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

experienced and would be able to keep him so satisfied he wouldn’t ever look at another woman again.  Yes, life could be fun for a while she thought.  She was going to enjoy herself.  Where was the harm in that?

She stood up, stretched like a cat and smiled at her tousled image in the mirror, her confidence in herself fully restored.  She’d easily talk Richard and her father round tonight and once they departed back to Oxford and Scotland, she would turn Canleigh into the most profitable private estate in the country.  She could do it.  She knew she could and no one in their right mind would stand in her way.

She laughed at her previous suspicions about Ruth.  Richard was too caught up in his profession to worry about Canleigh and perhaps if considered properly, Ruth might be the best person to marry Richard.  With her background in medicine, she would support Richard in his career, which to him was paramount and he wouldn’t want to specialise here in Yorkshire.  He would want to stay down south, probably London.  Canleigh, therefore, would remain in a far corner of their lives.  Thinking about it logically made Delia realise her initial panic was probably needless.  She had over-reacted.  What a silly fool she was.

Doors banged across the corridor and Delia wondered what kind of excuses Barrie could make for his dilemma but that was his problem, not hers.  She rolled back on the bed and curled up in a ball, all tension and anxiety blown away, having no intention of stirring until the evening, when hopefully the warring couple would have sorted themselves out, although any plans of Vicky’s to marry Barrie would stand little chance of survival now.  If he could so happily jump into bed with his girlfriend’s sister, he was rather a poor bet on the marriage stakes and it was highly unlikely he would remain faithful for long.  Vicky would be wise to get shot of him.  Delia smiled.  She had done her sister a favour, opening her eyes to what he was really like.  She smiled, closed her eyes, and fell fast asleep.

CHAPTER 20 CANLEIGH – JUNE 1972

Delia awoke in a different frame of mind, realising how recklessly she had behaved all day, firstly with Richard and Ruth and then, of course, Barrie and Vicky.  The last thing she should be doing was upsetting the family just as she wanted their full support.  Would Barrie have left Canleigh? Would Vicky have a go at her?  Would Richard be cross?  The questions rushed through her mind as she dressed for dinner, defiantly choosing her most dramatic dress, the full-length black stiff satin dress bought for the hunt ball she and Philip had attended last year.  Neither of them excelled at socialising but that was one event they attended regularly, enjoying being able to let their hair down with like-minded people.  The backless dress with its structured bodice only just covering her breasts had prompted much comment and many compliments and Delia had revelled in the attention.  It made her feel really good about herself and she needed that feeling again tonight.

She examined herself in the full-length mirror, wondering whether to put her hair up or not, deciding not.  Her back, shoulders, and arms were bare and she loved the feel of her hair brushing against her skin, reminding her of Barrie’s hands and lips as he caressed her earlier.  Not one for heavy make-up, if any at all, she had given her face the whole works tonight; foundation, blusher, finishing powder, smoky grey eye shadow, black eyeliner, lashings of black mascara and dark red lipstick and the beautiful jet beaded necklace bought to go with the dress set it all off nicely.

She picked up the small box containing her much-loved engagement ring, which she had removed before her dalliance with Barrie, and placed it in the top drawer of her dressing table, trying not to cry.  All the family now knew the wedding was off so there was no point in pretending any longer.  However, she did have a thick white gold dress ring set with diamonds that Philip had given her for her nineteenth birthday.  She placed it on her right thumb.  A last twirl in the mirror gave her the confidence she needed to face the family.  She looked fabulous.  Classy, elegant and in control.  Maybe a little on the sexy side but what did that matter?  She felt sexy tonight, thanks to Barrie.  He had restored her self-esteem after the battering it had received from Philip.  She was going to rise above her hurt, show the family she was still in control of her life and what she was going to do with it but even as she smiled at her image, a niggle of doubt crept in.  Would Vicky have told Father about her and Barrie?  Would Richard still be angry after her rudeness to Ruth in the pub?  There was no doubt about it.  There was a lot of apologising to do … but she would do anything for Canleigh.  If she had to grovel, she would, and look simply fabulous while she did so.  She smiled at her image again and held her head up high.  She was Lady Delia Canleigh.  She was young, beautiful and smart … and tonight she was going to be given a lot more power over the place she loved so passionately.  Nothing and no one would stand in her way.

Girding her loins to face whatever had to be faced this evening, Delia made her way down the stairs carrying two huge files, her dress swishing sensuously against her legs as she tried to walk elegantly in her black stilettos.  Normal footwear was riding boots or flat shoes and she had no idea how women could wear such high heels all the time.  The soles of her feet were already aching and she longed for the moment she could