Free Inheritance by Judith Michael

now."
    Laura took the hand he o^ered, shivering slightly as his long, thin fingers enclosed hers. His distant amusement at the dinner table was gone; his smile was warm and open and his body curved above hers as she sat in the deep wicker chair, looking up at him. Suddenly she felt heavy, and hot inside, as if she were melting and everything was going to run out, all over the floor. She tightened her muscles, trying to hold herself in; then, her face burning, she let out her breath in a sigh as Paul shook her hand, like a business associate or a casual friend. He kissed his mother on her cheek and sat on the arm of his father's chair. "Have you met everyone else?" he asked Laura.
    She nodded. There was a small silence. Then Owen began talking about their other visits.
    "And did Allison take you in hand?" Paul asked.
    Laura nodded again. She felt like a fool, clumsy and tongue-tied, not clever. That was Barbara Janssen's favorite word, and it was probably her son's, too. Paul would expect cleverness. He probably couldn't wait to get out of there and find someone clever. And beautiful.
    Owen stood up. "I promised to return Laura to Rosa in good time." He turned to Barbara. "I had a thought on the way over here. Would you talk to Leni about that caretaker's cottage in the south comer? It's been empty for some time, and I thought we might offer it to Laura and her brother. They're living over a garage in Centerville, and I'm sure they'd be much more comfortable here. And of course that way they can work longer hours if we need them." He put his hand on Laura's shoulder, giving a brief smile to her stunned look. "Of

    Inheritance
    course she may prefer living apart from us, or she may want to pay rent instead of having free lodging, but we might ask Leni if she has other plans for it, don't you think?**
    "A lovely idea," said Barbara serenely. "Leni and I have talked about doing something with that cottage. We could let Rosa's assistant have it every sununer, whoever she is. I see no reason why Laura and her brother—Clay, isn't it?—^I've seen him in the orchard and he has a wonder^l way with the orchids in the greenhouse, have you noticed?—yes, it would be far more comfortable for the two of them if they lived here. Laura, I'm so pleased we met; do consider the cottage. I know how much young people treasure their independence, but you might enjoy it here as much as we do."
    She walked with them to the door as Thomas nodded a farewell. Laura heard him say to Paul, "What about Emily?"
    "I'm driving her to New York," Paul answered and then the door closed and Laura heard no more. Emily. New York. I'll bet she's beautiful and rich and very clever. But it was a fleeting thought as she and Owen walked back across the compound; she was still dazed by Owen's offer.
    "Did you mean it?" she asked when they reached the kitchen door.
    "I never make an offer I don't mean," he replied. "I told you, I like your spirit. When a family lives behind high fences it needs new people, my dear, and it pleases me to make sure we find them. Call it an old man's whim; a strong desire to shake up my family at frequent intervals. And I think you could use some shaking up, too. You might even let Allison talk to you about cutting your hair."
    Laura felt herself grow hot again. "You don't like it."
    "Not especially," he said frankly. "I could be wrong—^I'm getting old, after all—but I once was considered an expert on women's beauty, and when Allison mentioned it, I knew I still had my eye. But don't worry about it; you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Take what you want from us; we'll have a good sunmier and perhaps the beginning of a real friendship. Can we agree on that?"
    This time Laura didn't hesitate; she flung her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek, soft and lined beneath her firm lips. *Thank you for making me feel like a nice person.'*

    Judith Michael
    He held her, and then she ran into the kitchen. "I'm sorry,