The Duke's Masked Wife

"You shouldn't spend your time doing nothing when your peers are out mingling and hunting down a good husband, Kate. Do not go another year not married," Greta spoke in a gentle tone. After Kate nodded, she looked at the sorry excuse of a mother. "Come with me, Katrina."

"I'm afraid I can't right now. Kate and I are discussing an important matter. I will visit you when I am free," Katrina replied, not interested in what Greta wanted to say. She no longer had to be ordered around by Greta now the money was paid to Alessandra.

Greta didn't like being told no after all the money she spent to ensure Kate still had her mother by her side. "Now that you are almost free from getting in trouble with the court you have fallen back into your old ways of being rude. What did my son ever see in you?" She wondered, inspecting Katrina once again to figure out why Desmond fell for such a woman.

Greta regretted daily not stepping in to resolve the issues Desmond faced with his first wife.

"Leave us, Kate," Katrina ordered her daughter before answering Greta. "He saw a beautiful intelligent woman. I've heard him tell you this many times."

"Intelligent?" Greta scoffed but then she realized she couldn't deny Katrina's intelligence. Her son was killed leaving Katrina behind with what she always wanted. Still, she wasn't going to compliment Katrina. "Men will say anything to get you naked. It clearly worked on you. We will speak here before you avoid me."

Katrina wondered what Greta could be so eager to talk about. The money was already paid as far as she was concerned and they already agreed on her taking care of the house without any disruptions from relatives like Clark.

Greta sat down as far away from Katrina as she could. She wasn't pleased with what she found out recently. "You weren't honest with me. My son did have a debt with William and someone was sent to take Alessandra to him for reasons I do not know yet. Don't look so surprised, Katrina. Most of your servants went a long time without good pay so they can easily be bought."

"So what now? Are you going to take back everything because we were marrying her off for money?" Katrina asked.

"No. Every day a young woman gets married to help out her parents. It is no different than what you are doing with Kate now. Well, William is twice Alessandra's age so I can see why she would be upset. Such a thing wasn't uncommon in my youth. Many of my peers married men far older than them," Greta said, not bothered by it as it wasn't uncommon. Those women were still happily married.

Katrina bit her tongue to resist smiling. For a second, she thought Greta was going to scold her for wanting to send Alessandra to William. There was finally something good that came from Greta's age. People focused less on age when it was Greta's time.

"I am not getting involved in the matter with William. Alessandra is already married and you speak as if the issue with him is already taken care of. I've done more than enough to help you get back on your feet and I expect that Kate will be married by the time winter is over. If she is not, I will return to take over dealing with this house and marrying off Kate," said Greta.

Katrina's eyes lit up specifically from hearing the word return. "You sound as if you are leaving already," she spoke, trying to hide the excitement her face already gave away.

"I have my household to take care of and we both know you do not want me here. Me leaving does not mean you can do as you want to. I am warning you the moment you try to court another man, I will take my son's belongings from you," Greta said, pointing her cane at Katrina as a threat.

Katrina viewed it as a joke. 'She should be thankful I am not burying her beside Desmond. I guess I can hold off killing her for now,' she thought.

"I don't plan to marry again. My time will be spent preparing Kate to get married and after that, I want to live a quiet life. You have nothing to worry about as long as Clark remains out of town. Kate has caught the eyes of a good young man and she does not need family drama to ruin her moment. Please do your part," Katrina replied, forcing a smile as she stood up.

"Do not let your eyes wander past fucking the servants. You are lucky I am allowing this matter to slide. Handing you the butler should satisfy your promiscuous ways," said Greta. She noticed the way Katrina kept looking at the butler from time to time. "There is nothing about you I do not notice."

"Promiscuous? That would be your son who let his peers convince him to bed women from the red-light district. I wonder if he got that from his father. Did you tell your husband to fuck the maids to satisfy his needs? Desmond spoke quite a lot about you," Katrina grinned, enjoying how much she was riling up Greta. "And I must correct you. You only notice what I allow you to, mother-in-law."

Greta gripped her cane, desperately wanting to smack Katrina with it. Unfortunately, she sent Clark away so there would only be Kate to protect her from Katrina attacking her back. "It's about time you let your real personality show. I should sing praises Kate has not turned out like you.  I pray she never learns your ways."

Katrina didn't disagree with this. "I won't argue with you there. I want my daughter to be better than me. You and I have been getting along now better than we ever did since I married Desmond. I don't want to end it in a foul mood. Have a safe trip back."

"You, don't be so cocky," Greta left Katrina with a warning. She had nothing more to say after this. Katrina would come crawling back to her soon. She was sure of it. For now, she would get far away from Katrina and her issues with the court. She was too old to be dealing with this.

Katrina walked away from Greta, not caring for the unwanted advice. She didn't like Greta knowing about her and James. It couldn't be proved but she did not need it to become a rumor. If Greta were to spread she went from Desmond to James, her good name would be ruined.

When she was out of Greta's view, Katrina stopped to turn and look back at the woman. Katrina didn't trust Greta would keep her mouth shut about James and would one day try to blackmail her. She had to move quickly to shut Greta up forever.

'Why did the mother have to be as annoying as the sons?' Katrina frowned.

"I don't have time for her when Alessandra is determined to take all that I have left. My head is aching again," she touched her forehead where the pain was forming again.