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Douglas gently stroked my sore cheek. “Casper should have done more to protect you today. If I’d been there you wouldn’t have been injured.”

This wasn’t the moment to remind Douglas that Casper had saved my life.

“Casper did his best,” I said.

“His best wasn’t good enough.”

I was too tired to argue.

Douglas continued, “Join me for a nightcap. You look like you could use it.”

“Thanks, but a good night’s sleep is all I need.”

He insisted on walking me inside and up to my room. “Just to make sure you get there safely.” Fortunately, he stopped short of putting me to bed.

I did that myself. As I lay in the darkness, I couldn’t help thinking of Douglas. He was handsome—better looking than Casper, really—and he liked me in the boy/girl way that was forbidden to Casper. So why hadn’t I suggested we spend the night together? I was a normal, healthy twenty-five-year-old who had happily lost my virginity eight years earlier. If I wasn’t quite ready for a committed relationship, that didn’t mean I couldn’t have fun in the meantime. Especially as Douglas was definitely my type.

Maybe I really was tired. Or maybe I was coming down with something. I felt the glands in my throat. Nope, they weren’t sore. Probably I was right about needing nothing more than a good night’s sleep. I turned onto my side, curled into a ball and pulled the covers over my head.

It took me three hours to fall asleep.

Chapter Seven

After a breakfast of oat porridge followed by bacon and eggs, I decided to spend the morning talking to the two remaining members of The Three M’s. It would fill in time until Casper and I went to Maitland House in the late afternoon.

Although it was a Friday, Melville and MacDuff were both retired, so I expected to find them at their respective homes. Probably sleeping off their hangovers.

As I reached the cottage of Stuart MacDuff, I was surprised to see Casper leaning against the stone wall at the edge of the MacDuff property. The sunlight made his golden hair look even brighter. I liked the way it reached his shoulders. I wanted to tell him never to cut it.

Instead I asked, “What are you doing here? Is there going to be trouble?”

“I hope not,” he replied.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I thought you might like company.”

“Okaay.”

“What?” he said. “Can’t I keep you company if I want to?”

I shrugged. “If it doesn’t bother the Powers-That-Be, it doesn’t bother me.” I walked to the front door and knocked. Casper followed.

We didn’t have to wait long before Mrs. MacDuff opened the door. She was what is commonly referred to as pleasantly plump. Her cheeks dimpled when she smiled and her blond hair had been expertly cut and colored.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Anne.” Before I could introduce myself, she continued, “You’re Allegra, the paranormal investigator. Everyone in the village is talking about you.” She shook my hand then turned her attention to Casper. “Hello, Casper.”

I guess everyone in the village was talking about him too.

As Anne shook Casper’s hand, she said, “You have lovely hair.”

Hands off, Anne. He’s my guardian angel.

With an effort I kept those thoughts to myself.

“Would it be possible to speak with Stuart?” I asked.

“He’s still in bed, sleeping off the effects of last night.” A loud snore shook the house. Anne shuddered. “I cannae sleep beside him unless I wear earplugs.”

I nodded sympathetically. “Could you wake him?”

“Only if I had a death wish.” She glanced from me to Casper. “The two of you can try if you want, but I’m not going anywhere near him.” When neither Casper nor I moved, she suggested, “Maybe you could come back this evening.”

“I’ve got another engagement this evening,” I said. “But perhaps you could help us, Anne. How well did you know McEwen?”

She shrugged. “Well enough.”

“Tell me about him.”

Once again she glanced from me to Casper. Reaching out to touch a lock of his hair, she said, “I’ll tell you everything I know if you’ll let me cut Casper’s hair.”

My jaw dropped. Did she have some weird hair fetish?

“It’s alright,” she assured me. “I’m a professional.