The Duke's Masked Wife

"Baroness, I have to advise you it wouldn't be a good look for you and Kate to go out buying new dresses when you are supposed to be mourning the Baron and preparing for his funeral. In the long run, this can have a negative impact on both of your reputations," said James.

It was something the two women should know but they were only interested in looking good.

"So what? Do you expect me to wear something I've worn before or that is out of season in the presence of the king and other suitors? Absolutely not! Alessandra will have a gorgeous dress thanks to the Duke, are you expecting me to look bland? No mother," Kate stomped her right foot on the floor.

Everyone would already be talking about how Alessandra stole her chance to marry the Duke and they will be pitying her. Kate wanted to look better than anyone at the ball to make everyone question the Duke's choice of a wife. Even Edgar would see he made the wrong choice.

James sighed, frustrated with Kate's lack of understanding. "This isn't about looking better than anyone. It's to show you have not easily forgotten about the death of your father. People will call you heartless and talk for days about you only caring about wearing new clothes. We cannot forget about the financial situation this house is in. As a family dealing with loss, you must show you are only going to the ball because of the king's invite."

"You and mother sold enough to-"

"Enough Kate," Katrina stepped in as she realized how they would look. "James is right. We have to be calculated with our moves because everyone will be watching us. Judging every little thing we do. They want to see if the two of us can survive without Desmond. We have sold enough to pay off the small debts your father owed but we have to pay off William."

"He has gotten rid of the debt because my father has died. Why would you waste giving money to a man who does not want it?" Kate did not see the point in giving money to a man who had more than he needed.

"Because I do not trust William. We did not give him what was promised to clear the debt in the first place. Before he changes his mind or adds interest, I am going to pay him off. If you wish to have new dresses soon, go through the ones you said are old and out of season. We can secretly sell them. Pick out a pretty dress for the ball Kate. I promise, your life will go back to normal soon. We won't have to worry about money," Katrina promised.

Kate didn't understand how her mother was so certain of this when they had sold everything worth a good sum of money already. How would her mother make more money to pay William? 'Is she only depending on me finding a good husband?' She wondered.

"Take a maid with you to start going through your dresses, Kate. There is a lot we have to do to prepare for tomorrow. Close the door, James," said Katrina.

'I'll have to use some of my money to help us be debt-free,' Katrina frowned at the thought. The money she kept from the Baron was for if she ever had to run away, not for fixing this house. That was the Baron's job as the man of the house.

'It's a good thing I stuck out this long. Now, this house belongs to me. I can't wait to rub it in his face,' Katrina smiled.

"The two of them are no longer saddened by the Baron's death. I wonder if he regrets not being a better father to Alessandra. His death would have been avoided if he treated her better. Well, we'll never know now," James muttered as he closed the door.

***

Collins Estate

"Hello Alfred," Edgar greeted the butler by the front door as he entered the house. "Did you miss me?"

"Absolutely, young master. If only you could have been home for another day without going out to work. Did you find anything useful to aid your search for the missing girls?" Alfred questioned while he took off Edgar's coat so it could be hung up.

"Unfortunately, no. We are still left with the same clues as before. It's been too quiet in Lockwood which means the town is going to be shaken up by something soon. Did you introduce Alessandra to the guard I picked out?"

"The Duchess has been busy the whole day. I will have to introduce her to the guard right before dinner. She seems to be having fun with her guest," Alfred happily replied. He has glad Erin came instead of her mother. Now the Duchess had a friend.

"Guest?" Edgar found this odd considering Alessandra had no one to visit. When one person came to mind, Edgar frowned. "Is it a man?"

"No, it is the dressmaker. They have been in the room from morning till now. I've sent them treats and drinks throughout the day. Now that it's getting late, I have to alert the dressmaker of the time. Night is almost upon us and I don't want her to be on the road when it is so dangerous. I'll put up your coat first."

"Focus on dinner and my coat. I'll visit Alessandra and her new friend," Edgar placed his hands in his pockets going upstairs to find Alessandra.

When he made it to the second floor and stopped by the room he assigned for Alessandra to have her fittings, Edgar heard laughter coming from the inside. He heard Alessandra's voice loud and clear then one he was not familiar with. If not for young women being kidnapped or murdered these days and the culprit not found, he would have let Alessandra have more fun.

Edgar knocked on the door and then waited for a response.

"We don't need any more treats-Duke!" Sally clasped her hand over her mouth."I'm sorry. I thought you were someone bringing treats."

"Next time, see who is at the door before you open your mouth," Edgar walked past Sally to go inside the room.

"Edgar!" Alessandra stood up, surprised to see him there. "When did you return? I would have greeted you at the door if I knew what time you were returning."

"I returned a moment ago. Alfred said you would be here with the dressmaker. I believe I called for your mother to come. Did she leave already?" Edgar asked Erin.

"She didn't want to be here with the Duchess," Erin bluntly replied, throwing her mother under the carriage. She didn't care if it could get her mother in trouble since it was the truth. "The Duchess has agreed for me to make her dresses. My name is Erin Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you, Duke Edgar Collins," she curtsied.

"It always is. I wonder how much fun the three of you-Five," Edgar added when the faint sound of a kitten was heard. "None of you have noted how late it has become. I suggest you hurry home, Miss Potter. It is not safe at night for a woman traveling alone even if you are in a carriage."

"Oh no!" Erin's eyes widened when she looked out the window at the sky changing. "He'll be worried. Oops, forget I said that Duke Collins," she cheekily smiled.

"I don't care about you and your business," Edgar replied, unimpressed with what she said. Who was screwing who was not something he talked about. "Hurry along."

"Ass," Erin muttered under her breath. Edgar was just as she expected him to be. He had the looks of a hero but a villain kind of personality. 'Well, I have read books with good-looking villains,' she tapped her chin as she became lost in thought.

She unexpectedly clapped her hands concluding Edgar fit more as a good-looking villain. "It was nice meeting you, Duchess. I will be back tomorrow with the dresses you picked out altered to fit you better and I'll bring the dress for the ball at the same time."

"It was also nice meeting you, Erin, Sally, please help her with her box," said Alessandra.

"Yes, Duchess," Sally hurried over to help Erin with her boxes. Luckily, there were lighter now because many of the dresses she brought had fit Alessandra and they were hung up in the room to be washed.

"Do you like the dresses or are you just being kind?" Edgar questioned, inspecting the dresses Erin had hung up. He didn't want Alessandra to just accept anything to avoid hurting Erin's feelings when they were starting a friendship.

"He's talking like I am not here," Erin's voice was heard in the background. "Couldn't he have waited until I stepped out of the room?"

Alessandra smiled, finding bold behavior to be funny. "I truly like them, Edgar. She has been helpful with finding my style and colors that suit me.  I hope you do not mind that she spent the entire day speaking with me. You don't like others in your home."

"It is fine. She seems like the type to help pull you out of your shell," Edgar replied.