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

CHAPTER 28 CANLEIGH – NOVEMBER 1973

Ruth was in her sitting room, curled up on the sofa engrossed in a bodice ripping saga of family life set in a house not dissimilar to Canleigh in the sixteenth century.  She was vaguely aware that a car was heading along the drive towards the house but took little notice, expecting it to be someone calling on Charles.  A quick knock on her door a few minutes later caused her to look up in surprise and then to smile with sheer pleasure as Vicky popped her head round the door.

“Vicky!” exclaimed Ruth, jumping up from the sofa to give her step-daughter a welcoming hug.  “How lovely to see you.  We weren’t expecting you.  How long can you stay?”

Vicky hugged Ruth back and as they broke away Ruth couldn’t help noticing how thin the younger woman had become and how the look in her eyes revealed nothing but misery, although she tried to laugh gaily in response to Ruth’s delight at seeing her.

“Well, I haven’t spent any real time with my new little half-brother and I would like to get to know him before he grows up.  Barrie and Alex can manage without me for a while.  Things are running smoothly at the club and anyway … I deserve a break.”

“Good.  I’m so pleased you could get away.  We don’t see enough of you and your father will be delighted.  He’s working in the library at the moment but he’ll join us for lunch and if the weather is amenable, we can take Stephen for a walk this afternoon.  Tina can have the rest of the day off … I’m sure she won’t mind.  Then you can bath him tonight and put him to bed if you like.”

“Brilliant,” Vicky enthused.  “Just what I needed.  The peace and quiet of Canleigh and valuable time with Father, you and …  and the baby.  Perfect,” she smiled with a slight tremor.  Realising how desperate she sounded, Vicky blushed at Ruth’s questioning look.  “London … you know what it’s like … hordes of people, noisy, the bustle which never seems to let up … it’s draining … and that’s without all the late nights at the club with the relentless music.”

“I thought you loved it,” stated Ruth, picking up the telephone to ask Hardy to bring them coffee.

“Um.  Oh, you have the latest Jenny Osborne book,” said Vicky, picking up the novel Ruth had been reading and neatly sidestepping the question.  “I just love her sagas.  Is this one any good?”

“Hardy, please could we have coffee and biscuits,” said Ruth into the telephone, watching her step-daughter carefully.  Something was badly wrong and no doubt it would all come out very soon.  Ruth hoped it wasn’t Barrie playing up.  Neither she nor Charles could bear to think of Vicky suffering at his hands again.

The conversation was light and meaningless until Hardy appeared with the coffee tray.

“Would you mind popping into the nursery, Hardy, and telling Tina she can have the afternoon off?  Vicky and I will look after Stephen for the rest of the day.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” said Hardy, throwing a smile at his mistress.

He, and the rest of the small set of staff at Canleigh, adored Ruth.  The Hall hadn’t been a particularly happy place to work and live in since the Dowager died, indeed even before that, when Margaret became Duchess, but the new young mistress who was considerate and kind had changed all that.  She enjoyed life and wanted everyone around her to as well, especially her husband who was an energised, good-humoured man again.  As far back as Hardy could remember, the Duke had never looked so cheerful and relaxed and having a new born baby in the house was delightful for them all.  However, he hoped Ruth could use her magic to soothe away whatever was troubling Lady Victoria who looked extremely tense and miserable.  No doubt it was her husband who had caused her to be so upset.  Hardy would never forget the day Lady Victoria had found the young rogue in Lady Delia’s bedroom and how she had cried and cried for days.  Why she had forgiven him … and then married him … was a mystery to all of the staff, as well as the family and he hoped she could find the solace she obviously needed here at Canleigh.

Hardy left the room and Ruth poured the coffee and handed the plate of biscuits to Vicky, waiting for her to unburden herself.  It was blatantly obvious something was badly wrong and although Vicky clearly wanted to see Stephen, she also needed to return to her roots where she felt safe and wanted.  But Ruth had to wait a while to find out what the problem was.  Vicky drunk her coffee, nibbled at a biscuit and then took off her knee-high leather boots, settled back into the cushions and promptly fell asleep, leaving Ruth to study her closely.  Dressed in Levi jeans and a pretty baby blue wool sweater, she was still devastatingly elegant.  She wore little makeup and her skin looked good; pale but clear.  Tiny gold earrings could just be seen under the thick glossy dark hair which she had allowed to grow nearly to her shoulders and the thick plain gold wedding ring and diamond cluster engagement ring sat loosely on her finger, giving credence to Ruth’s observation that Vicky had lost weight.  Ruth was worried.  She liked Vicky enormously and wanted her to be happy and to feel as fulfilled as she was since becoming Charles’ wife but the signs were definitely ominous.

Vicky slept for exactly an hour.  In that time Ruth had managed to devour another couple of chapters of her novel but put the book down readily when Vicky’s eyes opened.

“Feel