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

Delia gulped, knowing he was probably right.  Demon was tremendously important to her … him, Canleigh and Philip.  Life wouldn’t be worth living if she couldn’t have them all.

“Now, go home, Delia.  Please.  There’s nothing left for you here.  I really do love Sue and eventually I am going to marry her.  Not yet, obviously.  It’s too soon but it will happen.  Believe me.”

Delia gasped in dismay.  “You can’t … you can’t … you’re marrying me in two weeks’ time.  You have to.”

“Delia.  Please.  Go home and cancel everything.  If you don’t, I will.  The wedding is not going to take place.  It’s off, is that clear?”

Delia was shocked to the core as she stared at the determined expression on his face.  He really did mean it.  She put up her left hand to wipe the tears away and the coldness of her engagement ring against her skin repelled her.  She ripped it off her finger and waved it under his nose.

“You gave me this,” she said angrily.  “You have an obligation.  You have to marry me.  You have to.”

Philip looked at her with pity but there was none in his voice.  “I’m so sorry it had to end this way, Delia, but it has.  Now, please.  Go home and don’t come back again,” he said firmly, stepping back into the hall and shutting the solid oak door in Delia’s face.

CHAPTER 16 YORKSHIRE – JUNE 1972

Ruth woke at exactly seven o’clock, refreshed and looking forward to the evening ahead now Hardy had reassured her that meeting the Duke wouldn’t be the alarming experience she envisaged.  She enjoyed a long, relaxing soak in the pristine white bath in her bathroom with its gold taps, black and white floor tiles, and thick, luxurious white bath sheets.  She then sat at the dressing table in her dressing gown and applied her makeup; just a light touch of porcelain foundation, azure eye shadow, brown mascara, far less harsh than black, and a rose-pink lipstick.  For her first dinner in such a grand setting, she selected a simple blue silk dress.  It set off her fair hair and brought out the blue flecks in her eyes to great advantage.  The addition of delicate diamond earrings and necklace, a twenty-first birthday present from her parents, completed the picture.

Just slipping into her new pale blue sling-back shoes, which matched her dress perfectly but weren’t too comfortable, she was startled by a knock on the door and guessing it must be Richard, took a nervous glance in the mirror.

“You look fine, Ruth Barrett,” she reassured herself under her breath.  “Absolutely fine … and you will be fine.  There’s no need to feel intimidated by these people.  They are just humans … like yourself.  They won’t bite.”

An image of Lady Delia flashed through her head.  “On the other hand ….”

There was another knock on the door and Ruth crossed the room and opened it.  A beaming Richard, debonair in a black dinner jacket, a row of black braid down the outside of the trouser legs, a white pique fronted shirt, black silk tie and black waistcoat, stood on the threshold.

“Hi.  Ready for the grand tour before dinner?”

Ruth smiled brightly.  “Of course.  I’m really looking forward to this.”

Richard’s beam turned to a look of bemusement.  “Father arrived home just after we did.  I’ve just been talking to him and I can’t believe what he’s just told me.  The wedding is off.”

“What?  You mean Delia … and …?”

“Philip.  Yes.  It’s incredible.  They’ve been inseparable since we were all small.  It always seemed so right that they end of up together.  I can’t quite get my head around it.”

“What happened?” asked Ruth, shutting the bedroom door behind her and stepping into the corridor to join him.

“We don’t really know.  Delia hasn’t said a word to anyone.  Philip rang Father about an hour ago, told him there would be no wedding but didn’t say why.  Just mentioned he was worried about how Delia was taking it.”

Ruth looked at Richard in dismay.  “Oh, poor Delia.  How awful for her.”

“I know.  I’ve been trying to find her but she’s nowhere to be seen.  She wanted to talk to me, didn’t she?  Perhaps she was going to tell me. Poor old thing.  I feel so sorry for her.”

“That probably explains the frosty reception we received.  She must be feeling dreadful … and having guests when feeling so low can’t help.”

“Um.  I hope such a crushing blow doesn’t tip her over the edge again … she was ill for quite a long time after Mother left and Granny died.  It was Philip and his grandparents who gave her the most support then … goodness knows who she’ll turn to now ...  we’re only here for the weekend and Father probably didn’t plan to stay long after the wedding and no doubt now that’s it off he’ll head back to Blairness as fast as he can.  Although I can’t imagine Delia would want to pour out her heart to him.  They’ve had a most uneasy relationship for years and have never really hit it off.  Vicky’s his favourite,” he added, with a wry smile.

“Do I detect a note of jealousy,” Ruth teased.

Richard laughed.  “No.  Not at all.  You know how lovely Vicky is.  No-one could fail to like her.  She’s delightful … and one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I have ever met …   excluding yourself, of course, Miss Barrett.”

Ruth smiled as Richard guided her down the corridor and onto the landing.

“I’ve just seen Vicky actually, racing down the corridor to get ready for dinner.”  He grimaced.  “With the wonderful Barrie in tow … his train was late getting into Leeds … some hold up on the line.”

“What’s he like?” asked Ruth, knowing how much Richard worried