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

“How are you feeling now?” It was the guttural voice of the Greek.

“A lot better, thank you.” He had brought her a glass of water and a couple of pain killers. They were out the back of the shop, in a small kitchen area. Bella was seated at a table and the stranger was standing in the doorway to the shop, quietly talking into his mobile.

“I don’t think our friend was very happy with your driving!” The light danced in the Greek’s eyes and a broad grin lit up his face, as he spoke. “You did not see him coming, perhaps?”

“I did not see him coming, perhaps,” Bella echoed softly. Her head had begun to throb and she did not feel at all well. “What’s happened to my car, do you know?” It was an effort for her to speak and she swayed, a little, on the chair.

“I think they have pushed it to the side of the road. I will look, if you like?”

“That’s very good of you. Thank you.” She lifted her head to look at him, was rewarded by a stabbing pain behind her eyes, and sucked in her breath sharply. A look of concern clouded the Greek’s normally sunny features.

“You are not well, I think?”

“I’ll be fine, honestly.” She mustered the best smile she could for him. “I’d really like to know about the car. Could you check on the damage for me, please?”

“N’daxi. Of course. I will go and look.” He edged his way past the man in the doorway and was gone. The stranger concluded his conversation and came over to her. It was Bella’s first opportunity to have a really good look at him. The first thing that struck her was that he obviously wasn’t a local. Anything but. His body language gave off an aura of self-assurance and she remembered his stinging attack after the accident. It made her shiver. Not being good at putting an age on people she would have thought he was possibly in his early thirties, maybe a little older. Taller than Ben, he was more solid too and had a rugged, handsome face with deep-set green eyes. Short, curly hair the colour of coconut matting was flecked with silver and betrayed no sign of a parting. Demonstrating his concern he squatted down in front of her, intent on finding out how she was. His face was only inches from hers and, as unwell as she undoubtedly was, Bella realised that he really was most attractive.

“How are you feeling now? You should really see a doctor, you know."

“Nonsense, I'm fine. A little knocked about, otherwise ok.” Their eyes met for the first time and she felt a familiar, pleasant sensation grip her. “Look, I’m sorry about the accident. It was so careless of me.” He laid a hand on her wrist, as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do, in a reassuring gesture.

“An error of judgement,” he said politely, with a grin, letting her off the hook. “And I must apologise for my appalling behaviour. I was a bit overwrought!” Bella was more than a little relieved to hear him say so.

 “That makes us even, then.” He stood up slowly, wincing as he did so, and it was Bella’s turn to show concern.

“Are you alright?”

“Don’t mind me, I’m fine. It’s just that the knees aren’t what they were.” Deep wrinkles formed around his eyes when he smiled. “I’m Kyle, by the way. Kyle Lucas.” She took his outstretched hand, briefly.

“Bella Foxton. Helluva way to meet!” At that moment, the Greek came back into the room. He gave a short, humourless laugh. It was a deep, throaty sound.

“Is not good news with your car, I am afraid.” They both looked at him, awaiting the news.

“She is smashed up, pretty bad, at the back. On the side of the driver. I don’t think you will be driving home, Miss Foxton.” He put the accent on the last syllable of her name. Tears sprang to her eyes and she covered her mouth with one hand.

“What am I going to do? How am I going to get it repaired?” Bella hated sounding like a weak female but she just didn’t feel up to facing the situation. It would have been so different in London. There was a despairing look in her eyes as both men exchanged glances. The Greek made his opinion obvious, in a typical gesture, with a down-turned mouth and a shrug of the shoulders,

“I think I might be able to help there,” Kyle chipped in, and Bella couldn’t believe her luck.

“Seriously?” She didn’t know if he was only saying it to be kind.

“I grew up not too far from here and I’m sure I can pull a few strings to get someone out here.” He sounded so confident that it was just the tonic she needed. The morning certainly hadn’t gone the way she’d planned, with all thoughts of her lunch long forgotten. Kyle addressed the Greek.

“Have you got a telephone directory?” Paul Aristides nodded and went back into the shop, returning a few moments later with the bulky volume.

“Whereabouts do you live, anyway?” Kyle asked her, as he leafed through the pages, grateful for having the opportunity to find out. The question was put in an off-hand manner but there was no way he wanted her walking out of his life, if he could help it, even though he knew nothing whatsoever about her.

Within twenty minutes of Kyle making a number of phone calls, Bella was back home, quite unable to believe the series of events which had befallen her. Here she was locked away in the depths of Dorset, trying to create fiction, while fate was filling the pages of her life with an all-action drama. In no time at all, once he had found the person he was looking for, Kyle had arranged for someone to come out, with a trailer,