Ross prepares for his trial as Demelza and Elizabeth try to help his cause. George does everything in his power to harm Ross, Francis wrestles with his conscience, and Dwight clashes with an entitled heiress, Caroline Penvenen.

On the eve of her husband's trial Demelza ignores Ray Penvenen's advice and approaches Judge Lister for mercy but her plan is scuppered by George Warleggan. Warleggan is convinced that Ross will be found guilty but Ross is an immensely popular defendant and despite the intervention of Demelza's father and Warleggan's paid prosecution witnesses his own excellent defence, aided by the testimony of the captain whose life he saved, Dwight and surprisingly Jud, leads to an acquittal. Dwight also attends Francis following his failed suicide bid after his belief that Elizabeth had an affair with Ross and gets closer to Caroline, who is not sorry when outsider Trevaunance's election as MP causes a riot. Warleggan however is still desperate to acquire Ross's mine by any means whilst Demelza and Ross consider having another baby.

Ross chairs the meeting for his mine's share-holders, where expansion of Wheal Leisure is approved but Warleggan's spy Tankard is also present and Warleggan's heavies attack Jud for failing to discredit Ross at his trial after their payment to commit perjury. To remain solvent the Poldarks are forced to sell many of their possessions and livestock, causing Demelza to keep her pregnancy secret from her husband. However, following the attack on Jud, Ross realizes Warleggan has schemed to keep Francis and himself at odds and is reconciled with his cousin at a family party, after which Demelza reveals her pregnancy to a far from displeased Ross.

An epidemic sweeps through the county and Dwight is grateful to Caroline for providing him with a cart-load of fresh oranges to combat it. Ross meanwhile is thwarted in his efforts to expand the mine, thanks to Warleggan and his proxy, Tankard. To provide finances he strikes a deal with a local smuggler to use his beach to land cargo on, much to Demelza's annoyance. Ross also goes into partnership with Francis, despite Warleggan's attempts to split them up, and they open up the mine gaining access to Wheal Grace. Demelza gives birth to a baby boy, Jeremy, which goes some way towards reconciling Francis with Verity.

Ross joins a smuggling trip in the Isles of Scilly in order to meet Mark Daniel but, in his absence, George moves in on Elizabeth. Caroline convinces Dwight they must elope for a new life in Bath, and Captain McNeil plans to ambush the smugglers on their return.

Aware of her husband's infidelity with Elizabeth Demelza does not hold back from expressing her disgust and defiantly attends a house party alone. Here she flirts with the amorous captain McNeil though loyalty to Ross causes her to draw the line at sex with him. Elizabeth's marriage to Warleggan finally goes ahead whilst Ross gets good news on the business front when repayment of a previous loan enables him to maintain the mine and a profitable find is made - one which will hopefully save his marriage.

The mine is at last bringing Ross wealth but Demelza, still slow to forgive, goes to stay with new mother Verity. An angry Ross gives the snide Warleggan a beating after his suggestion that Ross is cheating Elizabeth's son out of his inheritance before deciding to reenlist to fight in the Napoleonic wars. Dwight also signs up as a naval surgeon but is reunited with Caroline before he sets sail. Warleggan builds fences around his property, cutting off the public right of way and Demelza is one of the casualties of his hired thugs. Irate locals march on his house, Trenwith, vowing to burn it to the ground, but Ross dissuades them to spare them prosecution before he is reconciled with Demelza.