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

thrill of excitement. This was it.  She was finally leaving America and going home to sort the problem that had dogged her all her life, although returning to Canleigh was a daunting prospect as she had no idea what she was going to find and how her father was going to react.  Demon, of course, would be highly delighted to see her again and she couldn’t wait to get on his back and gallop around the estate at breakneck speed.  She had missed him so much. Then there was Philip.  Darling, delicious Philip.  He belonged to Delia and she was going to get him back.  That stupid woman he had taken up with, if she hadn’t already departed, would have to go.  Of that, there was no question.

It was just after eight o’clock in the evening and dark when they touched down at Heathrow, Delia unable to keep an enormous smile off her face as the spectacular lights of London grew closer when the plane came into land.  She could hardly contain her excitement at being back in the U.K.  Home wasn’t far away now.  Canleigh was only a few hours up the motorway …  but before she could take the last leg of the journey there was a serious job to do first and she had to get organised fast.  Time was of the essence now Rocky was in the country.  She managed to wake him just before they landed.  Luckily, he was calm and malleable but Delia was anxious to get him to the hotel and out of sight before the agitation for drugs kicked in, not having dared to bring anything with them in case customs searched their luggage.  However, there had been no need to worry.  Two weary uniformed officials waved everyone through the green channel and Delia and Rocky stepped out of the airport into the bracing, chilly November evening, Rocky wearing the navy duffle coat Delia had purchased for him two days ago.  She also had one, tucked into her suitcase, which she had bought from a different shop three months ago.  She wanted no connection between the two.

Before leaving America Delia had booked two rooms at the Post House Hotel near to the airport and had great pleasure in explaining to a drowsy Rocky that as they were brother and sister, which was soon about to become common knowledge, it wouldn’t do to sleep together while they were in England.  Little did he know they would never share a bed again.

Delia wasn’t in need of food as she had eaten on the plane and Rocky only wanted a ham sandwich.  Room service was quick and within minutes the sandwich was delivered, along with the pot of coffee Delia had ordered to keep herself awake.  She surreptitiously placed another sleeping pill between the two slices of bread and handed it to Rocky.  He ate it slowly, yawning widely.

“I would love a shower but don’t think I can summon the energy,” he uttered.  “I just want to sleep.”

“Go on then.  You can always shower in the morning.  It’s the jetlag.  I feel the same and will hop into my bed too as soon as I’ve been out and bought you some dope from my contact,” she encouraged.  “Let’s get your clothes off and then you can drift off.  The bed looks lovely and comfy.”

“God, I’m tired,” he muttered as his head hit the pillow.  “Don’t be long, Delia.  I’m going to need something soon.”

“I won’t be.  Just stay in bed and sleep till I get back.  Promise me.”

“Okay, okay,” he yawned.  “Just hurry up.”

By the time Delia had drunk two cups of coffee, Rocky was snoring loudly and she decided it was safe to leave him alone and get cracking.  He couldn’t be kept doped up with the tiny white tablets for much longer.  She dashed to her room, praying he would remain as he was until she returned.  She didn’t want anything jeopardising her plans now they had got this far and to have him out of her sight, even for a short while, was a gamble.  He was so unpredictable when his cravings took control but then if the sleeping pill she had just given him worked as well as the one on the plane, there was nothing to worry about.  She had time to get what she wanted, although she was beginning to feel weary herself.  It had been a long day and even though there was only a five-hour time difference, it was four in the afternoon in Boston but nine in the evening here in London, which took a little getting used to and sitting for so long on the plane was exhausting and hadn’t helped.  Delia hated to be idle and relished the thought of a chance to get outside and immerse herself in the bustle of London.  However, just to make sure she was as alert as it was possible to be, she dived into her bag for her fresh bottle of bee pollen and swallowed four tablets quickly.  It always worked when she needed to be on the ball mentally and it was natural, unlike all the substances Rocky and his fellow band members liked to poison their bodies with.

She took a quick shower and changed.  It was dark and cold outside and she was able to dress according to the weather, which would help keep her identity a secret.  Putting on fresh jeans, polo-necked sweater and her navy duffle coat, identical to the one worn by Rocky, she tucked her hair into a short mousy-brown wig and placed the glasses bought especially for the occasion on her nose.  A dark blue warm woollen scarf draped round her neck and across her mouth to keep out the chill of the night, was the final touch.  A mirror check gave satisfaction.  She looked nothing like Lady Delia Canleigh, or Delia Marshall come to that, and unless someone looked