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

for tonight, don’t you?” Jane nodded, sleepily. “You look done for. Why don’t you go up first and use the bathroom and I’ll tidy up a bit down here?” Bella knew her well enough to know that Jane always pushed herself hard during the day, at work, to the point where her energy would suddenly give out at some point in the evening. Often, in the past, when she had arrived at the apartment on a Friday night, to stay for the weekend, Bella had found Jane would fall asleep in her chair by 9-o-clock.

“And have a lay in, in the morning!” she shouted after her, knowing it wouldn’t do much good. The cat, woken by the noise, stood up a little unsteadily and arched its back, stretching lazily. “It’s alright for you, puss isn’t it? Your life’s one long lay in.”

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Bella enjoyed an uneventful night and woke up virtually free of any remaining evidence of the accident. With the excitement of Jane’s arrival, she had forgotten about her dream, even to the extent of not mentioning it to Jane, who probably wouldn’t have been interested anyway. Strictly existential, Ms Symington-Bentley, and the more male-orientated the better. Turning her body this way and that there was just the merest twinge in her back to serve as a reminder of what had happened three days ago, which pleased Bella immeasurably. She could now enjoy the weekend and, on Monday, get back to her writing. It was not yet 8am so she stuck her head into Jane’s room to be rewarded with the sound of gentle snoring. With a little smile, Bella tiptoed away. As she made her way down the stairs, the cat appeared beside her, following Bella around as she pulled the curtains then running ahead of her into the kitchen.

“If you’re going to make yourself at home here,” she said to it, “I’m going to have to find something to feed you. I’ll give you some milk and you can make do with that, for now.” Bella bent down to stroke it and, for the first time, the cat allowed her to make a fuss of it and she was rewarded with a deep, resonant purring.

“And I suppose you think I’m going to stand here all day doing this, do you? Well I’ve got a guest to look after, so let me get your milk, then I can get on with breakfast.” She had only just put the bowl down for the cat, when her mobile, on charge in the kitchen, rang.

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“Bella Foxton!” She wondered who could be ringing her at this hour on a Saturday morning. Kyle had both her mobile number and the one for the home phone but surely it wouldn’t be him.

“How’s my favourite author?” It was Ben Hollingsworth, and her first reaction was disappointment but she quickly recovered and it didn’t show in her voice when she replied.

“Ben! What a nice way to start my Saturday. I’m fine, really enjoying myself down here. How are you?”

“Looking forward to a completely free weekend, for once and believe me I can do with it.” Did that mean he was thinking about coming down, she wondered. Wouldn’t that be bloody typical now that she was looking forward to just Jane and her being by themselves.”

“Tina’s gone off to golf, so I’m doing a bit of work out in the stables…”

“You’ve got horses?”

“The girls have. All their friends ride so Tina insisted that the girls had to learn. Having their own horses was the next step. I’m just hoping they don’t want flying lessons next.” She could imagine the look on his face. At that moment, a very sleepy-looking Jane shuffled into the kitchen and acknowledged Bella with a little wave.

“Where do you keep the coffee?” she whispered, and Bella pointed to one of the shelves on her left. “Mugs?” Bella indicated the cupboard next to the pantry.

“Hallo? Are you still there?” There was concern in Ben’s voice.

“Sorry, Ben, I was just talking to someone.”

“Oh, there’s somebody with you? Do you want me to ring back?” he asked.

“No, it’s fine. It’s only Jane, my editor. She’s come down to see what I’m up to in Turnip Land, as she calls it.”

 “Alright. Look, I won’t keep you but I should be able to get down for the day, next Saturday, all being well. Tina’s playing in a tournament somewhere and the girls will be away. Are you free?” If it had have been a week earlier that she was having this conversation then Bella would have been excited by the prospect of Ben’s visit. Now, having met Kyle in the meantime, even though it might amount to nothing, she didn’t react as positively as she might have done, trying to give herself time to think, and Ben picked up on it.

“Is there a problem? I thought you’d be pleased.” He sounded put out.

“No, of course there’s not a problem, Ben, why ever should there be?” The answer came to her, as she was speaking. “Laura, my sister, said she was coming down and I was trying to remember which weekend she’d mentioned. I’d hate for the three of us to be here, together!” Jane put the electric kettle on to boil so Bella went through to the lounge. She decided, there and then, to take the plunge and tell him to come down. A bird in the hand being better than no bird at all.

“I’d love to see you and of course I’m pleased. Next weekend will be fine.” In the back of her mind, now, she was certain that Laura had said the coming weekend. Oh, well, to hell with it! It’d sort itself out and she’d no intention of living her life for Laura.

“Bella, that’s great! I’m really looking forward to seeing you. I’d better go, the girls are coming.”

“Ok. Give me a call when you’re on your way.”

“Will do. See you.” Jane walked in with two mugs of coffee, as Bella stood staring out the window,