The Duke's Masked Wife

"Don't slouch, Heather. Your mother has spent too much money on tutors for you to not have learned anything. Sit up."

Heather shifted in her seat to do as Priscilla wanted. She did not have to go through this with her own mother. 'Why did she call for me?' she wondered. The day had been peaceful until Priscilla sent a letter requesting her presence.

Priscilla sat on the balcony of her home looking out at the view. "White town might be boring but it certainly had better views than Lockwood. Ugh, my head has been aching all night," she placed her forehead in the palm of her hand

"Should I bring medicine for you?" Heather asked.

"No, I've already taken something for it. It might just be a mental thing. I've been thinking about Edgar's situation all night long. How can I possibly get rid of that girl? Edgar is only keeping her around to annoy me but the longer she stays the longer she gets to carry our last name. Why can't things go my way?" Priscilla sighed. Her body tingled for a bit of alcohol to calm her nerves.

"The queen seems to have taken a liking to her. A lot of people are watching how they speak about her because of Edgar. It won't be long before they start inviting her to private parties and acting like her friend because they want to get close to Edgar."

Priscilla rolled her eyes at the mention of the queen. "Do not mention the queen around me. That woman is not like what I expected. She attacked my marriage next to that girl. I have completely written off the queen from my book."

'But she is the queen,' Heather thought. Anyone would have to be a fool to get on the queen's bad side. Priscilla might be a social queen but Hazel was an actual queen and everyone wanted to be the queen's friend.

"The king and Edgar are close. It would put a strain on their relationship if you and the queen are in a bad place," Heather tried to make Priscilla more open-minded.

"The only woman I will ever pretend to be nice to is my mother-in-law. Edgar and Tobias's friendship will not be affected by my dislike for the queen. They've survived much more. Now tell me, how do you plan to shift Edgar's attention from that woman to you?" Priscilla asked.

Heather felt uncomfortable due to the question. She did not want to try seducing a married man. Although Alessandra was not what she imagined for Edgar to be with, Heather could never hurt another woman with an affair. From what she heard her mother whispering about with her other friends, Priscilla should not be forcing anyone to take part in an affair.

"Well," Heather rubbed the back of her hand.

"Stop that. It's an awful habit. I told your mother to send you to the same school as Edgar. My son was a lost cause but they would have fixed these bad habits you have. I'll speak to your mother. Now go on. Talk."

"You weren't there at the table to hear it but Edgar seems to dislike me. I think," Heather paused to take a deep breath. She tried to muster up the courage to tell Priscilla that she wanted to move on from Edgar and look to marry someone else. "I-"

"Priscilla!" Edmund's voice thundered throughout the house almost loud enough to shake the walls.

"Why are you yelling? Do you want the servants to think there is a madman loose in our home? What have I done to upset the wonderful Edmund Collins? Heather, do you see why I have a headache? The men in my life are crazy," Priscilla sighed then glanced at her fuming husband.

'My headache is complaining about other people being her headache," Heather thought.

Edmund counted to ten quietly before asking, "What happened to that girl you had watching Edgar? Be honest with me?"

"Be specific Edmund. There was more than one."

"The one that recently got off of our carriage. The town guards just came to alert us of her death and they have questions for both of us. I told them to return later so that you and I can have a little chat. Tell me the truth, Priscilla. No bullshit," said Edmund.

"How on earth am I supposed to know when she got out of the carriage? Do you honestly think I would waste my precious time meeting with a girl who was of no use to me any longer? It's unfortunate that she has died but it has nothing to do with us. Send those little guards away next time they visit and don't bother me with this. Oh," Priscilla suddenly realized something. "How on earth did they think to ask us about her?"

"Edgar-"

"What?" Priscilla screeched causing Heather to place her hands over her ears while Edmund sighed. "My son, my own flesh and blood informed them of that? And yet you wonder why I am always upset with him. I don't know what kind of a man I've raised."

"You didn't raise him, Priscilla. Neither did I. We handed him off to nannies and then Alfred came along. We have a lot to thank him for. Sometimes I feel like we are meant to pay him for his work alongside Edgar. I must have a talk with him. If I find out you had anything to do with her death, I swear I will ship you back to White town forever. Excuse me, Heather," Edmund said then walked away from the balcony.

"I'm honestly sick and tired of hearing about that damn butler raising the son I bore. I spent countless hours getting involved in Edgar's life but all the credit goes to a butler," Priscilla balled up her fists. When was younger she was certain Alfred got in his ear and turned him against her. "That butler doesn't deserve any credit."

'I can't bear it anymore. I'll get rid of him,' Priscilla concluded.