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

the sort of person who would take a refusal easily and did as he had asked, not wishing to get things off to a bad start. Her nails made short work of the sellotape and the wrapping paper fell away to reveal a long thin box. When she removed the top she found herself looking at a gold Parker fountain pen and her mouth fell open.

“Before you say anything…” he laid a firm hand on hers, as he spoke, “…I’ve bought a copy of Lingering Doubts and I’d like you to sign it for me. It occurred to me that this would be a nice touch, that’s all.” She searched for sincerity in his eyes but his face gave nothing away. It was the extravagance of the gesture which had taken her by surprise. Flowers, maybe. Chocolates, definitely. But a gold Parker? Something in her rebelled against it and, in some way, she felt she needed to even things up without upsetting him. Absent-mindedly she worried at her bottom lip with her teeth before replying.

“It’s extremely nice of you…” Bella began, having decided that generous would be the wrong choice of word.

“But?” He spoke the word before she had a chance. There was no humour in his voice and his eyes were as hard and unforgiving as greenstone. As he took his hand away, Bella reacted with a smile.

“No buts,” she said, lightly, and leaned forward to brush her lips against his cheek. “I’m touched that you bought the book and the pen. In return I’d like to nominate where we go for lunch, if that’s ok with you, and I’m going to pay.” Before he could say anything she took his hand and led him towards the cottage. “Now, let’s get you that coffee!”

“You didn’t put up much resistance,” she teased him, as they sat in the lounge, Kyle in an armchair and Bella at one end of the sofa. She had made herself a cup of coffee to keep him company while he drank his.

“I didn’t come here to argue with you,” he said, amiably. “And besides,” he added, with a sudden grin, “you’re irresistible, you know that!” Bella gave him an old-fashioned look.

“Handsome and charming, eh? I can see I’m going to have trouble with you!” Kyle gave her a slow, enigmatic smile in response and she wondered exactly what was going through his mind as he leaned across to get his coffee.

“Thank you for organising the garage, by the way.” For a moment, he looked mystified. “You know, the repairs to the car, after the accident. That was wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I was in no fit state to do anything!”

“Anyone else would have done the same, I’m sure. It was lucky I happened to know someone that’s all. Anyway I could hardly have just gone off and left you like you were. Are you ok now? No after-effects I mean?” The look on his face showed genuine concern.

“Thankfully no but it could have been a lot worse if you hadn’t have been so quick to react.” With a wave of his hand he dismissed her comment. “I’m serious, Kyle,” she said, slowly and with great emphasis.

“Pure instinct or, more likely, self-preservation in my case.” His laughter was gently self-mocking. “I didn’t know it was you in the car at that time did I?”

“I’ll believe you,” Bella replied dismissively, without conviction. She finished off her coffee.

“Right then, lunch! I was thinking about wanting to go to Bournemouth, then I suddenly had another thought. What about Fordingbridge? I recall going there once years ago and there’s a river as you go in with a nice pub on the left, if I’m correct. They’re bound to do food and, with a bit of luck, we could sit outside and eat by the river. What do you think?” Kyle couldn’t help but be affected by her enthusiasm.

“It’s your call but it sounds like a great idea.”

“Let’s not waste any more time then!” Bella got up from the sofa holding her hand out for his cup and Kyle passed it to her as he stood up. He looked concerned, peering about him from right to left then glancing all around the room.

“Are you alright?” she asked him.

“Just seeing if that domestic terrorist you laughingly call a cat is around anywhere. I suddenly remembered what happened the last time I was here.” She couldn’t imagine he was actually afraid of Ubix and had to suppress a laugh.

“I think you’re safe. The last time I saw him, or her, I don’t know which, he was still asleep upstairs. I think he must just have been having a bad fur day when he went for you!”

Within ten minutes they were on their way to Fordingbridge, heading for the A354 which would take them north-east, towards Salisbury. Being summer, local traffic had increased with the influx of holidaymakers and the roads were fairly busy. Bella couldn’t help noticing that Kyle was quite an aggressive driver relying on the brakes far more than she would normally do when she was driving. Also, he had a tendency to follow the vehicle in front a little too closely for her liking and demonstrated a marked lack of patience with the slower moving motorhomes and caravans. One accident recently was enough to cope with and it gave her some small consolation that they were in a fairly substantial vehicle.

“How are you liking Dorset then now that you’ve been here a few weeks. Not missing the bright lights?” His eyes never left the road as he spoke much to Bella’s relief.

“Well, it’s been interesting, I’ve got to say that and it’s certainly taken me a little while to settle in but, overall, I’ve got to say I’m loving it.”

“Why do you say interesting? Isn’t it what you’d expected?” His question didn’t get an immediate reply as she thought it over.

“It would be true to say that I hadn’t thought