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

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“Pity,” Jane remarked, sympathetically. With a decent local here you’d be on the pig’s back.” Bella leaned across the table to her.

“If I were you I’d be careful saying things like that, wearing that outfit,.” If looks could have killed, Bella would have been history, then Jane dissolved into laughter and they enjoyed the joke together, oblivious to their surroundings.

“The local humour is obviously rubbing off on you. I can see you’re going to fit in well here, darling.” Jane sat back, drink in hand, once again toying with an ear lobe. Bella was intrigued by the fact that her friend seemed to be constantly playing with it.

“Have you got something wrong with that ear, by any chance?”

“It’s my nicotine deterrent, sweetie,” she answered, positively. “Acupuncture.” Jane put a thumb behind the lobe and pushed it forward for Bella to be able to see the group of little rings there.

“Whenever I feel the urge for a cigarette, I just rub them gently and it takes away the craving.

“Can it do the same for sex?” There was a pleading note to Bella’s voice. Jane gave a wry laugh then her face took on an authoritative look.

“No need, darling! There’s a little place down here,” she said, putting her hand between her legs, “and you just apply the same technique.”

“Bentley! If the guys in here knew what we were talking about they’d have a fit.”

“Oh, sure. It’s not as if they aren’t all owner operators, anyway. What’s wrong with the girls having a bit of fun?” Bella looked mystified.

“Owner operators?” The remark solicited a deep sigh from Jane.

“Think about it a little, Bell, hm?” Comprehension dawned, better late than never, and a smile spread slowly across her face.

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It wasn’t long before the talk got a little more serious and the subject of Bella’s new book came under discussion. There was no doubt in her own mind that the commitment and motivation were there but what good was that without the subject matter and storyline.

“Don’t get too worked up about it, yet,” Jane advised. “I know the deadline’s like the sword of Damocles hanging over your head but you’re best to forget about that.”

“Ha!” Bella exclaimed. “Easy for you to say. All you’ve got to do is sit back and wait for me to drop the completed work in your lap. It’s so much more difficult having to follow on from the success of Lingering Doubts. Do I try and create something in a similar genre, sort of factional, with a blend of truth and fiction? Personally, I would find it difficult to revert to my previous style which had been my bread and butter. Oh, I don’t know,” she said, suddenly, with an air of defeatism. “I didn’t think it would be so hard!”

“What you need,” Jane decided, "is another drink. Same again?” Bella nodded and Jane collected their glasses and went over to the bar. Meanwhile, Bella’s thoughts drifted back to the events of a couple of days earlier and she bathed in a sea of memories, hearing the scream of tyres, the shocking sound of Kyle’s angry voice and then, looking into his face, watching the anger drain away. Was it all only three days ago?

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“Hello? Bentley to Foxton, are you receiving?” Jane had returned with their drinks and could easily see that Bella was lost in a world of her own. “I can see this living by yourself is taking its toll and this place doesn’t help. It would be nice for you to come down here and actually talk to some of these people, if you could get to know any of them.”

“There’s one I know,” Bella said, nodding her head towards the bar. Alfie Flint had appeared, looking for empties, dressed in baggy grey slacks it looked like he’d slept in and a voluminous hand-knitted green sweater.

“Your friend, Mr. Flint, I presume?” As Jane spoke Alfie spotted Bella and his whole demeanour changed, rather like someone who’d lost a five pound note, and was therefore annoyed, suddenly finding twenty pounds. With all the eagerness of a friendly puppy, he made his way over to them.”

“Allo Miss Foxton. ‘Allo miss,” he said to Jane, acknowledging her with a grin. Mr. ‘Andysides didn’t want me to come out here but I knew them glasses would need collectin’.

“Glad to see someone else with an excellent eye for colour,” Jane said, in an aside to Bella.

“You seen my sister, then, ‘ave you?” His remark was directed at Bella, who nodded her head in response. “Pretty, ain’t she? It was me who…”

“Everything all right here, Miss Foxton?” Seemingly, from out of nowhere, Samuel Handysides had appeared at Alfie’s elbow.

“That’ll do, Alfie. Take yourself off to the kitchen, eh?  I don’t want you upsetting the ladies, now.”

“He’s alright, Samuel,” Bella said, jumping to Alfie’s defence. “He’s only trying to be friendly.”

“Beggin’ your pardon, miss, but I knows what’s best for ‘im. Now run along Alfie, eh?” The look on Samuel Handysides face prevented any argument from Alfie and he sloped off back towards the bar.

“Now, would you ladies be likin’ anything to eat? I brought you a menu, just in case.”

“That’s very kind of you Samuel,” Bella replied, taking it from him. “It is our intention to have lunch here so we’ll order shortly, if that’s alright.”

“No problem, I won’t be far away.” With a pleasant smile, he turned to leave.

“Are there any plans to do this place up?” Jane asked him, pointedly looking around the room. “You know, make it look more, kind of… nice?” Bella knew she was trying to be polite. Samuel Handysides looked at her as a teacher might look at a child who had failed to grasp a simple fact.

“Why? I’m happy with it. The customers are happy with it an’ the brewery ain’t goin’ to throw its money where it ain’t needed. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, we say down here.” He showed no sign of annoyance at her question. To his mind,