Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama) by Carole Williams (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

severe.  She demanded a gin and tonic from Dan and seeing Ruth and Richard strode over to them, ignoring the odd greeting from diners.  Being locals they all knew who she was. They had either watched her grow up or grown up with her and were hugely saddened to hear the much looked forward to wedding wasn’t going ahead as the whole village had been invited to the shindig in the evening.  Philip, having told Charles, had mentioned the wedding was cancelled to one of his grooms and the news had spread around the village like wildfire.  So everyone naturally expected Delia to be depressed and upset and were flabbergasted to see her with a look of sheer fury on her face, especially as it was directed at her brother and his female companion.

“Oh no,” groaned Richard, resting his head on his hand and screwing up his eyes as if he were in pain.  “Please God, not another scene … and certainly not in here.”

Ruth contained the compulsion to flee to the toilet and hide but kept her seat, trying to still the beating of her heart.  Why did Delia have this dreadful effect on her?

“Still here then?” remarked Delia, throwing a look of contempt at Ruth.

Not waiting for an answer and to still the look of puzzlement on Richard’s face, she tossed herself down next to him, slipped her arm possessively through his and proceeded to talk at length about people Ruth could not possibly know in an effort to freeze her out and make her feel insignificant.

It worked.  Delia’s behaviour was lamentable and downright rude and Ruth became increasingly awkward and self-conscious as Richard fidgeted, removed Delia’s arm from his and threw Ruth apologetic glances.  The villagers and Dan talked quietly amongst themselves while surreptitiously keeping an eye on proceedings.

“Have you thought about having a holiday,” asked Richard desperately, red with annoyance by his twin’s loquaciousness which was excluding Ruth.  “It might do you good ... to get away from here for a while.  Go and see some friends.  Think about something other than this place and all the people in it … or come down to Oxford for a while …Ruth and I can take you out and about for a bit ….”

“Why the hell should I want a holiday.  Philip and I are off to the Seychelles after the wedding.”

Ruth and Richard, their eyes widening with surprise, stared at each other.

“But the wedding … Father told me it’s off.  Philip rang him,” Richard murmured so no-one apart from the three of them could hear.

Delia threw her head back defiantly.  “He’s just having a stupid wobbly.  He’ll see sense,” she said, her voice brittle and full of pain.

“Philip wouldn’t have cancelled at the last minute unless it was for a very good reason.  We both know him very well.  He’s not fickle and once he makes his mind up about something, he usually sticks to it.”

“Pity he didn’t stick to our engagement and wedding plans then,” Delia hissed, twirling her engagement ring round and round her finger.

“Delia, if it’s off, it’s off … and you need to get away from here.  Please, consider coming down and staying with us.  My flat’s not much but we can get you a room at the Randolph and we can all spend as much time together as we can.”

“That’s a lovely idea.  If there is anything I can do …,” Ruth jumped in, heartily wishing she had kept quiet immediately afterwards.  Her skin crawled and she could feel herself blush as Delia looked at her scornfully.

“What the devil do you think you can do?  What a bloody stupid thing to say!”

“I was only trying to be …,” Ruth said, painfully aware that now their voices were rising, everyone in the room could hear their altercation and were listening almost gleefully, hoping for a real corker of a row which could be talked about for months to come.

“Well, don’t bother,” snapped Delia, standing up abruptly.  “I’m not going anywhere.  I belong at Canleigh and I am staying at Canleigh and Philip will change his mind and we will get married.  So, I don’t need your sympathy, Miss Barrett.  Just go back to Oxford and leave us alone.  You are not wanted here!”

“Delia!” exclaimed Richard furiously, putting out a hand to pull his sister back into the seat and calm her down.  She shrugged him off.

“Get lost,” she snapped, striding towards the door, customers moving quickly out of her path.    They all knew she had a temper having witnessed displays in the past and didn’t want any of her venom to land on them for being in her way.  The door banged shut and after a short, embarrassed silence, everyone started talking at once.

Not knowing what to say, Ruth twiddled nervously with the fork on her plate, stunned and shaken for the second time in twenty-four hours.  Richard looked positively thunderous and spoke through gritted teeth.

“She’s gone too far,” he seethed.  “How dare she publicly humiliate us and to talk to you in such a manner is completely unforgivable.  I can’t apologise enough, Ruth.  If I had thought for one moment you would be treated in such a despicable way, I would never have invited you to Canleigh.  I know Delia is hurting badly but there is absolutely no excuse for her behaviour.  I am so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Richard.  Can we … can we please just go,” muttered Ruth. The atmosphere in the room was mortifying and Ruth hated being the object of so much interest.  Richard couldn’t wait to leave either and they finished their coffee quickly.  Richard paid the bill and they went outside to collect the horses, now restless and eager to be off.