---- 324.


    THE REAL SITUATION KATHERINE Our breathing grows heavy, rushed.


    I feel the sparks crackling in the air, the scent of excitement.


    "T think...


    Id better check if dinner is ready.


    Thedy of the house said it wouldnt be much longer.


    You must be hungry." He springs up like a coiled wire, putting distance between himself and the bed, leaving me there, leaning forward like a fool, lips pursed, as he strides toward the old wooden door.


    "Aren''t you going to check my wound?" Task in a soft voiceseductive, orso I think.


    Iwont give up so easily.


    "Mrs.


    Nora gave me some medicinal herbs; they should take effect.


    Besides, you told me you were fine," he responds curtly, and before I can deploy all my charms, hes out of the room.


    "Damn Duke, stiff and uptight.


    But what you dont know is that crazy women are persistent, and I wont stop until I conceive your heir," I mutter, already scheming how to take advantage of the fact that, whether he likes it or not, well be forced to stay together.


    sek Later, I got the chance to step outside, wrapping a shawl over my house dress, and meet the couple from this humble home.


    They had two adorable children.


    Alittle boy and a girl who stayed in her roomshe was sick.


    ---- We adults ate at a poor wooden table, the broth in our bowls nothing more than cloudy water with bits of vegetables.


    Not that it was dirtyMrs.


    Nora seemed very cleanit was just sheer poverty.


    Iknew some viges lived in hardship, but I had never witnessed such extreme scarcity.


    Inoticed Elliot seemed tense as well.


    He subtly asked the couple why the vige was in such dire straits.


    Ithink he trusted his administrators too much.


    It wasnt always like this, but a few years ago, things started getting worse.


    Weve sentints to the Duke, but he doesnt give a damn," the man mmed his fist on the table, furious.


    "Aldo...!" Its true, Nora! We work ourselves to the bone to fill his coffers.


    All we ask for is a bit of grain to survive, and every year, they lower the quotas forborers even more!" he eximed, indignant.


    "They say its because of gues." "Thats a lie, too! Ive worked thisnd all my life, and Ive never seen such a strange gue!" As they argued, I nced discreetly under the table, where Elliots fist clenched tightly, the muscles in his jaw rigid.


    For the love of the gods, I hoped he wouldnt give himself away.


    "And food and medicine prices? Through the roof! Even the part of the forest where we used to gather medicinal herbs is now privatejust for