The Duke's Masked Wife

"Tobias, what is happening? What is being said or done concerning me? Do not keep in the dark. Do they want you to take another  woman already?" Hazel asked as this wasn't new. The men in the court, specifically those with daughters of age, tended to create a lot of noise to convince Tobias to take another woman. "I told you I am fine with it."

"That is not it, Hazel. I wanted to avoid you learning of this but I suspect someone might be preventing you from getting pregnant. I don't know how they got past the royal taste-"

"What?" Hazel asked in a low voice as she stared up at Tobias.  It was nothing new inside the palace but she didn't think it would ever happen to her. She always assumed it was her body. "What made you think this?"

"Grant's sudden interest in me taking Linda to be my mistress. It works out perfectly for him if you cannot bear an heir to the throne. He has been pushing for Linda to officially enter the palace and he's starting to get a lot of support. I'm going to inspect everyone who tends to you. It might affect your friendship with Linda but I am not going to leave Grant alone," Tobias said, giving her a heads up since it might affect her friendship.

"Grant? It is one thing to push Linda to share my husband but to prevent me from having a child is another. I looked at him as a grandfather for as long as I've known Linda. I played around in his house with her. How could he do this to me?" Hazel asked, her voice raising with each word.

"It is what happens when someone desires the throne. It could still be anyone else or maybe I am wrong but I am going with my gut feeling to inspect this thoroughly. I don't want you to see what I will do," Tobias said as he caressed her hair. "So please stay here with Edgar until it is time for my ball."

"I want to speak with Linda. She should be back in town with her brothers and father by now. There is no way she couldn't have known about her grandfather's plot. At least to make her enter the palace. If you want me to stay here, promise me you'll have her come to me. Immediately," Hazel said in a firm tone.

These days it seemed like something was happening back to back to shake up a friendship she greatly cherished. Sometimes Linda was more like a sister than her own blood sister was. Hazel wanted to keep trusting Linda was in the dark about all of this but her heart would only rest once she spoke with Linda. It was oddly convenient how Linda was out of town when all of the talks about her being barren were once again coming up. Linda never missed Grant's winter party as she did this year.

"You must have my father return to Lockwood right away. I don't care how much my sister will be against it. I need him here now," Hazel said since her father had enough influence in the palace to defend her.

"I will get both of them for you.  Do not do anything reckless and remain in Edgar's care. I will make the palace safe for you to return to. Please don't tell me you are angry with me," Tobias said, not wanting this to ruin the peace they had.

"I don't like the fact you didn't tell me about this before we got here. I would have understood you and you know that. I am not angry at you, I am just tired of what comes with sitting on the throne. The moment you find out even the slightest evidence I might have been fed something please send for me. I want to see who was working for who and why. Going up against Grant will not be easy so you better be safe or I will kill you with my bare hands," Hazel warned him, but her touch was gentle compared to her words.

Tobias smiled as only Hazel would threaten to kill him if he allowed anyone to defeat him. "You act as if your husband has ever lost a battle. I will be fine. Grant underestimates me because he still views me as a boy. The Duchess must be waiting for you," he said, opening the door behind Hazel. "I can't stay as it is time wasted I could be carrying out my inspection. I will visit you soon," he kissed her forehead.

Hazel rested her head against his chest and closed hers as she needed a moment more with him before going inside.

Tobias hugged Hazel, ignoring Edgar and Alessandra watching them from the stairs. He was curious about Alessandra's lack of a mask but Hazel was his main concern "I am sorry I have not protected you as well as I thought. It will not happen again," he apologized. The trouble at the border and the constant complaints from his court had distracted him from figuring out the reason behind their lack of an heir.

"You have protected me well. It doesn't help that there is an enemy at every corner. Don't worry about me, Tobias. Return to the palace and get rid of as many enemies as you can. I don't want to keep you hold up any longer," Hazel said, stepping out of his hold to not keep him back. She looked inside Edgar's home and found Alessandra waiting for her beside Edgar.

Hazel left Tobias's side without another word or a kiss goodbye as it would make it harder for her to let him return to the palace without her.

Edgar walked past Hazel to go to Tobias to hear of his plans.

"Edgar, what kind of friend are you?" Tobias asked in a hushed tone. "I could have used some backup to tell her."

"The type who is not going to get in the middle of you telling your wife the truth.  Do not pull me into your problems. I am already keeping an eye on her and I already feel annoyed about the constant letters you will send, wanting to know what she is doing as if she is not safe here. Are you sure you will be fine cleaning out the palace yourself? I can join you or you can take Dominic," Edgar said, offering his help.

Grant and some of the men in the court weren't easy enemies which were why they were still alive.

Tobias stepped to the side to let Hazel's luggage be placed inside. "No. I already have a plan and as luck would have it, Linda's father is against her entering the palace so he will support me against his father. The man does love his daughter more than anything else. You need to continue your plan to strike William. He is one of Grant's new strong supporters and I need him gone."

"If you need help just send for me and I will come to help you. Do not get yourself killed. There is no one else I can tolerate as king if you die," Edgar replied.

"Would it kill you to just say you care for my well-being, Edgar?" Tobias asked as he watched Hazel with Alessandra.

"I just did. Read between the lines. You should leave now before you are unable to leave her. I will take care of her in your absence. Quite frankly better than how you took care of my wife as I returned to her with a bruise on her head from a stone."

"You're never going to let that go, aren't you? Fine, I am off.  Oh, happy birthday Edgar. I'll bring a gift next time," Tobias said as he walked down the steps to get his carriage. His smile fell as his anger came back.  It was a hard task to appear calm while he was boiling with anger on the inside as he thought of who was harming his wife.