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marius

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It's only as she walks into Tintern that she considers perhaps she shouldn't be here with her infant child.

No one has told her specifically not to come back to work and no one has said a word about whether or not she might bring Jeremy with her, but now that she's walked through the doors with her son strapped carefully to her chest in his soft carrier, she realizes there is a specific age one must be in order to drink at Tintern. And it isn't as if she plans on drinking or has any intention of giving anything to her child, but she is very aware that Jeremy is a good, long way from being eighteen.

Still, just the atmosphere does wonders to improve her mood. Demelza misses being at work. After Julia was born, she'd had barely a day before she returned to the chores and not because Ross had rushed her, but because she knew if she didn't return to them. Jud and Prudie would let the house fall to shambles. More than that, Demelza likes being busy. She likes being useful and although Tintern is still paying a fraction of what she was making before as part of maternity leave, she doesn't particularly feel comfortable with it, taking their money without doing any of the work.

So while she's technically just here to visit, she's also here to ask about returning to work. Perhaps not full time, but if she can come back even two or three times a week, she thinks she'll be much happier. And perhaps they'll be more inclined to let her if she offers to allow them to hold an adorable baby in return.

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"Only your company, if perhaps you'd be able to take a small break for a moment or two," Demelza says hopefully. Tintern is always quite busy and she's very fond of it for that very reason, finding it easy to get lost within the work and find her shift over before she even realizes. She knows Marius may not be able to take any time off to speak to her and then she'll be happy enough to wait for his break or perhaps for his shift to end.

There are others who will want to meet the baby, of that she's certain, but there are few here she likes quite as much as she does Marius, and she's rather hoping he'll be first.

"I think I can manage it," Marius assures her. He hasn't yet taken his break yet, and Marie, ever something like the older sister he's never had, will insist upon Marius taking his break to provide companionship for Demelza and her new child. "One moment."

He puts the jacket away with care and goes to briefly speak with Marie, who, as he suspected she would, insisted upon his suggestion. He makes haste to grab a pitcher of water and also a basket of bread with honey butter, both for Demelza if she wishes and because he is earnestly hungry himself.

"One water," he says, setting a glass in front of Demelza and pouring her drink for her. "And," he adds when he finishes. "One basket of bread with honey butter, just in case. Mostly for me, really," he adds with a sheepish smile, pouring his own drink before grabbing a piece of bread to butter up.

"So, who's this lovely child then?"

"This is Jeremy," Demelza says, turning slightly in her chair so that Marius might get a better look at him. "And he will be very pleased to meet you just as soon as he's awake."

It isn't such a terrible thing that he's sleeping, for he often cries when he isn't, still in that stage she remembers Julia having been in for only a month or so, when they seem to be always hungry, always growing. She would like very much to be able to spend at least a little time with her friend before having to run off and feed her child.

"He's nearly two months now," she says. "Tis hard to believe how quickly time passes."

"He's beautiful," Marius tells her after he finishes chewing his first bite of bread, taking care to keep his voice low so as not to disturb Jeremy. "I cannot wait to meet him, but please assure him he does not have to lessen his nap for my sake." He offers her a cheerful smile.

He looks so young, and so fragile, Marius thinks. He can only imagine how Demelza must feel about him; just looking at him makes Marius feel protective.

"Really?" He asks, amazed. "Two months? He's growing up fast."

He takes another bite of bread and a sip of water. "And how have those two months been for you? Quite busy I would imagine."

"Oh, well... t'be quite honest, I do find myself at a bit of a loss," she admits. "I understand why this leave from work is given to women in modern times, but tis not how things are done where I'm from and I do feel a bit as if I were taking advantage. Jeremy and Julia are a handful, of course, but I have help at home between Ross and the woman we'd hired to help us care for Julia while we were at work, so I feel as though I'm only just waiting to be able to come back to work."

And she feels a bit guilty admitted to this. It's been made quite clear to her that this is time given and to be cherished, but it just isn't how Demelza is used to existing. She's been working since she were only a child and even after she'd had Julia, she had been back to work around the house almost immediately, but there's so much less work to do here in Darrow.

"You're not taking advantage," Marius says, reaching out to place a comforting hand on top of hers. "Honest. I am glad myself to see that places offer such oppurtunities to women. You have nothing to be ashamed of in taking leave. It's your right as a human and a mother." He realizes, suddenly, the fervor in his own voice and blushes a bit.

It takes Marius a moment to recognize that Demelza wants to come back to work. He blinks, then nods. "And you want to come back to work before your maternity leave is up, is that right?"

He asks without judgement. He knows, from experience, what it is to want to throw oneself into one's work.

"Tis only that I'm not used to not working," she admits. "Even at home right after Julia were born there was just still so much t'be done and there was never time to stop and rest."

She's just not used to doing nothing. It isn't as if she's completely without direction, her children still need care, but she's used to doing so much more.

"I ent one of the gentlefolk," she says and laughs. "I'm not used to bein' so idle. Which isn't t'say raising children isn't hard work, only that I do have so much help it takes a great burden from me."

Marius nods, understanding from what Demelza says that she must have been working her whole life, especially when she confirms that she isn't 'one of the gentlefolk.' "I think not working certainly takes time getting used to, especially if it's unfamiliar to you to begin with," he assures her.

He takes a sip of his own water, understanding also his own luck in having been raised to not always need to work.

"Well, if you need someone to vouch for you in coming back to work early, you can certainly count on me," Marius says with a smile. "It isn't the same here without you; we've been running ourselves ragged, nearly."

"Judas, don't tell me that," she says, laughing. "I'll be back within the week if I do think 'ee all need me so much."

She's made a deal with Ross, however, that she won't go back to work at least until after Christmas. She thinks that's a fair amount of time and it does free her up to spend the holidays doing whatever she likes, which will inevitably include making meat pies and gifts for her friends. They may not have much money, but she's terribly useful in other ways.

"Do 'ee suppose January would still be too early?" she asks. Marius may not make the final decision, but she does value his opinion.

Marius laughs with her, unable to help it. Demelza sparkles with her cheerful nature and sense of humor; it's hard to not to be affected. "Well, as much as we would love to have you back so soon, I don't think our bosses would allow that."

He considers her question, resting his chin in his hand as he ponders. "I don't think so, no," he tells her. "That seems like a fair amount of time to me. I can't imagine them complaining, especially with how it gets on New Years."

As much as Marius supports Demelza in wanting to come back to work so soon, he is glad to see that she seems to be taking the holidays for herself.

"They'll be grateful to you," he assures her.

"I miss it," she admits. "Tis wonderful to always have something to fill your time, is it not?"

And she misses the income. She's still being paid, for which she feels terribly guilty, but she had had several folks explain to her that it's the law to give pay during maternity leave, and she does her best not to worry about it, but it does feel wrong. And it isn't as much as she was making while she was working. The loss of income doesn't leave them in poverty, but money is the slightest bit tighter than it had been before.

"It is indeed," Marius says, quick to agree. He's been throwing himself into work, whether at Tintern, or while substituting out at schools. Work provides a better distraction than anything; it always has, ever since his time translating in Paris. "It is nice to have a purpose and a structure to one's time, I think."

It doesn't hurt that Marius now is able to save his money. Granted, most of his savings is going towards his education, but still. He can afford to study, work, and not have to fret about income. That fact, in and of itself, is something of a miracle.

"But as I said, if you need me to back you up, I'll be glad to," he assures her.

"I think tis only that I'm so used to it," she admits as Jeremy stirs slightly. "I know Darrow is different and I think I've adjusted well enough, but I'm used to being so much more active. There was always something to be done, always some chore."

She grins and says, "I must admit, I feel a little spoiled not having to do quite so much. "Tis almost as if I really am finally one of the gentlefolk." She must think Ruth Teague would be rather terrified of Darrow, however, which pleases her, even if she knows she's awful to think so.

"It's an adjustment, to be sure," Marius nods, recalling his own time spent growing used to modern customs. Darrow had caught him off-guard for numerous reasons; modern ideals of work and leisure not least among them. He knows what Demelza is feeling from his own experience of arriving to Darrow from the past. "And it takes a long time to make that adjustment. I think I'm still getting used to it myself, if I'm honest."

He watches as the newborn begins to stir, unable to keep from smiling at how adorable he is.

"Well, the nice thing about Darrow is that there are more opportunities for one to become like the gentlefolk, no?" He asks, thinking of how much more work proved available here than in Paris.

"The gentlefolk are... well, Ross would not want to be considered as such," she tells Marius as she shifts Jeremy, taking him out of his carrier so that she might hold him more comfortably now that he's awake. "But it's different here. Those who have money are sometimes still cruel, of course, but it's not only those who can be cruel. And there are plenty of people who do have a good deal of money who are very kind as well."

It's just different here. She doesn't know how to explain it, she only knows that it is.

"The gentlefolk were so awful to me at home," she says. "It made Ross angry."

"Oh," Marius says, understanding the meaning of 'gentlefolk' better when she mentions her husband's reaction to being considered one. In Paris, his friends had railed against the gentlefolk under a different name. "I see. My apologies. I do not mean to imply anything untoward."

He watches as she shifts to better hold Jeremy, unable to keep himself from smiling at the sight. She looks so natural, cradling her child the way she does. He thinks he can tell how full of love she is just by the way she holds her baby boy.

"I'm sorry the gentlefolk were cruel to you," he says, saddened by the thought of anyone proving cruel to someone as lovely as Demelza. "That must have been awful."

"I suppose I disliked it terribly at the time, but now it seems so far away," she admits with a small shrug and a smile. "When money is more important than the feelings of others, perhaps it's best those people aren't the ones who care about me or accept me."

She would have hardly wanted to be friends with Ruth Teague or Elizabeth's horrible mother. Verity was kind and so were the mining folk around Nampara and they're the only friends Demelza would have needed at home. And in Darrow everything is completely different.

"Would 'ee like to hold him?" she asks, seeing Marius watch Jeremy. "He's still sleepy, so he shouldn't fuss."

"That is a very wise way to look at things," Marius says, watching Demelza with admiration. Speaking with her makes him realize just how much he still has to learn, about people and places both. "And I think you have the right of it. People who prefer money to other people don't make for great company."

When she asks if Marius would like to hold him, he has to blink. "Oh, of course," he says, finding himself very much in awe of the child. "If you won't mind?"

"Of course not," Demelza says. "He's just now beginning to hold his head up on his own, so if he wakes, you can try holding him standing on your knees and he'll be able to look around."

But for now Jeremy seems content to just look up at Demelza, his eyes blinking slowly open and then closed again. He bats a fist, then relaxes again as she unwraps him from his carrier and offers him to Marius.

He's dressed warm, wrapped in layers, and now that they're inside, she pauses to take off the warm little jacket.

"Oh, wow," Marius says, blinking as he tries to take it all in. There is so much to being a parent, he thinks, watching Demelza with her little one. His heart aches a bit at the sight; deep down, he's dreamed of children of his own for some time. Partly to make a difference in the life in a young one that needs him. But also to right his own wrongs of letting down his own father.

He waits for Demelza to remove his jacket before reaching out for Jeremy carefully, part of him wondering if the child will break with one mere touch.

"He's so lovely," Marius tells her again, completely in awe of both the child and the mother who produced him.

"I know tis only that I'm biased, but I do think he's quite lovely as well," she agrees with a laugh, watching as Marius takes Jeremy. Demelza has noticed many mothers are exceptionally nervous when it comes to others handling their babies, but she doesn't possess those same nerves. After Prudie had dropped Julia mere moments after her birth, any nerves had dissipated entirely.

"He can't focus on very much," she says with a smile. "His eyes may cross as he tries to see you."

Marius concentrates to make sure that he holds Jeremy with the utmost care. The last thing in the world he wants is to drop him or cause him harm, least of all in front of his mother, one of Marius' dear friends. He takes care to hold Jeremy as though he were his own child.

"I don't see how anyone could not see how lovely he is," Marius says, speaking in a hushed, reverent tone, almost a whisper. He glances up at Demelza and smiles, bright.

"That's okay," he says, staring back at little Jeremy. He moves one hand to give the young child a little wave.

"I think all parents consider their children above and beyond all the rest," she says with a laugh as Jeremy's hand lifts and waves as well. She isn't sure if he's trying to mimic Marius or if perhaps he's simply trying to catch the shape waving in front of him, but she feels a great sense of pride at the gesture. It means her child is developing well, that he's branching out to touch things, to feel things he's perhaps never felt before.

"Though I'm glad to find there are those who agree with me that he's rather special," she says sweetly.

Marius' heart swells and his eyes brighten at the sight of Jeremy lifting his own hand in turn, waving back at him. This is the best thing Marius has seen all day today, easily. There's something so charming and wonderful about the gesture; Marius senses that this little man will enchant the world as easily as his mother.

"I don't think I've ever spent a break in such a lovely way before," he observes, still speaking softly, as if speaking at a normal volume might hurt the baby.

"He's going to be a real charmer, this one," Marius predicts with another smile, which he aims directly at Demelza.

“Oh, I truly hope not,” she says with a laugh, because she’s teasing just a little. “His father is something of a charmer, though it do seem only with the ladies, and I have seen enough of that to last me a good long while without seeing it from my son, too. I should think I’d much rather he be smart like his father and crafty like I am.”

And sweet. She wants Jeremy to be sweet. Marius is terribly sweet and she thinks he’s much more charming for the fact that he doesn’t know he is and isn’t trying at all. She wonders if Marius has any idea at all how good and kind he is, if he knows the sort of confidence he instills in those around him. She rather suspects he doesn’t. Most kind people don’t really know the depth of their goodness.

Marius' grin brightens at Demelza's laughter; he lets out a small laugh of his own, tilting his head back, just a little. "Well, then," he says, shifting his gaze between his friend and her son. "I hope he inherits the best traits of you both."

He glances down at Jeremy again, waves his hand again, wriggling his fingers in a way he hopes the child finds amusing.

"If he inherits your craftiness, I know he'll go far in life," he tells her.

"Or perhaps he'll only be a trouble maker, serving to teach me a lesson for my own meddling," she says, but she's cheerful enough about it. Perhaps she shouldn't be, but Demelza prefers not to think on it too hard or for too long, because she knows there are a fair few men whose lives she had potentially ruined simply because she'd wanted Verity to be happy.

Being in Darrow means she doesn't need to think about it, which she knows is cowardly, but the truth is that she can't help herself. It's easier this way.

"Well, I've heard somewhere that troublemakers have some of the biggest hearts around," Marius responds, trying to reassure Demelza, even as she speaks with a cheerful tone. "And I think, either way, this little fellow is going to make an impression on the world, just like his parents."

He continues waving and cooing at Jeremy, speaking to him a little bit in French.

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