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

and pick up her car as it was, like the Greek had correctly assumed, undriveable. If she wished, they would bring a car for her to use in the meantime, as it sounded, from Kyle’s description, that it would be at least a week before they would have the Alfa back. Pulling up in her driveway, outside Willow Cottage, Kyle was taking it all in, silently impressed with Bella’s circumstances.

“Here, don’t you move,” he warned her, as she made to open the door and get out. “I’ll come round and help you.”

“I’m not an invalid!” she retorted, good-humouredly, feeling markedly better than she had thirty minutes ago, although she was experiencing some stiffness in her neck and back. Ignoring her plea, he was round at her door and offering his hand to help her down, as soon as she had the door open.

“That is quite a bit of damage, you know,” Bella was quite shocked now, looking at the battered panels of the Range Rover, once again. He had brushed aside her earlier comments when she had first seen the damage, as she had got in, saying that it could have been far worse, as could her injuries. In response to her wish to look at the Alfa, he had told her, in no uncertain terms, that he wouldn’t let her. Remember it as it was, his advice had been, and when you get it back it’ll be like nothing had happened. She had protested but he remained adamant, saying that it would serve no purpose and, grudgingly, she had finally agreed. It had been a long, long time since she had let a man take control of a situation in her life and the fact wasn’t lost on her as she had let him help her up into his vehicle. A quick study of his big, strong hands revealed no evidence of a wedding ring and, for a moment, her heart had beat a tiny bit faster.

Relief flooded over her as she got inside the cottage, happy to be home at last. All Bella had wanted to do was post her letters and get some milk. Who ever would have thought things would have turned out as they did, she wondered. If she hadn’t have stopped to buy the taramasalata…

“My lunch!” Bella cried, in alarm.

“Eh?” Kyle had not the least idea what she was talking about.

“Before the accident, I’d just bought some things from the delicatessen…” She looked so distraught, Kyle had to put her out of her misery.

“They weren’t in a small blue plastic bag, were they.” Bella nodded, drawing in her breath sharply at the pain in her neck.

“You, ok?” Kyle asked, quickly, reaching out a hand towards her.

“Yes, really. I’m more concerned about my lunch. What about this blue plastic bag?”

“I took it from your car. And the phone. I’ll go and get them.” Bella sat herself in an armchair and closed her eyes feeling some of the tension drain away but she suddenly saw the image in her rear-view mirror, the Range-Rover hurtling towards her and she opened her eyes, with a start. It was still all too recent and it was apparent that her recovery would take a little time.

“Here we are!” Kyle was holding up the items as he came in through the lobby and walked towards her. “Where do you want the food?”

“In the kitchen, through there, please. I’ll take the phone though.” As he walked away, Bella checked to see if there were any messages. Going through the access procedure, she was interrupted by a dreadful screeching sound from the direction of the kitchen and watched, in amazement, as the cat raced into the room. It stopped abruptly, turned, and arched its back. With its tail pointed ramrod straight into the air it looked down the passageway and hissed, alarmingly, as Kyle approached.

“Would you mind calling off your four-legged vampire." Bella got out of her seat, amazed at the reaction of the cat but able to see the funny side of it. Holding her hand out and clicking her fingers, she tried to entice it away but it didn’t look like moving. Then, as she reached down to pick it up, it gave a loud miaow and headed for the stairs.

“Ok, you can come out now. It’s gone. Last seen going upstairs.” He appeared from the passageway, one hand held over the other with blood running down his wrist.

“Oh, you’re hurt!” she cried, seeing the blood.

“The little sod attacked me as soon as it saw me!” Something in his eyes warned her not to laugh, although she wanted to.

“I hope you don’t always have this effect on animals.” She still felt a bit light-headed and would rather have been sitting down but she couldn’t leave him like that. Not after everything he’d done for her.

“Here, let me take a look at it.” Carefully, she took his hand in hers and looked at the damage. They were standing just inches apart.

“Not interruptin’ anythin’ is I?” So wrapped up in each other were they that the sound of Cora Flint's loud voice startled them both. She had come in through the lobby after Kyle had left the door open.

“I heard about your accident. Thought you might need some help. Didn’t realise you weren’t on your own.” It sounded very much as though her nose was out of joint and Bella didn’t want to risk offending her.

“That’s very kind of you Mrs. Flint….”

“Cora, miss, if you please.”

“…Cora. Kyle, here, er, Mr. Lucas, is the gentleman that I drove out in front of.

Unfortunately,” she said, sounding somewhat contrite, “he’s just been scratched by the cat.” Then she remembered to introduce the two of them. “I’m sorry! Cora, this is Kyle Lucas. Kyle, Cora Flint.” The large, fearsome woman nodded primly as if trying to bring an air of respectability to things but Bella sensed something more in her look.

“You brought a cat with you, then?” Mrs. Flint appeared surprised.

“No, I didn’t. That’s