When finally told by her surgeon there was nothing more he could do, she knew it was time to get out of London and try her luck at Canleigh. Having learned her lesson from not keeping up with events on the estate during her previous long absence, she had kept abreast of what was occurring this time, having ordered the Yorkshire Post to be delivered to her Hampstead flat every day. She knew Ruth was still living at Canleigh with her dratted son, Vicky had married Alex, but more importantly, Philip’s wife had died. However, the excitement she had experienced after reading that bit of news in the births, deaths, and marriages column had been dashed almost immediately and she had to think the unthinkable. She might have to abandon all hope of ever getting him back as surely, like any other man, he would be repulsed by her now. She would just have to bide her time and see what his reaction was when he saw her again. Then she would know what to do. Until then she would have to content herself with just getting back onto the estate.
Delia had told Ruth the truth. It was mainly because of Lucy that she wanted to return to Canleigh. Delia would always long for it but Lucy had a right to live there, not in a house in London with no idea of her roots and family and now she was grown from an infant into a little girl, it was imperative she mixed with other children and where better, than the county Delia loved and knew so well. It had to be Canleigh. There was nowhere else Delia wanted to be but Ruth would never know how much courage it had taken to swallow her pride and go crawling for the chance to live on what should have been her own land if certain matters had been different. But it had worked and they were moving into the Dower House tomorrow … and it was going to be great.
To begin with, it was. The first year was idyllic and rosy. Ruth was most helpful and having discovered Delia was looking for a part-time nanny, the one she had hired in London not liking Leeds and wanting to return home, spoke to Tina who agreed to help. It was a splendid arrangement. Delia spent precious time with her daughter in the mornings and after lunch drove her up to the Hall to join Stephen and Tina for a few hours. The two children had struck up a tight friendship from the moment they set eyes on each other, which made Delia’s routine a whole lot easier with Lucy more than willing to be whisked up to the Hall every day, allowing plenty of freedom for her favourite occupation.
Prior to moving into the Dower House, Delia had made contact with Philip regarding arrangements for Demon, although she had picked up the telephone quite a few times and put it down again before gaining enough courage to actually speak to him.
“Philip?” she said when he answered. “It’s Delia. I don’t know if you’re aware but I’m returning to Yorkshire … I’m renting the Dower House.”
Philip drew in his breath. He had been expecting this call with dread, hoping upon hope that Delia wouldn’t try to make a play for him again. “Yes. I know. Ruth told me … and that you would like Demon stabled at Canleigh”
“Well, it would make it easier. I don’t suppose you want to be bumping into me every day if I have to collect him from Tangles.”
“Actually, Delia, I don’t mind too much. Demon is as settled as he could possibly be at Tangles, surrounded by other animals and experienced stable hands, who help keep him calm. If he were alone at Canleigh, with nothing to focus on but wait for you to turn up every day, there’s every possibility he could become even more temperamental.”
Surprised to hear he was so amenable, Delia sounded uncertain. “Yes, you’re right but are you sure? If so, Ruth has kindly offered to have Lucy, my daughter, up at the Hall to play with Stephen every afternoon so I can ride then.”
“Yes, it’s absolutely fine. He’s out most of the time, in the field nearest the wood, which is ideal as he can see what’s going on all with the other horses in nearby paddocks but can’t get to them. He was a bugger when we put him in with mares … bullied them relentlessly and made their lives a misery so it’s best for him to have space to himself. When he’s in, he lives in the end stable so he doesn’t disturb the others too much.”
“Oh, dear. He does seem to have given you all a lot of trouble.” Delia took a deep breath, knowing she was going to have to broach the subject of Philip’s bereavement at some point and wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. “I … I was sorry to hear about what happened to Sue.”
“Thanks,” said Philip quickly, not wanting to talk about his personal agony with the one person who would probably be pleased his wife was no longer around. “Right. Feel free to come over whenever you want … I must go now. I have people waiting to go out on a hack.”
It had been far easier than Delia had anticipated and on the first afternoon when Lucy was deposited at the Hall, she drove the Ferrari excitedly over to Tangles. The reunion with her precious horse was an emotional one
