ill of even the smallest account holder, but he is not my favourite customer. On the other hand, he is not outside of the common way for land agents. Still, it should make paying the rent an easy matter. I can see to the transaction myself.”
“Excellent!” Foxleigh paused a moment. If the banker knew the owner, could Foxleigh simply buy the property outright? Then Katherine would never have to worry about losing her home. He hoped to move her under his own roof someday, but getting her to marry him could take some time. In the meantime, this would keep her safe from that jackal Atherton. “But now that I think of it, as Mr. Burns banks with you, might you not make enquiries with him about selling the property?”
“Most certainly, your grace. I shall call on him tomorrow morning.” Mr. Pendle seemed extremely happy and obliging.
He would get a commission for the sale, of course, but Foxleigh thought the man was mostly happy to have made a connection with a duke. That was the way of the world. Among everyone he had met, only Kat had been immune to the allure of his rank. Just like the fates to make him fall in love with the one woman whom he could not impress with wealth and station. He chuckled and shook his head. She was utterly perfect—so strong and proud, eking out an existence on her own. It frustrated him to no end that she would not take his money, but at the same time it made him admire her all the more.
As Foxleigh made to take his leave of the banker, he was struck by a dizzy spell.
“Is there something the matter, your grace?”
“I’m a bit vaporish.” Foxleigh tried to laugh it off. “I have accomplished so much today. As a duke, I am not accustomed to being at all useful, you know.”
The banker did not reply to this wit, but squinted at Foxleigh, then hailed his servant to fetch the doctor. “I think that bump on the head should be looked at. I do not mean to be officious, but please come lie down on this couch for a moment, your grace. I will arrange transportation to your inn when the doctor has pronounced you well enough to travel that far.”
Foxleigh thought of protesting, but as he was finding it difficult to stand, he allowed himself to be led to the fainting couch, where, appropriately, he fainted.
Chapter 11 A Load of Fertilizer
Katherine gave half of the last egg to Dog, then ate her own portion, chewing very thoroughly. They had finished the remains of the rabbit that Dog had caught two days ago, which was a real boon. She was only feeling a little dizzy, but knew that without more food she would soon grow weaker.
She swallowed her mouthful with a final pang of regret and tried to fill the remaining space in her stomach with a cup of wild chamomile tea. It was all she had now. Soon she would be forced to eat dried grass, unless she did something.
She eyed the guns where they lay on the table. Perhaps she could try again. Not that her most recent attempt at robbery had gone so swimmingly, but at least there had been no casualties, unless she counted her wounded heart. But self-pity was not going to improve things.
Katherine sighed and resolved to act. She would don her great coat and take up her pistols tonight. It was getting so close to Christmas that there would be few travellers. But someone with money would have to come by eventually. At least she had to tell herself that. Some bad person with a bulging purse. Someone who really had it coming.
“How droll it would be if it turned out to be Atherton!” She laughed out loud, but was cut short in her chortling by a knock on the door.
Who could that be? Hopefully not Atherton. She had been so foolish as to speak his name—had she summoned the devil a second time?
An optimistic spark ignited in her breast. What if it was Foxleigh? What if he came back? She should not even wish it, for nothing had changed, but a hopeful smile curled the corners of her mouth as she opened the door.
It was not Foxleigh, but a tall woman with an angular face framed by well-constructed curls of deep chestnut hair. Marie Dubois. Katherine’s smile turned to a scowl, and she stepped backwards as though the breath