Ruth squeezed his hand sympathetically, not knowing if it was better to lose a loved one quickly or, as they had, to watch them slip slowly and painfully away into another dark, dark world.
“Anyhow, prior to that dreadful day, Delia was a normal, happy girl but afterwards … she had that awful nervous breakdown which took her a long time to recover from and then she grew hard. All she talked about was Canleigh. She was totally obsessed with it and when her father disappeared up to Blairness and left her with us, and then later, when she was older; to live at Canleigh by herself, she became consumed by the place. It sounds stupid I suppose but it was that, and Demon of course and wanting to be engaged to me that kept her going … and by golly, she worked hard to achieve what she wanted. Richard made it perfectly clear to us that he had no real interest in the estate as his desire was to become a surgeon, although we all knew, of course, that inevitably he would have to become Duke and inherit Canleigh. Whether or not he would have been able to combine that with his ambitions in the medical field, I have no idea. Anyhow, Delia decided to attend college and learn everything she could about running an estate. Charles assumed she was doing it for when she married me … but I knew there was more to it. She didn’t need all that knowledge to assist me with Tangles and my business. I knew she dreamed of amalgamating Tangles with Canleigh at some point but how she planned to do it, I have no idea. She should have been a boy … and the first born, and then there wouldn’t have been all this misery and heartbreak.”
“She loved you though. You were engaged.”
Philip snorted. They were now on the path leading out of the woods and the lake could just be seen, the water sparkling through the trees. “Oh, yes, she did but it wasn’t the right kind of love. It was possessive. Delia wanted to own me, order me about, make me part of her grand plan.”
With the lake only yards away, he picked up a stone and hurled it into the water, making large ripples on the surface. A duck swam past quickly to get out of the way, his beautiful green head shining in the evening sun. “It wouldn’t have worked. I knew that for a long time but hadn’t the courage to extricate myself. It seemed easier to let things ride but then Sue came along and upset the applecart, so to speak.” He smiled, remembering how he fell madly in love with her that evening when Delia couldn’t accompany him to Jim’s birthday party. “It was awful, having to tell Delia … and she took it pretty badly.”
“Okay,” said Ruth, “so she had a few hard knocks and has a quick temper but do you think she’s capable of murder? Do you think she could have been responsible for Richard’s death?”
“I wish I could give you an answer but the truth is, I really don’t know. It’s quite possible … there was a very definite motive but to do such an evil deed … to Richard … I would be surprised. Delia does things in a rage but premeditated murder … I very much doubt it. If you want my honest opinion, I think as the case was dismissed, the whole matter should be left in the past, even though there will always be a question mark over the whole affair. It’s best to leave it alone now and not dwell on it … learn to live with it. What we have to concentrate on now are the present and the future.”
“You’re right,” Ruth murmured, unconvinced by Philip’s reasoning but then he wasn’t aware of all the facts. He didn’t know how Delia and Barrie had treated Vicky so cruelly. Ruth remembered the ghastly mess Vicky had been in after the brutal treatment she had received at their hands … and then there was the way Delia had reacted when Ruth suggested she have an abortion to save Vicky more pain … and how she had wanted to dance on Charles’ grave ….”
“I assure you, Delia’s not all bad. She does have her good points, you know,” Philip grinned, seeing from the look on Ruth’s face that she was still doubtful.
“And what are they?”
“She can ride extremely well,” Philip laughed as Ruth slapped him playfully. “And funnily enough, she can cook too … she was great when Granny was ill. She came and cooked us meals every night after college and afterwards, when there was only me.”
Ruth saw the far-away look in Philip’s eyes. “Do you … do you feel anything for her?” She was reluctant to ask but wanted to get things absolutely clear, especially if Delia was going to return to Canleigh. If he was still harbouring any feelings in that direction, Ruth wanted to know … and now. There must be no uncertainty.
They strolled across to a bench and sat down. The sun was disappearing but the evening was still warm and pleasant. It was strange to think that in another couple of hours it would be dark and the creatures of the day would be asleep and those of the night would be out and about; the foxes, the badgers, the owls. What a different world to the one they saw now.
Philip threw an arm around her
