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

and then the fact registered that she was looking through clean windows. There followed a thorough check of the downstairs area and it was obvious that Cora had been at work, dusting, polishing and making everything neat and tidy. Back upstairs, she went to check on the bathroom and toilet and found, to her amazement, the odd-shaped green stain on the bath which she had tried to remove, had vanished. Taps sparkled, mirrors shone and surfaces gleamed. How long had the woman been here? Then, when she came to the last room, the small bedroom at the end of the hall, it was like Cora Flint had left her signature, for on the dressing room table was a small vase of fresh flowers. They were lovely, brightening up the room, and she picked up the vase to study them. Sniffing their delicate perfume, it seemed to her a strangely sensitive gesture from a woman who appeared, outwardly anyway, to be so hard and humourless. Why not a larger display in the lounge, though? Why tuck such pretty flowers away in what was probably the darkest room in the house? Well, there was obviously more to the woman than looks might suggest and she had done a good job. A very good job, in fact. So what now? Bella sat on the bed, momentarily, and the cat jumped up beside her.

“So, my little friend, it looks like Mrs. Flint, is here to stay, wouldn’t you say?” The cat miaowed, stridently, which Bella felt was open to interpretation, then it jumped onto the dressing table and sat beside the flowers. Suddenly, Bella felt extraordinarily hungry and realised she had eaten nothing all day. Returning to the kitchen, she was at a loss to know what to get herself and opened the fridge to check its contents. She found the plate of ham salad Cora had left for her and, as she took it to the table, saw the note which had fallen on the floor.

Â

'Lunch is in the fridge with a few other things and I’ve put a few bits in the pantry.' It was written in a small hand, though the letters had large loops, making it very distinctive. It was simply signed CF. For a few seconds, Bella stared at it, in amazement, unable to believe the woman had gone to so much trouble, but extremely grateful nonetheless for her kindness. Then she recalled that the first time Cora Flint had turned up, she hadn’t come empty-handed either, so she was obviously a very thoughtful person. Why was it, then, that she appeared to be so different? Why had she erected this barrier around herself? People were strange, experience had taught her that and she was as guilty as anyone for taking people at face value. It was a human failing, nothing more. But Bella had sometimes found, to her cost, and especially with the men in her life, that people were often not what they seemed and because she was basically trusting and decent, she had ended up getting hurt. She couldn’t change her nature, besides, she liked the person she was. She could only hope that she’d become a better judge of character but, if her new housekeeper were anything to go by, the signs weren’t very promising.

Â

Bella felt the urge to share her experiences of what had happened lately and knew she just had to ring Jane, whatever the outcome. Perhaps if she thought really positively about Jane coming for the weekend then she’d be able to make it. With lunch over, and still in her dressing gown at gone 3-o-clock, she keyed in the number and the call was answered by the secretary. To her relief, Jane came on the line, almost immediately.

“Bella, darling! How’s Tina Turnip?” As irrepressible as ever, it was just the sound Bella needed to hear.

“Enough of your abuse, Bentley. Just tell me when you’re going to get yourself down here!”

“You’ve only been there a few days! Missing your friends already, are you, or just fed up with talking to yourself?”

“Nothing of the sort. I’ve had an action-packed time and just wanted to tell you about it. And I’ve met the most gorgeous man…”

“You’re kidding!” Jane’s voice exploded down the phone. “How’d you manage to do that, darling? Have you got a job apple-picking, or something?” Bella couldn’t suppress her laughter.

“Of course not! I nearly wrote off my car in the process but it was almost worth it. When I see you, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“You just can’t be trusted to be left by yourself, can you? What’s he like, tell me? Come on, I demand to know. And make it quick, I’ve got an appointment in five minutes.”

“I’m not telling, leastways, not over the phone. If you want to find out, you’ll have to come down!”

“Well, it is funny that you rang, because I was going to call you tomorrow and find out what you were up to this weekend. I just fancied a bit of the country life…”

“You weren’t, were you?” Bella said, in disbelief. “Jane, that’s wonderful!” It was just the tonic she needed. “When do you want to come down?” Jane studied her diary, for a moment, before answering.

“If I pack a bag and bring it in with me, tomorrow, I could leave, say, mid-afternoon and be there around 5.30, six-o-clock. How’s that sound, darling?”

“Bloody marvellous! Oh, Jane, I can’t wait. There’s so much to tell you!”

“What have you been getting up to down there? How’s the book coming on, anyway?” The comment brought Bella back down to earth, with a bump.

“Still kicking ideas around. Nothing to get my teeth into yet. That’s one of the things I want to talk to you about…”

“Alright. Look, I’ve got to go, so how about you give me directions to Turnip Cottage…”

Â

Not surprisingly, it was closer to seven-o-clock by the time Jane arrived on the Friday evening but Bella was just pleased to see her, happy that she’d arrived