Saving Nathaniel Read Free

Whatever you do will be fine.'
    'You might want to reserve judgement on that. Even our dog turned up its nose at my offerings.'
    'Secondly?' he prompted.
    'How do I pay for things? Groceries and such like? My own pockets are rather shallow and I take it you won't want the supermarket budget range.'
    'I'll give you a credit card to cover expenses, legitimate ones that is. I'll be checking the statement closely and any abuse will mean instant dismissal.'
    'I wouldn't dream of it,' she said, deeply annoyed by his presumption of dishonesty.
    'Next?' he said.
    'Do you have any preference as to how you would like to be addressed - Mr Mackie or Sir?'
    He leaned back in his chair and regarded her. 'Good question,' he said, pulling thoughtfully on his earlobe. After a moment's contemplation he said, 'My bank manager and my solicitor call me 'Mister' but only because they have to, and the only person who ever called me 'Sir' was a policeman as he wrote out my speeding ticket and he didn't mean it either. So…I suppose, when it's just the two of us we can keep it on a fairly casual footing if you like. I will call you Megan and you can call me Nat.'
    'Nat,' she repeated. 'Okay. That's short and sweet.'
    'Of course, if there are other people about I expect you will use your discretion.'
    'Of course.'
    'Anything else?'
    'I don't think so.' She pushed her empty cup away and prepared to stand. 'So you'll let me know in due course then?
    'About what?'
    'About whether I've got the job or not?'
    He smiled a broad friendly smile that crinkled the small lines at his eyes. 'I thought you'd already started,' he said. He raised his coffee cup in a mock toast. 'Aye, I think we'll give you a go.'
    She gently tapped her cup against his and the deal was done. A short, clumsy silence ensued between the new employer and employee before he inhaled and slapped his palms on the table, making her jump.
    'Right,' he said, 'I'd better let you get on with your work. Enough time's already been wasted on idle chit chat. You'll have plenty to do. I believe you have a few errands to run.'
    On her visit the previous day, she had picked up a note he had left for Rebecca before he had gone away. It was a list of things he wanted doing, and some involved going into the nearest town – a more than twenty-mile round-trip.
    'You are joking!' she said. ' In that weather ?'
    He glanced at the window. Driven by a gusting wind, the rain drummed a tattoo against the glass. 'It's just a light shower...for these parts at least,' he said, standing. 'There's an umbrella in the closet you can use. Help yourself. Try and bring it back in one piece.' He slid the chair under the table. 'Welcome to Struan Lodge, Megan Thomas. I hope you don't find your time here too…arduous.' He tucked his newspaper under his arm and left the room, leaving behind the faintest trace of his cologne.
    Megan's nostrils flared as they took in the scent and it tickled something deep within her, causing a small smile to play across her lips.
     
     

Chapter 2
     
    With her first full day's work at the Lodge over, Megan's deep sigh when she got home that evening was one of both relief and fatigue. She draped her still wet coat on the back of a chair to dry and yelled out, 'I'm home!' There was no answer.
    She took her time selecting and uncorking a bottle of red wine, poured herself a large glass and took a taste. Rich and dark and warming - perfect.
    She picked up the bottle and wandered into the sitting room of the homely cottage she shared with her sister, Rebecca. Cuddled up on the sofa with her boyfriend, Paul, she looked surprised to see her.
    'How long have you been home?' she said.
    'Just a few minutes.'
    'I didn't hear you come in.'
    'I'm too tired to make any noise.'
    Megan dropped into the easy chair, kicked off her shoes and took a long, satisfying drink of her wine. She dropped her head onto the back of the chair and closed her eyes. The fire blazing in the hearth and the dimly-lit, shabby