Page 29 of The Farmer Has a Wife

“Am not.” She ground her teeth.

Hector sighed. “Look, all I’m saying is that this is a lot of money. Money you need, your weird marriage situation aside. And in all likelihood the developer will win out in the end, they usually do. So why not take the money and save yourself all the hassle? All this just because you don’t like the idea of selling.”

Danni clenched her jaw. “Yeah? So I sell, and then what? Where do I go? What do I do? The farm is my life, Hec.”

“You come home,” he said. “At least for a while. Speaking of which, it’s about time, Dan.”

“No,” Danni said immediately.

Hector put his hands on his hips. “You got married. You think that no one’s told her? I know that the two of you don’t get on, but you promised me that you’d keep things civil. Which means that at some point you’re going to need to introduce your wife to your mother.”

“Forget it,” said Danni, backing out of the building. “Not going to happen.”

“Dan, come on.”

“Nope,” Danni said. “I’ll sell out to a developer before I get Eleanor and mum in the same room. Which means it’ll neverhappen. Not ever.”

???

The cafe was beautifully decorated, and Eleanor had to admit that despite being new, the place did know how to make a good pot of tea, always a good test of a new place. She was pouring herself a second cup when Elizabeth bustled in, her briefcase close to bursting.

“Sorry, sorry,” she said, pulling out a chair. “I got stuck in court and it’s been a pig of a morning.”

“Have a cup of tea,” Eleanor said, pouring one out for her.

“You’re a savior,” said Elizabeth, taking it. She looked Eleanor up and down. “You’re also looking stressed.”

“Yes, well, my house is an active construction site,” Eleanor reminded her. “I had to climb over three ladders and avoid a near-death experience with a flying hammer just to get to my car, which still needs repairing. Not to mention that I’ve got to go back and made sure that Samson doesn’t let anyone pull out the original Georgian wallpaper from the gun room.”

“With a big house comes big responsibilities,” Elizabeth said. “Not regretting taking the place on, are you?”

“Never,” Eleanor said sharply. “Although I do need your opinion on something.” She took out the latest investor letter and slid it across the table.

Elizabeth picked it up and scanned it. “Hmmm.”

“Hmmm?” Eleanor repeated. “That’s all you have to say?”

“It’s probably from a developer, these things usually are,” Elizabeth said. “Ignore it if you’re not interested.” She looked up. “If you are interested, I could set up a meeting?”

“I’m not interested,” Eleanor said. “And I would ignore it, but this is about the thirtieth copy I’ve received, which makes it rather hard to ignore. Now, can you tell me anything I don’t already know?”

Elizabeth looked at the letter again and shook her head. “Iknow the solicitor’s firm, I’ve got a friend from law school who works there.”

Eleanor sat forward. “And?”

“And that’s it,” Elizabeth said. “They’re a solid firm, good at keeping secrets, discreet, as is fitting for a law office.”

Eleanor huffed at that. “Ridiculous. They can send letters harassing us, but we can’t find out who’s behind them?”

“Us?” asked Elizabeth.

“Danni’s been getting them too, about the farm.”

“Interesting,” said Elizabeth. “This is a lucrative offer. But it’s not harassment, I’m afraid, so there’s nothing much that can be done. I’ll ask around see if anyone knows anything.”

“Thank you,” Eleanor said. “And as lucrative as the offer might be, I’m not interested.”

“I wouldn’t have thought you would be,” Elizabeth said. “But your wife might be.”

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