Nine Ten Begin Again: A Grasshopper Lawns affair by EJ Lamprey Page B

should. Joey was always going to be a hard act to follow but this sleaze-ball wouldn’t cut it at any level. Speak to her on Monday, Edge. He’s also, by the way, the spitting image of a fairly foul loans and investments broker at Saltire Standard. I finally refused to deal with him and moved my accounts. Very dodgy indeed.’
    ‘And were you right, Miss Marple?’
    ‘Well,’ Vivian admitted slightly reluctantly, ‘I never heard anything about him being sacked. I did know I didn’t want him anywhere near my investments, so I switched banks rather than make a fuss. My previous broker phoned to ask why, and I said I hadn’t taken to Si—even his name, good grief, rhyming with slimy—and she was astonished. Said he was the most charming and delightful man on the team and customers loved him. I congratulated her on such an asset and rang off. Why do people do that? You say you don’t like someone, and instead of tactfully agreeing and, in her case, offering to take back my accounts personally, they tell you that you’re wrong? When did the customer stop being right? Anyway, I’m very happy with the service I get now so it was all for the best. Are you working today, or would you like to come shopping with us? Clarissa said she’d take me through to the Gyle to do some Christmas shopping, and I still have to get something for Donald’s birthday on Wednesday. Any ideas?’
    ‘You could try something in leather?’ Edge grinned sideways at her. ‘I am working. I’m not as bad as William but if I don’t do at least two hours every day I waste half the next day getting back into it. I found the most divine double-sided leather dressing-gown I’m thinking of getting Donald—suede one side, plonge leather the other—but it costs a fortune. I don’t mind that, but I did wonder if it was a bit over the top. I’d rather not spend all that and he wears it to be polite, and hates it.’
    ‘What does he wear now?’ Clarissa asked with interest, then coloured when both women laughed at her and said with dignity, ‘Okay, that sounded a bit groupie. But the question itself is valid.’
    ‘Well, down girl, but there’s a heavy silk job behind his bathroom door. Dark red, very Noel Coward Private Lives . I’ve not seen him wear it, though.’
    ‘Did you find the leather one on-line?’ Vivian asked with interest and Edge nodded. ‘Show me. I don’t honestly think you can go over the top with Donald and leather. Maybe I can get away with Imperial Leather aftershave. By the way, have you told Patrick about you and Donald?’
    ‘Not yet, I’ve hardly had time.’ Edge looked surprised, and Vivian chuckled.
    ‘Considering he controls all your finances, he may report your account hijacked if a very expensive man’s dressing gown appears on the statement, don’t you think?’
    ‘Damn.’ Edge coloured. ‘I don’t have time to send a cheque, the shop is in London. Can you buy it for me, and I’ll transfer the money to you from my ISA? I don’t mind telling Patrick about us, but it’s faintly embarrassing to have to add, “oh and by the way, I just bought him a thousand pound dressing gown”. It never occurred to me. I’m glad you said it, I tend to forget that my entire financial life is an open book.’
    ‘Oh, there’s always ways round that,’ Vivian said comfortably. ‘You’re lucky with Patrick, he takes a personal interest. It’ll be interesting to see if my auditors query me suddenly buying a man’s dressing-gown, though—there’s my reputation down the drain if they notice.’ She seemed amused at the thought. ‘Perhaps I should buy William one at the same time. Completely boggle their minds?’
    Jemima looking for details
    Edge opened the door on the third knock, her silk dressing-gown wrapped around her, and was instantly annoyed by the bland way Jemima Bateman looked her up and down.
    ‘Is this a bad time, Mrs Cameron?’
    ‘I was occupied. What on earth was so urgent that you carried on