The Dog House (Harding's World of Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

drink.”
     
     
     
    Colin paced irritably in front of the estate manager’s desk. McTavish sat there gravely listening to Colin’s tirade, tapping tensely on his knee. McTavish had been working for the Parkers for forty years and prided himself in his efficient manner of keeping the property running flawlessly. Trespassers had never been an issue in the past, even the canine variety, due to the high fence which ran all the way around the property. He had blamed the wedding incident on the high number of people in and out of the main gate that day, which might have allowed an errant dog to slip in unnoticed.
    “I can’t have my guests disturbed and their property damaged while they are under my roof,” Colin said, feeling put out because he had always been known for offering impeccable hospitality. Aiken had been understandably upset, and while he didn’t blame Colin, he had shown an almost proprietorial fury at the idea that outsiders were gaining access to Loch Murray.
    “Indeed not,” McTavish agreed briskly. “Has Mr. Aiken been offered some sort of compensation?”
    Colin waved his hands airily. “I’ve told him to send us the repair bill, of course,” he said with a shrug. “But it’s the timing which is unfortunate. We were going to tour Skye in that car this weekend before the MacGowan’s annual summer do.”
    “The Rover is in fine running shape,” McTavish reminded him.
    “Yes, but it really isn’t the same, is it?” Colin said peevishly, before releasing a sigh and returning to his more usual frame of mind. “I was thinking that I’d invite Aiken for a weekend fishing trip up north instead as a sort of compensatory measure.”
    “Mr. Aiken is fond of his fishing,” McTavish concurred. “Shall I book the lodge?”
    “If you would,” Colin said gratefully. “Now about that dog. I take it you already have narrowed down the list of suspects?”
    McTavish stared thoughtfully at his desk. “Well, I’m not certain yet, but it seems likely to me that the hound must belong to the new tenant at the gatekeeper’s cottage. You recall that the MacPherson’s wanted to try living closer to town and we agreed to let them sublet the cottage for a year. In both cases, the dog ran in that direction, and it also presents the lowest bit of wall giving on to the grounds. I suppose that a healthy dog could get over that if he had a mind to.”
    “You’ve seen the car,” Colin pointed out. “So I think we can assume that the mutt is strong enough to jump.”
    “And to open a car door?” McTavish asked mildly. “It seems to me that we had a human visitor as well this time, most likely trying to control the dog.”
    “I hadn’t even stopped to think about that,” Colin said in admiration. “Well done, McTavish. Although fairly dastardly behaviour on the dog-owner’s part if he didn’t even dare come to excuse himself. Well, check it out to be sure that it’s the new tenant, and then write a nasty-sounding note threatening dire actions if he can’t keep his dog under control. That should put an end to these little escapades.”
    “Right away,” McTavish nodded. “I’ll draft the letter tonight, mention possible eviction. Will there be anything else?”
    “Just tonight’s dinner reservations at the Club. See if you can push them back an hour, would you? Aiken is going to need some time to regain his humour before I pick him up.”
    McTavish nodded and made a quick note on his ever-present notepad. “And what about the opening event for Mackenzie House?
    Colin sighed. “I’d forgotten about that. What a bore, a bunch of old people talking about how much better things used to be…do you think I could send my regrets?”
    McTavish shook his head firmly as if he were dealing with a petulant child. “With the Parker Trust helping to fund the project, and with the centre less than half an hour away, it would be hard to justify your failure to attend,” he pointed out in his businesslike