Rejection Runs Deep (The Canleigh Series, book 1: A chilling psychological family drama), Carole Williams [ebook reader 8 inch .TXT] 📗

Charles.  He was extremely precious to her and she couldn’t imagine life without him now.  He, and their darling son, were her world.

“It’s a shame we haven’t been back to Italy and the villa since our honeymoon.  We should go soon … how about after Christmas?  We could ski again.  You did so well last year on the nursery slopes,” he grinned, recalling Ruth’s first attempts at learning to ski.

Ruth laughed.  “Don’t mock, you awful man.  I will master it.  Before you know it, I shall be flashing down the mountains just as well as you can.  It’s just practice I need … and we were only ski-ing for a couple of days … there was so many other fabulous things to do … exploring Rome, admiring the art in Florence and oh … Venice.  Wasn’t it fabulous, especially taking gondolas everywhere?  It was so romantic.  The weather was marvellous too.  Even though it was winter, it wasn’t particularly cold and it was almost a shame we had to come back for Vicky’s wedding.”

“Umm,” replied Charles.  He still harboured grave doubts about his youngest daughter’s marriage but knew he had to keep his feelings about it to himself as far as she was concerned.  After an initial discussion with her about whether she was really sure she was doing the right thing, and she had assured him she thought she was as Barrie had apologised over and over again for his lapse with Delia and promised he would be faithful to her forever in the future, Charles had no choice but to support her.  He spared no expense in a grand wedding for her in York Minster with half the county invited.  Vicky had looked a dream in a bubble of white with the Canleigh tiara glittering on her head.  The press had a field day and blown up photographs of them all had appeared in the newspapers the next day and in fashion magazines for weeks afterwards.

Now, a year later, the pair lived in London, running their own business in partnership with their university chum, Alexander Conroy.  Somehow Vicky had cleverly managed to persuade Charles to part with a great deal of cash as a wedding present to assist in the purchase of four badly neglected Georgian houses leading off Kensington High Street.  After a battle to obtain planning permission, a vast amount had been spent turning them into one building, restructuring and renovating the interior and now it was deemed to be one of the most fashionable nightspots in the capital.  Charles and Ruth didn’t get down to London often but heard from Vicky regularly and it seemed both marriage and business were doing well.

“You will be nice to Barrie at Christmas, won’t you?” said Ruth with an anxious edge to her voice.

“I shall do my best, darling, although I still don’t trust him.  He will hurt Vicky badly one day, I’m positive about that.”

Ruth tried hard to sound positive, although she shared his fears.  “Well, the club is well patronised now so hopefully that will keep him fully occupied and out of trouble.”

“Or exactly the opposite,” replied Charles gloomily.  “It could give him ample opportunity to stray.  He’s a very good-looking young man and knows it.  That Alexander is a much more stable kind of character.  It’s a pity Vicky hadn’t settled on him.  I would have been much happier.”

Ruth squeezed his arm.  “We’ll just have to hope and pray that Vicky remains as content as she is at present.”

“Yes, you’re right.  Let’s look forward to Christmas and plan our escape in January.  I can just breathe the fresh Italian mountain air as we speak.”

Ruth laughed.  “That’s the damp, cold air of England in your lungs, Your Grace.”

Charles grinned.  “Yes, Your Grace.  I think you are probably right.”

CHAPTER 27 LONDON AND OXFORD NOVEMBER 1973

An hour into the flight, Delia took the coffee the stewardess offered.

“My brother won’t want one,” she said seeing the woman’s enquiring glance at Rocky who was fast asleep beside Delia, in the seat nearest the window.  “He’s a musician and been playing at gig after gig recently so he’s utterly exhausted.  This is a good opportunity for him to have a good rest and anyway, he’s terrified of flying, so it’s best I don’t wake him.”

The Stewardess vaguely recognised Rocky and understood immediately, having encountered many famous pop stars and their bands boarding flights for London although she did wonder why Rocky and Lady Delia Canleigh were in economy seats but it was their business and she was too busy to be interested in them for long.

She made her way down the aisle and Delia sighed with relief, having guessed the young woman was puzzled as to why they were seated with the masses but Delia hadn’t wanted to be where they were more easily observed.  They were less conspicuous in ‘cattle class’ as she thought of it, surrounded by lots of people who weren’t watched quite so closely by flight attendants in case they required anything.  Delia had given Rocky a sleeping pill as soon as they stepped on the plane and didn’t want anyone wondering why he was asleep for most of the nine-hour flight.  She wanted him calm and quiet for the long journey ahead so he didn’t make a scene craving for more drugs … or even worse, blurting out anything about why they were on their way to the U.K.  The next few hours in the air also provided a good opportunity to think through the next stages of her plan without any distractions.  She looked almost fondly at him breathing heavily beside her.  He was going to help her set everything in motion.  Poor young man.  Blissfully unaware of what was in store for him.

Delia grinned to herself and took another sip of her coffee.  She glanced out at the clouds and the wing tip of the aeroplane feeling a