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

right, Bella would talk and she knew it wouldn’t be long. Arabella wasn’t one for bottling up her feelings.

“At the time, did Laura know Patrick was killed here, in Knapthorne?” They were hanging up their coats, in the lobby, as Bella put the question to her mother.

“Yes,” Maria replied, quietly. “Neither Rupert or I told her such a thing. Only that he was dead but, from an early age, your sister is inquisitive one and very devious.” Bella’s eyes narrowed, then she looked thoughtful.

“So, all along, from the moment I inherited Willow Cottage, she’s known it was close to the place where Patrick died.” It was said for her own benefit as much as Maria’s but her mother nodded. “No wonder she was so jealous!” She stared at her mother in amazement. “Come on. I need caffeine. Let’s go and have a coffee.” Maria followed her to the kitchen and sat at the table watching her daughter work.

“It is my fault you are feeling so bad, bella mia. I do not blame you. I should have told you before, you are right.”

“I spoke in the heat of the moment, Maria. After all, it was the second shock I’d had in two days,” she said, over her shoulder. Guilt was gnawing at her, especially knowing her mother would be under stress from her upcoming operation. “I shouldn’t have spoken that way.”

“In your place, I would be the same, it is no problem. You are forgiven,” she smiled. Bella brought their coffees to the table.

“Tell me about you and Rupert, then,” she said, as she sat down.

“I wondered when you would ask.” She took Bella’s hand. “As I can see Patrick in your sister, so also I see Rupert in you every time I look at you. It is very…”

“Comforting, mama?”

“That is so. He was such a good man, your father. Patrick was fun, a little crazy even. Rupert was totally different. It was so easy to fall for him when Patrick turned bad."

“You make him sound like a piece of rotten fruit!”

“Si, he was like the rotten apple.” Maria gave a hollow laugh. “I should never have married him, Arabella. I like to be free, always.” Along with everything else that she had discovered recently, Bella was also getting to know her mother better. “You do the strangest things when you are young.”

“You’re not the only one to have made that mistake, mama.” It occurred to her then that perhaps she had more in common with her mother than she had realised.

“It was not in my nature to be unfaithful to Patrick but his affairs made it easier, I think. But, do not get me wrong, bellissima, your uncle never made me do anything I didn’t want to. I wanted his baby.” Bella was amazed at her mother being so forthright.

“You are shocked, no?”

“I don’t know if shocked is the right word. More surprised, I’d say. Tell me why you felt that way.” A look of hesitation clouded Maria’s eyes, she pursed her lips and gave out a small sigh.

“Always I have followed my instincts. This is not, all the time, a good thing. Like marrying Patrick. But this is Maria. It is the way I am.” Bella could sense her mother thinking in Italian then translating as she spoke. “Since being little I have always wanted baby girl. The feeling grew bigger as I got older. Then I had Laura, your sister.” Maria gave a barely detectable grimace. “But she is not the baby girl I wanted. Do you understand?” Bella nodded but refrained from making a comment. “As I got to know Rupert better, I knew he was the one I wanted to be father of my baby.”

“But it could have been a boy!” Maria shook her head.

“Here,” she clasped a hand to her chest, “I know, with certainty, that it would be a girl. Of course, after we make the baby we could not give each other up. The longer it went on the more likely it was for Patrick to find out.”

“And what about poor Liam? He was caught up in the middle of all this.”

“Always, I think, he felt like the stranger. He never grew to like Italy and left for America as soon as he could. A confused boy but perhaps he was not helped by his family, I don’t know.” Her mother was looking tired and Bella knew that she should let her rest but there was one more question she wanted to ask. Something else Maria would never talk about.

“So why did you take us all back to Italy?” Tears came to Maria’s eyes at the memory of it, the parting. Having to leave the only man she had ever loved.

“Rupert’s wife found him out and said she would leave him. He loved her, Arabella, I had always known that.” Her mother was crying openly now, her face a picture of misery. Bella felt terrible, wishing she’d not been so selfish in wanting to open the old wound.

“Maria,” she began, putting an arm on her mother’s shoulder. “I should have known better than to ask…”

“No! It is good that I tell you. Good for me and better that you know the truth. Forgive an old woman’s tears. It was all such a long time ago.” Bella’s eyes were moist and she found she couldn’t speak. Daren’t speak, or she would be in the same state as her mother.

“I didn’t want another marriage and Rupert couldn’t face the thought of his wife leaving him. But we couldn’t stay away from each other, so I made the decision to go. For Rupert’s sake.” She looked up at Bella, suddenly. “No, that is not the whole truth. “Also for your sakes, my children. To start a new life away from all the sadness.” How incredible of her, Bella thought, that she could leave the man she loved in that way.

“Rupert made sure that I would never be short of money and, of course, he