When she reached the other side of the empty sitting room, Nora placed the tea tray on a mantel out of the pup’s reach.
She turned to Mr. Grenville. “Thus far, that’s the only reliable way to lead him anywhere.”
“Your kitchen must produce scads of teacakes,” he said gravely.
“We don’t let him have thewholething,” she protested.
Mr. Grenville tilted his head. “Perhaps that’s the problem.”
He broke off a bit of lemon cake and held it out toward Captain Pugboat.
The puppy scampered up to him with his tongue lolling out.
Mr. Grenville held the cake up higher. “Getting him to come appears to be a simple matter.”
“For anyone with a teacake in their pocket,” Nora agreed.
Captain Pugboat barked for the treat that had not yet fallen from Mr. Grenville’s hand.
“You try,” he said as he kept the cake aloft.
Nora crouched. “Here, Captain Pugboat. Here, snuggle pug. Come here, boy.”
The puppy’s soulful eyes remain trained on Mr. Grenville’s hand.
“Not like that.” He tilted his head toward the mantel. “With a treat.”
Nora broke off another corner of lemon cake and turned around. “Here, Captain—”
The puppy raced to her feet and pawed at the air in an enthusiastic attempt to gobble the treat.
“That’s step one.” Mr. Grenville nodded approvingly.
Nora laughed in disbelief. “Captain Pugboat has no idea what we want of him.”
“That’s step two,” Mr. Grenville amended.
Nora watched as he took a big step back.
“Captain Pugboat,” he called, his voice low and coaxing.
The puppy immediately abandoned his efforts with Nora and gamboled toward the other contender.
Mr. Grenville held out his palm in a halt position. “Heel, boy. Heel.Heel.”
Captain Pugboat did not heel.
“Are you going to give him the cake?” Nora asked when utter failure had proven obvious.
Mr. Grenville shook his head. “His Highness will earn it when he learns it. You try.”
Nora put on a singsong voice. “Snuggle pug… Here, boy.”
The puppy dashed back across the carpet and leaped toward her hand.
“Heel,” she said firmly. “Heel, boy.Heel.”
Captain Pugboat did not heel.
