The Knapthorne Conspiracy by Malcolm Ballard (best english novels for beginners txt) 📕

arrived. She hadn’t heard the pony and trap coming up the drive or the animal whinnying as Cora had tied the long reins to a tree in front of the cottage. For a big woman she was very light on her feet and Bella had neither heard her open the door, which she’d unlocked earlier, nor make her way to the kitchen. It was the smell of fresh bread that had alerted her to Cora’s presence.

“Now there’s something I’ve missed since coming down from London!” Cora had entered the kitchen holding out a loaf for Bella. “It’s really for me? Cora that’s so kind of you!” Her housekeeper wasn’t used to compliments and felt embarrassed.

“I were doin’ some bakin’ an’ another loaf's no trouble. It’s got a few ‘erbs an’ bits in it, if you’re partial.”

“There’s a French bakery just around the corner from me, in London, and the smell when you walk past is just divine. It’s always very difficult to walk past especially with the cakes he has in the window.”

“Old Sid Ferris, in the village, ain’t a bad baker, been at it for years ‘e ‘as, but I’ve always preferred doin’ my own. Alfie likes ‘is bread fresh, too, ‘specially now ‘e ain’t got ‘is own teeth. Finds Sid’s crusts a bit ‘ard, sometimes.” Bella was amazed to find Cora positively verbose. Used to only one or two stern words of greeting or a gruff comment on the weather, the woman’s attitude was a real surprise. Never would she have a better opportunity to ask her about her sister. Bella, of course, knew nothing about the incident with Wendy Daniels in the pub. Neither could she be aware of how pleased Cora was not to have to suffer her own company and the whirlpool of thoughts about Ruth that were spinning round and round in her mind. Old memories, old fears that had been laid to rest by the passing of time had suddenly been rejuvenated by a few words from a young girl.

“How long did you live here, at Willow Cottage, Cora?” Under normal circumstances it could have been a perfectly natural thing for Bella to have asked but Cora Flint’s senses were on red alert after Ruth’s name had surfaced so recently.

“What you’m askin’ for?” Instantly, the mask had returned and the woman’s look mirrored her suspicion.

“Just interested, that’s all. Trying to make polite conversation so that we can perhaps get to know each other a bit better.” The thought went through Bella’s mind that it was ludicrous to be almost apologising for asking what was, after all, a simple question.

“I’m not made that way, Miss Foxton. Likes to keep myself to myself and expects other folks to mind their business, if you please.” That’s it, Bella said to herself. I’m not putting up with her in my house any longer if she can’t be civil. I’m paying for her services, after all, she reminded herself. Here goes nothing. If I lose her, tough.

“Is your sister, Ruth, the same?” The effect of Bella's words couldn’t have been more dramatic even though Cora hadn't said anything. In fact she looked incapable of speech, the shock registering on her face as clearly visible as graffiti on a wall. The big woman was dead in the water then her face crumpled and her hands went to her mouth. Without a word, she rushed past Bella and made a grab for the handle of the door leading to the garden and before Bella could say anything, she was gone. From where she stood, Bella could see Cora talking to Joshua in an animated fashion obviously in the grip of extreme anxiety and for a fleeting moment she thought about going out to her. Bella’s lips moved almost indiscernibly as she went over to the door and murmured the words she had spoken to Kyle almost a week ago.

 “That’s a big deal then is it Kyle, the fact that Alfie and Cora have got a sister?” From where she stood now it was plain to see that it obviously meant much more to Cora than she ever would have credited. As she watched Cora turned away, hurrying to the side of the house without so much as a glance in Bella’s direction. Joshua watched her go, his face a picture of despondency. Even his natural cheeriness, it seemed, had been affected by Cora’s distressed state of mind. As soon as it became clear that her gardener was headed for the kitchen, Bella moved to make herself look busy and acted surprised when Joshua tapped on the door before opening it.

“Can I ‘ave a quick word with you, marm?” By force of habit he’d removed his hat before entering the kitchen, revealing short, sparse grey hair which stuck out at all angles from his head and gave him a rather comical appearance. “Mrs. Flint offers her apologies, marm, but she’s ‘ad a bit of a turn and she’s not feelin’ too good so I told her to go home. She said to tell you, sorry for the inconvenience."

By the time she returned upstairs Bella was feeling awful about the whole thing. Typically, she now wished she hadn’t said anything and had just left things as they were.

“It’s all Kyle Lucas’s fault,” she exclaimed, pummelling away at the keyboard. “Everything! I knew if he started to poke around it would end up causing trouble and now look what’s happened!” It was impossible to concentrate on her work while she felt like this and she sat back from the computer in frustration.

“Should I go round to see her?” Bella thought about this. “I’m certainly not going to apologise.” She continued to think about it. “So, what do I say to her? It’s not as if I’m speaking to someone who it’s easy to talk to.” Her head slumped forward and she exhaled. “First of all, I have all the drama of the weekend, and now this!” Bella lifted her head slowly,