The Duke's Masked Wife

"Duke Collins, it's a shame you ran off and got married in the middle of the night. My daughter has always been interested in you each time you visited. We can't figure out why you picked such a woman with-Ahem," the innkeeper cleared his throat when Edgar didn't look too happy.

"You have a daughter? Since when?" Edgar questioned the small chubby man. He placed an envelope left behind for him inside his pants pocket.

"For eighteen years. I've introduced her to you many times," the innkeeper found it hard to believe that Edgar did not know he had a daughter. "She's over there with my wife."

Edgar looked in the direction the innkeeper pointed at and found a young woman smiling more than she should at him. "She doesn't look like you or her mother. She does resemble the butcher next door. Good day."

"What the…"

Edgar blocked out what the innkeeper had to say in response to his words. When would everyone learn that when they go low he would go to the underworld with his response? By now he expected others to be smarter with their words when it came to his wife but there were many people lacking common sense in Lockwood.

"Duke Collins," a man approached him with a large smile as if he stumbled upon a treasure.

"I'm aware of what my name is. Do you have something you wish to say to me or will you continue standing there with your awful smile? I'm not in the mood to be annoyed by anyone else. Speak or move," Edgar gave two options. He stopped walking to listen to what the man eagerly wanted to say.

"Don't you know who I am?" Clark asked, slightly annoyed he wasn't easily pointed out. He found it impossible for anyone to not see the similarities between him and his late brother.

"If I did I would have stated your name, wouldn't I? I am already annoyed with you, do not push it. Get to the point and introduce yourself."

"My name is Clark Barrett. I am the uncle of your wife and brother of the late Baron. I've been meaning to speak with you but it is hard to gain an audience. Do you have time to spare with me? There are a lot of things I wish to discuss with you. Both about my niece and my brother. Please," Clark pleaded as it had been hard for him to keep track of Edgar and find him alone.

Edgar's interest in the man moved from one to two. "I'm now seeing the resemblance in the man I once disliked. What is it you have to say that you were yelling outside of my home in the middle of the day?"

"You are the husband of my beloved niece. It is only right that I visit to make sure she is in good hands and get answers about my brother's death. Alessandra must feel so alone because many of her relatives do not live nearby. Not to mention, that witch has taken over her father's home. I am on your side."

"Do not bullshit me, mister Barrett. I have spoken to Alessandra and your visits to her weren't frequent enough for her to be your beloved niece. As for your brother, I killed him because of the activities he found himself in and because he tried selling his own daughter. Be more concerned about that than trying to kiss my ass with your dry lips. Good day," Edgar walked off but he was not done with Clark just yet.

Edgar knew the desperate man would follow him and he did.

"Dry?" Clark licked his lips. "Wait wait wait. Don't leave just yet. There is still the matter of Alessandra's stepmother to discuss. She will never allow Alessandra to live a peaceful life. I know a lot about Katrina to keep her away from Alessandra but there are two things I will need from you."

"What is it?"

Clark rubbed his hands at the thought of getting money from a man like Edgar. Edgar had enough that the amount he wanted in exchange for his marriage to Alessandra shouldn't hurt his pocket. "It is tradition here that when a woman gets married her husband must offer gifts to the family. I've been made aware of the fact that my brother did not receive anything."

"Will two bags of gold be enough?" Edgar turned left of the inn to walk down an empty path between two shops.

Clark's ears perked up at the mention of two bags of gold. "You are too kind, Duke Collins."

"So one it is," Edgar changed his mind. He was not as kind as Clark perceived him to be and the unfortunate Barrett would soon find out. Edgar knew how Clark's time in Lockwood would end if he didn't leave soon and the future should be obvious to Clark but he was too focused on money and what did not belong to him to notice his pending death.

"What? No no no. We've agreed on two. It would also be good if I could have a word with my niece. It's been so long since we had a chat and after the loss of her father, it would be nice for her to have at least one relationship with a Barrett. Don't you agree?"

"No, stay away from my wife. I will kill you sooner than you're supposed to die if you try getting money out of her or pretending to be family now that she is a Duchess," Edgar stopped walking midway the lonesome path.

"But you see-"

"All of the late Baron's family will gather in town shortly for his funeral. I will leave you with this to think about the next time you come seeking out my wife," Edgar turned around to grab Clark by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the brick wall of the shop they were passing by. "Year after year all of you ignored how my wife was treated and I've been contemplating ending the Barrett bloodline at your brother's funeral."

"P-Please don't kill me. I'm on your side," tears fell from Clark's eyes as he pleaded to Edgar. "After I've received the gold I won't bother the two of you. I just need your help getting the papers that say my brother's house and land have to be put in my name when he dies. He signed those papers and showed them to me but his wife won't let me enter the house."

"That has nothing to do with me," Edgar released Clark, watching him drop to the ground. "The only reason I am keeping a pest like you around is due to the fact you will annoy other pests. I will get you close to the Baroness and nothing more. We are not friends, family, or on the same team as you think. You are simply a player in my game."

"What game?" Clark looked up at Edgar from where he fell. He was afraid if he stood up again Edgar would knock him back down.

"Someone with a short lifespan does not need to know. You won't get to witness the wonderful ending. I'm afraid I have no more time to spare with you," Edgar proceeded to walk down the end of the path.

"I need to be more cautious when he is around," Clark suddenly realized the type of man Alessandra married. "But I'll use him to get rid of Katrina."