Rosina hesitates, he tells her that she really OUGHT to take his arm, “For fear thy tipsy leg will buckle beneath thee.” Rosina does, and Enys watches her hobble a bit , then pulls his bone saw out of his bag and saws off the poor dead dude’s leg.

D puts dinner on the table at Nampara, and Ross is like, oh, right, by the way, Pascoe’s asked to see me, he’s got word from the Warleggans. D, practically, asks him if he won’t appeal to some of their “wealthier friends.” At least to keep Ross’ butt out of debtor’s prison? Ross’ pride is too prideful for that, of course. “That’s not how I work.” D’s about to explode on him, and he cuts her off with a compliment about the stew.

In his own cottage, Enys rummages around in the dead dude’s knee, and mutters, “Of course! It’s obvious!” (And this is why anatomy classes with cadavers is very useful for medical students, y’all! Talk to your local medical school! This has been your morbid PSA.) At Rosina’s cottage, he wrenches at her leg, and she yells a lot while her father yells more, and then Eys asks her if she can stand. Charlie, of course, will be there to catch her. And her leg feels much better! She can walk without limping! She’d displaced her knee joint, and she’ll need to have it wrapped for a while, but soon it’ll be good as new. “‘Tis a miracle!” “No, it’s basic anatomy.”

In Truro, Ross walks to Pascoe’s, passing a number of soldiers. Pascoe says that events in France have the gentry nervous (and they would) while Ross says that events along the coast make the gaugers watchful. But the important thing is the demand letter from Warleggans has arrived. Pascoe did ask if there might be some wiggle room, but, “I can guess the response,” Ross says, reading.

Heading towards home, Ross passes an expensive carriage, carrying Caroline! She tells him that seven months away have made her hungry for such sights as himself, and also that she is grieved over Francis’ death. She asks if, without his partner in the mine, if he was able continue the venture. “It goes on.” “Profitably?” “Not profitably.” Caro nods, and then EVER SO CASUALLY asks after Enys. Well, now, he’s a worker of miracles! He cured a village girl of lameness! “Rosina?” Caro asks, because she is a perceptive woman who does pay attention even when no one else thinks she does. She asks how it was done, and Ross grins that Enys will surely tell her.

At Trenwith, Aggie and George are facing off. “95 years of age, what do you think of that?” George doesn’t even pretend to lower his voice when he tells her that the coffin makers should be taking her measurements. “Head of the family. Mistress of this house. And so I intend to remain.” She leaves and George mutters, “Good luck with that, old hag.” Elizabeth, back in black, enters, and George tells her she looks pale (negging). He’s carrying some sort of shiny box thingie in his hand. It’s candy, for Geoffy-Chuck (“I know you’ll accept nothing for yourself.”)

George then humblebrags that he’s expected to entertain on a large scale, and he HATES it, but Cary is all tight with the local politics people, and George will be paraded about like a show-pony to the local single ladies, and whine, whine whine, life is so hard! Also he’s been visiting with Elizabeth’s mother, so this is SO GROSS AND MANIPULATIVE. E’s mother shared concerns about how, since Francis is dead and all, there are debts and interest payments, and OF COURSE no one need worry about such things until Elizabeth is well out of mourning, OF COURSE, but, you know… “You’ve been very kind, George.” “As your FRIEND, it is the least I can do.” True.

At Nampara, Verity is visiting, and give’s D the list of things Ross hasn’t done that society is scandalized by – he’s not gone to church or taken a turn as magistrate, and, “As head of the Poldark family, these things are expected of him!” “Oh, you know Ross and expectation.” Besides, he’s fulfilling his duties towards Elizabeth, isn’t he? “Does that trouble you?” Well, he never tells D anything about those meetings. “It seems to me that having a husband is little bit like going to church. You either believe in something or you don’t And if you don’t, then why go at all? But if you do, then you’ve no cause to keep asking for proof.” And does she? Believe? “Most of the time.”

Enys gallops through the woods, and there, in her pink habit, is Caroline, She looks at him anxiously, and he immediately grabs her and kisses her deeply. Seven months has been a LONG time for both of them. She wrings her hands, and admits that she’s a little at sea. She’s her own mistress, so that’s good, but no freer to follow her heart. But they’re together, so that’s also good! She changes the subject to Ross, and asks if it would bother Enys if she said she admired Ross (probably for his tenacity, she hasn’t had occasion to see his abs). “I admire him myself. I only wish his circumstances were happier.” By “circumstances” do you mean his cousin’s pretty widow? No, it’s a financial matter.

And D, Caro asks. She seems to be “universally adored” possibly by all except her husband? It’s no great incentive for marriage, you see, Enys. Caro is flicking her eyes to Enys and then down, simultaneously willing him to understand what she’s saying and hoping he doesn’t so they don’t have to ACTUALLY talk about it. “Don’t you think I’d be ill-advised to try it?” “Not if you chose the right man.” Oh, like a miracle worker? With an adoring Rosina? The tension cuts immediately, and then turns again, when Caro asks how he lives. On 40 pounds a year, plus whatever his patients can manage to pay. It’s not a lot. Caro asks if he could maybe work in Oxford or Bath, and work among “your own kind?” Charity is great and all, but… Enys tells her that even in Oxford or Bath the poor will need more attention than the rich, and also he doesn’t want to become a society pet.

“Is that what you think I am?” “No, Caroline, I would never think…” “That I am the most vacuous of women?” What? No! She heads for her horse, turns and grins. “Race me!” This conversation took SO MANY TURNS. They gallop along the beach. Caro has a very nice sidesaddle.

In Sawle, Ross is sitting with Trencrom, and Trencrom mutters that it’s too dangerous for Mark Daniel to show his face in England as of yet. Has Ross asked any in Trencrom’s crew about Mark? Ross says no, he’d come to Trencrom first, and besides, he’s not sure who they can trust at the moment, since the informer might well report to McNeil. Trencrom says that McNeil claims that he’s just in Cornwall to recover from something medical but no one buys that. Trencrom has replaced a few people in the crew, and might be kicking out Rosina’s father next- he suspects everyone, if we’re being honest. Ross doesn’t think Rosina’s father would betray his friends and Trencrom scoff. “Any many will betray his friends if the price is high enough.” Ted, the kid who was sentenced to hard labor is back and recovering. Trencrom goes back to the question of Mark Daniel – there’s a price, of course. Now, Ross had insisted that they manage all the goods in one night. But it’s “deuced awkward” because it requires a larger amount of help. If they could do it in, say, three nights and store some of the smuggled goods in the house…. Fewer men, fewer opportunities for the informer to, uh, inform. There’d be a small extra payment for the inconvenience.

In the barn, Ross has filled D in on this plan, and she is not having it. And also there’s the informer to worry about! “Trencrom will handpick the men.” Sure. Also there’s another 25 guineas and help in finding Mark Daniel in it for them. Seven trips between then and Christmas, and they’ll be able to pay the note, and have enough for a goose! How will Mark help, D asks. Ross explains that he’ll be able to help them find the ore in Grace to make her profitable. D goes back to asking other people for help. Ray? Treneglos? Even Trencrom? “The sum is too great” says Ross, like he’s the only one that will suffer. “You mean your pride is!” “No one with sense will lend money to a man with a failing mine!” But if he can show that Grace COULD be profitable, then it’ll be possible to borrow against that. “So do I have your consent?” “YOU DARE ASK ME THAT, knowing full well you’ll do as you please with or without my say!” D throws the broom at his head and stalks out.

At Killewarren, Caroline asks Ray if he ever invested in Ross’ copper smelting company. Ray did, a bit, but it was an “ill-conceived venture” and everyone lost money. Why does she ask? She’s heard that Ross has debt from that period and the Warleggans have acquired it and are pressing for bankruptcy. “You’re very well informed.” “Less than I’d like to be.” Ray slides in that surely Dr. Enys could tell her more. Instead of responding, Caroline merely says that she’ll be going into Truro tomorrow. “It’s a poor place to shop, but I need new buckles for my shoes.” Ray tells her that yes, she is of age now, buuuuuut don’t let her freedom get int the way of her good sense. “To ride far unattended in the company of a man of eligible years is to invite comment of an unsavory nature.” Ray is sure it was innocent and all, but it makes Ray and Enys look bad, doesn’t it? Caro wonders if that means perhaps it would be better if she lived elsewhere? Well sure, except for the Great Affection they hold for each other. Caro smiles are her poor little doggie. “Uncle Ray is becoming cross with me, Horace. Soon there will be angry words which we shall both regret, so don’t you think we had better change the subject?” She smiles winningly, and Ray smiles back. “At what time tomorrow shall you require the carriage?”

After Caro leaves, Ray writes a note to Enys, asking him to drop by the next morning. For a talk.

At Trenwith, Verity reminds her freeloading family that she’s leaving in the morning, and Aunt Aggie is like, BAH, it’s almost Christmas! People should be with their families. “My husband would agree with you.” Aggie grumbles that with men being what they are, he’s not even noticed that Verity is gone. “His letters suggest otherwise.” And she’s missed him and has every intention of making up for lost time. Verity, go home and bang that man like a screen door in a hurricane. Elizabeth has an invitation to Nampara, and Geoffy-Chuck is excited to go. Hopefully she’ll take Aggie, since she’s like…part of the family?

George is looking over a list of invited guests for A Warleggan Christmas. Cary tells him that the guest have been carefully chosen for their position to help the Warleggans in business and society. Including these girls (who can’t be more than 17, but “good breeding stock” says Cary) that he thinks would be a good options for George. George, however, will write to Trenwith. Cary blusters that George should call in those loans, because what’s the point of staying in the good graces of a widow in her late twenties? George has his reasons.

Speaking of the widow in question, Ross is trying to light a fire in the study at Trenwith, but the kindling is wet. He asks Elizabeth if it’s been seasoned, and she’s like, I don’t even know what that means. On the table is the box with candies for Geoffy-Chuck, and Elizabeth admits it’s from George. Ross: Oh, he’s been here? Elizabeth points out that the Warleggans are her chief creditors, and their terms have been very reasonable thus far – waived interest indefinitely – which of course she did not accept. Ross is like look, I fucking hate the turd, but that’s between me and him, you should take what you can get. He wishes he could help more. Elizabeth shrugs and says for her own sake, she can bear all of this shit, but for G-C’s? When Francis inherited, there was money, and comfort, and dignity. And now? “It breaks my heart that Geoffrey-Charles will have so little to his name.” It breaks Ross’ heart, too.

He visits Pascoe, and asks how much his remaining shares in Wheal Leisure are worth. About 600 pounds. Cool, cool. He can apply that money to the Warleggan debt, yes? Well, no, because “Francis’ family is in dire need.” Pascoe and I both go, “More so than yours?” No, this is what Ross is thinking-  two years ago, Francis sank his last 600 pounds into Wheal Grace. And now Ross can sort of pay him back so Elizabeth and Geoffy-Chuck have SOMETHING. Pascoe asks if she’ll accept, and Ross says no, but he’s got a plan. Pascoe will offer Elizabeth the 600 pounds of G-C’s share on behalf of an anonymous client, and then that’ll be that. Pascoe, who is infinitely more patient than I, manages to NOT beat Ross about the head and says, essentially, you’re gonna sell the only thing you have a value, and use it to buy a half share in a mine that’s about to close, when you owe the Warleggans a LOT of money and are about to go to prison because of it? Are you that stupid? Ross: I am exactly that stupid. Ross then explains that while it might look like he’s more concerned about Elizabeth than he is about Demelza and Jeremy, it’s just that he’s there, and D has resources while Elizabeth doesn’t, so D can what, bootstrap herself? Fuck you, Ross.

Enys goes to speak to Ray Penvenen. Ray has some… concerns… with Enys’ “friendship.” with Caro, “…a man of your station.” Enys retorts that he IS a gentleman, so it’s not entirely inappropriate. Ray shakes his head that Caroline is an heiress, and if Enys were to marry her, all they’d get is 6000 pounds. Enys: I’m not a fucking fortune hunter. “And if you imagine that no man without an eye to her inheritance, than you greatly underestimate her charms and insult us both.” Ray grumbles, and Enys is like oh, also, you’ve given me hope that if all she’ll get in 6,000 pounds, that a poor country doctor could “…wed such a fortune and not be eclipsed by it.” SO THERE. Also, Caro is of age, so she can fuck off and marry who she wants at this point. SO THERE SO THERE. Ray admits that he’s underestimated Enys’ character, “But at least now we understand each other.”

In the morning, Verity takes her leave of Trenwith, telling Geoffy-Chuck to be nice to his mama, and telling Elizabeth that she should let Ross and Demelza keep their own Christmas. “For your own sake, as well as theirs.” They hug goodbye, and Verity leaves. Elizabeth and Geoffy-Chuck go into their big house, alone.

In Nampara, Trencrom’s crew is digging a hidey-hole in the library. D is still unhappy. She talks with Prudie in the kitchen – dismayed by her station in life. She can’t earn money, she can’t beg for it, she can’t dig for it, and she can’t tell Ross not to do this stupid shit. So what can she do? Prudie takes her hand and tells D that she’s known Ross since “he were a whelp. Since his mother died. She was a good soul, and wise… I know what she would say. That her lad had met his match.” D says that she’s now his torment. “She’d say serves him right.”

There’s a knock on the door, and it’s Charlie. D is visibly relieved, and says that she was afraid it was the gaugers. “Why would they suspect a gentleman’s house, mum?” He’s got a message for Ross, and D tells him to wait while she fetches him. Charlie, though, follows her to the library. Charlie’s message is that Trencrom will get a letter to Mark Daniels when the ship sails next.

At night, D worriedly rubs Ross’ back, but he’s dead asleep.

Morning, and Ross goes to Trenwith. Elizabeth has gotten the offer for G-C’s share in Wheal Grace, and she’s both relieved at the offer, and somewhat confused. Why would anyone offer that much? Ross isn’t very convincing at his surprise and all, and tells her to sell. She admits it would make a HUGE difference for her, but what about Ross? It could be very awkward. Ross is grateful for her hesitation and loyalty, and she tells him that loyalty goes both ways. She also regretfully declines his invitation for Christmas, “I believe Francis would want me to spend it in his house.” He is sad that he can’t take care of her as well as he ought. “We both regret that, Ross.” He kisses her hand and leaves.

Ray and Caroline are finishing dinner at Killewarren, and Ray asks her if she’s considered her position, and she says that yes, she has. Ray says that he of course totally respects Enys professionally, but he cannot be permitted to see Caroline after his “impudent pretensions to your hand.” Caro sweetly says that she misunderstood his intentions, but she will of course know how to handle them in the future.

Which is, naturally, racing along the beach with Enys again. She tells him that his riding talents would be wasted in the city, and he retorts that he has other talents that would not. “You cannot bear the thought of Bath,” she says, and he retorts, “And you can’t bear the thought of marriage.” She laughs, “To a man of talent, anything is possible.” “Without you, nothing is possible.” You two.

Nampara, Christmas. D serves dinner, chicken with a sprig of holly for decoration. “Merry Christmas, Ross.” Ross is reading the paper, muttering that war is now inevitable. The French are in Antwerp and Pitt’s called out the military, so… “Gravy?” “What?” Ross looks around and realizes that oh, hey, look at that, there’s food, and he carelessly flings the holly off the plate. Jerk. Oh, and he invited Enys, who declined. D’s like, well, that’s good that he declined since it would have meant only two mouthfuls apiece, instead of three. Besides, he’s probably meeting Caroline, so that’s cool. A note arrives from Trencrom, saying that they haven’t be able to find Mark Daniel yet. “Least aways now we know.” “Yes, now we know our last hope is gone.” Ross picks up the paper and leaves the table. D, eat his food.

At Trenwith, Elizabeth gives Aggie, Geoffy-Chuck, and her mother their Christmas presents. Aggie is disappointed with her rosewater, because it implies she smells, and Francis always got her what she liked, which was booze and lots of it. Mrs. Chenoweth got a shawl, that Elizabeth made herself. “Just the thing for shielding the fire and hiding from society.” “Then we’ll all need one. Get your needles out, Elizabeth.” And who better to break up this craptastic family scene than George? Aggie tells G-C to sit next to her and to “beware of that man’s pitchfork and tail.”

George is there to personally invite Elizabeth to his family’s Christmas festivities. Small gathering, no biggie. She says no, thank you, but they intend to keep Christmas quietly. Her mother sighs. “Elizabeth, alow me to help you choose a suitable gown.”

At Chez Warleggan, George tells Elizabeth that as Geoffy-Chuck’s godfather, he will of course provide for the boy’s education, and no, he’s not asking permission, just her preference as to Oxford or Cambridge? Elizabeth doesn’t know what to say, and George leaves her in a pack of older dudes, who speculate on who will become Mistress George Warleggan. Nothing less than an honorable girl, of course. Elizabeth awkwards in the middle, watching George.

Ross calls to D that he and Pascoe have come up with a strategy – they won’t tell the Warleggans that he cannot pay until late in the day, and then there’s a chance they won’t arrest him until the morning, so they can have one final night together. D is ready to go, and Ross is like, where are you going? What? D is going with him, of course. Is he new?

Pascoe is pleased to see D and offers them a drink. The Warleggans declined to extend the loan, of course. Pascoe is sure they don’t care about the money, they just want to fuck with Ross. But he also thinks they’ll be disappointed. He recently received a visit. “From?” Ross asks. An anonymous person (while a flashback shows us that it was Caroline). The proposal is this: “Purchase your debt in full, and arrange a new promissory note at a considerably lower rate of interest.” Ross doesn’t understand, why would that be something ANYONE would want to do? D wonders who would do such a thing? Ross asks if it was Pascoe, and Pascoe is like, I don’t have that kind of money.

Caroline asks for assurance that no one will know of who provided the money or anything about this arrangement. “Surely your uncle…” “Your complete assurance.” Pascoe agrees, while back in the present Ross and D are still running through the list of people who might have fronted the cash. Pascoe and I both snap, “SIGN THE FUCKING NOTE.” D: But you know this person, and you do advise us to accept? Pascoe does.

Cary pours some port and asks George if they should offer Ross some port? “It’ll be the last good port he has for a while.” “Why not? We are gentlemen, after all.” Okay but you aren’t though. Not in any sense. There’s a knock, and Ross and D enter. George BARELY manages to hide the boner he’s got, and offers them some refreshment. “‘Tis very kind of you sir, but I fear ‘twould not be fitting.” She looks sideways at Ross. “I regret to say I am not able to give you the satisfaction…” “Most unfortunate.” “…of visiting me in prison.” Ross plunks down the bank notes, and Cary splutters, while Ross, barely able to hold in his grin, gives them his complements of the season, and exits with D.

“HOW. HOW” Cary is real mad, you guys. “HOW DID HE MANAGE THIS.” George told him there were no allies and no friends. “WE WILL BRING HIM DOWN. EVEN IF IT TAKES TEN YEARS.” When did Cary get SO invested in the plot to bring down Ross Poldark? Three episodes ago he didn’t know what George’s damage was. Now he’s like “FUCK EVERYTHING ROSS LIKES.” George tells him to calm the fuck down, they don’t need half of Cornwall to hear about this set back, and there are other ways to destroy Ross that don’t involve money.

And one of the is Elizabeth – a giant basket of fruit and sweets, from George.

Ross and D arrive home to Nampara, and Ross surprises Prudie who was going over the stashed food in the pantry. Prudie tells him that D told everyone not to tell Ross, and Ross asks, rhetorically, what else they weren’t to tell him, and Prudie’s like, oh, there’s a BUNCH of shit she does to keep us safe and warm and fed while you do you.

In their room, D sings to Jeremy as he falls asleep.

Ross pours a drink for himself and Prudie, and admits that Prudie is right, he doesn’t notice all the things D does, and lately, he’s barely noticed her at all.

The kiddo is asleep, and Ross comes into the bedroom with a package – he picked up D a present while she was at the chandlers, and he felt bad that there was nothing for Christmas for her. “I need no gifts, Ross. ‘Tis enough if you still care for me.” He finally realizes that she thinks that he no longer loves her. “Not in that way,” she confirms. He tells her to open the present, and she begins to cry. “Do you not like them?” They’re silk stockings, and she has nowhere to wear them, and they are too fine.

He kneels down, and raises her skirts to bare her leg, and carefully, slowly, puts one on and ties the garter. He knees between her leg and they kiss (guys the baby is RIGHT THERE). “So you are not to be rid of me, my love.” “So I am not to be rid of you, my love.”

ROSS STOP BEING STUPID.

Agatha is the best.

Apparently the proper accepted name for the Enys/Caroline ship is Carolight.

Ross doesn’t deserve Demelza or everything she has done to keep their family afloat. Demelza knows what it’s like to be poor, so Ross doesn’t need to provide for her or his son? What’s that shit?