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

She looked at Charles and tried to steady her voice.  He must never know how worried she really was.  She had to keep what she was going to say as light as possible.

“I’ve just heard from Vicky, darling.  Apparently, she’s had a rather nasty row with Barrie and he’s walked out.  She’s in a bit of a state and wants me to pop down to London … just for a couple of days … help her take her mind off things … do a bit of shopping, etc.  Would you mind?”  She kept to herself that it wasn’t Vicky who had telephoned but a desperate sounding Alex.  He had discovered Vicky in a bad way in the flat and rung Ruth because Vicky was crying for her and refusing to go to hospital.

Charles picked up her hand and kissed it.  “Oh no,” he sighed.  “Blast that man.  I knew he would end up breaking her heart.  I suppose it’s due to his support of Delia.  Why she turned to him with all this court business is a mystery to me.  I really don’t know what to think about her … in fact, I daren’t think about her too much … it just makes me so angry.  Poor little Vicky.  She obviously needs you and of course you must go, although I wish you didn’t have to, darling.  I do so hate being parted from you.”

“And I you but I am worried about her.  She’s been really depressed lately … all this business about not being able to conceive … it’s affected her badly and now this.”

“Umm … actually, Ruth.  I’ve been thinking.  I’ve loved every minute of being here at Blairness.  It’s been wonderful having precious time alone with you and Stephen but I am quite recovered … yes, I know I have to be careful … but I think it’s time to return to Canleigh.  I need to get back to working on the book and although we receive regular updates about what is going on on the estate and you have been an absolute brick in dealing with everything, it’s time I took charge again.  Anyway, I’m missing good old English cooking more than you know.  I haven’t had a decent Yorkshire pudding since we’ve been here,” he grimaced.

Ruth managed a laugh.  An elderly Scottish couple, Morag and Hamish McFrain, had looked after Blairness for many years as butler and housekeeper but a new cook, the young Sarah Brown who was in her second position since leaving catering college, did like to experiment with new ingredients and recipes.  Charles, preferring plain old English fare, wasn’t too enamoured of what turned up on his plate every now and again when Ruth hadn’t planned what they were to eat.

“I really don’t like spaghetti and as for that concoction with pasta the other evening … just give me a good old roast beef and Yorkshire puddings,” he laughed, before suddenly turning serious.  “And I want to go home and see Richard’s grave.  I can deal with it now.  I’m glad I was able to see the recording of the funeral but I need to be able to see the grave for myself … and I want to start planning a memorial service … and I’m actually missing the estate.  I can’t think why … when we’ve been so happy here.  I must be getting old,” he smiled wistfully.  “I know this sounds a bit morbid, Ruth … but I feel a sense of urgency.  A need to see Canleigh again before I die.”

“Charles!  Don’t talk like that,” Ruth exclaimed, sitting up sharply.  “Of course we’ll go home if that’s what you would like … but please … stay here for a few more days.  Just give me time to help get Vicky on some sort of even keel and then I’ll come back for you and Stephen and we’ll go home together.  But for now, darling … come and talk to me while I pack.”

“What!  You’re not going tonight?” he groaned.

“The sooner I leave, the sooner I will return,” she said.  “McFrain can drive me to Edinburgh.  I’ve checked and there’s a plane to Heathrow tonight … and I’m booked on it.”

“Goodness, woman.  You don’t let the grass grow under your feet.” Charles smiled ruefully.

*   *   *

Two hours later Ruth sat on the plane, tearful, worried and tired.  She hated leaving Charles and Stephen but Vicky needed her badly and she had to go.  She rested her head on the back of the seat and watched the lights of Edinburgh fade into the distance as the plane soared majestically towards the stars twinkling brightly in the night sky.  The threatened storm hadn’t materialised, the clouds had blown over and the sky was now clear.

What a couple of days it had been.  It was only yesterday that Vicky informed her of what had occurred at Delia’s trial and that had been a blow.  They had all expected Delia to go down for manslaughter and it hadn’t happened.  She was free.  It was unbelievable.  The whole family were positive Delia had planned the murderous events at Richard’s flat but it appeared nothing could be proven and as Delia was the only one alive to tell the tale, it would remain a secret for ever.

Charles had taken the news relatively well.  He had sat deep in thought for a while and then seeming to recover his equilibrium, stood up, shrugged, smiled at her and then took Stephen for a long walk.  Ruth watched him carefully for the rest of the day but although quiet, he didn’t appear to be under any real stress.

As the plane hummed along, most of the passengers dozing quietly with only a few reading or talking softly to each other, Ruth picked up the magazine on her lap and put it down again.  She was too worried to read and wished she didn’t