The Duke's Masked Wife

"I can't imagine what it must feel like to say goodbye to your father, Kate. I'm going to cheer you up by buying whatever you want today," Grace announced.

Kate, Grace, and Lila sat outside a small shop to take a break from shopping around the town.  Due to the cold weather, they decided to order tea to warm up and chat.

"It would have been great if you had attended the funeral but this is fine, I suppose. Don't cry later if I want an expensive bag to make myself happy," Kate partially joke as she was planning on getting a new bag out of this.

"Fine fine," Grace patted Kate's hand. "It's good Lila was there to comfort you. All the town has been talking about since yesterday is your father's funeral."

"As they should. He will be missed by a lot of people," Kate smiled, enjoying the attention the funeral placed on her family.

As they were confused by Kate's response, Grace and Lila shared a look.

"That's not what they are talking about Kate. They are speaking about your sister and the Duke purposely going out of town when the funeral was happening. They wonder why they missed the funeral. Especially your sister," Lila informed Kate. She had been enjoying every piece of the gossip as it placed Alessandra in a bad light.

Kate expected others to wonder about Alessandra not attending the funeral with Edgar because many of them were not yet aware that Edgar was the one to kill her father. Those who knew about it were made to keep quiet about it until the town guards announced it themselves. "Why would she attend when she dislikes us? She's likes her life as Duchess so much that she doesn't look back to where she came from."

"That horrible girl. We should be preparing for your marriage to the Duke right now. We worked so hard for you to get close to the Duke but she swooped right in and stole him. You cannot steal the man your sister had her eyes on. It's disgusting. I'm so glad everyone is talking about her and the cook," Grace chuckled.

Grace disliked how Alessandra was walking around with her head in the air, looking down on them because she married Edgar. She knew it wouldn't be long before Edgar got bored of Alessandra.

"Grace, you can't say such a thing. It's embarrassing for Kate if you say Alessandra swooped in and stole Edgar. It's bad enough we gave up courting Edgar just for this to happen," said Lila.

Kate glared at Lila as it was evident there was something she had to say. "Spit it out. What are you trying to say?"

"It's not me that's saying something, Kate. It's our peers who are laughing at you for losing Edgar to a girl who wears a mask. It's starting to get embarrassing for me but since we have been friends for so long-"

"You should be embarrassed," Kate agreed with Lila. "None of you gave up Edgar for me. You all tried flirting with him behind my back. It is not only me who has lost Edgar to Alessandra. It is just annoying that she is my half-sister."

"Well, you were so loud and proud about getting married by now but you are still without a suitor. I am only worried about you as a friend. I fear that Alessandra has placed a curse on you and now the once-loved Kate Barrett has fallen from her throne," Lila said in a sad tone but she was happy about it on the inside.

Grace hid her smile behind her cup as it was amusing to see how silent Kate had become these days. It was even more amusing that it was Lila telling Kate her harsh reality. Grace considered herself to be the messy one.

"What about you? You were right alongside me speaking of marriage but last I checked, your mother was crying because she feared you would end up alone after no offers from men. Alessandra might have taken Edgar but there are still plenty of men lining up to wed me. There's something that I did not tell either of you about as I have been busy," Kate smiled, ready to inform them about Simon.

Lila held up her hand to stop Kate from sharing her good news. She opened her small bag and took out two envelopes. "I have something to say first. We all thought Kate would get married first but times have changed. I am getting married next month. It seems you saw my mother crying tears of joy."

"What the hell, Lila!" Grace exclaimed as she had never once heard Lila mention a man she was courting to now be engaged. "Where is the ring? How could you keep a big secret from me? You sly fox. We were looking at men the other day."

Kate dug her nails into her skin below the table to hide her jealousy. How could Lila be getting married before her when she was the best-looking one in the group? It was always expected for Kate to be the first one to marry. "This seems like a rash decision since we did not know you were seeing someone. I hope your parents aren't selling you off," she said.

Lila did not pay any mind to Kate's jab. She was well aware that Kate was fuming with jealousy. "My parents are not in debt to need to sell me off. It was my decision. He is a very nice man and I will introduce the two of you to him soon. I will make sure you two find wonderful suitors by the end of the year."

Lila enjoyed that for once the attention was on her and Kate would have to rely on her help to get married.

"I am bored," Kate stood up from her seat. "I am going-"

"We must stop meeting like this," Simon grabbed Kate to stop her from falling after he bumped into her. "I was coming to greet you but you abruptly stood up. Were you about to leave?"

Kate looked at Simon in disbelief. How did the world know she was praying for him to show up to rub in Lila's face? Surely the man Lila had could not beat a marquis. "No," she sat back down. "It is nice to see you again, Simon. I have been waiting to hear more news of the party you would like me to attend with you."

"I meant to send word but I heard you were dealing with your father's funeral and thought it would be bad timing. I have to apologize for not being able to attend the funeral as I had to unexpectedly travel that day. I sent flowers to your home. Did you like them?"

Kate didn't see any flowers when she left home but she replied, "Yes. They were lovely. My mother wants to invite you over for dinner to thank you for being so nice. Have a seat," she pointed to the empty chair beside her.

"If you insist," Simon pulled out the chair to sit down but almost fell. "Excuse me. I am quite clumsy."

"So, about this party," Kate inquired as it would certainly make Lila jealous. She smiled to let Lila know without words that she was still on the throne. Lila might be getting married but Kate was securing a marquis as her husband.