"Judas, Ross!" his wife cried, startled by the suddenness of his stolen kiss. "I've never!" She turned a very lovely shade of pink, and he thought she looked rather pleased if he did say so himself. Demelza had been so intent on coaxing their son to eat his dinner she hadn't noticed her husband's return from the mine. It wasn't very often he could catch her unawares.

"I fear you have," he teased. "Many times." She scrunched her nose at him and that made him laugh as he swooped in to kiss away her disapproval.

"Papa!" Jeremy cried, tugging on his sleeve and turning his precious little face up to him, giggling and puckering his lips for a kiss of his own.

"And one for you, too," Ross said softly, leaning down to give him the demanded kiss and then taking his seat at the head of the table. The look of sheer joy on the little boy's face nearly broke his heart. There had been so little of happiness in the past few years that he'd almost forgotten the joy that such a simple act as bestowing a kiss could bring.

Demelza ducked her head to hide her smile as she fixed a plate for him, all the while keeping one wary eye on the squirming child on the bench next to her. "Sam and Drake settling in down the mine?"

"I think so," Ross answered, taking the plate loaded with roast chicken, cheese, stewed apples, and thick slices of brown bread. "Zacky says they're hard workers and I've heard no complaints from Henshawe."

"I'm that glad." She poured him a mug of ale as she spoke. "I know you'd not been eager to take on more men just now."

"It's fine," he assured her, wanting to put that thought right out of her mind. It'd been true that he'd not wanted to taken on any more workers, but Henshawe had managed to find space for them. Despite his initial hesitation, Sam and Drake had proven themselves to be competent miners. The only complaint Ross could find with them was with the elder of the two's tendency to proselytize with nearly every breath he took. It rankled that more than a few in the district were starting to listen to the nonsense.

"Cap'n Ross," Prudie said, acknowledging his presence upon bustling into the dining room. "I'll just be takin' the little mite so ye can eat in peace." The change in the older woman since Jud's departure was beyond his wildest imaginings, and her loyalty to his wife and child could never be faulted. Ross found he could tolerate her presence much more these days.

"No," he said, offering a sliver of chicken to Jeremy who eagerly took it and promptly popped in his mouth only to look immediately for more. "He can stay." The glance his servant gave his wife for confirmation caused only the briefest burn of irritation for he knew Demelza had quietly taken over the running of the household long before they'd married.

"More, Papa," Jeremy chirped happily, bouncing and clapping each time he was handed a morsel off his father's plate. Ross soon found himself sharing more food with his son than he was eating himself. He did not miss the amused smile on Demelza's face as she tucked into her own dinner, unimpeded with childminding, for once.

"Will you be returning to the mine?" Demelza inquired while trying to tempt Jeremy with a bit of buttered bread.

"No, I don't think so," Ross answered after a moment's hesitation to weigh the options. "Henshawe has things well in hand. I'd much rather spend the time with you." He was rewarded with a beaming smile when he snared her hand in his. "I thought we could take Jeremy down to Hendrawna to see if there were any seashells to collect."

"Oh, Ross," his wife cried, eyes bright with shimmering tears. "Could we?"

He released her to run his fingers through his son's soft hair, inordinately pleased at the hints of copper in the dark strands. "I'd like nothing better."