Delia was still talking and Ruth listened gravely, wondering what was in store. This contrite and self-reproachful Delia was so unexpected and more to the point, was she genuine?
“I want you to understand, Ruth,” Delia continued, her voice low and controlled. “Things haven’t been easy. Oh, I know I only have myself to blame but now I’ve someone else to consider. I love Lucy dearly and I want, above all things, to make her life a good one. She means the world to me and I don’t want her turning out anything like the way I did.”
“That’s certainly commendable but why have you come to me?” asked Ruth warily.
“I want to come home.”
“You can’t be serious!” exclaimed Ruth, Charles’ words ringing in her head. “Don’t let Delia return. She’s evil.” And she had promised him. There was no way she could give permission for Delia to live here again, even if she wanted to.
Delia began to speak quickly. “Please, Ruth. Hear me out. Since Lucy was born it’s been terrible. I’ve had to stay shut away … because of my face. I can’t bear to go out. No-one wants to know me anyway. I know … I know it’s my own fault but Lucy mustn’t be penalised because of my mistakes. I don’t want much. Just to live quietly and bring her up … and where better? This was my home, Ruth … where I grew up. I want Lucy to grow up here too and know it and love it like I do. I owe it to her, Ruth. I know I don’t deserve help but please … for her sake. We won’t be a burden, I promise.”
Ruth was speechless and Delia, taking advantage of the hesitation, hoping she was gaining ground, continued grovelling, demure and repentant.
“Obviously you don’t want me living in the house but I’ve been thinking. How about the Dower House? It hasn’t been lived in for years … not since Granny died. It probably needs a lot doing to it but I’ll pay. If you’ll only agree … oh, and let me stable Demon at Canleigh. I’ve missed him terribly but haven’t lived anywhere suitable for him. I suppose Philip hasn’t been having it easy with him.”
“You could say that,” Ruth grimaced, recalling how Philip found the animal more difficult each day. There had been talk of having Demon put down but as he was perfectly healthy neither Philip nor Ruth had the heart to make the final decision.
“I don’t know,” said Ruth thoughtfully. She actually felt sorry for Delia. She knew she couldn’t allow her back in the house but would giving permission for her to live at the Dower House be breaking her promise to Charles? It was a good distance from the Hall. Their paths wouldn’t have to cross if they didn’t want them to and she could use the stables for Demon. Ruth had no need to go down there as her car was driven into the garage attached to the Hall every night. “I shall have to give it some thought. Where are you staying?”
“In Leeds. At the Hilton. Thank you, Ruth. I know I’ve no right to ask but I really want this and I promise, I really promise I won’t bother you and give you any trouble. You won’t know we’re there … although I would like you to meet Lucy. Perhaps you could bring Stephen to tea tomorrow at the hotel. It would be good for them to meet.”
“Um. I don’t see any reason why not,” murmured Ruth without any real enthusiasm. It was like being on an unruly wave. She felt swept away with the suddenness of having Delia an enemy one minute and wanting to become a friend the next. It was desperately unsettling.
“I think it’s time for some straight talking,” said Delia bluntly, sitting upright on the sofa and looking at Ruth directly. “I can see you don’t trust me and I don’t blame you. Our first meeting was ... should we say, somewhat traumatic and since your permanent arrival on the scene, it hasn’t got much better … do you still think I murdered Richard?”
“I ….” Ruth wanted to leave the room. She had known it wouldn’t be possible to control the situation and Delia was doing it again. Taking charge. Ruth was at a loss to know what to say. How could she calmly stand here and say she did think Delia was guilty?
“I can assure you, I didn’t,” Delia said, lying through her back teeth and sounding totally plausible but she had everything to fight for now and she was going to give it her best shot. She had to get back to Canleigh. She had to. She would die if she couldn’t. There was nowhere else in the world she wanted to live.
“I loved Richard. I couldn’t hurt my own brother. I know I said I would but that was in a fit of passion. I wanted the estate badly then and to have been cast aside so casually … I said the first silly thing that came into my head. But I didn’t kill him, Ruth. You really must believe that … and there was no evidence that I had anyway and that’s why the trial collapsed. You have to believe me. I had no idea Rocky had a gun tucked away in his
