The Duke's Masked Wife

"Is this really where that girl is living?" Clark looked around at the property someone directed him to as Duke Edgar Collin's estate. He could not believe Alessandra with her ruined face had gotten married and lived in a place like this.

Talk of Desmond's older daughter marrying a Duke reached him last night so he traveled to have a conversation with his niece. Clark practically saw dollar signs as he looked at the large house in the distance and the garden decorations. It looked like Alessandra had hooked herself to a prince.

Had he known Alessandra would have been useful in the future, he would have paid more attention to her and played the role of a loving uncle. He had never been a good uncle to Alessandra and Kate, as he rarely visited them as they had nothing he needed. They were leeching off of Desmond just as he was.

"They're all the same, not inviting me to be around these fancy places. Family should take care of each other and I should have been at the wedding. Desmond, you hit the jackpot but died before you could reap the benefits of your daughter's marriage. What an idiot."

There was a lot to gain by becoming close to his niece. After the loss of her father and the strained relationship she had with his brother's second wife, Alessandra would desperately need a family member to give her the love she lacked. That was where he came in.

Clark wasn't the type to distance himself from anyone when money was involved. He would be a fool to think about Alessandra's reputation and rumors when she was married to a Duke. "We should team up together and kick out that woman."

Alessandra should have some sort of hatred for Katrina and most likely did not want to see Katrina running the house she grew up in. 'If Alessandra has any sense, she will team up with me and chase away Katrina,' Clark grinned as he imagined it.

"I hope my niece has more sense than her father. Why aren't we being invited inside? Didn't you tell them I was the Duchess's uncle? Do you want to lose your job!" Clark stood up and smacked the wall of the carriage where the coachman would be on the other side. "Don't you know time is money? I'm wasting money while you waste my time here."

"I'm sorry mister Barrett. They aren't accepting guests at the moment but they have sent someone with your name to double-check with the Duke," the coachman replied.

"They're wasting their time walking back and forth when that girl will let me in. She has always been needy. Pass her a treat and her face would light up. Well, the half that is not tainted would light up. What on earth did a Duke see in that girl? I've always pictured Kate to be the money maker. What the hell happened?" Clark started to think of how Alessandra had landed such a man when she was always hidden.

"About time," Clark perked up in his seat when a man came walking back to where the carriage was parked. Any longer and he would have climbed the gates to shout Alessandra's name. He popped his head out of the carriage window and said, "I bet you feel like a fool for not allowing us in the first time."

"The Duke and Duchess are not allowing visitors today. Do not block the gates and have a good day sir.:

"What?" Clark's mouth fell open from shock and disbelief. "Didn't you tell them I am Clark Barrett, brother of the late Baron, Desmond Barrett? I am her uncle! How can I trust you have spoken to the right person about who I am? You seem incompetent. Go and tell them again.

"We have relayed that information to the Duke and Duchess. The answer remains the same. They are not accepting any visitors today. Please try again another day and refrain from blocking the gates. Thank you," the man turned around to walk away. He had nothing left to say to the fool on the outside of the gates.

"Wait! Wait! Don't walk away from me dammit," Clark pounded his fist into his leg. "They turned me away? Is she turning her back on family at a time like this? Ha! She and that witch are spitting in my face. At a time like this, a family should be looking out for each other but they are holding onto everything for themselves."

"Should I leave now, mister Barrett?" The coachman asked. There was no point in waiting when no one would be going inside today.

"Did I say you could?" Clark yelled to the coachman he would fire once he got what he came for. "We are not leaving until I have a word with my niece. Her face caused a lot of problems for my brother but yet we kept her instead of sending her away to find her mother. She should be grateful and pay us some money. Why did my stupid ass brother die before he gave me the money he promised me?"

The only thing keeping Clark happy was the fact he could inherit everything his brother owned. Sure he had to split some things with Katrina but he could eventually get rid of her and take everything belonging to her. In regards to Kate, he only needed to marry her off, receive gifts from her husband and all will be well.

"Katrina cannot run Desmond's land by herself. She needs a man around but my mother will strangle her if she marries a man who is not a Barrett. I will see Katrina tomorrow but as for Alessandra, she'll see me today."

Clark poked his head out of the carriage window again and yelled, "Let me in! Alessandra, your uncle is here! I am not leaving until I see you are alright! Let me in!"

When no one could be seen coming out to greet him, Clark yelled louder in hopes of getting their attention.

"Hey! Over here, to the right of you."

Clark looked back to find the source of the voice speaking to him. "Who the hell are you?"

"Me? I'm the one who inspects guests passing through the gates and I am the one who opens the gates. You see that house over there," a young blond-haired man pointed over his shoulder. "You see how far away it is? The Duke and Duchess aren't hearing shit. Do you know who it is? Me! Do you know who you are annoying? Me! Leave right now before I get more annoyed."

"I am the Duchess's uncle. I demand to speak with her right now and not some lowly gate guard. Send word to them once again," said Clark.

"Lowly gate guard?" The blond male couldn't help laughing at Clark's words. "Coming from a man sitting in a carriage that looks as if it is about to break is hilarious."

"You cannot speak to me this way. I am-"

"The Duchess's uncle. I get it. I heard you yell it from the time you arrived. There is no doubt in my mind that you are the brother of the late Baron. Your poor attire and carriage are enough evidence but they are not accepting visitors. Let's not make my life difficult sir. Please leave and try again tomorrow. If you keep acting like a fool, Edgar will never let you into his home."

"Then I will take my niece away from there until I am shown respect. I am the only father figure she has left. Alessandra!" Clark began to yell again. He was sure that if he continued on like this, someone on the inside would eventually let him in. "Someone's coming," he practically jumped up and down inside the carriage. "Hahahaha. You were saying?"

The blond rolled his eyes and awaited what would be said about the fool at the gates. If Edgar changed his mind and wanted to let in this man, it wouldn't go as well as this man thought it would.

"A message from the Duke," the man who rode a horse from the house to the gate handed the blond a message.

"Well, well, well. It looks like there will be something fun today. You are scaring the servants working on the outside. The Duke has ordered me to throw intruders into the dungeon and interrogate them."

"I am not on his property, you fool. I am on the outside of the gates trying to get inside," said Clark.

"Normally, people build their gates on the edge of their land. Our wonderful Duke decided to be different and built his gates far away from the edge of his land. You are still on his property even though we have asked you to leave. I'm afraid I'll have to throw you in the dungeon if you do not move in the next minute. What will it be?" The blond amusingly waited for Clark's next move. He hoped the man would stay to be thrown into the dungeon.

Clark kicked the wall behind where the coachman sat. "Leave, we'll return tomorrow dammit."