Charles Poldark dies. Elizabeth and Francis have a child but they are unhappily married and Elizabeth discovers that he has a mistress called Anna. Jim Carter is caught poaching and Ross goes to court to plead for a non-custodial sentence for the boy but a vengeful Nicholas Warleggan gives him a two year prison term. An unhappy Ross gets drunk and is comforted by Demelza,with whom he shares an evening of passion but later,believing he has acted inappropriately,sends her back to her parents,unaware that she is pregnant. He gives Jim's wife Jinny her job instead. Ross has discovered a valuable seam of copper in the mine and is preparing to get back with Elizabeth,who has left Francis. However he discovers from Jinny that he is the father of Demelza's unborn child. He overtakes her as she travels to Truro for an abortion and proposes marriage to her.
—don @ minifie-1