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“Go for it,” Danni said, leaning against the doorframe. “Not sure how much you’ll get out of me, though. My net worth right now is a couple of cows, far too many chickens, some stubborn sheep, and a fridge full of expired milk.”

For a second, Eleanor looked less angry. “Why do you have expired milk?” she asked curiously.

“Not the point.”

Eleanor let out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose like she was developing a migraine just from being in Danni’s presence. “You crashed into me.”

“Debatable.”

“No, not debatable.”

Danni tilted her head. “Technically, I suppose we crashed into each other. Could’ve been either of our faults.”

Eleanor’s jaw tightened. “Oh, for—” She stopped herself, took a breath, and started again. “Fine. For the sake of argument, let us say that it was a mutual disaster. That still leaves us with the issue of my car being undrivable.”

“You drove it away yesterday,” Danni pointed out. “It’s parked in my farmyard right now.” She nodded to the car.

Eleanor glared. “I require some form of compensation.”

Rubbing the back of her neck, Danni sighed. “Look. I’d love to help. Really. But unless you want to be paid in eggs, expired milk, and vague promises, I’m fresh out of cash.”

“So you’re saying you’re completely broke?” Eleanor asked in disbelief.

“Not completely,” said Danni. “I’ve got about three pounds in my pocket. There’s almost always some spare change down the back of the couch, but I’m saving that for a rainy day.”

Eleanor gave her a long, assessing look, and Danni could see the moment that she realized that this wasn’t an act. The second that Eleanor knew that Danni was genuinely and completelyskint.

Some of the fire in Eleanor’s eyes dimmed, replaced by something softer. She folded her arms. “You’re really struggling, aren’t you?”

Danni stiffened. “No more than usual.”

Rubbing her temples, Eleanor sighed. “You could sell up, most farmers around here have.”

“No,” said Danni immediately. “I’ve worked too hard for this. No fancy investor is swooping in and turning it into a bloody golf course or whatever they’re planning.” She stared at Eleanor suspiciously. “This isn’t a set-up, is it? You haven’t been sent by them to try and bankrupt me so I have to sell?”

“What?” asked Eleanor, looking honestly confused. “Them? Who’s them?”

“This mysterious investor that keeps trying to pressure me into selling. Offering good money too,” Danni said, not really sure why she was still talking.

Eleanor’s face changed. “Huh. Interesting.”

“Why do you care?” Danni asked.

Eleanor hesitated, just for a moment, before smoothing out her expression. “No reason. It’s probably nothing. Coincidence is all. And anyway, you’re not the only one with problems, you know. I do have… complications of my own.”

There was a moment during which Danni was very tempted to make a joke. Something about struggling to decide which mansion to summer in, or whether to buy a bigger yacht or not. But something in Eleanor’s eyes gave her pause. For the first time since she’d met her, she saw something other than cold disapproval in those sharp green eyes.

Hesitation. Frustration. Maybe even a little uncertainty.

So perhaps she wasn’t the only one being backed into a corner.

Danni puffed out a sigh. “Alright, Princess. I can’t pay you. But maybe we can sort something out.”

“Like what?” asked Eleanor with a sniff.

Danni grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. “No idea, but wouldn’t it be fun to find out?”

To her credit, Eleanor did not roll her eyes. But it looked like a very near thing. “Fine. But don’t think I’m going to let you off easy.”