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

A massive wave of relief flooded over Charles.  She didn’t care romantically for Richard.  He wanted to sing for joy.  “Let’s forget it then … and change the subject,” he said, kindly.  “I’m glad you liked Canleigh.  I know I spend a lot of my time away from it but I am somewhat proud of it.  Now, tell me.  Have you informed your parents of your intentions yet?”

Ruth told him about the planned meeting the following Sunday and mentioned she was considering some kind of volunteer work, possibly abroad, which brought the conversation round to travel and for the next two hours they talked about where they had been and where they wanted to go.  Virtually every aspect of their lives was touched on, finding that apart from a shared passion for exploration, they both enjoyed classical music, particularly Mozart and Beethoven, books, history, and the countryside.

“This is amazing,” said Charles as they walked back to the car.  “We’ve been in the restaurant for four hours and the time has just flown.  It only seems like minutes.  I can’t remember when I have enjoyed myself so much.”

Ruth laughed as he held open the car door for her.  “I know.  I can’t believe it either.  It’s been a lovely evening.  Thank you so much.”

Charles got in beside her and took her hand gently in his.  “I want to see you again, Ruth … and I’m hoping you want to see me.”

She nodded, suddenly overwhelmed with shyness mixed with a heady happiness that this special evening wasn’t to be the last.  “Definitely,” she said firmly.

He reached out and ran his hand down her cheek and smoothed her hair.  “You are so lovely, Ruth … and young.  I have no right to expect you to want to be with me.  I am so much older than you … but I really think I’m falling in love with you.”

She smiled.  Her heart was singing.  She felt more wonderfully alive than she had ever done … and it was all down to this fabulously kind, fascinating, gentle man.  “Age is only a number.  It’s what’s in the heart that counts,” she murmured as his lips touched hers for the first time and she realised just how much she adored him.

Charles remained in Oxford for a week, unable to tear himself away now that his relationship with Ruth was on a firm footing.  He was totally in love and wanted to be with her all the time.  Ruth had informed her tutor that she wasn’t continuing with her course so she was a free agent and took every opportunity she could to be with Charles.  They visited the theatre, cinema, dined out, walked for miles around the city and the nearby countryside, and had picnics by the river.  On Saturday they drove down to Bournemouth for the day, walked barefoot on the sands, ate fish and chips out of newspaper and ice creams with chocolate flakes.  They laughed, they joked, they held hands, they kissed.  They were besotted with each other.

Before leaving Bournemouth for the journey back to Oxford, they took a stroll along the pier.  Dusk was taking over and the moon was rising.  The sea was calm and the smell of ozone mixed with toffee apple, candy floss, burgers and fish and chips wafting from the vending stalls on the promenade gave them no doubt that they were at the seaside.

“What a simply delightful day,” Ruth sighed, smiling up at Charles.  “It’s such a shame we have to go back and I have to face my parents in the morning.”

“Would you like me to come with you?”

“Thank you, Charles, but no.  This is something I have to do on my own.  They are going to erupt and I would hate you to be there to see it.”

They had reached the end of the pier.  Ruth leant on the rail and looked wistfully out to sea.  It sparkled in the moonlight.  “It would be much easier just to send them a letter but I have to do it face to face … and they are going to be so disappointed in me.”

Charles wrapped his arms around her and turned her face up to his.  He studied her carefully.  He loved her so much it hurt and he would do anything to make her happy.  He hesitated before he spoke but then threw all caution to the winds.  “Would it be easier if they knew you were engaged to a Duke?”

“What?” Ruth gasped.  “Charles.  We … it’s only been a few days.  You can’t possibly mean ….”

For a brief, horrible second, he thought he had badly misjudged their feelings for each other and that she was going to turn him down.

“I know … I know it’s not been long but it’s so right.  I love you, Ruth, more than you will ever know.  I want to spend the rest of my life with you, making you smile, making you happy.  Will you … will you please marry me?”

Ruth stood shocked, one hand gripping the handrail and the other on his shoulder, thinking she was in some dream and she would wake up any minute.  She couldn’t have heard him right.  It was the waves, whispering as they lapped beneath the pier; it was the sound of teenagers still playing on the beach; it was the traffic on the road, distorting his words.  She looked at him and knew it wasn’t.  He was gazing intently at her, desperately waiting for her answer.  His eyes were full of love, and then turned to doubt as she kept silent.

“Ruth?”  he said, terrified he had made the worst judgement of his life; how could he have assumed his intense love was reciprocated.  How stupid he was.  What a fool he had made of himself.

Then