The Duke's Masked Wife

"Edgar, do you know Sophia?" Alessandra asked, wanting to confirm something before she ran into the woman again.

"The princess? Is that little brat here?" Edgar replied, looking around for the annoying little princess Sofia. He was always on edge whenever the princess was near. It should be impossible but she was more annoying than her brother.

"Not the princess. Sophia West. Her husband is a part of the court and she claims to have been intimate with you."

"He wasn't," Dominic answered for Edgar. "None of us here have. The woman is beautiful but there are popular tales of itching after a night with her. You can spot her husband by his constant itch in the groin area," Domini replied, trying his best not to laugh. The man was always bragging about his young wife not knowing no one was jealous of him.

"I see. She was quite loud with her claims. I do not understand why she would lie like that since it did not bother me. Do I have to leave now?" Alessandra asked, changing the subject to something more important.

"No," Edgar said, not wanting to ruin the fun for her. "You can still enjoy your time here. Remain in sight of the palace guards at all times. I will return for you-"

"I can take her home," Emma offered.

Edgar didn't take his eyes off Alessandra to look at who was offering a ride. "I will return for you," he repeated his words louder for everyone present to be clear on the fact he was coming back for his wife. "Do not get into anyone's carriage. Even if someone offers a royal carriage."

"I know," Alessandra replied. With another body found, she was not going to leave the palace with anyone but Edgar. Even with the other girls as it did not seem like they traveled with a guard and she would not ride with a palace guard since anyone could be the culprit."I will stay by Hazel's side. You should be careful, Edgar."

The town had been quiet for so long that everyone had forgotten they needed to be aware of their surroundings since this person was still out there. To be doing this for so long and no one being able to place a clue to this person was troubling. Edgar and the town guards were not up against an easy opponent.

"Never expected to see you here," Dominic said to Heather who was trying to hide at the back of the group. "Did Edgar's mother send you here to spy on the Duchess? Still trying to win his heart?"

Heather was hoping Dominic would not spot her but if he did, he would not speak to her. She saw him many times in her youth when Priscilla would invite her to be around Edgar and Dominic would be there with his brother Daniel. "I no longer do that. Haven't you heard? His mother made me an outcast and my mother is upset with me. I don't care for Edgar's affection."

"Good because you were never going to get it. What?" Dominic shrugged when Heather looked at him. "Boys talk you know and with Edgar, you never had to guess if he liked you. Sorry to hear about the outcast part but I am glad you are free of being by his mother's side. You weren't too bad to be around when she wasn't near."

"Thank you, I guess. Why are you in Lockwood?" Heather asked, only now realizing how far away from home he was. "Running from your mother again?" She guessed.

"Yea. Edgar's marriage is affecting his peers. Now everyone is pressured to get married and settle down. I'm moving into an estate not too far out of Lockwood. A gift from my grandmother. If you ever feel the need to run away from your mother my doors are open to you," said Dominic.

"To start a scandal? No thank you," Heather denied it. As a Carson, Dominic had too many eyes on him. She was tired of the attention at this point in her life. Look where it led her. "The bright side of all of this is I can now find someone I can love and who genuinely loves me back. I have to do it before my mother tries to set me up with someone."

"Well good luck with that. I am running away from my mother to get away from getting married."

"What a nice privilege. I will say that I might become so tired of this lifestyle that I will either return to White town or take my inheritance and settle down somewhere small. I have been planning it out for the last couple of days," said Heather.  The fast-paced life of high society no longer suited her.

She had been by Priscilla's side since her youth and met people who she thought were her friends but with Priscilla no longer needing her, those people weren't around.

"Yet again, my house is open to you if that is the path you want to take. I promise not to charge you too much rent," Dominic joked, earning a chuckle from Heather. "Just make sure you aren't followed and a scandal won't happen. Edgar's leaving so I have to leave but it was nice seeing you."

"You too," Heather waved goodbye.

With Edgar, Dominic, and the guard gone, only Rafael remained. He was being kind by offering Tobias some privacy and mentioning going to the border but he honestly could not leave without a bit of information from Tobias. He hoped the queen and king weren't going at it while an audience was outside.

"Rafael Callahan, have we ever met?" Emma asked in a sweet tone. She couldn't help swooning over the sight of the famous knight. If not Oliver, she wished her parents would have set her up with Rafael.

"No," Rafael bluntly replied. He took a step back to get away from her intense gaze. He didn't miss the ring on her finger and though he was at odds with a certain person back home, she would have his head for being so close.

"Why are you here in the palace? Have you come to deal with all the murders? It wouldn't be surprising since it would take someone like you to crack this case," Emma complimented him.

"You should remember your fiance is the one leading this case right behind the Duke. No wonder the two of you aren't close. You should be saving this compliment for Oliver," Eleanor muttered. She couldn't understand what the hell Emma was doing.

Rafael stepped back away from Emma now that he knew who she was engaged to. He wasn't on good terms with her husband-to-be. Edgar had introduced him to Oliver in the past and right away for no reason Oliver had hated him.

"I do compliment Oliver but he does not respond to it.  Rafael is a talented knight so it is only fitting to compliment him too," Emma rolled her eyes as she replied to Eleanor. Why was Eleanor even invited by the queen to walk with her? Eleanor should be grateful for the invite and stay quiet.

"I am not here for that case. I will be heading to the border to deal with the trouble there," Rafael replied.

"You'll be dealing with those barbarians!" Emma gasped.

Alessandra looked at Emma, confused by who she was referring to as barbarians.

"They are not barbarians, Duchess," Eleanor answered after seeing Alessandra's expression. "They are people who choose to be free in their life and not have so many rules as we do. Only the close-minded call them that," she said, looking right at Emma.

Emma huffed, disliking how Eleanor kept picking at her. "Well, they are causing trouble so they are barbarians. Right, Rafael?"

Rafael had issues with a young lady from the border who came in and wrecked his life. Before that, he still did not share the same opinion as those calling them barbarians. "They are not barbarians. I find people who use that name should check their hearts. It is normally quite hollow.  Excuse me."