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

thought, and left it at that, too excited at the prospect of her visitor’s arrival to dwell on it any further. A blinding flash of inspiration rewarded Bella with something to distract her mind and she struggled into her gumboots before setting out to look for the hose, which she had recently seen Joshua using. When Maria eventually turned up, close to one-oclock, Bella was in the process of wax polishing the car after she had cleaned it thoroughly, inside and out.

“Mama!” Bella cried and ran as fast as her gumboots would allow to open the door of the rental car as Maria struggled to undo her seat belt. “I’m so pleased you got here safely!” Having opened the door, Bella was anxious to see how her mother looked, frightened that her illness, if she were indeed ill, would show in her face. But no, except for maybe looking pale and her face being a little thinner it was nothing that she wouldn’t have expected to see with age. As Maria got out of the car and before they hugged each other warmly, Bella did notice the slight shadows around her mother’s eyes and couldn’t recall if she’d seen them before.

“Mama mia, are you trying to squeeze the life out of your old mother!” They parted and Bella held her at arm’s length, both women with tears in their eyes.

“Sorry, mama! I’m just so happy to see you!” She spotted the suitcase and her mother’s shoulder bag on the back seat. “Let me get your things and we’ll go on in.” Her mother didn’t seem to be listening. Maria was looking at the cottage, taking it all in with her artist’s eye. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s beautiful, like my daughter. You are very lucky, carissima.”

“Go on in, the door’s open. I’ll be right with you.”

Her mother had wanted to freshen herself up after the journey so Bella had taken her upstairs, pointed out the bathroom, then showed Maria to her room. Now that she had finally arrived Bella couldn’t believe it and it felt like they had never been apart, as though all the long months since they had last been together had never existed.  With a spring in her step she descended the stairs eager to show her mother around. At first sight Maria had looked quite good, she thought. Perhaps a little strained, a bit thinner, but not ill. Definitely not ill, Bella convinced herself. Perhaps she had been wrong in thinking her mother was unwell.

“Hallo-o?” Her mother’s voice floated in from the lounge. “Where are you?”

“In here, mama. In the kitchen.” Following the sound of her daughter’s voice, Maria appeared at the kitchen door.

“What a nice, big kitchen,” she commented.

“Mm, it’s lovely isn’t it?” Bella was in the act of putting a light lunch together for them. Maria had never been a big eater. “Just give me a minute then I’ll show you around.” Her mother crossed the room and went to the back door, looking out at the garden beyond. “Go out and have a look round. The fresh air will do wonders for you after London, believe me!”

“Do you look after this garden?” There was disbelief in her mother’s voice and Bella laughed.

“No, I have someone come in, once a week. A nice old man called Joshua. And I have a housekeeper.” It crossed her mind that perhaps she should have said had a housekeeper. “Called Cora. Cora Flint.”

“What a delightfully English name.”

“Umm,” was Bella’s only reply, confirming her mother’s opinion but with obvious reservations which Maria let pass. “I’ll tell you more about them both, later, mama. There’s more to this place and the village than first meets the eye.” She got an old-fashioned look from her mother, whose eyes twinkled as she broke into a smile.“I can’t wait to hear all about it. You always did have a colourful imagination.” What did she mean by that Bella wondered then dismissed it as being typical Maria.

“Right, I’m finished here,” she said, rinsing her hands under the tap then drying them off. “Come on, let’s go and take a look round.” As though they were sisters, Bella slipped her arm through Maria’s and led her out of the kitchen.

“Oh, you have a cat, too!” Maria exclaimed, on seeing Ubix padding down the stairs. “And such a beautiful one!” she added, as the cat ran to her and began rubbing its head against her ankles.

“It’s called Ubix,” Bella informed her, as her mother bent to stroke it. “Short for ubiquitous because it follows me everywhere.” Like many women of artistic temperament Maria held cats in special regard, much like the ancient Egyptians used to. She viewed a pet cat as a creature of mystery and intrigue with subtle, mystical powers far beyond the understanding of humans. She fell in love with Ubix, instantly.

“Where did you get him?” Bella swept down and scooped the cat up, so that her mother could have a closer look. Ubix’s motor was running at full throttle, the cat loving the attention.

“Just turned up, one day. Walked in as though he, or she, I don’t know which, had lived here all its life and its been here ever since. Come on, I’ll show you through here,” she said, indicating the games room, “then we’ll go upstairs.”

Twenty minutes later the two of them had returned downstairs, the tour of inspection complete, and Bella could tell that Maria was impressed with what she had seen.

“Let’s have some lunch. Would you like to sit outside in the garden?”

“No, here in the kitchen will be fine. Like we used to do at home when you and Laura were young, remember?” The kitchen of her parents sprawling home in Lucca was huge, as befitted the kitchen of a farmhouse, and it was the centre of the Roffino household with all family meals being eaten there. When guests or visitors came, then the dining room would be cleaned and dusted, the special silverware and