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

his fear vanished in an instant as she smiled into his eyes.  “Oh, Charles, I love you so much … I think I have done ever since we first met but … but we hardly know each other … what will people think … what about your children?  I’m in the same age group as them.  I can’t see them taking it very well … especially Richard and Delia.”  She remembered the terrible scenes, first with Delia and then with Richard when they had both warned her off.  Not very happy wasn’t really the phrase to use.  They would be utterly furious.

He hugged her with delight, kissing her upturned face.  His heart soared and he felt he could burst with happiness.  “They will have to get used to it, darling.  They have their own lives and we have ours … and I don’t want to waste any more time than necessary.  We could get a special licence and get married this week … I’m so sorry it will have to be a civil wedding … being a divorced man prevents us marrying in Canleigh church, which I would have preferred … but we can arrange a blessing there afterwards … that’s if you would like to.”

He remembered, clearly, his last wedding at the pretty little church.  To Margaret.  That marriage had gone badly wrong, almost from the start.  He glanced at Ruth, knowing this one wouldn’t.  The two women were so different.  Margaret had never loved him.  She had just wanted the security, money and status that he could provide.  She had been cold, calculating … and a tart.  She had produced three children during their time together and for that he would always be grateful but their actual relationship had been a disaster and caused huge disappointment and heartache.  Ruth was so different.  She wasn’t self-obsessed like Margaret.  She was interested in the welfare of others, tolerant and honest and he just knew she would be steadfastly loyal.  There was no hidden agenda with her and he knew, gazing into her gorgeous, pretty hazel eyes, that she truly loved him and that they were going to make each other extremely happy.

“Oh, my word, Charles.  Please.  Let me take all this in.  I don’t know.  This is all so sudden.  I love you, yes … but marriage?  It’s a huge step … and I’m not of your class … there’s the age gap … not that it matters to me but it might to others … and I’ll drive you mad.  I’m always late for everything and am bone idle if left to my own devices.  I don’t know anything about running a huge house … entertaining on a grand scale, etc., etc.   I could never be the sort of wife you need … or deserve.  I would end up letting you down by making some dreadful faux par or other and you’d bitterly regret it.  I just know it.”

Charles looked at her sternly.  “Let’s get a few things clear, here and now.  My children have their own lives to lead.  What I do is of no concern to them … and what anyone else thinks is their own affair too.  It’s what we think and feel that matters.  And as for this nonsense about you not being good enough, that’s sheer bunkum.  So please, my darling girl, get that out of your head as fast as possible.  We have staff to run Canleigh and my other properties.  We leave everything to them.  You won’t have to worry about a thing … and I don’t entertain on any kind of grand scale so there’s nothing for you to worry about there too.  All you will have to do, my darling Ruth, is let me make you happy.”

He stopped for a moment and sadness crossed his face.  “However, you do have a point about our ages.  I’ve been grossly selfish, not considering it from your point of view.  How could you want to marry an old man?  Because that’s what I am.  We are of completely different generations … you could so easily be my daughter.  Oh, Ruth,” he added with anguish.  “I am so sorry.  I’ve embarrassed you dreadfully.”

She reached forward and stroked his face.  “It doesn’t matter to me … this silly age difference … all I know is that I love you very much and you could be Methuselah himself for all I care.  You are right.  If it matters to other people then that is their problem.  It doesn’t to me … honestly it doesn’t.”

Charles smiled and pulled her to him, enveloping her in his arms.  “Then we’re in agreement and nothing should stand in our way.  Ruth, if you promise to marry me, I shall be the happiest man alive.  Please darling … what do you say?  I promise to make you so happy.  I shall devote the rest of my days to making your life perfectly marvellous, more so than your wildest dreams.  I shall treat you like a queen.”

Ruth’s eyes sparkled with love and joy as she looked up at him.  “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.  Of course I’ll marry you … although the speed at which we are going is leaving me rather breathless.”

“Oh, darling.  I couldn’t have left asking you for another minute.  Someone else might have snapped you up and I couldn’t have borne it … and I want us to live our lives to the full before it’s too late.”

As they hugged and kissed tenderly, as dusk settled around them, with the moon beginning to rise and the sea lapping gently beneath the pier, Ruth, as happy and joyful as she was, felt a shiver run through her body at his words … ‘before it’s too late.’

CHAPTER 24 THE CARIBBEAN AND NEW YORK   JULY 1972

“Your mother is dead,” announced Simon Parfitt.  “I had her cremated and then scattered her ashes out to sea last week.”

Stunned