The Duke's Masked Wife

Katrina remained quiet while Kate and the others left the room. She wasn't nervous about what Greta had to say to her as a woman like Greta never scared her.

"Sit," Greta ordered Katrina. There was a lot she needed to get off her chest before her oldest son could be placed in the ground. She watched Katrina's every move as she sat down in a chair. "It's taken too long for my son to get buried. It should have happened the day after his body was examined. He should not have died for there to be a funeral."

"Desmond had been trying to get us out of a lot of debt for the past few months. I had to sell many of our things to give him the proper send-off he deserves and I thought it would be best to give you some time to arrive. He would want you by his side. I also agree that he should not have died," Katrina replied, saying everything she knew Greta would want to hear. "But a situation with Alessandra led to his death."

"Where is she now? I heard she married a Duke and it is that same Duke who killed my son. Tell me what happened," said Greta. She had to know exactly why her precious son was killed and why her granddaughter was with the killer.

"Well, Desmond had arranged for Alessandra to marry someone and before the marriage, she would go live with that man to get to know him. The Duke had arrived asking for Alessandra's hand and she agreed. I believe that filled her head as she let the Duke mistreat her father. She started to walk all over us. She even threw shit on Kate for no reason," Katrina retold the events with a little twist.

Katrina knew even if Greta did not like her, the woman at least loved her only granddaughter Kate. Well, the better granddaughter.

Katrina continued to say, "Kate was so heartbroken over losing the Duke and felt betrayed by Alessandra. Kate had mentioned to Alessandra many times that she loved the Duke but Alessandra did not care. To settle things, Desmond decided to send off Alessandra to the man she was supposed to marry. The night Desmond died, Alessandra was right by the Duke's side and did not bat an eye."

Greta gripped her cane furious with how Desmond died. "I never expected that girl to turn on her own father after he has taken care of her for years. What happened to her face put a dent in my son's reputation. No man would want to marry a woman who lost her beauty so Desmond quietly took care of her. I need to have a word with that child."

"I'm afraid she is out of town now. She rejected our invitation to attend the funeral. Even though she had treated her father unfairly up to his death, she is still his child and I thought it would be right for her to attend," Katrina lied. She did not offer Alessandra an invitation to make her look bad for not attending. "It seems she has forgotten the life she had here now that she is a Duchess. Kate and I need your help."

"Let me be clear. I am concerned about Kate, not you. She's so young and not married yet. Her father's death might cause her to lose suitors and then there are the finances she will have to worry about. I am having a contract written up for Kate to be given some money but she must be the one in charge of how that money is spent. I will also offer money to help pay off the debts," said Greta.

Greta was only doing this because she loved her son and knew he would want Kate to be taken care of. She would help with the house until Kate got married.

For the first time since their conversation started Katrina was honest when she said, "I would never take money given to Kate."

"Hmm," was Greta's reply. She was not the biggest fan of Desmond's second wife. Since Katrina appeared, her son found himself in a lot of debt.  If Desmond was going to remarry it should have been to someone who benefited him. It was unfortunate Katrina had gotten pregnant right away or Greta would have gotten rid of her.

"Thank you for helping with clearing the debt. Kate and I are getting on track with bringing back this house's former glory. We've been having some trouble now that Clark is here. He wishes to take everything away from me and Kate," said Katrina.

"I am not pleased with everything you would be entitled to. I'm sure you are aware that I have tolerated you being married to my son. I see right through you and the act you put on but my son was blind with love. You are a snake but you are much better than my second son," Greta said and looked off to the side to think about the things Clark had found himself in.

Even though Desmond had piled up debt it wasn't as bad as Clark's. Desmond still had a roof over his head and with time, she knew Desmond would have fixed everything. Clark on the other hand would countlessly ask her for money only to lose it in a matter of days.

"Clark came to me right after he received news about his brother's death. He did not let me be able to mourn my son before asking to help him take everything from you. Had he been competent I would have helped him," Greta honestly spoke. She had no reason to hide what she felt about Katrina.

'I'm sure you would have. Then you would have been joining Desmond in the ground,' Katrina thought while she continued to smile.

"You are a leech and a user in my eyes but I cannot ignore you have handled clearing the debts and everything else well while having to be there for Kate. I have no other sons and I rather not entrust another relative to take over as it might end badly for Kate. They might not give her what she is meant to inherit. I will leave you be as long as you never remarry. No other man must enter this home and take on Desmond's role."

"I had no plans on ever remarrying, mother. I am heartbroken by Desmond's death and my heart has no room to love anyone else but Kate. I wish to carry on with the Barrett last name and will take care of this house until Kate bears a son who can inherit it" Katrina stated, knowing this would be the best answer to please Greta.

After a couple of years, this house might grow boring so Katrina would buy another one while Kate could have this. One thing Katrina did not plan to do was not marry in the future. There were too many wealthy single men her age for her to not remarry at some point.

"What should be done about Clark?" Katrina asked. Had she known Greta would have been on her side, she wouldn't need to go through the trouble to poison him. Even so, Katrina did not feel like finding a cure or telling James to stop poisoning Clark. The man had gotten on her nerves too many times.

"I will take care of my son and that girl," said Greta.

She would have Clark sent back home and Alessandra punished for being the reason her father died.