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

Richard drank the second glass of claret quickly and poured another.  A wave of exhaustion washed over Ruth.  Richard looked as if he was set to stay where he was for a while and she could have done without further discussion on his family’s theatricals.

“Oh, she meant it all right,” replied Richard.  “Take my word for it.  You should have seen her face … but actually …,” he paused.  There was a lot he wanted to say and he wasn’t sure how to go about it.  His mind was in turmoil but looking at Ruth, soft and cuddly in her bathrobe, her silky hair resting on her shoulders, his heart turned over and he knew he had to tell her how he felt about her … and get their relationship on a proper footing.  He knew now that he wanted to marry her more than anything and he needed to tell her this very moment … before he lost his courage … but he had to find out if there was anything else going on before he committed himself.

“Yes.  You were saying,” prompted Ruth, her patience wearing thin.

“Well, Delia is not what I want to talk to you about.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

“Ruth, is my Father bothering you?”

“What do you mean?” she gasped.

Richard warmed to his theme, uncomfortably realising that thanks to all the alcohol he had consumed that evening, his voice had a slight slur and he was becoming petulant and difficult but even so, he drank some more claret.  He was in need of Dutch courage.

“He totally monopolised you at dinner … in fact it was hideously embarrassing … he really is a lecherous old devil.”

Ruth realised Richard was becoming alarmingly intoxicated but appalled by his description of his father was unable to stop herself and leapt instantly to Charles’ defence, although she kept her tone light.

“You are so wrong, Richard.  Your father is one of the most charming men I’ve ever met.  He’s done his best to make me feel at ease and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his company.”

“I see,” said Richard sarcastically.  He naturally wanted her to like his father but he was positive there was more to their closeness than mere friendliness.  There was something else, some kind of spark and he wanted to know the truth.  He blundered on.

“I had hoped I had the wrong end of the stick but it appears from your reaction that I was wrong.”

“What?”   Ruth was aghast and couldn’t believe where this conversation was leading.

But Richard had the bit between his teeth.  “If you want the truth, you were both behaving badly … you were positively playing up to him … and look at you both just now … sitting down here … in your nightclothes … pawing each other.  I do hope you haven’t any ideas in that direction, Ruth.”

“That’s insulting, Richard … insinuating I’m setting my cap at your father,” Ruth spluttered, finding this conversation more disturbing than that with Delia the previous evening.  What was the matter with this family?  Did they think of nothing else but that people were after their money and titles?

“I needn’t have been around this evening for all the notice you took of me,” said Richard sullenly, knowing how he sounded but unable to help himself.  “You only seem to have time for Father … ogling you.  It was disgusting to behold and I won’t have it,” he said forcefully.  “He’s an old man and should know better, while you ….”

“Yes, Richard,” said Ruth coldly.  “What about me?”

“You were behaving like a tart.”

Ruth stood up, pulling the belt of her bathrobe tightly around her.  “I think I’d better go up before I say something I’m going to regret.  It was exceedingly kind of you to invite me here but I’m not standing for this, Richard.  You’re drunk and tired.  I’ll see you in the morning.”

Richard rubbed his hand over his eyes.  She was right.  He was tired and knew he was making a difficult situation worse and instead of telling her how he really felt about her, he had only succeeded in making her angry.

“I’m sorry … I shouldn’t have said that.  It’s been such a traumatic evening … everything ….”

“No!” Ruth exploded.  “You certainly shouldn’t. Go to bed, Richard.  You’re making something out of nothing.”

“That’s right,” he snapped, annoyed at the casual way in which she dismissed his doubts.  “Brush it aside as if it doesn’t matter.”

Ruth turned to the door.  “Goodnight, Richard.”

He grabbed her hand as she moved away from the table.  “Can’t you see?  Are you really so blind?”  He paused nervously.  He hadn’t much experience with women, even though they had been throwing themselves at him for years.  He always rebuffed them, knowing they were more interested in his status than him.  But Ruth was different.  He continued clumsily.

“Ruth, I’ve fallen in love with you.  I didn’t realise it until this last couple of days.”

“But …,” stammered Ruth.  “We’re just friends … we’ve laughed about this … we know it wouldn’t work between us.”

He held her hand tighter.  “But it would.  It might not be a grand passion but we could make it work … I’ll do anything for you, give you whatever you want and if you don’t love me now, you will.  Marry me, Ruth.  Please.”

Ruth pulled her hand away and sank back down onto the chair she had just vacated.  This was the last thing she had expected.  Marriage!  With Richard.  It was out of the question but she didn’t know what to say.  He looked so pathetically child-like, leaning towards her with a look of great expectation on his face.  But he was drunk and in the last few moments had shown a disturbing attitude.  She began to feel uneasy and wasn’t quite sure what