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

dead backwater?” she said, in amazement, looking to the left and the right as she cruised along the main street, noting the few cars parked at the kerb and a handful of pedestrians on the street. “Someone who’d just inherited a fucking cottage here, I suppose!” the inspired remark effectively answering her own question. With little to see and less to do Laura decided to go back to Willow Cottage having been away for about forty five minutes. In her mind’s eye she tried to construct the scene as she walked back in, and how she would play it. She was in no doubt that either of them would be looking forward to her return which pleased her immensely and she turned into the drive harbouring great enthusiasm for her grand entry. Laura let out a whoop of delight as she saw that the solicitor’s car had gone from the front of the cottage.

“No balls, eh?” she remarked, gleefully. “Dear Arabella’s not going to be too pleased with me for chasing lover boy off. What a shame!” Feeling extremely satisfied that the day was turning out so well, she exited the car and approached the front door of the cottage. Something didn’t feel right, however, as she rung the doorbell. Then rung it again. As she rung it for the third and final time it had become obvious that nobody was home.

“The bloody bitch!” Laura yelled, stamping her foot in anger. “I don’t believe it!”

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For a day that had started off promising trouble, with the arrival of both Ben and Laura, the end result had been most enjoyable for Bella. Swift thinking had left Laura isolated and unable to get in the cottage while allowing Ben and herself to make the most of their time together. And they had certainly done that. The invigorating walk along the cliffs and the intimate contact with Ben had put Laura out of her thoughts altogether. Then Ben’s remark, at lunch, had thrown her completely, putting her mind in a whirl. After leaving the pub they had, as Ben had suggested earlier, gone to Corfe Castle and played the part of tourists. From the little that remained of the sturdy structure, it was difficult to imagine that this had once been one of England’s strongest Norman castles. Thought to have been built in either the 12th or 13th century it had played a strategic role in the Civil War, before being besieged, and eventually captured, by Cromwell’s army. Parliament had then ordered the castle to be demolished, leaving time and the elements to conspire in reducing the skeletal structure to the bare fragments of today's ruins. Entering through the gateway in one of the outer walls, hand-in-hand they climbed the grassy knoll overlooking the town, wandering through the randomly dotted grey stone outcrops scattered over the green carpet like a sculpted termite colony. Even with her vivid powers of imagination, Bella found it hard to transform the scene that confronted her into the sturdy medieval collossus the castle had once been. Closing her eyes she endeavoured to picture opposing armies fighting a bloody battle for possession of the castle, three and a half centuries ago and tried to imagine the terrible noise and confusion. Blinking now in the strong sunlight, the overwhelming peacefulness of the rural scene that confronted her defied any possibility of such perceived horror. The ghostly hand of history reached out and touched her, for a fleeting moment, and she shivered at the thought of actually standing on the site of such a battlefield. Ben slipped his arm around her thinking that maybe she was getting cold as the sun went behind a cloud.

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Later, they marvelled at the uniformity of the town’s ubiquitous soft-grey buildings, built from blocks of locally-quarried stone, as they ambled along, strolling through the streets relaxed and happy in each other’s company and looking like they’d known each other for years.

“So, how’s the book coming along then?” They had been enticed into the café by the aroma of fresh coffee and were seated at a table by the window, looking out onto the main street.

“Funny you should ask,” Bella replied. “It was going through my mind, right then.” She gave a little self-conscious laugh. “But it’s not something I like to talk about. No offence, you understand,” she added, looking up at him.

“That’s ok. I wasn’t after details or anything like that. Just wondered if you’d made a start, that’s all?” Her face softened, her mouth curling into a smile.

“Yes I have but its very early days yet. I feel good about it, though, that’s the main thing.”

“Do you ever put characters you know, into your books? I mean, other than your last one?” His comment caused her to laugh.

“Of course! Not a straight steal, so to speak, but bits of them, integrated into one character or another. Everyone’s got their little quirks and mannerisms. Studying the human condition becomes second nature.” She turned on her chair, to look around. “If we were to watch those two people, over there, for instance,” she said, nodding in the direction of a couple seated at a table by the wall, “I bet you it wouldn’t be long before one of them did something out of habit.” Turning back to him, she continued. “One friend of mine is always touching her hair, patting it, you know, here.” Bella put a hand on the crown of her head. “Especially when she’s nervous or uncertain about something. She thought of Jane. “Another is always looking at her watch, seemingly unable to relax, a legacy of her working day.” Bella paused to sip her coffee. “People are never dull, Ben. Even Laura.”

“Especially Laura!” he exclaimed. “Now why did you have to go and spoil my day when I was having such a good time?” She covered his hand with hers.

“I’ve enjoyed myself, immensely too. Thanks for coming down.”

“I couldn’t go any longer without seeing you, you know that. And you will think about