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

back in?” The sleek animal stood on its back legs, momentarily, and rubbed its head against Bella’s knee. “Don’t think you can get round me that easily!” She bent down to pick it up but it avoided her hands and leapt up onto the bed.

“Ok, play it your way. I’m going to have a shower, there’s work to be done.” As she crossed to the bathroom, Bella realised that her aches and pains had, at last, disappeared and was pleased to feel generally better. She pondered over the fact of whether it had been the busy day, the exercise or hearing from Ben which had contributed to the improvement. Whatever it was, the shower was the icing on the cake and she emerged fit and raring to face the new day.

For three hours, after having had a light breakfast, Bella had played around with ideas, scanned through endless files of notes and perused recent newspaper clippings, all as an aid to stimulating her imagination. Half-heartedly, she had begun to create the opening of a novel based on genetic engineering, simply to get the feel of writing again. It was a sort of sequel to Lingering Doubts, where euthanasia had been banned by a global decree and it was now possible to keep people alive until they were 150 years old or more. As she wrote, Bella began to find the prospect of prolonging death indefinitely depressing in the extreme, picturing people getting smaller and more wrinkled with every passing year. Until they became what? Wood lice? It was time for a break. Bella leaned back, stretching her arms, happy to be back at the keyboard and eager to proceed. On a small table next to her computer desk was one of the purchases she had bought in Dorchester, the previous day. Coffee was not only an important part of her day, she found it essential in stimulating the brain and feared she might be drinking copious amounts in the days and weeks to come until the drought of ideas had passed. The aroma from the percolator on the table filled the room as Bella poured herself another cup and looked up at the sun streaming through the windows.

‘What could be more perfect?’ she thought. ‘I am so lucky.’ It wasn’t difficult to understand how her mother got inspiration for her paintings from her surroundings. ‘Maria would just love it here. I must get her to come over.’ The idea appealed to her so much that she had the urge to call her right away, there and then.

“It’ll give me something to look forward to!” she announced to the cat, who had been curled up at her feet, as she picked up her mobile and swiped the screen. She searched for her mother’s number, in Contacts, hit the dial icon and waited for the call to be answered. It didn’t take long.

“Maria? Mama? It’s Bella. I want you to come over and see the cottage. You’ll love it!” The excitement in her voice was undisguised.

“Bella! How nice to hear from you again, so soon.”

“I just had to call you. I know you’d love it down here. Do you think you’ll be able to get over?” Light-hearted laughter greeted her question.

“It certainly sounds as though you’ve fallen in love with it but I may not be able to get over for a while. Marcello and I are off to Capri for a couple of weeks, maybe longer.” Marcello? Bella didn’t know the name but had long since ceased being surprised at her mother’s appetite for younger men.

“Oh, what a pity!” Crestfallen, it came over in her voice. “And I was so looking forward to your company.”

“I’ll phone you as soon as I get back.” Her mother paused while considering whether to say something or not. “I haven’t heard from Laura again,” she commented, eventually. “Have you?” At the mention of her sister’s name, Bella found it hard not to be rude, even to her mother.

“Yes, I have,” she replied coldly, “and I’d rather not discuss it.”

“Oh, as bad as that is it? Perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything.” I wish you hadn’t, Bella thought. Still, too late now. “You enjoy yourself and don’t work too hard. I’ll come and see you as soon as I can.” After she had said goodbye and put the phone down, Bella immediately regretted having rung. From being on a high, at the thought of her mother coming over, she now not only felt disappointed but also annoyed at being reminded of her sister. It seemed highly unlikely that she would get back in the right frame of mind for working.

“Damn!” Bella exclaimed loudly, causing the cat to raise it’s head slowly and stare at her. “And it’s no good you looking at me like that, either!” she told it. “Laying there without a care in the world. I’ll bet you’re glad you haven’t got a sister like mine!” Try as she might, it was now impossible to concentrate with alien thoughts running through her mind. It didn’t do to make your mind up that things were going to happen, she reminded herself. First, there was Ben and now her mother. It didn’t look like either of them would be visiting soon. The irony of it was, of course, that Laura, who she would have willingly paid to stay away, looked like the only person who’d be turning up on her doorstep.

“I suppose,” Bella said, addressing the cat, “that as soon you worm your way into my affections, you’ll take off too.” Unable to continue, Bella felt the need for fresh air and she also needed to go to the village store and get some milk. Not having allowed for the cat, which appeared to have hollow legs, her milk supply had rapidly dwindled. Stepping outside into the warmth of a bright but cloudy summer’s day immediately raised her spirits and she realised how easy it was to become introspective, shut away in the