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

her days free to do as she wished but have full responsibility of her baby during the evenings, at night and all weekends and Tina could be at home when her husband finished work.

Tina was in her mid-thirties; just under five feet tall with a lovely hourglass figure, a ready smile on her rounded face and a mop of dark brown hair that she always kept tied in a ponytail when on duty.  Ruth had liked her very much from the moment Tina was interviewed, just before Ruth gave birth, although she felt a pang of sympathy for her new employee as Tina couldn’t have children of her own and had no choice but to use up all her maternal instincts on those of other people.

“Don’t feel sorry for me, Your Grace,” said Tina during the interview.  “I have the best of both worlds. I have the joy of looking after children while I am at work but none of the expense and responsibility at home.  Mark, coming from a rather large family,” she grinned thinking of his five younger brothers and sisters, “has had his fill of children as he was the eldest and had to help out rather more than he would have liked so it doesn’t bother him too much, so we have our dogs … and our cats … to spoil and pamper and that’s the way we like it.”

It had worked out well.  Ruth had the joy of caring for Stephen as much as she wanted or plenty of free time to spend as she wished.  She was very, very lucky, she thought as she and Charles ate a light lunch in the dining room and then donned coats and gloves and walked hand in hand down past the stables to the lake.  It was far colder than Ruth had anticipated so it was decided Stephen would remain in the nursery with Tina and as much as she loved her son, Ruth found any time she could spend alone with her husband particularly precious.

It took a whole hour to circle the lake and as the temperature wasn’t too far off freezing they didn’t sit on any of the benches, as they usually did, and kept moving.

“Christmas,” said Ruth, looking up at Charles.  “Do you think Mother and Father should be invited?  I know they will be very disappointed if not but it is entirely up to you.  If you really can’t stand it, that’s fine by me.”

Charles smiled down at her.  He loved her so much.  He had never been as happy in his life as he was with Ruth.  She was everything he could have wished for in a wife and he would walk over hot coals for her if need be.  “Of course they can come if you wish them to.  I really don’t mind.  I like your father … and your mother,” he grimaced mockingly, “well, at least she has a brain in her head.”

Ruth laughed gaily.  “Well, that’s true.  Okay then … if you’re sure.  Vicky and Barrie are definitely joining us.”

“It’s just as well Delia won’t be here then,” Charles remarked caustically.  He hadn’t been happy when Vicky forgave Barrie for his treatment of her with Delia at Canleigh, announced their engagement, and then married him in February.  He didn’t trust Barrie one iota and had already given him a stern warning not to hurt her in any way.

Ruth squeezed Charles’ arm sympathetically.  She knew how much he distrusted Barrie and was unhappy about the marriage but he had had to stand back and let his daughter do as she wanted if he didn’t want to lose her too.  He was already estranged from Richard, thanks to their marriage, and they had no idea where Delia was or what she was doing.

“Yes. It is,” she agreed.  “I wonder where she is.”

“She’ll turn up one day, mark my words.  She loves Canleigh too much.  She won’t be able to stay away forever.”

Ruth closed her eyes, trying to prevent a shudder run through her body.  She knew it was inevitable that Delia would re-enter their lives but she dreaded it and hoped it wouldn’t happen for a very long time.

“I wish Richard would come up for the festivities but I suppose he’ll make the excuse that he’s working,” said Charles glumly.

Ruth looked across the lake.  They had reached the half way point and straight across the water stood the Hall, bathed in winter sunshine.  It looked splendid.  Old and grand.  A truly magnificent piece of architecture.  Ruth had fallen in love with it as soon as she had moved in.  Its imposing façade, the beautiful rooms inside with the sparkling chandeliers, marble fireplaces, Italian paintings, Chippendale furniture, and the stillness of the staterooms downstairs.  Then there were the stunning views from upstairs, especially from their lovely bedroom on the corner of the first floor, with its double aspect facing south-east.  It was wonderful, idling in bed first thing in the morning with the sun streaming through the windows.  It always made her feel good to be alive.

Charles had been extremely busy during the couple of months prior to their wedding.  Ruth had moved temporarily back into her parents’ home after leaving Oxford and they, especially her mother, had thrown themselves into preparations for the wedding, with all talk of her medical career swept under the carpet and never to be spoken of again.  Charles visited regularly and on his first appearance, enquired what her favourite colours were.  He then proceeded, unbeknown to her, to have Margaret’s rooms, which ran the full length of the east wing and consisted of a massive bedroom with its double south-east aspect, bathroom, dressing room and sitting room with its double aspect to the north-east, completely refurbished and decorated.  All the old furniture was replaced by new.  The bedroom was given a king size bed, the bathroom a sunken bath and newly