The Duke's Masked Wife

"I cannot believe the position Sophia has found herself in all because she threw a stone. I don't know how a lady like herself can act like a wild animal just throwing things around. I suppose it is fitting for a woman who came from a low-class family. Her mother will have to hide her face," Diane chuckled.

News of Sophia's predicament only now reached her ears.

Heather didn't share the same excitement as her mother to continue gossiping about Sophia which was why she didn't tell her mother in the first place. She didn't like Sophia but didn't care to speak of her situation or what would happen to her when she was released. Heather had her own issues.

"Priscilla must have pulled out a good wine to celebrate her daughter-in-law being struck. She has been worrying her poor soul about Edgar's marriage. I cannot imagine how it is to be in her shoes with such a girl as her daughter-in-law. Well," Diane eyed her daughter who became a laughing stock thanks to her getting on Priscilla's bad side. "I know how it is to worry. Have you sent the flowers to Priscilla?"

"No mother," Heather replied. Her mother kept hounding her to find a way to get back into Priscilla's circle but she did not wish to do this. Why would she go back to Priscilla to live in misery again and gain back the fake friendship with women who were happy to quickly talk behind her back? "I don't plan to," she added.

Diane narrowed her eyes at her foolish daughter. How could Heather be so foolish to let the relationship she had with Priscilla slip away? "You fool. Don't you know what people have been saying about you? You used to be invited to gatherings daily but now look at you, sitting at home with nothing to do. You have become an eyesore. Get back on Priscilla's good side soon."

"Mother, please stop trying to force me to get back in her good graces. I don't want to go back to being her servant-"

"Heather! Have you lost your mind? Do you enjoy the way your friends speak about you? Go back to Priscilla to be where you belong. You were the envy of peers when you were by her side. I suffer from countless headaches having to hear about you daily from other mothers," Diane stated, touching her forehead to calm the headache she felt coming on.

"They were never my friends. None of them have taken the time to visit me because they all want to become Priscilla's little pet. Someone who nods when she wants you to and curses whoever she is angry at. I rather take my peers making fun of me than go back to being a doll for Priscilla to play with. It's tiring and I've spent too much of my life doing it because of you," said Heather.

"Because of me?" Diane scoffed because it was completely absurd. "You took interest in her as a child and liked when she was around. You stuck to her like glue without me telling you to go to her side at first."

"We went to her home regularly in my youth. She was like an aunt to me and I found it exciting to see the way she carried herself. It is when her problems with Edgar increased and I came of age to start thinking of who I should consider marrying that being around her became insufferable. Knowing Edgar, the two of you still pushed this idea that I would marry him when it was obvious I would not," Heather said, her frustration growing with each word.

"You didn't mind the arranged marriage because you liked him. That was why you were so obedient and trying to be on Priscilla's good side," Diane replied. She disliked how Heather was making it seem like she didn't want to be around Priscilla in the beginning.

Diane thought she did well for her daughter by sticking her to a woman who would ensure Heather was not picked on by the other young women. It was quite cruel in the world they were a part of and many times young women needed someone older to back them. Priscilla could offer Heather more than Diane could offer her daughter.

"I did like Edgar," Heather admitted to it. "But I knew that nothing would happen between us. Edgar never once liked me and when I tried voicing it, I was silenced. I am partly to blame for being silent and doing as you and Priscilla wanted. I have a mouth and I should have made it clear that I did not want to keep waiting on Edgar. I want to be loved, mother. That is all," Heather softly spoke with a warm smile.

"I won't return to Priscilla's side because she will continue to plot to ruin Edgar's marriage. I have seen with my own eyes that Edgar truly loves his wife. I was a fool to think ill of her in the beginning. She is a nice woman. She has a heart that you should appreciate in a town like this. I hope no one changes it," Heather said, genuinely hoping Alessandra remains kind.

"Heather, I am trying to do what is best for you. It won't end well for you if you are outside of Priscilla's circle. I have been where you are now and I want better for you. I can't offer you protection from the snakes in our world. You can marry whoever you want so please go back to Priscilla's side so you don't have to deal with these vicious women," Dian spoke out of concern.

"I was honestly angry with you for still meeting with Priscilla after everything. I wanted to yell at you for not taking my side and asking her to stop her followers from attacking me. I thought you didn't care for your only child but then father sat me down and explained how life was for you before your marriage to him," Heather said, sorry to her father for revealing their secret conversation but her mother had to know.

"I..." Diane tried to speak but nothing would come out. She didn't like speaking of her past which she did not get to enjoy.

Diane was often picked on by other young women in the past until she married her husband and thanks to his friendship with Edmund she met Priscilla who was at the top of her peers. Priscilla became friends with her and immediately the other women changed their words.

She didn't want Heather to experience how cruel these women could get and wanted her to stick to Priscilla. It wasn't just Heather who had to suck up whatever she was feeling around Priscilla and put on a smile. Diane had to do it too. If she became at odds with Priscilla it would affect her daughter.

"You don't have to say anything. I just need you to know that I am done kissing up to Priscilla to keep the other women quiet. I am going to do as I please and I hope you can support me," Heather said as she stood up. She was over the reading time she set aside for her mother daily.

Heather went to where her mother sat and kissed her forehead before leaving. She wanted time alone to think of what she wanted for herself in the future.

Diane covered her face, feeling like a fool for making her daughter feel this way. She was trying her best to avoid Heather being bullied but she failed. While trying to do what she thought was best for Heather she was blind to how much she was hurting her daughter.

Diane sighed, "We will both have to prepare to deal with Priscilla's wrath after I visit her."

There was nothing she could do at this point if Heather wished to be free of the life she once had. Before they drifted too far apart, Diane wanted to try listening to her daughter more and take her side even if she had to go back to the life she once hated before she met Priscilla.