The Duke's Masked Wife

"That fucking idiot," William cursed, hitting the wall of his carriage as he made his way back home.

After hours and hours of receiving updates about the standoff between Edgar, Tobias and Grant, he learned that Grant had lost the battle as his own son was against him. This was exactly why William wanted their allies to join Grant in the fight to even the odds as Grant's son and grandsons could not be trusted. However, their allies did not want to join the fight unless Grant had the upper hand.

With Grant's status in the king's army, it was expected that he would put up a strong fight but what they didn't expect was for his son to join Tobias and outnumber the men Grant had.

For William, this defeat cost him a lot as he had just formed an alliance with Grant. One that took him years to build up. Grant would get his granddaughter to be the mother of the next king and Grant would aid him in getting rid of Edgar. They only needed a bit more time for their plans to work. He wasn't aware of Grant making the queen without a child. All William cared about was the ruined alliance he had.

He meant to visit the Baroness to talk about what she was doing to get him what he desired but he needed to return home to be out of sight of the mess happening in the kingdom.

"I need a new ally," he muttered, looking out the window at the homes he passed.

Many of his allies were working to get the king off the throne and put someone who would work better under their commands. By getting rid of the king, he would get rid of Edgar's biggest ally.

His hatred for Edgar was more than just wanting Alessandra. Their feud had started for years because Edgar constantly looked down on him. He hated the attitude of the Duke who had everything handed to him. Edgar stealing Alessandra away from him was what set off his desire to kill Edgar even more.

William exited his carriage, in need of a drink quickly to help calm his anger. Now at the time of dinner, he expected his servants to be on time with serving his food as the first person to mess up would become the target for him to unleash his anger. In a time when losing Grant had pissed him off, no one should look to add to his anger.

A servant opened the door for William so he would not need to use his hands to do it himself.

William looked at the young boy who trembled and could not meet his eyes. It was a pathetic sight and at times he missed the presence of Rowan who was the only person to act with common sense in his house. All the other servants were fools who trembled before him. He liked their fear but it annoyed him when they acted like stuttering fools before him.

"Be careful with it or I shall have your head for ruining what cost more than your life," he tossed his coat onto the head of the young boy. "Where are those women? I need them to come to settle my anger," he spoke out loud. The best way for him to get rid of his anger was to have his way with one of the women he kept here.

"Why haven't any of you come out to welcome me home?" William yelled, his voice echoing in the quiet house. Everyone knew the rules that the ladies must be dressed up and come to him the moment he got home in case he wanted to have one of them or he had a guest he wanted to entertain.

William stormed down the hallway to find where they were now. They would have hell to pay if they were resting when he was now returning home. William quickly passed the dining room but slowed down as he realized something. Slowly, he walked back to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"What the fuck are you doing in my house?" He angrily asked the man who was the source of all his problems lately. "Get your feet off my table."

"I'm a little disappointed. I thought you would be happy to see me. I bet you always envisioned me here in your house," Edgar said, sitting at the head of William's dining table with his feet situated comfortably on the table while he peeled an apple with a knife. "You've kept me waiting far longer than I would have liked. I almost considered letting you return to your house on fire. Say thank you that I did not."

William didn't understand how Edgar was able to get his house which was protected well enough for not even the town guards to enter. Edgar's men were anywhere in sight on the inside or the outside and William passed his own guards at his gates when his carriage came in. Then again, he was occupied with thinking about Grant and did not look at the men walking around. He didn't because no one should ever be so bold as to try entering his house.

"How did you get in here?" William just had to know. The gates were still intact and last he heard, Edgar was in the fight against Grant. When did Edgar have the time to deal with Grant and then get inside his house?

"Wasn't smart to have a secret door leading into your home and let someone who knows about it live. Your mistake was my opportunity. Have a seat, William," Edgar pointed at the chair all the way on the other end of the table.

William wasn't threatened by Edgar's presence in his home. Seeing that Edgar was alone, this was a good chance for him to get rid of the young Duke.

William started to walk toward Edgar to end their feud once and for all. However, something whistling through the air in his direction caused him to step back before he could reach Edgar. A thud was heard as something collided with the wall in the dining room and after looking for what it was, William noticed there was a dagger stuck in a painting he paid a lot of money for.

"What makes you think I am alone, William?" Edgar asked, still peeling the apple in his hands. He had not moved an inch when William started to walk toward him or flinch when Reed threw the dagger at William.

"I missed. Let me go again," Reed said, bringing attention to himself in the corner where he sat. It was getting boring waiting for William to arrive but now the fun could start. He showed another dagger he would throw if William took another step.

William licked his lips, irritated by the presence of the man he saw around Edgar many times. If not for him, he would take the chance to go at Edgar. "It is disrespectful for you to walk into another man's house and put your feet up on his table like you own the house," he said, glaring at Edgar who was nonchalant about the entire ordeal.

"The same as constantly messing with my wife. Have a seat," Edgar said.