The Duke's Masked Wife



"Edgar, that wasn't the deal-"

"The deal was that I take Katrina, and when I am ready, I will hand her over to you. After all that I have done to help the court, all Kate will get is a loss of her title and payment. Are you even going to release the things she told you to the town? I joined the king to get rid of Grant, I got rid of William, I revealed it was Simon, and I helped find Bella. The least the court could do is expose the truth about what happened to my wife. I don't want to be the person doing everything. The court exists for a reason," said Edgar. 

Edgar had already spread the word that Katrina's life was a big lie. Did he have to do the same with Kate? After all he had done, the court should reveal to the town everything they heard straight from Kate's mouth.

Mark was faced with a difficult decision. What was happening with Kate, Alessandra, Katrina, and Simon was a big case, so his word wasn't final. There were other men in the court who had a say. "I will convince them to reveal what Kate and her mother did to your wife. The moment the town hears about it, you must give me her mother."

"You could have made life easier for yourself and done that before showing up here. I will have Katrina and the others delivered to the court once I hear about what Kate has done," Edgar promised.

"Others? Isn't it only Katrina and the man named Randall?" Mark asked, curious about who else Edgar had taken. He felt that if he were to walk into Edgar's dungeon, he would find it full of the people he was looking for.

"Her butler is also here. You need to have the guards start looking around for their former cook, Mario. I do not know his last name or if he has family around here. Katrina has admitted to my wife that he is dead. Check all over their land. There is nowhere else they could have placed the body without being seen," Edgar said, leaving Mario's death to the court and the guards. No one could ever convince him to look for Mario. Not even Alessandra. 

Mark didn't like hearing that someone he presumed to be innocent, was dead. "We will need to inform his family if he truly is dead. Is this the same cook who was said to have a relationship with your wife?"

"Do you wish to die today?" Edgar glared at Mark, who was a fool for repeating those lies. 

"No," Mark replied. He wasn't one to listen to drama in couples relationships, but he kept up with news about Edgar and remembered the story about his wife and a cook. The story was cleared up quickly. "I will work hard to have what Kate said revealed to the town by nightfall. Have Katrina and the others ready. Kate will receive news about losing her title in the morning. The document has been sent to the king."

"Reveal what she told the court in the morning. Let the shock of losing her title, her deeds being exposed, and having her mother taken by the court hit her all at once. Then I will be satisfied. Get off my land now. I have nothing more to say to you," Edgar said, turning to go back inside.

'That much bad news will kill her,' Mark thought. The final pieces of Kate's life were going to shatter.

"Tell your wife I said hello!" Mark yelled right before the door closed. Edgar had a skill for making short visits, shorter than planned. Always to the point and leaving after everything important was said.

Alfred closed the door behind Edgar. "Once you hand over those people to the court, will this be the end of you going after Alessandra's family? You will leave her sister be?"

"I don't see why I would waste any more of my time on them. Katrina will be imprisoned, and Kate will be unable to show her face. I am satisfied with it, and Alessandra certainly is. It has been a long time coming, but we can now move on and not have to think about her relatives. Alessandra can now be at ease," Edgar said, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked. Since Alessandra was busy, he would get back to training like he used to.

"Not exactly. Your grandmother and other Collins relatives are in town for your father's birthday. I have already received another letter while you were away. It came from Rose, who asked why I had not yet responded to her invitation. She wishes to meet with me," Alfred revealed instead of keeping it a secret. He had already sent back a letter saying that he would not meet. He had to stay by Edgar and Alessandra's sides in this matter. 

"Right," Edgar sighed. He had forgotten about his grandmother. "Grandmother is the least of my worries. Carry on with planning a dinner the same night, Alfred. It would have been a gathering for friends, but I want it to be a normal dinner with just us, Dominic, and my mother."

Alfred could already imagine Rose's reaction when she learned that Edgar was holding a dinner on the same night and inviting his mother. She would make her way here. "Is there no other way to stop this aside from being petty?" He asked.

"Her not inviting my wife is a slap in the face, so I am returning the slap by having my mother here. I would like for all of them to leave town as quickly as they came. Too many Collins should not be in one place," Edgar said, handing Alfred the shirt he took off.

"You know Alessandra doesn't like it when you walk around shirtless, and it is true that too many of your relatives should not be in one place at once. The last time you were around your relatives, you repeatedly punched Daniel. It is a shame that Rose is so angry that she has invited Daniel. The two of you were so close. There is finally the great-grandchild she has longed for on the way," Alfred said, shaking his head, disappointed with where they were now.

Alfred could not forget the days of taking Edgar from his parent's home and travelling to see Rose. Rose was the one relative Edgar always cared for before there was Alessandra. Since Edgar and his mother were able to make up, so should he and Rose. Alfred now thought it was best he spoke to Rose to end the feud.

"Grandmother is the one who has started this. I will not have her try to control Alessandra as she tried to with my mother. Alessandra has nothing to make up for in terms of wealth. If you secretly meet with grandmother, do not tell her about the children. I want an honest apology to Alessandra and me. I had high hopes she would accept my wife and she has greatly let me down. I am going to train for an hour. Keep an eye on Alessandra," Edgar said, entering a room that was kept locked because he had not been training often.

Now that winter was over, he had to make up for the time he missed in training. It wasn't just training in case there was ever war again, but if he didn't want his knees to hurt like Alfred's while chasing after children, he needed to stay fit.