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

roast beef and vegetables around their plates with little interest, watching Delia throw back glass after glass of Merlot once she had finished her overly large gin and martini.  She threw the odd superior look down the table at Ruth and Vicky, knowing they were frightened of her, which pleased her immensely.  They made her skin crawl, especially Ruth.  God, how Delia hated her, sitting there in Margaret’s place, pretending she was in charge of the situation, issuing instructions to Hardy, thanking him so prettily.  It was pathetic.

It was Vicky who spoke first, unable to bear the crushing, ominous silence.

“No doubt you are aware Richard is in the ballroom.  Have you been in to see him?” she asked Delia.

Delia tossed her head back and locked eyes with Vicky.  “Yes.  Hardy told me when I arrived.  But no, I haven’t been in.  I will later,” she said, knowing she wouldn’t.  How could she look down at the brother she had slain in cold blood and pretend she was desperately upset about his death?  She had masterminded it and carried it out.  No.  She couldn’t possibly stand beside his coffin and pretend she was sorry.  She wasn’t sorry at all.  He had deserved everything he had got … betraying her trust, reneging on his promise.  She would never forgive him.  She was glad he was dead.

She changed the subject swiftly.  “So, how is Father?  I was so sorry to hear he had suffered such a bad attack … you really should have looked after him better, Ruth.  After all, you are a doctor … oh no, I forgot … you packed it all in, didn’t you?  Why was that?  Was it because you didn’t have the stamina for such a demanding career or was it that the glittering prize my father dangled in front of your eyes was too enticing for you to ignore?  I mean to say, last time we met, you had designs on Richard, but Father must have been much easier prey … an old, lonely man … desperate to have some female company.”

Vicky put a restraining hand on Ruth’s arm.  “Daddy is improving slowly but I can’t understand your sudden concern.  You’ve been out of police custody for a couple of days … and you haven’t exactly rushed to his side … so exactly where have you been?”

Delia smiled wryly and nodded to Hardy to refill her wine glass.  “Aah. I wondered when you would ask.  I was otherwise engaged, Vicky, darling.  You know, you should treasure your Barrie.  He’s such a sweetie and it was awfully good of him to help me out with my bail … I really don’t know what I’d have done without his generous support,” she purred, smiling demurely.

Both Ruth and Vicky sat in stunned silence, unable to believe Delia’s words.  Vicky found it hard to breathe.  Why on earth would Barrie bail Delia?  Why should he?  But it would explain his reluctance to talk to her.  ‘He was busy,’ he had said.  Yes, he had been busy … having sex with Delia.  It was written all over Delia’s face.  While Vicky had been here, grieving for Richard, worried about their father and supporting Ruth, her rotten husband had been enjoying sex with her sister, the person who had probably caused all this anguish in the first place.  And where had they been having sex?  The thought of them romping in the marital bed was appalling.  How could Barrie do this to her?  She really thought he loved her.  How stupid she had been.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  Vicky closed her eyes, recalling Barrie leaving Delia’s room when they were all last here at Canleigh together.  She couldn’t believe how naive she had been, taking him back, marrying him … just to have it all happen again.  The humiliation was too great.  She took one last look at Delia’s triumphant smile, rose from the table and without a word, fled the room.

Ruth had never been so angry.  Horrified by Delia’s appalling revelation and desperately sorry for Vicky, she gave vent to her feelings.

“Why do you have to be so utterly cruel?” she bridled.  “To your very own lovely sister … who would never dream of hurting anyone?  She is ….”

“Oh, spare me,” leapt in Delia.  “She asks for it.  She’s too soft.  She needs to toughen up.  Life is hard and she should learn to take the knocks.”

“You’re outrageous,” said Ruth heatedly.  “Vicky is a wonderful, warm-hearted person and has done nothing to deserve the treatment you dish out … and to deliberately set out to destroy her marriage is totally unforgivable.”

“What the hell do you know about it?” Delia snarled.

Ruth’s heart was thumping.  She knew perfectly well that Delia sensed she was terrified of her but she was determined to stand up to her.  If Delia got the better of her now, she would never get the upper hand again and for Charles, Vicky and Stephen she had to.  She was their chief protector.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Delia squarely.  “We are all under considerable strain at the moment.  I think it best if we try to get along while you are in this house, although I suggest you keep a wide berth from Vicky and as soon as the funeral is over, I suggest you leave Canleigh.”

Delia smiled antagonisingly.  “Oh, no, darling.  I intend to remain here until the trial.  This is my home.  I have nowhere else to go and I have given the courts Canleigh as my permanent address … and I have been away so long I have a lot to catch up on … meeting my new step-brother for instance.”

“That can wait!”  Ruth gripped her knife and fork so hard, her knuckles turned white.  She was mortified to see Delia had noticed.

“Why?”

“He is asleep and tomorrow his nanny is taking him out for the day.”

“That’s a shame