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

on crazy … and she threatened to kill us all.  No, Ruth.  I don’t know how she has managed it and where this Peter Percival comes into the scheme of things but she’s murdered her brother.  I’m absolutely positive of it.”

Not liking the way his agitation was growing, Ruth changed the subject rapidly.  “I’ve been thinking … as soon as you can be discharged, we should get away from Canleigh for a while.  Let’s go up to Blairness for Christmas and New Year. I know we were going to entertain my parents and Vicky and Barrie but they will all understand … and Vicky can always join us if she wants to.  We can have a lovely quiet time, reading and if the weather permits, have some walks and just enjoy being together … with Stephen of course … and then, when you are feeling much better, I thought it would be good to go abroad … get over to Italy, as we had planned?  That would be really good for you.”

“You mean you want me as far away from Canleigh as possible until all this dies down and the trial is over.”

“Correct.  I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be around when that gets under way.  It’s bad enough now with all the press attention.”

“I’m so sorry, Ruth,” Charles sighed.  “I feel I’m letting you down.  You’ve an awful lot to deal with at the moment and I’m of no use to you whatsoever.  I should be the one there at Canleigh, in charge and looking after you all.”

“Don’t be silly.  All I want is for you to get well again, as fast as possible.  Vicky’s there with me and she’s a tower of strength … and the staff are simply wonderful, especially the Hardy’s and Susan Armitage.  We’ll get through this.  Please don’t fret.”

To Ruth’s utter relief he had taken the news that he wouldn’t be fit enough to attend the funeral surprisingly well.

“I’ve accepted that it’s out of the question that I make an appearance but I do want it recorded so I can watch it at some time in the future.  Can you arrange that, darling, please?”

“Of course I will,” agreed Ruth readily.  “And what do you think about having a memorial service … sometime in the spring … when you are fully fit and well again?”

Charles smiled wistfully.  “That’s a lovely idea.  We’ll do it. Thank you, Ruth.  I don’t know what I would do without you.”

She managed to leave the hospital without mentioning Delia’s imminent arrival.  He thought she was still being held by the police and Ruth wasn’t going to disillusion him.  He would be even more anxious if he knew she was back at Canleigh.

But Delia didn’t turn up that day, or the next.  Ruth and Vicky were kept busy with funeral arrangements, visiting Charles and keeping Tina and Stephen under surveillance but Vicky had something else she was also worried about.

“I know Barrie and I aren’t too close at the moment but he’s not bothered to contact me since I’ve been here and when I ring him, he’s unusually dismissive … he’s always too busy to talk and this morning he actually slammed the phone down.”

“Perhaps he’s missing you and doesn’t know how to deal with it … or he’s just tired.  After all, he has your job to do as well as his own while you are away.”

Although she didn’t show it, Ruth was annoyed with Barrie.  Vicky had a seriously ill father in hospital, her brother had just been brutally killed and her sister was accused of his murder.  What was the matter with Barrie?  Where was the support any caring husband would give his wife at such a time?  He was utterly selfish and Ruth would tell him so when she met him again.

“No.  I don’t think it’s that.  Alex is an absolute brick and the two of them should be able to manage quite adequately without me.  Perhaps I’ll ring Alex this evening … before the club gets too busy … I’ll get some sense out of him.”

But Vicky forgot all about ringing Alex.  She accompanied Ruth to the hospital in the afternoon but on their return to Canleigh they were met by a concerned Hardy in the entrance hall.

“Lady Delia has arrived, Your Grace,” he announced with a worried frown.  “She’s gone to her room.  She wants to rest now but will be down for dinner.”

Vicky and Ruth looked askance at each other.  They were both feeling drained and tired and now they were going to have to deal with Delia.  Ruth’s stomach did a somersault and nausea threatened.

“Is Tina with Stephen?” Ruth asked quickly.

“Yes, Your Grace.  They’re in the nursery.”

“Good.  In that case, I’ll just pop up and see them,” she said, rushing up the staircase, taking two steps at a time, uncaring as to whether or not she looked like a dignified Duchess.

The nursery, a light, bright and airy room was an oasis of calm.  Painted in a pale yellow with one wall decorated with different coloured smiling teddy bears, it was delightful.  The cream furniture held all Stephen’s clothes and necessary items for a young baby, his white crib with yellow blankets and quilt was near to the teddy bear wall.  By the sash window was a rocking chair in which Tina was sitting with a sleeping Stephen in her arms.

“He’s literally just gone off, Your Grace,” said Tina.  “I was just about to put him down.”

Ruth took Stephen from Tina’s arms and felt a surge of deep love and a primeval need to protect her child.  Whatever happened with Delia in the house, she was not going to get near Stephen and she would never be given the opportunity to harm him in any way.  Ruth would die first.

“Lady Delia is here.”

“Yes, I