Free Anne Douglas by The Wardens Daughters Page A

Working for Mr Allan? Oh, my!’
    ‘Oh, my?’ Lynette repeated. ‘Oh, what, then?’
    ‘Not my place to speak of the manager, my dear, seeing as I once used to do some work at the hotel.’ Mrs Duthie was shaking her frizzy dark head. ‘But if you get that job – well – you will have to see how it goes.’
    ‘Of course I’ll see how it goes!’ Lynette cried. ‘I wish you wouldn’t talk in riddles, Mrs Duthie.’
    ‘There will be no riddles if you get to work there, that’s for sure,’ Mrs Duthie declared, rising. ‘All will be plain before you’ve been there five minutes. Mr Allan – he’s not an easy man.’
    She crossed to the sink, rinsed out her cup and again washed and dried her hands with fierce energy. ‘Handsome, though,’ she said from the door, snatching up her dusters again. ‘Very handsome.’
    And with that she went out, leaving them to listen to her clattering back to the main house, and exchanging wide-eyed stares.
    ‘Well,’ Lynette said softly, ‘that was interesting. First, she says she’ll say nothing, then she says plenty.’
    ‘Oh, Lynette,’ Monnie murmured. ‘Do you think you should still apply?’
    ‘Whatever do you mean?’
    ‘Well, if the hotel manager is like Mrs Duthie said, would you want to be working with him?’
    ‘I’d want to be working with him more than ever!’ Lynette tossed her head, her blue eyes glittering. ‘It’d be a challenge, eh? See if he could be difficult with me!’
    ‘But why work in an unpleasant atmosphere? I should think you’d rather look for something else.’
    ‘I’ve said, it’d be a challenge, and I like challenges. Can’t wait for that interview now. Think I’ll wear my black blouse, after all. Cut a dash, eh?’
    Monnie, shaking her head, took her cup to the sink and glanced at the kitchen clock. Time was moving on. When would Torquil call? How soon? How late? Why was she so interested, anyway? He’d probably just hand in the fish and that would be that. Except he’d need to be paid.
    ‘Think I’d better check with Dad about the money for the fish,’ she said aloud, and Lynette, dabbing a crumb from her lip, grinned.
    ‘Oh, yes, do that. Better have the cash ready, if you’re going to answer the door.’
    ‘Why, I don’t know who’s going to answer the door,’ Monnie retorted. ‘Doesn’t matter, does it?’
    ‘Not to me,’ Lynette said smoothly.
    In the event, it was Mrs Duthie who answered the door. Torquil was early. A whole hour earlier than on Tuesday, and Mrs Duthie was only just leaving, tying a headscarf over her hair, when his knock came at the warden’s door. Monnie, who had been hovering in the kitchen, wishing Mrs Duthie would be as quick at departing as she was at everything else, ran quickly forward. But Mrs Duthie was ahead of her, flinging open the door and fixing Torquil with a cold stare from her dark brown eyes.
    ‘Oh, it’s you, Torquil MacLeod. Got yourself in here, have you? I thought you would.’
    ‘Good evening, Mrs Duthie,’ he replied politely, his look already going to Monnie. ‘I am not sure of your meaning, but I am here, yes, with my fish, for Mr Forester. Just as for Mr MacKay. Why not?’
    Mrs Duthie shrugged. ‘I’m away,’ she cried to Monnie. ‘See your dad next week.’
    And with that, she squeezed her little body past Torquil’s tall frame and hurried away, while he stood with his fish basket, smiling.
    ‘Hello there, Monnie,’ he said softly. ‘I see your father has taken on the little dragon.’
    ‘Little dragon?’
    ‘That is what we call her – Mrs Duthie.’
    ‘She wasn’t very nice with you.’
    ‘Ah, ’tis nothing she has against me. My mother’s the one. They do not get on.’
    ‘I see.’ Monnie stood, looking at the basket Torquil was again swinging on his arm. ‘Er – what have you brought us, then?’
    ‘Something good. Today, I have been lucky. Threw out my line as well as my net and caught some cod for you.’
    ‘For us?’
    ‘Cod