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Chapter 12
Donna hadn’t seen Duncan for days. He’d been holed up in his studio, which was good news for all the people sneaking in and out of the mansion. Unfortunately, today was the day the sound crew were due to set up their equipment, and Flora and the others wanted to start decorating the ballroom. That meant Donna had to take extra measures to ensure Duncan stayed ignorant. And for that, she’d called in her sisters.
“I’m only letting the sound team drive up to the mansion,” Donna told Agnes and Mairi as they stood side by side in front of the mansion, staring at the windows to Duncan’s studio. “And I told them to come in an unmarked van and park round the back. They can use the kitchen entrance. It’s closer to the ballroom anyway.”
“What will you tell Duncan if he notices the van?” Agnes said.
“That the ballroom floor is being varnished, and he needs to keep out of there for a few days.”
Mairi patted her shoulder. “The more you lie, the easier it gets, doesn’t it?”
“I’m going to hell.” Donna hung her head in shame.
“What about the women with all their decorations?” Agnes said, her eyes still on the building. If anyone could figure out a way for her to deal with this situation, it was Aggie. She was born to be a criminal mastermind. Her sisters had held her back.
“I told them to park outside the west gate and walk up the path.” She pointed at the side of the house Duncan’s studio didn’t overlook. “They said they had a lot of gear to heft up to the house, so I fitted the ride-on lawnmower with a wee trailer. We can load it and go back and forth until everything’s been delivered. I was going to borrow a golf cart from the golf course, but I thought that might attract too much attention.”
Agnes stared at her. “And you think having the lawnmower mow the same strip of grass over and over won’t?”
“Duncan’s used to the sound of the lawnmower. It’s white noise to him.”
“I’ve had a thought,” Mairi announced. “We’ll need to do something about the bald grass once this is over. Otherwise, it will make him suspicious.” She pointed at Donna’s iPad. “Add grass seed to the list.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if you went in there and distracted him?” Agnes said.
“I tried that last time. It didn’t go so well.” Although to be fair, he had been distracted, just not in the way she’d intended.
“What do you mean not so well?”
Donna’s cheeks heated, but she tried to appear nonchalant. “I panicked when I saw the convoy coming up the drive, so I took off my clothes. Duncan told me to get dressed, and then he ran. I haven’t seen him since.”
Her sisters gaped at her.
“I’m going to kill him.” Aggie’s eyes blazed. “Nobody runs away from my naked sister.”
“It’s fine.” She put a restraining hand on her big sister’s arm. “I wasn’t naked. I was wearing underwear.”
Agnes still looked ready to murder her boss.
“What underwear?” Mairi said.
“The pink set with the flowers.”
“That’s so cute. I love that set. The one with the boy shorts? Right?”
Donna nodded. She’d never be able to wear that set again without feeling like it was rejecting her.
“I see where you went wrong,” Mairi said. “It was the boy shorts. Men don’t run from G-strings. You should have worn a thong—that would have frozen him to the spot. Although, they aren’t comfortable to wear. It feels like you’re flossing the wrong end of your body.”
Agnes made a gagging sound. “Too much information.”
“Did you undress to seduce him?” Mairi said. “Were you taking my advice to distract him with sex?”
“No! I was posing for him. I thought he might like to draw a nude. Well, semi-nude. I wasn’t planning on taking off my underwear unless I was desperate.”
“Duncan’s painting again?” Mairi’s eyes widened.
“I know, it’s great isn’t it?” She was so proud of him. And sad. Because she would never really be involved in that part of his life. As it should be for his housekeeper.
