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

salad, with a glass of Frascati to wash it down, then turned her attention to Jane.

“Are you sitting comfortably?” Jane nodded enthusiastically. “Right, I’ll begin.”

Bella wasted no time in getting down to the details of what had happened, as she knew her friend always worked under pressure and invariably had to dash off somewhere. Also, Jane had not broached the subject of why she wanted the meeting and Bella needed to leave her time to do so. As activity continued all around them, with diners coming and going and the waiting staff skilfully moving between the tables Bella began with Ben’s phone call and took it from there. Jane listened intently, at first curious, thinking how divine Bella looked, with the sun bringing out the highlights in her hair, then incredulous, as she listened in disbelief at the turn of events.

“A cottage? Your uncle left you a cottage?”  The tone of her voice left no doubt, in Bella’s mind, as to Jane’s reaction. “Christ, darling, you’re just too bloody much, you really are! You look drop-dead gorgeous, you’re a successful author and someone gives you a cottage!” Bella couldn’t help laughing as she watched Jane take another cigarette from the packet.

“You’ve already got one going, in the ashtray,” she reminded her.

“Too bloody bad, old thing,” Jane shot back, in mock desperation. “It’s the effect you have on me. I’ll need them both!” She put the cigarette back in the packet as the waiter arrived with their meals. When he had gone, Jane congratulated Bella on her good fortune.

“So, what’s it like then, this cottage, and whereabouts exactly is it?” Bella described the property and explained to Jane where it was located. “You’ve seen it then?” Jane asked, between mouthfuls of her Spaghetti Puttanesca.

“Last Sunday, and it’s beautiful. You’re going to have to come down and see it as soon as you can.” The waiter returned with Bella’s wine and a mineral water for Jane and, after asking if they required anything else, left them alone. Jane looked thoughtful for a moment, before she spoke.

“You don’t intend moving down there, permanently, surely to God?”

“Don’t sound so alarmed! I don’t know yet but what if I did? You make it sound like the Australian outback…” Her editor looked aghast, her fork poised in mid-air, halfway to her mouth.

“Culture, darling. Sophistication!” Jane stressed the words, theatrically. “That’s what I’m alarmed about. How are you going to live amongst the turnip folk?” Bella cracked up, dissolving into laughter.

“You’re priceless, Jane, honestly. It’s only a couple of hours from London and, between you and me, I think it’s time the big city and I saw a little less of each other. If you want the truth, since the last book, I’ve decided I want to take my writing more seriously.” Jane raised her eyebrows approvingly, impressed by what she was hearing.

“Well, that’s good news, anyway.” She laid a hand, momentarily, on Bella’s and gave it a quick squeeze. “I don’t want to lose contact with you. It’s just nice knowing you’re close by if I need someone to talk to.” She had never seen Jane look so serious and the confession surprised her. If there was anyone Bella considered to be a hard-bitten, ruthless career woman, unwilling to let her emotional guard down lest it be construed as a sign of weakness, it was Jane. Life was indeed full of surprises.

The time flew by as Bella outlined her plans for the cottage, explaining to Jane which rooms she would like to redecorate and what new furniture she would like to buy. Jane seized her opportunity and neatly steered the conversation round to the matter she had come to discuss.

“Sounds like it’s all going to cost money, to me. As much as I’ve loved hearing about all this, it’s earning money I really want to talk about. More specifically,” she added, with satisfaction, “you earning money from your next book.” Bella’s face fell.

“I knew you were going to ruin my afternoon,” she said, despondently. “Come on, then, tell me the worst. I presume you’ve come to give me a deadline, have you?”

“Spot on, sweetie,” Jane confirmed, taking out another cigarette and lighting up. Any minute now, Bella thought, she’ll start looking at her watch, anxious to get away. On the small number of occasions when Jane had stayed at her flat for the weekend, Bella had made her take her watch off as her life seemed to be ruled by it.  For someone so obsessed with time, she couldn’t for the life of her understand how Jane was always late for her appointments.

“Ok, so put me out of my misery. I suppose I’ve got to get my feet back on the ground sometime. These past months have seemed so unreal, somehow.” She watched as Jane replaced her lighter on the table, glancing at her watch as she did so.

“It’s going to be a bit like a pregnancy, darling,” Jane said, cryptically.

“How so?”

“My bosses have given you nine months to produce, so conception will need to take place immediately.”

“Holy shit!” Was all Bella could think of to say. Her mind was like a pristine piece of paper inserted into a computer printer. A blank sheet.

“Good title,” Jane riposted, without the hint of a smile. “What’s the storyline?” They looked at each other, straight-faced, for a moment then the two of them convulsed with laughter, causing heads to turn in their direction to discover what was going on.

On the way back home from their meeting, Bella couldn’t stop thinking about Jane Symington-Bentley. In many ways she was a larger than life character guaranteed to liven up any social gathering and apparently blessed with boundless energy. They had taken to each other immediately, when they first met, although it was an unlikely liaison with Bella’s cool, elegant chic epitomising everything that Jane wasn’t. But they had clicked. The feisty, loquacious editor could justly be described as plain, at best, and only came up to Bella’s shoulder,