Page 53 of Donovan Blake: Passion

The following morning Donovan was woken by the sound of running water, but when he opened his eyes he realized it was raining. Not sure if it was good or bad news, he thought about the task ahead and decided it didn’t make any difference. Yawning, he glanced at the clock. It was 7:30 a.m.

“Donovan?” Phoebe mumbled, snuggling next to him.

“Yeah, babe?”

“I love this job. I’m so glad I ran into you that awful night.”

“Me too, and it seems we have a thing with the weather.”

“What do you mean, a thing?”

“It’s raining.”

“I heard it. Maybe that’s what reminded me. I guess it means we have an excuse to hurry the frame into the van.”

“There is that,” he muttered. “I wish I could stay and ravage you but we have to get up.”

“Sadly this is true. By the time we get ready and have breakfast the van will be here, but that doesn’t mean we can’t shower together.”

“It certainly does,” he retorted with a grin. “We’d never leave. I’ll go first.”

“Spoilsport.”

* * *

When Donovan and Phoebe walked into the breakfast room, Trevor, Jane and Peter were already at the table, but Jane and Peter had finished eating.

“Sorry we have to run,” Jane said as she pushed back from the table. “I’m taking Trevor to the top of a hillock. It’s doesn’t look very high, and it’s not from this side, but when you get to the top there’s an unexpected valley on the other. That’s why it’s called Deception Hill. It’s really shocking when you get up there and look down.”

“But it’s raining,” Phoebe remarked. “Wouldn’t it be better in good weather?”

“I’m hoping there’ll be some lightning,” Jane replied excitedly. “It’s just incredible to watch the forks blast out from the sky, but even the rain up there is an amazing sight. It seems to sweep over everything. It’s like a movie, except it’s real. You can see the sheets of water come down and sweep over the valley floor. It’s impossible to describe. But if we don’t hurry the storm will pass and we’ll miss it.”

“Then you’d better go, but it sounds amazing,” Phoebe remarked. “I’d love to see it before we leave.”

“You must, and we’re off. Enjoy your breakfast.”

“She’s not exaggerating” Peter declared as Jane and Trevor hurried away. “It’s a remarkable sight. Hopefully this unpleasant business with Alexi Koslov will be done and dusted today, and you can go up tomorrow morning. Even on a nice day it’s something to behold. But please help yourself to the buffet.”

After Donovan and Phoebe made their choices and settled into their chairs, Peter smiled across at them. Donovan sensed it wasn’t just a friendly hello smile, and waited to hear the good news.

“Are you looking forward to outwitting Alexi Koslov?” Donovan began, wondering if Peter’s high spirits had something to do with the Russian oligarch.

“I certainly am, but on another note, it seems British manners and traditions are not dead and buried,” he said happily. ”Trevor asked me if I had any objection to him visiting Jane and spending time with her. I’m telling you this because you’re responsible for bringing him here and I’m very grateful.”

“That’s one for the books,” Phoebe remarked. “I’m impressed.”

“I was too, especially considering the last boy she took a shine to was that dreadful Jimmy Pike.”

“You must be very relieved, and I’m very pleased for Jane,” Donovan said. “Trevor is solid, and if you don’t mind me saying so, he’s just the sort of man she needs.”

“I quite agree, and I don’t mind at all. Now, about your meeting with Koslov. He may not know the value of that frame, but Giles Cavendish certainly does and that’s the only reason he bought the painting. Where should we put the frame once we get it back here?’

“It will be extremely difficult for anyone to break in as long as the security team is here, but that doesn’t mean he might not try sometime after they’ve left. Do you have another painting a similar size?”

“I’m sure I must. There are so many here.”

“Once we’ve removed whatever is hidden in the frame, I’d use it for another work of art. So many of these antique frames look alike, and unless it’s surrounding the portrait I seriously doubt he’d be able to recognize it. That will work at least for the short term. But I’d like to make sure he doesn’t bother you in the future.”

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