The Duke's Masked Wife

"Priscilla," Cassidy took a step toward the angry woman. "I am so sorry-"

"Why do you think I care to hear an apology from you? You and I were not married nor did we have a friendship. I don't want to hear sorry from you. I want you to leave me alone," Priscilla spoke calmly despite her anger. It wasn't easy to control her anger when her ex-husband's first love kept stalking her but she would not allow Cassidy to rile her up and make a scene. "Shouldn't you be trying to get with Edmund now? He is free."

"We never knew each other but I caused your marriage to be ruined. I have to at least apologize for that," said Cassidy.

"The nerve of women like you. I might have accepted you feeling remorseful if you would have stopped fucking him in the early years of my marriage but now I know, I wouldn't have cared for what you had to say then. You did not ruin my marriage. You weren't a part of the vows I made with Edmund. Stop bothering me before I finish what Rose could not," Priscilla said, meaning every word of her threat. "Stop showing up where I am. Have you no respect for yourself?"

Cassidy licked her lips. "I have not heard from Edmund and no one knows where he has been since your divorce. I cannot go to your mother so," she trailed off, hoping Priscilla understood what she wanted.

"He picked someone with no common sense over me," Priscilla muttered, feeling like she was slapped in the face as she realized just how foolish Cassidy was. "To be so desperate to come to me as a last resort to find Edmund. You don't have a drop of shame inside of you. At least it amused me. Get out of our way," Priscilla held Alessandra's hand. She didn't need Alessandra being nice to this woman.

"Duchess," Cassidy grabbed Alessandra's free hand to stop her from leaving. "We have never been introduced."

Alessandra didn't like the push-and-pull situation she was in now when she could vomit at any second. "We do not need to be introduced to each other. Please release my hand. You will regret it if you do not," Alessandra warned but it wasn't a threat like Priscilla's. If they kept holding her like this, she was going to vomit on one of them.

Cassidy slowly released Alessandra's hand. "We couldn't help that we loved each other-"

"No one cares about your ruined love story," Priscilla stated, pulling Alessandra away now that her other hand was free. "If you had tried to be nice to her just now all thoughts about me helping you would have been tossed out a window. That woman has to be aware to never approach me."

"Can we slow down?"Alessandra covered her mouth. The quick movements were not helpful.

Priscilla slowed down and released Alessandra's hand as she remembered she was walking with a pregnant woman who could vomit on her at any time. "Why am I getting involved with this?" She looked up for answers. Between Cassidy and Alessandra, she was bound to have a few more white hairs.

"Take your time and go to your carriage. I will get our bags and join you shortly. If she approaches you again, scream as hard as you can. My son might have the ability to show up before you to get rid of her. I would enjoy it if he put her in a cell. Walk carefully when you go down the stairs. If you fall, you risk the life of your child. Go," Priscilla shooed Alessandra away.

Priscilla ignored Cassidy walking at a distance behind them. Cassidy would be more of a fool than Priscilla thought if she tried to approach her or Alessandra again. Luckily, Cassidy went off in another direction.

Priscilla waited for Alessandra to get a good head start at leaving before she left to collect their bags from the room full of nosy women who would want to know why they were leaving so soon and would think it had something to do with Cassidy. Priscilla didn't care who thought she was trying to run away from being in the same room as Cassidy.

"Is this Alessandra's bag?" Priscilla asked the women at Alessandra's table.

Heather thought she was hallucinating as Priscilla of all people was asking for Alessandra's bag. "It is," Heather answered, squirming in her seat from Priscilla being so close. "Is the Duchess alright?"

"We are leaving. She is ill," Priscilla answered, leaving out the pregnancy as it wasn't her news to share. Having nothing more to say to Heather or the other women, Priscilla picked up Alessandra's bag and went for her own.

Heather stood with her bag to follow Priscilla so she could check on Alessandra. She did not forget there was something wrong with Alessandra before she left to go to the bathroom and wanted to check on Alessandra to see if she was sick or if this was an act to help Priscilla escape an awkward situation.

"Where are you going?" Priscilla looked to her right at Heather following her.

"To check on Alessandra. I shouldn't let her go without knowing if she was alright. I wouldn't be a good friend if I did not check on her," Heather replied but then looked away from Priscilla.

Priscilla continued to leave before any of the other women could offer to join her to see Alessandra off. Heather was better than the others so she didn't mind walking with the young woman. "You don't need to be wary of me. I won't say anything to hurt your feelings. Your mother has already given me an earful and I would rather not hear more."

"I didn't know she spoke to you. I am not wary, it is just awkward. It has been a long time since we have seen each other. It is a bit odd to go from seeing you daily to not seeing you for weeks," said Heather.

"It is. I must admit I do miss your company. I apologize for how I treated you during our last conversation and maybe, how I treated you from the moment you came of age to marry. I've heard the women starting to taunt you because I was no longer speaking with you. I did not send them after you," Priscilla clarified as the young women attacked Heather on their own accord. "I also did not defend you. I had too many things happening in my life to care about it."

"I am aware. I accept the apology but I am glad our relationship ended even if it was on a bad note. I was finally able to speak with my mother and live my life how I want. It showed me who was truly my friend and I made new friends. I am sorry to hear about your separation from Edmund. I know how much you loved him," Heather could say as unlike others, she watched how Priscilla longed for Edmund to return her feelings.

"Well, I am not sorry about the separation. You should also remember how angry he made me. I know that I have hurt you but if there is ever anything you need, my doors are always open. I owe you for all the years you have kept me company. My doors are opened for your mother too as long as she doesn't come barging in screaming. So many headaches," Priscilla touched her head.