“So why did he kill Richard? They hadn’t set eyes on each other before, had they … and why did you take him to Richard’s flat?”
“Well, I told Richard I had come across our half-brother on my travels and he was curious enough to want to meet him. So, we flew over, intending to have a fortnight over here. I hired a car and we were going to do a few touristy things as Rocky had never been to the U.K. He was keen to come and that was it really … but I had no idea he actually had any ulterior motives and I certainly didn’t know he was carrying a gun. When we arrived at the flat, I left them getting to know each other in the lounge while I went to make some tea in the kitchen. Then I heard raised voices and that awful bang,” she shuddered. “I hurtled into the lounge to see Richard on the floor and Rocky pointing the gun at me. I literally fought for my life, Ruth,” Delia said, tears welling up in her eyes. “It was one of the worst moments of my life. We struggled desperately and I wrestled to get the gun from him but … but it went off … and he … he just looked at me and fell … I had killed him. My own flesh and blood. I still can’t believe it happened. One minute they were alive and chatting and the next they were dead. It was horrific.”
Delia took a tissue out of her bag and dabbed at her eyes. Luckily, she was wearing waterproof mascara and didn’t ruin her make-up. She took another deep breath and continued.
“And as for all the nasty things I said later … when you visited me in hospital … I didn’t mean it. You were right … I was bitter, horribly upset and confused. I didn’t know what I was saying. You don’t know how much I regretted it, especially when I heard Father had died so soon afterwards.”
Trying to give herself time to think, Ruth turned to the drinks’ cabinet. “Would you like one?” she asked, holding up the brandy decanter.
“Just an orange juice, please. I don’t touch alcohol any longer,” Delia said, giving Ruth another reason to look surprised. “That’s what got me into such a mess. Oh, you don’t want to know all the sordid details but I can tell you, if it hadn’t been for alcohol … and drugs … much of what I did wouldn’t have occurred. Richard would probably still be here and Vicky … what I did to her was unforgivable. How is she? I heard about her and that Alex chap. I hope she’s happy. Barrie was a rat. She shouldn’t have married him … I did warn her, if you remember.”
Ruth was thunderstruck by this conversation. Whatever she had expected, it certainly wasn’t this and if Delia had truly turned over a new leaf, who was she to stand in her way? But she needed to think. Needed to talk it over with Philip. After all, he would be affected too with Delia living close by at the Dower House.
“All right, Delia. I promise to think it over and when I bring Stephen to tea tomorrow, I’ll give you an answer but you must appreciate what a shock this has been. I also have to tell you that I promised your father I wouldn’t allow you to live back at Canleigh again.”
A shadow passed over Delia’s face and for a split-second Ruth wondered if she was making a huge mistake even promising to think about it.
* * *
As soon as Stephen was in bed Ruth drove over to Tangles. She didn’t feel like dinner and if she did become hungry later, she could throw something together there. It was a lovely warm, summer evening so with Philip’s arm around her shoulders, they went for a walk, across a couple of fields and through the pretty woods bordering Canleigh.
“Is Delia really the prodigal daughter or is there something far more sinister behind this request to come home?” asked Ruth. “What do you think?”
“I’ve no idea, Ruth,” said Philip, thinking back over the years, remembering how close he and Delia had once been, how he had so nearly married her, until Sue had swept him away. “Delia was such a splendid kid. We had some great times together, around here and up at Blairness. We both doted on animals, especially horses … that night Demon was born … you should have seen her face.”
Ruth listened attentively, trying to imagine Philip and Delia as children.
“All Delia’s troubles stemmed from the time her mother was caught in London having sex with Simon Parfitt in a park. You did know about that?” he asked, as they stepped carefully over some large tree roots in their path.
Ruth nodded. “Yes. Charles told me what happened and that there was a tremendous row when Margaret came back and the Dowager had a stroke and died. It must have been tremendously upsetting for Delia … I gather she and her grandmother were very close.”
“They adored each other. The Dowager Duchess could be quite formidable and to be honest I was a little scared of her but looking back I had no reason to be. She was very kind to us
