The Duke's Masked Wife

Tobias ordered the palace guards to go inside and inspect the shop for threats before Hazel would go inside. During this time, Charlotte Potter had sent out her customers to make way for the king and queen. No one else mattered when royalty was present.

Hazel entered the shop first and saw right away why so many young women were eager to buy dresses from the famous Mrs. Porter. Hazel was curious why Alessandra had skipped the famous woman and gone to her daughter instead. Erin Potter was not known for anyone wearing her dresses.

"Your highness," Charlotte Potter curtsied at the sight of the king and queen. "I am honored by the two of you paying a visit. If needed, I could have traveled to the palace to see you."

"We did not travel from the palace to personally see you, miss," Tobias added as he did not know her name even though he had read the sign. "We were enjoying a ride around when the queen remembered she had business here."

Regardless, Charlotte felt happy to have them here. "Is there a dress you came to buy or perhaps, you wish for me to make one from scratch?"

"First, how about we let back in everyone you told to go outside? It feels rude to stop their shopping because I am here with the king. Please let them back inside," Hazel ordered the guards by the door.

She would have liked it if all customers were treated the same. Besides, she wanted to have some fun with the older Potter and she needed young girls to gossip about what happened here.

"Do it," Tobias ordered the guards after they had looked at him to confirm what Hazel told them to do. Tobias drifted away from Hazel's side to inspect the shop but he was still listening in to what was being said. He was yet to figure out why Hazel was here on behalf of the Duchess.

As Tobias walked around, he recognized the young woman standing behind the dressmaker as the one who was with the Duchess on the night of the ball.

Meanwhile, young women flooded the dress shop but this time, they were more interested in what the queen wanted instead of looking for dresses.

"I have a special occasion coming up, therefore, I will need a dress but the royal dressmaker has so many dresses to prepare for me. Therefore, I got a recommendation from a dear friend of mine and came here to give my order. Mrs. Potter," Hazel paused as she watched the woman's eyes light up. "I hope you don't mind if I borrow your daughter," Hazel looked behind Charlotte where Erin was hidden.

"Me?!" Erin exclaimed in disbelief but then clamped her hand over her mouth as the reaction might have seemed rude in front of the queen. However, it was hard for her to believe the queen wanted her to make a dress instead of her mother. 'Am I dreaming?' She pinched her hand to double-check.

Charlotte's smile quickly fell and she looked behind at her daughter who also did not believe it. "There must be some mistake, your highness. When someone says you should go to the dressmaker, they are referring to me, not my daughter. She merely helps me around when there are so many customers. See," she pointed at the number of young women in her shop.

"I am not mistaken. Your daughter made a dress for my friend the Duchess, Alessandra Collins. The dress the Duchess wore at the ball was quite lovely and I want one for myself. I would love more than one actually. Are you free to do it?" Hazel asked Erin since Charlotte would deny her daughter doing it.

"I'd be happy to make your dresses, your highness. As soon as you are ready, I can show you my designs and get started," Erin replied. She had to contain her excitement and not jump up and down to embarrass herself in front of the king and queen.

"Unfortunately, I don't have to take a look at your designs right now so I will have an invitation sent for you to visit me in the palace. However, I would like a quick word with you. Is there a private room?" Hazel asked Charlotte. It was entertaining to watch the woman trying to understand what was happening in front of her.

Hazel's invitation was good business for Charlotte if she worked with her daughter but Charlotte was too proud to let the spotlight be on Erin. After years of telling Erin, her designs were not good, it was a slap in the face for the queen to be here for Erin and not her.

"This has to be a joke. Only the Duchess has worn my daughter's creations and I was the one to send her there so I wouldn't have to deal with that cursed girl. Your Highness," Charlotte took up one of her dresses on display to show Hazel. "You'll do well in one of my dresses."

"You should keep in mind that we are quite close to the Duke and Duchess so insults to either of them will have you on our bad side. It is not a place you should wish to be," Tobias joined the conversation to defend Alessandra. Edgar would have done the same if anyone tried to insult Hazel when Tobias was not around.

"My apologies but I am only trying to make the queen see her mistake. Take a look," Charlotte held the dress high for Hazel to inspect.

"A private room?" Hazel asked Erin as Charlotte was starting to annoy her. Why not push for your daughter to follow in your footsteps and have customers of her own?

Erin was ecstatic to see her mother be pushed to the side while someone had finally taken interest in her dresses. "This way, your highness."

Hazel walked around Charlotte and went to Erin's side. "Remember to thank the Duchess. She could have requested anything but asked that I helped with your reputation," she whispered.

"Alessandra did this?" Erin stopped walking as she was surprised by this. She told Alessandra to not worry about her being outcasted but Alessandra went ahead and sent the queen.

"Are you going to cry?" Hazel stated after she saw Erin's eyes begin to water.

"Forgive me for embarrassing myself but the Duchess is too kind," Erin wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke.