The Duke's Masked Wife

"Mother, why didn't you tell me you were going to visit us? Did the two of you plan this? I could use your help," Kate said, feeling relieved now that her mother was present.

"We did not," Simon replied as Katrina's presence ticked him off. The former Baroness required a hobby to pass her time instead of seeking out Kate.

Simon had too many secrets for Katrina to be showing up unannounced. He disliked how Kate hung onto her mother's every word instead of only his. To completely control Kate, he needed to cut her mother loose.

"I was out in town buying a few things and thought I would pay a visit on my way back home. I hope I am not intruding," Katrina said, specifically to Simon.

Contrary to his thoughts, Simon replied, "You aren't. You are always welcome here. You will be my mother-in-law in one week."

Katrina entered the house and touched Simon's arm. "I hope you can one day think of me as your mother."

"I already do," Simon answered. He had the same hate for Katrina as he did for his mother. He started to picture Katrina's lifeless body sitting at his table to join his parents. He could even dig up Desmond's body to make the collection complete.

"See, I told you he did. Simon and I were talking about the wedding for a bit and all the clothes I have brought to be put in our closet. The workers have finished expanding the closet but I will have my clothes put inside tomorrow. The task for today is to get everything inside our home. I'm taking a break to start thinking of how I will add my touch to this house," Kate looked around at the boring decor.

"Slow down Kate. Give Simon time to get used to all the changes. The two of you have a long life ahead of you. You don't need to rush moving in and decorating the house all in one day. I bought something for the two of you to snack on as I am sure you are busy preparing for your life together and have not eaten," Katrina handed Simon and Kate a bag each. They were filled with warm pastries for the two to enjoy.

"Thank you, mother," Kate happily accepted the food. She had not eaten since breakfast as she was too busy dealing with moving in. Leave it to her mother to know what she wanted.  "Come take a seat with us.  I can have the butler get something for all of us to drink."

"I would love to sit with the two of you right now but there is something I must take care of now so I can spend more time with Kate later," Simon said, forcing an apologetic expression. He had years of practice to fake what he was feeling just like Kate and Katrina.

"I thought you were not going to be busy today. Isn't that why we picked today for me to start moving in?" Kate asked, disliking the fact he was leaving now her mother was here. They should at least sit together before he disappeared to his study.

Katrina touched Kate's shoulder to stop her from pushing the matter. "It is alright, Kate. He is trying to do his work so he can spend time with you. I will keep her company while you work, Simon. Don't mind us."

"I will try to finish in time to join the two of you before you leave. If you don't have anything to do today, you can return later to join us for dinner. Kate can return home together with you after dinner," Simon proposed. It took all the strength that he had to let the suggestion leave his lips. 'I will consider it a wedding gift before I rip her away from her daughter,' he thought.

Kate had a better idea. "Why should she go home in the first place? She should stay here until dinner to help me organize my things to look at what I am planning for the wedding. Please tell me that you have nothing to do at home now mother," Kate whined, pleading with her mother to stay.

Katrina had to look to deal with the young women involved in the business she shared with Randall in an hour but Kate would always come first. Randall should have no issue helping the girls reach the men they were meant to target. "Very well," Katrina decided to stay. "I will try to make your life easier and help with whatever you need Kate but I will not be able to join the two of you for dinner. I will return to pick up Kate."

"Perhaps another day.. I need to get to work now. See you soon, Kate," Simon kissed her forehead. He had to give Katrina credit for knowing when her presence was not needed and turned down the offer for dinner. Maybe he was too hard on her though he disliked her presence in his home. Once he got married to Kate, her visits should decrease.

"Come with me," Kate hooked her arm with her mother's and led her to the drawing room. She listened to Simon's footsteps as he went back upstairs. "I am happy you are here. Maybe you can convince him to get rid of some of the servants he has. They hardly listen to me but Simon does not want to get rid of them because he says their loyalty is unmatched and I will see it soon."

"That is normal, Kate. When your father first took me to his home, the servants did not listen to my orders. They always looked to him to confirm what I wanted to be done. They will listen to you when you are officially Simon's wife. I would have loved to be in your position where I did not need to weed out servants who were loyal to his first wife," said Katrina as Kate had it easy.

"It is still frustrating. He is not a pushover like before. Now that we are engaged, he doesn't want to just say yes to the things I want. This house should already be decorated to my liking. So annoying," Kate stomped her feet.

"Do not be so loud Kate," Katrina looked behind them. The servants would love to run and tell Simon what Kate said. "Men like to act like leaders when they are getting married. They like to feel in control. Give it some time for him to agree with what you want but don't act spoiled."

"Whose fault is it that I am spoiled?" Kate muttered, dramatically sitting down on a chair. "I am already tired but I am not a wife yet. I need to hire a head maid to take some of my duties off my shoulders," she closed her eyes to rest.

Katrina was pleased to see how much Kate had grown in such a short period. "You will get used to it. You must before the two of you have children. Kate," Katrina whispered as she sat down beside Kate. "Have you found out what is in that room yet?" She pointed to a locked door in the drawing room.

"No mother. He does not want to tell me what is in there and he made me promise not to try going inside. It is probably his private space where he could not be bothered. I intend to get one for myself. You and father also had your own spaces that you did not want anyone to enter," Kate replied.

"Still," Katrina couldn't help her curiosity. What could a man like Simon have in a locked room no one could enter? "Do not fall asleep yet. Tell me about the wedding plans."

While mother and daughter got lost in their conversation, Simon stood at the bottom of the stairs listening to every word. The servants quietly walked by him to not alert the women of his presence. They did not want to get in the way of Simon's game.