A Will and a Way Read Online Free PDF

carrying her bags up the long staircase.
    “In the drawing room, miss?”
    “Perfect. And if Sweeney has any of those little cakes…”
    “She’s been baking all morning.” With only the slightest of creaks, he made his way toward the kitchen.
    Pandora thought of rich icing loaded with sugar. “I wonder how much weight a person can gain in six months.”
    “A steady diet of Sweeney’s cakes wouldn’t hurt you,” Michael said from above her head. “Men are generally more attracted to flesh than bone.”
    Pandora spun around, then found herself in the awkward position of having to arch her neck back to see Michael at the top of the stairs. “I don’t center my life around attracting men.”
    “I’d be the last one to argue with that.”
    He looked quite comfortable, she thought, feeling the first stirrings of resentment. And negligently, arrogantly attractive. From several feet above her head, he leaned against a post and looked down on her as though he was the master. She’d soon put an end to that. Uncle Jolley’s will had been very clear. Share and share alike.
    “Since you’re already here and settled in, you can come help me with the rest of my bags.”
    He didn’t budge. “I always thought the one point we were in perfect agreement on was feminism.”
    Pandora paused at the door to toss a look over her shoulder. “Social and political views aside, if you don’t help me up with them before Charles comes back, he’ll insist on doing it himself. He’s too old to do it and too proud to be told he can’t.” She walked back out and wasn’t surprised when she heard his footsteps on the gravel behind her.
    She took a deep breath of crisp autumn air. All in all, it was a lovely day. “Drive up early?”
    “Actually, I drove up late last night.”
    Pandora turned at the open trunk of her car. “So eager to start the game, Michael?”
    If he hadn’t been determined to start off peacefully, he’d have found fault with the tone of her voice, with the look in her eyes. Instead he let it pass. “I wanted to get my office set up today. I was just finishing it when you drove in.”
    “Work, work, work,” she said with a long sigh. “You must put in slavish hours to come up with an hour of chase scenes and steam a week.”
    Peace wasn’t all that important. As she reached for a suitcase, he closed a hand over her wrist. Later he’d think about how slim it was, how soft. Now he could only think how much he wished she were a man. Then he could’ve belted her. “The amount of work I do and what I produce is of absolutely no concern to you.”
    It occurred to Pandora, oddly, she thought, just how much she enjoyed seeing him on the edge of temper. All of her other relatives were so bland, so outwardly civilized. Michael had always been a contrast, and therefore of more interest. Smiling, she allowed her wrist to stay limp.
    “Did I indicate that it was? Nothing, I promise you, could be further from the truth. Shall we get these in and have that tea? It’s a bit chilly.”
    He’d always admired, grudgingly, how smoothly she could slip into the lady-of-the-manor routine. As a writer who wrote for actors and for viewers, he appreciated natural talent. He also knew how to set a scene to his best advantage. “Tea’s a perfect idea.” He hauled one case out and left the second for her. “We’ll establish some guidelines.”
    “Will we?” Pandora pulled out the case, then let the trunk shut quietly. Without another word, she started back toward the house, holding the front door open for him, then breezing by the suitcase she’d left in the main hall. Because she knew Michael was fond of Charles, she hadn’t a doubt he’d pick it up and follow.
    The room she always took was on the second floor in the east wing. Jolley had let her decorate it herself, and she’d chosen white on white with a few startling splashes of color. Chartreuseand blazing blue in throw pillows, a long horizontal oil painting,