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

safely, welcoming her with open arms and a big hug, as if they hadn’t seen each other for years.

“So this is it, is it?” she commented, hands on hips, surveying the cottage from the outside. In a canary yellow sweater and trousers that were somewhere between orange and red, her arrival had brightened up Bella’s day in more ways than one.

“Can I give you a hand with anything?”

“No, I’ve only got this, sweetie,” Jane replied, hefting a large, black nylon bag on her shoulder. And these are for you,” she added, holding out a plastic bag, containing four bottles of wine.

“That should see us through tonight! Come on in. I’ll show you your room then you can freshen up.” Jane thought her friend looked a bit on the pale side and was walking  a little stiffly as she followed her up the stairs.

“How did the accident happen, then?” she asked, breathing a little heavily with the effort. “I suppose you saw this guy walking along and took your eyes off the road. Terrible thing, desperation, darling!”

“Jane!” The one syllable was stretched out, in reproof, as Bella looked over her shoulder. “It was nothing of the sort. Here we are!” They had reached the doorway to the second double bedroom. “I’ll leave you to it. See you downstairs, when you’re ready.”

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Knowing Jane wouldn’t want her to go to any trouble, she had prepared a simple meal consisting of quiche and a salad, with a chilled chardonnay to accompany it. It was a girl’s weekend and that meant catching up on the gossip, and news, and generally enjoying each other’s company. Work, and that included cooking, was to be kept to a minimum. As different as they were in just about every way, it was no impediment to their relationship, in fact it was probably one of the reasons why they got on so well, there was no competition between them. Jane’s tongue was certainly sharper than Bella’s but she had an infinite capacity to laugh at herself too, and make Bella laugh, into the bargain. Jane envied Bella her looks and refinement but, by the same token, liked her because she was so natural and feminine, playing down her attributes. When the gloves were off, after a couple of glasses, they were like two naughty schoolgirls swapping secrets.

“Give me your arm!” Bella ordered. They were in the lounge, the meal over, Bella seated at one end of the sofa and Jane in one of the armchairs across from her.

“What?” Jane screwed her eyes up, mystified by the request. Why?”

“Just do as your told!” Bella instructed, and, reluctantly, Jane complied. In a swift movement, Bella removed Jane’s wristwatch then sat back, drawing her feet up underneath her. “Now you can really, relax!” she told an astonished Jane who had forgotten Bella’s little trick. “The weekend begins here!” Jane reacted with a smile which, in turn, developed into a broad grin.

“I must say it does feel good to be down here,” she admitted, stretching her arms wide and taking a deep breath. She exhaled, feeling more relaxed than she had done for a long time. “Ok, darling, let’s have it. Tell me what’s been going on!”

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Bella refilled their glasses and they both got themselves comfortable. Behind Jane, and therefore unnoticed by her, the cat padded silently down the stairs then bounded over to the sofa. It settled down at the opposite end to Bella.

“Who’s is that?” She couldn’t recall Bella having mentioned anything about an animal. “It’s beautiful.”

“Good question,” she retorted. “I’ll come to that later…”

“Sounds very mysterious. I can’t wait!” Jane was as excited as a young child who’d just spotted the presents under the Christmas tree.

“D’you believe in fate, Jane? You know, some sort of a guiding influence that affects us all, from time to time.”

“This isn’t going to take long, is it?” Jane enquired. “I’m only here for the weekend, remember.”

“No! You know what I mean, come on! It’s just that it seems that everything that’s happened, since this place came into my possession, feels as though it was meant to be…”

“I felt that way when I had my first IUD fitted…” There wasn’t a trace of a smile on her face.

“Jane! If you’re not going to take this seriously, I might as well go to bed.”

“Alright!” Her hands were raised in mock surrender. “I do want to hear all about it. It’s just me unwinding from work, take no notice. If I do it again, throw the cat at me.” There was a look of contrition on her face. “But I won’t, honestly, I promise!” Bella glowered at her and made to reach for the cat, which was sleeping peacefully, but decided to return to her story.

“I had no idea what this place was going to be like, other than a glamorised picture in my imagination…”

“It’s not damn bad though, is it?” Jane volunteered, and Bella nodded her agreement.

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“A few days after the reading of the will, I came down here with Rupert’s solicitor. Remember I told you?” Jane raised her eyebrows but said nothing. “You’d like him, Bentley. Tall, slim, good-looking. Healthy outdoor type…”

“I prefer the healthy indoor type, darling,” she interjected, “but carry on.”

 “We flew down, by helicopter, no less!” Now Jane remembered. “Then we had a quick look round before going to the pub for lunch. Well, that was an experience in itself and my initiation into the local community. To say we got the cold shoulder was putting it mildly?”

“Really? Why was that?” Bella gave a deep sigh.

“Oh, a variety of reasons, I think, but primarily because we were strangers and dressed so much differently to the locals. I mean they were all regulars! Been going there for ever, I should imagine. And the landlord! His name is Samuel Handysides, isn’t that lovely? And I made the mistake of calling him Sam! My name is Samuel, Miss, not Sam,” she mimicked, in a bass voice. “Samuel I was christened and Samuel I shall die!” It