In this third blog of the Ross and Demelza Love story series, a significant point has been reached in their relationship which is to essentially move it with the equivalent speed of nought to a hundred, in sixty seconds. The previous blogs look at how they first fell into friendship with each other and then what brought Demelza to make a desperate decision to try and seduce Ross. It's a soft and gentle beginning of their love story so far, but now, (and to excuse the pun) is the climax of the first book as we see how their romantic connection is finally achieved. It is Demelza's well timed discovery of a blue dress with its enchanting appeal to her, together with her seduction plan and a spirit of love, that all combine together to incite, secure and seal the deal. In all this there appears to be this notion of a predetermining force and to begin with it is the blue dress that seemed to reach out to Demelza and which ultimately played such a key role in bringing this romantic union to the fore.
A Fascinating Discovery
It is surely part of the magic of Demelza's seduction that a key discovery in this special place of the library would be something that would become a meaningful instrument that she would rely on in advancing forward her story. The love story. There was a build up to heighten its significance. In the first instance Demelza's 'exciting discovery' in the library is a music box, then 'A greater discovery was the spinet.' It was not until around March of 1787 that Graham reports that while in that room Demelza '.... by the purest chance she made the greatest discovery of all.' So it was after two years of visiting the library and therefore as if it was timed for her to find this just months before she would need its contents, that she found a chest in the room which all along had not been properly locked. In this chest there she found the blue dress.
Specifically Graham emphasised an enchanted but almost forbidden attraction of Demelza to this blue dress. He says that '.....found at the very bottom of the second tin trunk..(and) from the outset it had enticed her as the apple did Eve.' It was described as pale blue satin, low cut square bodice and billowing out like a blue cabbage below the waist. Conveniently the right length for her, her obliviousness and lack of intent for any use of the dress is noted, as to begin with she simply enjoyed dressing up in it and making alterations '..even though (she thought) no one would ever see her wear it.' At such short notice on the day she decided to seduce Ross, and without a fabulous wardrobe of her own, it made sense to Demelza to use the dress to make herself more ladylike for Ross. She did so not knowing it belonged to Ross's mother, Grace Poldark which also becomes a key factor in her attempt to seduce him.
From An Old To A New Love
Parental Blessings And A Spirit That Moved Between Them
Certainly there was something about this blue dress and a presence by spirit of Ross's mother that played a role and had an affect on him. Maybe this was the nature that had come to Demelza's help. Later Ross considers that 'The spectre of the dress became in retrospect a provocation....' (*) to him, and whilst he was faced with Demelza, of his mother we are specifically told by the narrator that 'Her spirit moved and quickened between them.' Through this it cannot be clearer that Graham as narrator was confirming that the spirit of Ross's mother was indeed playing a role in this scene and in Demelza's mission. After all he did not write that it was 'like' her spirit moved and quickened between them, but simply that her spirit did move between them. If her spirit moved between them then she certainly was not a bystander. Graham made Ross's Mother's spirit an active participant. For Ross his exchange with Demelza remained on his mind after he left the room. He was greatly affected and the presence of his mother's spirit may then explain why it was that while wearing the dress for Ross '...by some mischance she (Demelza) put up a hand to push back her hair and the gesture reminded him of his mother.' Again the multiple references to Ross's mother make her very much part of this new beginning for Ross in finding a new love.
As well as making Grace Poldark present in the moment including with Demelza doing a gesture reminding Ross of her, this was just another way in which Graham connected Demelza as a likeness to Ross's mother. Interestingly Ted Nanfan in book five (Black Moon), when speaking of Ross's mother described her as being tall and thin with long dark hair. With Ross agreeing with him it would seem that she and Demelza were also not too far removed in looks either (Demelza in the books had black hair). But despite Ross fleeing to his bedroom, he was drawn in as he thought of Demelza in the dress including the 'meadowsweet' like smell of her skin and her young body in the dress smelling of dried lavender. So to be clear, the provocation that Ross thought the blue dress had for him was not to provoke violence or a dislike of Demelza to him but to provoke his desire of her through making her more appealing to him. Not only does all this add to the romance of this scene but also some synchronicity to support this idea of nature and fate playing a hand to have Ross so affected and enticed. All these various factors points to a predetermining of this union. Of course, we know it had been predetermined by Graham as the book author but he certainly made a clear effort to also enthuse into the scene and into the build up to it that there was an underlying force at work willing these two together and giving Demelza the tools to make this mission a successful one irrespective of how it was executed. Ross's mother's dress being an alluring provocation for Ross, her spirit seemingly present between them and the narrator reporting that nature was helping Demelza, also hints strongly to a mother's blessing and a gift in this blue dress to Demelza through that.
It might seem a farfetched concept to think that the spirit of Ross's mother was giving her support, assistance and blessing to the union of Ross and Demelza, however maybe not when one thinks of Winston Graham's own outlook and the likeness he took on as having a parental role like Ross's mother. As an author Graham spoke of his love of his lead protagonist character Ross and also for Demelza as his co-protagonist. In his short story he wrote called 'Meeting Demelza' he stated that he loved Demelza and created her out of love '...as all children should be created.' He further said that he wanted her to be 'exceptional, unique, successful, as all parents want their children to be.' Thus Graham gave himself a parental role in respect of her rather than just as an author. It is therefore conceivable that as a loving parent who loved Ross that the spirit of his mother might also share Graham's parental outlook too and wish her son to find love with and unite with the character drawn to be the saga's heroine and later the centre of his world. As Graham had Ross say in the final book 'Bella Poldark' she would become the woman that to him he said was "...my lover, my companion, my housekeeper, the mother of my children, the -the keeper of my conscience....comparable in my eyes to no other woman."
A Father's Blessing?

The Seduction And 'A Raging Desire'

A Want To Know Demelza Better
Of course Demelza's planning of the seduction and her pretence with needing Ross's help with the dress could leave a sour aftertaste of deceit in this start to their love story. However there is a feeling of Graham using literary devices so as to free her from this accusation and from tainting this love affair in that way. Firstly there is this concept mentioned of nature helping and a predetermination of their union as referred above with additional parental blessings thrown in too. That implies that this, Ross and Demelza coming together was all meant to be.
Secondly, and positively, in the lead up to this night we had seen Demelza as a character that had already brought warmth and light to Ross's life. So much so that on the first day they met Ross and readers saw her loyalty and humility and he thought her a friend before they even reached Nampara where she worked hard and faithfully as his servant as well as becoming his companion in his loneliness. It did not appear he had been led astray by a craftier seductress like a Keren Daniels. Instead most readers would feel that so far Demelza had proved to be good for him and might be so in the future. Then in addition to this most readers will sympathise with Demelza's cause in not wishing to return to her horrendous and abusive father and instead to stay in a home she felt she belonged to. As explored in the desperately seeking romance blog her genuine love for Ross also made this a less sinister plot and one that might if she were lucky, kill two birds with one stone.
Fourthly, Ross had some reflections in his bedroom before Demelza returned to him. This effectively gave him a timeout to think through what he wanted. In this it is clear that he had been resisting his inner desire to break his celibacy and do what he consider was in fact '....nothing out-of-the-way for the younger gentry of the neighbourhood to tumble their kitchen-maids.' Having considered he was living life 'too seriously' when 'Loving was a recreation.', Demelza returning to him simply gave him a second opportunity to embrace this with both hands. But certainly his timeout had cleared his mind of other things including of his previous attachments as he thought that 'He owed no one anything; certainly not Elizabeth.' and that what was happening with Demelza '..was no blind seeking after sensation in order to drown a hurt, as it had been on the night of the ball (with Margaret).' He concluded that 'This was fair desire.' (*) So separating this from his feelings for Elizabeth, and as a single available bachelor, he essentially consented to Demelza's offer to him and considered it as 'fair game'. All this dispenses with the idea and stain that he was taken advantage of. Instead he chose to light another candle as if it was an offer he now wanted to take full advantage of.
A Promise Of An Endless Devotion- "I live only for you."

A Loving Exchange
Although Demelza's seduction was triggered by fear of being made to leave Nampara and wanting to stay there with Ross, it was was not so outrageously a selfish and manipulative act in this love story. It was not something which only she sought to gain from. This was a two way exchange. Even though her short term intention was to stay on as his hardworking servant in more ways than one Demelza was not just offering her body to Ross but also her absolute devotion. Therefore he had just as much to gain from her. This would prove to be the case in an overall long, happy and successful marriage where their love and dedication to each other ultimately surpassed this for no other person.

Still the love story continues, and in the knowledge that at this point only Demelza was 'in love', the next blog (The Magic of the 'Fall in Love') will look at Ross falling in love with his wife and how once again, even with this there was an element of providence and nature playing it's role.
All reference are in Book one (Ross Poldark) unless otherwise stated.
(*) First edition Book one -Ross Poldark
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt1 (Falling in Friendship)
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt2 (A Blossoming flower desperately seeking romance)
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt4 (The Magic of the Fall in Love)
Ross and Demelza Poldark: A Stocking full of Love
Demelza Poldark: A Fall from Grace in a fall for Hugh Armitage
(*) First edition Book one -Ross Poldark
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt1 (Falling in Friendship)
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt2 (A Blossoming flower desperately seeking romance)
Ross and Demelza: The Love Story Pt4 (The Magic of the Fall in Love)
Ross and Demelza Poldark: A Stocking full of Love
Demelza Poldark: A Fall from Grace in a fall for Hugh Armitage