Ruth stood up and put her arms around him, hugging him close. There was nothing she could say.
* * *
The awkward first meeting was one Ruth would never forget. She entered the private room at the end of the ward and looked at the woman in a scarlet negligee sitting up in bed and staring out of the window. From that angle, Ruth could see no difference. Delia’s long dark hair, pulled forward to cover most of her face, was recently washed and shone in the sunlight streaming through the window. She appeared seemingly calm, the nervous pulling of her fingers, almost as if she wanted to wrench them from her hands, the only sign of agitation. Ruth recalled Charles mentioning that Delia did it all the time when she was recovering from her nervous breakdown after the trauma of her mother’s dramatic departure from Canleigh and the death of his mother.
Ruth left the door open, in case she felt the need to flee. The woman in the bed could do her no physical injury but Ruth hated to admit she made her nervous. There was an aura of something not quite nice around Delia … not exactly evil but extremely close. Ruth hesitated, desperately wanting to leave the room, the hospital and Wakefield and drive back to the safety of Canleigh and Charles. If there was one place in the world she didn’t want to be, it was here with Delia but she was and there were things which had to be said.
“Delia?” said Ruth quietly. “How are you?”
“Oh, it’s you … I wondered how long it would take someone from the Hall to deign to visit me,” said Delia, jeeringly.
With a sudden movement, her hands shot up and she whipped her hair back, pointing to the huge dressing on the right side of her face.
“Actually, I’m just marvellous, stepmother dear. They kindly allowed me to see this earlier today when they took the bandages off. A really kind, sympathetic nurse stood beside the bed with a mirror … and I’m going to look absolutely fantastic with my beautiful new scar … it’s deep and long … and only just missed my eye … but I’m supposed to be lucky, because it did. It’s going to mean a lot of operations and then there’s no guarantee it will disappear. Maybe fade a little but I am going to look just great for the rest of my life … and it’s all down to bloody Barrie. I’m so glad he died. He deserved every bit of pain. I hope he suffered in absolute agony.”
Ruth stood silent, listening to the tirade, massively relieved Charles hadn’t accompanied her. He had suggested it but she knew he didn’t really want to and she wanted to spare him something from the ghastly mess Delia had hurtled them all into. Gaining courage, she moved further into the room and pulled up a chair beside the bed.
“I am sorry, Delia. It must be simply awful for you.”
Delia stared at Ruth, her dark brown eyes gleaming scornfully. “Don’t pretend you care … and it’s obvious Father doesn’t, otherwise he would be here … but then he buggered off when I had a nervous breakdown as a child so I couldn’t really expect him to turn up now.”
“I know about the baby,” said Ruth, defiantly staring back at Delia.
“What?” exclaimed Delia, sitting up abruptly. “I thought my state of health was supposed to be confidential. How dare they tell you? It has nothing to do with you … or anyone else.”
“There was no malice in it. It was just a chance remark made when I enquired about your injury and the treatment you were having. The consultant reassured me that the baby wouldn’t be affected. He assumed as close family your father and I would know you were pregnant.”
“Close family!” spat Delia. “That’s a joke.”
“Delia,” said Ruth with more confidence than she felt. “Who is the father? Is it Barrie?”
“Of course it is, you stupid woman,” hissed Delia, pulling furiously at her right thumb with her left hand. “Who the bloody hell else’s do you think it could be? Darling Vicky is going to be in for a nasty shock … or have you told her already?”
“No. Vicky doesn’t know yet … and I’m not sure if she ever needs to.”
“Oh, … and why not, Ruth darling?” Delia mocked. “Pray, do tell.”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to have it at all, Delia?”
“An abortion? I think not! I don’t know how you could even suggest it!”
Delia ceased pulling at her fingers and placed her hands protectively over her stomach. Ruth watched, appalled. Surely Delia didn’t want to have this baby. It would be harrowing for Charles and cause horrendous pain for Vicky. Somehow, she had to break down
