The Duke's Masked Wife

"Kate, you have to do whatever it takes to get inside Mrs. Collins's circle. All the women around her get invited to special parties and are given expensive gifts. She might introduce you to one of her wealthy friend's sons," Grace envied Kate for having such an opportunity. Why on earth was Kate receiving good things when her family was in such a hole?

"Put in a good word for us, Kate. You cannot forget who your true friends are when you get closer to Priscilla. If only she had been in town, we would have been calling you Duchess. What a shame," said Lila.

"That is not exactly true. There's a girl named Heather she visited my home with. I believe she had been trying to get her to marry Edgar this entire time.  If Priscilla manages to separate Edgar and Alessandra, she will push for Edgar to marry this Heather girl. How annoying," Kate muttered.

"I thought you no longer cared about the Duke, Kate? Would you want to try being with him if he divorces your sister?"

"No, he will never be with me. As long as they are no longer together I'm satisfied. Alessandra does not deserve to be with Edgar. If not me, I would have preferred one of you," Kate lied. She would have lost her mind if she lost Edgar to one of her friends. They were her minions and if one of them became Duchess, they would view her as below them.

"Even if the cook did not have a sexual relationship with your sister, give him money to spread the rumor around. Who would be able to say that it is not true beside Alessandra to try and save herself? It's not like we know what goes on in your home to question what we hear," said Grace. It excited her to further ruin Alessandra for taking Edgar away.

"You should pay a few more servants to say they witnessed it and threaten their lives if they were to ever speak about it. Imagine if you got the butler to confirm it too," Lila joined in on the plan. "As long as the servants keep quiet, no one can prove it to be wrong."

"It's not a bad idea but I'm afraid of what reaction Edgar might have," Kate feared what might happen to her if the servants ran to Edgar to tell him the truth for more money.

Grace quickly came up with another solution. "Then you should indirectly start the rumor. We all know servants gossip about what happens in our homes to others and then the entire town knows our business. Casually mention it while a servant is around. That's safer for you than paying off someone."

"Right," Kate agreed with this idea. "I will do it tomorrow morning. Let's see if she can attend a party like this in the future with more rumors going around," she chuckled.

"Enough about your sister now, I want to find a handsome man to dance with. Who here is single and has not danced with a lady?"

"There is someone I am looking for-Ah!" Kate exclaimed when someone bumped into her and their drink spilled on her arm. "What the hell were you doing?" She looked up at the culprit. "You!" Her eyes widened finding the man she had been looking for right in front of her.

Kate wondered if it was fate for the man she planned to use to enter Edgar's world to bump into her right now.

"I'm sorry. I should have looked where I was going. Correct me if I am wrong but you are the late Baron's daughter right?"

"Yes, Marquess," Kate smiled.

"There she goes chasing after another rich man," Grace muttered to Lila with envy. She would have liked to be the one to bump into him.

***

"Aren't the two of you going to dance? I hope you're not standing here because I am without a date. Go on and have fun," Erin urged the couple.

Many couples had gathered in the middle of the room to dance. Single men and women who had taken an interest in each other had also joined in.

"I am not a good dancer. I want to just stand back and watch tonight. Is the man you are seeing here, Erin?" Alessandra was curious about the man Erin mentioned from time to time.

"No, unfortunately. He does not have a connection to the palace to be given an invitation to this ball. I also do not want to let anyone know about our relationship yet. Specifically my mother. She has the ideal husband for me in her mind and if I were to let her know I was with a man she wouldn't approve of she would toss me out of her house. My plan is to have a steady income and then move out. Perhaps I could-"

"No," Edgar flat-out denied her request before she could mention it. "Our home is not an inn for you to stay in and we hardly know you to let you stay with us. I saw the bill you sent for the dresses. It is more than enough to rent a small room and pay for expenses. You can't run away from your mother and expect to live the same lifestyle."

"I am aware of that but it's hard to give up the way I've lived from birth. That's why I want my dressmaking business to succeed so that I continue this lifestyle," said Erin.

"Unless the man you are seeing will be an asset to your future, let go of him. Without your mother, your name holds no weight and just because you were the one behind my wife's dress does not mean you will have a long line of customers tomorrow or the day after that. It might take a year for you to have a steady income to keep the life you have now but what if it doesn't happen in a year? Will you keep hiding your lover for another year?" Edgar asked.

"Of course not. I just…" Erin trailed off as she became unsure about what she would do in the future. She was not being realistic that her business would jump off now that others saw the Duchess wearing her dress. Alessandra was not loved by others and they might distance themselves from anyone around her. "I'll have no choice but to change the way I live. I need a drink," she looked around for a servant passing by.

Why did Edgar have to ruin her dreams? She was truly expecting a  line of customers tomorrows.

"It'll work out somehow, Erin. I truly believe you will have a lot of everyone lining up for dresses. Until then, continue as you are doing now with searching for customers. I am also planning to start a business to have income but I doubt anyone would want to do business with me. Perhaps I shouldn't say it is me who owns it," Alessandra had an idea. "We will both succeed, Erin."

Erin slowly turned to Alessandra confused as to why she wanted to work when her wealthy husband stood beside her. Edgar's wealth was one of the many reasons he was such a sought-after man. "Why do you want to work, Duchess?"

"To have an income," Alessandra stated, which she believed to be obvious. "I cannot depend on Edgar for money."

"Does the Duke not give you enough money daily?" Erin questioned, ignoring the fact Edgar was right beside Alessandra.

"He has spent a lot of money since we have been married but it is not about having money daily. It's for the future."

"You make it sound as if the two of you will not work out and you want to have something to fall back on. Imagine how the Duke must feel hearing this when the two of you just got married," Erin pointed for Alessandra to look at Edgar. "Do you think he will get rid of you?"

"I don't," Alessandra turned to Edgar. They were under a contract to remain together. She was meant to be the mother of his children.

She only wanted the money as a backup in case something bad would happen and he no longer wanted to be around her. Alessandra had witnessed how quickly someone she loved could change so she needed a safety net to not worry about her future even though she trusted Edgar.

"I don't plan to let you out of my sight, Alessandra. There is nothing wrong with you working if you want to. Do not take advice from someone with relationship problems.  Isn't it time you give my wife and me some space? How long do you plan to stay here?" Edgar moved his gaze from Alessandra to Erin. "Leave," he mouth to Erin.

"Duke Collins."

Alessandra's body stiffened when she heard the familiar voice which had slightly changed due to age. She had forgotten the fact that a man like William Lancaster would be invited to this ball. How could he be so bold to approach her and Edgar after the deal he had with her father? Did he think they did not know about it?