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

was it?  The niggling doubts reverberated around Ruth’s brain.  Delia had a nasty temper.  Could she have killed Richard?  Could she?

“Yes, Your Ladyship.  Lady Delia advised our colleagues that Peter Percival was your half-brother.  Had you no knowledge of this?”

Vicky looked puzzled as she thought about the question.  “I suppose it could be correct.  Our Mother’s maiden name was Percival.  As far as I am aware, she was only ever married to Father so this man would have to be an illegitimate child.  God, I wonder if Father knows,” she threw a look of bewilderment at Ruth.

Ruth shook her head.  “I’ve no idea.  He’s never mentioned it.”

“So how did Delia become involved with him?  Where did she find him?” asked Vicky.

“In America, I believe.  They arrived on a plane from Boston late afternoon yesterday.  You will appreciate that at the moment there are a lot of unanswered questions but we would like an opinion from both of you as to whether you consider Lady Delia could have had any reason to kill this person, or indeed, Lord Richard.”

Ruth shook her head, not daring to speak and say the words that were going around in her head.  ‘Delia has killed Richard.  Delia has killed Richard’.  Ruth knew it was true.  She felt it at the very core of her being.  Delia had carried out her promise.  She had killed Richard and nearly killed Charles in the process.  She felt faint and held fast to Vicky’s hand.

“No,” said Vicky, having not been in the room or been told afterwards about Delia’s threat to kill the male members of the family.  She had been too distraught about Barrie’s treachery that night and kept to her bedroom.  “I can’t see Delia doing anything to harm Richard.  They argued and disagreed, quite a lot actually, but I think they were genuinely fond of each other.”

Ruth looked up, unable to bear the scrutiny of the policeman any longer. “Well, sergeant, if that’s all you can tell us or ask us for now, please feel free to leave.  I think Lady Victoria and I have had more than enough to deal with tonight.”

“Yes, Your Grace … and may I say, how sorry I am for your loss.”

“Thank you,” said Ruth politely, nodding as the two men left the room and closed the door quietly behind them.

Vicky sunk back into the sofa, stared at Ruth and then promptly burst into tears.  “Oh no, not Richard.  Not Richard.  He was so kind to me when I was suffering from anorexia.  He helped me so much.  He looked after me better than anyone.  He was my big brother.  Oh God, Ruth.  How could this have happened?  No wonder Daddy’s heart gave up.  It must have been a terrible shock for him.”

Ruth just sat numbly.  She couldn’t speak. She was terrified to the very core of her being.  Delia had killed Richard.  Delia had killed Richard.  The words kept going around and around in her head … but why … when Stephen existed?  Now Richard was dead, Stephen was the heir to Canleigh.  If it was Canleigh Delia was after in her devious twisted mind, she now had a baby in her way.  Surely she would have known about him but then, if she was out of the country all this time there was a chance she might not know of his existence.  Ruth looked at Vicky in horror, fighting hard not to become hysterical.

“I don’t know how she did it, Vicky, but Delia has had Richard murdered so she can gain control of Canleigh when your father … when your father dies.  I bet she doesn’t know about Stephen if she’s lived in America since she disappeared.  So, what the hell will she do when she finds out?” she cried.

CHAPTER 29 NOVEMBER 1973

Delia sat in the stark, dreary police cell in Oxford police station.  It was exactly as she had anticipated but cold reality was far worse than imagination.  On arrival, a doctor had been summoned to check her over to make sure she was fit to be questioned following the alleged attack by Rocky.  Her photograph was taken, along with her fingerprints, and then, as she was still being treated as a suspect, she had been placed in the cell after making a call to a Mr. Danby, of Danby, Parsons and Gilbert, the most prestigious firm of solicitors in Oxford, to represent her.  He turned out to be a short, wiry little man who spoke rapidly, almost firing questions at her, and gave the distinct impression that he knew exactly what he was doing and had no doubt in his mind that any suspicions the police might hold that she willing killed either of her brothers was knocked on the head.  By the time Delia had spent an hour with him, going over and over what went on in the flat, she was convinced she had no case to answer and wasn’t too worried about the coming interview with the detectives assigned to the case.  She had rehearsed what she was going to say for months and luckily, all the action in the flat had gone smoothly, just as she had planned, so there was no need to embellish her story.  Thankfully, Mr. Danby believed her.

However, what was so galling and wildly maddening was that he had confirmed Richard’s final words about her father’s marriage to Ruth and that the devious bitch had produced a baby.  Another bloody heir to the Canleigh estate, which made all the planning and scheming over the last year, let alone the actual act of murder of Richard and Rocky, completely useless.  It had been a total waste of time and effort … all for absolutely nothing.  Delia was so angry she felt as if her body was going to explode.  Bloody, bloody Ruth.  That simpering, sneaky, silly little blonde female Richard had fawned over had married their