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

Delia came downstairs a little shakily half an hour later, determined to get outside and ride Star.  Constance hugged her, Ralph grinned from ear to ear and Philip was beside himself with excitement as he took Delia’s arm to guide her through the kitchen door and outside to the yard.  Delia shrugged him off.

“I am perfectly okay, thank you.  I am not an invalid,” she repeated crossly, making them all smile at each other.  Delia was recovering and recovering quickly.

As soon as she could, Constance put through a call to Italy.  Susan, who always accompanied Charles abroad in case he required her secretarial skills, answered the telephone but within seconds Charles was on the line.

“Delia’s on the mend, Charles,” Constance said rapidly, not wanting him to think anything was wrong.  “She’s up, dressed and has gone riding with Philip!”

“Oh, thank God!” he said with obvious deep relief.  “Thank you so much, Constance.  You don’t know what this means to me.”

“Oh, I do, Charles.  I do,” she laughed gaily.

*   *   *

Delia continued to improve during the week Charles was in Italy.  No mention was made of what had occurred to make Delia so ill and no-one pressed her to talk about it.  Her conversation centered entirely on the animals at Tangles and in particular, Star and Velvet.  She rode every day, growing stronger and stronger, usually with Philip, hacking in the countryside and in the schooling ring practising over the jumps but during the week, when Philip was at school, she went out on her own, streaking across the fields and through the woods, accompanied by Gruff doing his best to keep up.  Dr. Arnold was pleased with her progress but felt it best she didn’t return to school until September although Thistledown sent quite a bit of work so she wouldn’t be too far behind.

Charles rang from Italy every couple of days for a progress report, pleased to hear from Constance or Ralph that his daughter was regaining her health but hurt more deeply than he would like to admit by her refusal to come to the telephone and tell him herself.

“Delia, your father wondered if you would like to join him in Italy for a few days … if you’re feeling up to it,” announced Constance during their Sunday lunch of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings, followed by one of her famous rhubarb tarts and custard.  Delia was tucking in, her appetite fully recovered now she was out and about in the fresh air and having lots of exercise but she stopped eating immediately.

“I don’t think so,” she said quietly.

Constance and Ralph exchanged glances while Philip looked surprised.  He would have thought she would have been keen to go.  They had been to Italy before and she had thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Don’t you want to think about it?” asked Constance.

“No,” said Delia, almost in a whisper.

Before Constance could say another word, Delia stood up.  “I’m sorry.  I’m not hungry anymore.  If you don’t mind, I’ll go for a walk.”

At the mention of the magic word Gruff shot out of his basket and followed Delia out of the house.

Philip looked at his grandparents glumly.  “She’s not the same old Delly,” he complained.  “She’s … different … harder …cold … distant.  Oh, I don’t know.  Just different.  She doesn’t giggle anymore and the only time she really smiles is at one of the dogs or the horses.”

“Her whole life has been turned upside down,” replied Constance.  “It’s up to us to keep things as normal as we can.”

“Well, we are, aren’t we?  Delly and I are riding every day and we’re helping down at the stables.  Delly is working just as hard as the grooms.  Did you know she mucked out six loose boxes yesterday before the grooms were even up?”

Ralph smiled.  “At this rate, I shall have to give her a job.”

Constance grimaced.  “I hope she doesn’t wear herself out.  You must keep an eye on her, Ralph.  It’s great that she is not moping around in bed anymore but she’s still very young.”

“I know, old girl.  I won’t let her do too much.  I promise.”

“I wish she wouldn’t go off riding on her own so much,” grumbled Philip.  “She was out for three hours yesterday and goodness knows where she went.  She wouldn’t tell me.”

“I shouldn’t worry, Philip.  She will have remained on Canleigh land and you know what a good rider she is … and then Gruff is always with her.  If anything did go wrong he’d come back for us.  As Dr. Arnold has said, we just have to give her time.  She’ll come around, you’ll see and I wouldn’t be at all surprised that Velvet’s new foal will cheer her up no end.  How much longer will it be, Ralph?”

“Next week I should think,” he replied.

Philip, having finished his lunch, walked over to the kitchen window to see if he could see where Delia had gone.  He could just see her, streaking across the fields riding Star bareback with Gruff following on behind, heading in the direction of Canleigh church.

*   *   *

Delia reached the church in minutes, leaving Star and Gruff to wait outside the gate.  She was trembling and felt sick but knew she had to do this.  She had wanted to come for days but felt that once she saw the actual grave, she would have to acknowledge that her wonderful Granny was gone forever and she couldn’t pretend that she was off on one of her regular cruises or just out for the day.  She was gone, gone, gone and Delia would never hear or see her again.

There must have been a wedding the day before as confetti lay on the path, near to the church door, and according to the notices near the gate, there