The Duke's Masked Wife

'Almost,' Simon thought, looking down at Kate who could not hide her excitement. So perfect yet so naive. The moment they say I do, she would be his forever. The perfect woman to play any role. She prepared herself for this very moment well.

The moment Kate would change from Kate Barrett to Kate Farley, he would cut the annoying hold her mother had on her. Katrina was just as interesting as her daughter but he was not ready for her yet. Simon had a plan for Katrina, but first, he wanted to hurt her by taking away the daughter she loved.

"Do you Kate, take Simon to be your husband..."

Simon drowned out the annoying voice of the priest given the job of wedding him. He remembered the priest's name to be Peter. Duke Collins would often visit this priest for unknown reasons. Simon found the priest to be annoying for some reason. Why was Edgar using this priest? He certainly was not going to the priest to be prayed for.

The fact Simon could not figure out Edgar's motives with the priest made him want to get rid of the priest to end whatever game Edgar was playing. Only Simon should be playing games here while others tried to catch him.

"Simon."

Simon snapped out of his thoughts when Kate called his name.

"You are to say I do," Peter said, feeling the man before him could not be interested in the bride if he was thinking about something else. What could be more important than looking at the bride in front of you? "Or if you wish to-"'

"You!" Kate quickly silenced Peter. Simon was not going to change his mind at this moment. He would ruin her if he did. She'd be a laughing stock for bragging about this wedding only for the groom to say no on the wedding day.

'What a headache,' Peter thought, looking at Kate who was different from her sweet appearance. He had to ask if the groom was having second thoughts. 'He really should reconsider this marriage from the way she snapped so easily and then smiled as if she did nothing wrong.'

"I do," Simon said.

"Really?" Peter said, wide-eyed that Simon was going to continue. He quickly realized his mistake and tapped his mouth. The members of the church would scold him for this if the bride glaring at him did not kill him first. This was why he hated being chosen to do weddings. He was never good at them. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Peter stepped to the side to let the newly married couple kiss to seal the deal. 'Is this young lady truly the sister of the woman Edgar married? They seemed different,' Peter thought.

Somehow, Edgar's marriage which started off with wire for rings was still strong. Alessandra had not tried to flee from the devil. Peter thought she would have come running back to him by now to end her marriage to Edgar.

Peter clapped his hands along with the guests as they watched Simon and Kate kiss. 'What the hell?' Peter jolted when Simon opened his eyes in the middle of the kiss and looked at him. He placed his hands on his chest to calm his racing heart. The only other times he felt this scared were when Edgar would suddenly visit him. 'What was that?' He wondered, taking a step back away from the couple.

Simon closed his eyes and continued to kiss Kate as if nothing happened.

Peter had talked with his colleagues about the newlyweds and heard of how Simon Farley was a good man who made numerous donations. 'Good my ass. He creeped me out. Where have I seen him before this?' Peter scratched the back of his head. 'I'm tired of being around nobles,' he shook his head.

Peter wanted to find a hiding place in case Edgar might show up at this wedding as this was his sister-in-law.

Simon pulled away from his kiss with Kate and opened his eyes, looking behind for the priest who was walking away. His right hand tingled like there was an itch he needed to scratch right now.  If he did find a perfect man for Bella to get married to so she wouldn't be so sad about not getting married like Kate, he would need a priest present to make it feel real.

"We're married," Kate reached out to touch Simon's cheek. He seemed lost in thought. He had to be in disbelief that he now had a wife. She found it hard to believe too. "I am now your wife, Kate Farley, the Marchioness," she smiled.

"Yes, you are. I can hardly wait to spend the rest of my life with you," Simon forced a smile. For now, he should stop thinking about the priest, and focus on the prize right in front of him. "I prepared something special for you for our wedding night," he whispered.

Kate blushed, already knowing her wedding night would officially turn her into a woman. It was what her tutor said and she heard the hushed tales from other women. She wished to lay in his bed and have a son right away so she could never find herself in her mother's position. Kate wanted a son who would inherit everything and reward his mother. Luckily, if Simon were to die there were no close relatives to try taking what belonged to her.

"What is it?" Kate asked.

"I will not spoil it for you but it is two things dear to me. After today, you will understand your husband, and I hope to learn about you. Right now, we have guests to entertain, but my mind should forever be on having you tonight," said Simon. He longed to be alone with her and hear the lock on his front door click, trapping her inside his world. Inviting her to his playground. "I've also laid out a few gifts in our room to please you."

Kate wished he had not informed her of this yet. She could hardly wait to see what Simon prepared for her. She wanted it to be expensive family heirlooms she could show off. Or new jewellery or clothing. Kate would prefer the latter instead of something worn by others unless there was a big gem to show off. "Should we just forget about everyone else and go home?" She suggested.

Simon playfully tapped her nose. "No. You've poured your heart into preparing this wedding. I want you to savour the day before we go home. Come, your mother is waiting for us."

"You mean our mother," Kate corrected him. "I told you to think of her as your new mother. She has no issue with it. My mother cannot replace your own but she will try to do a good job to measure up to your mother."

"If that is what you wish, I shall open my heart to think of her as I thought of my mother.  The sooner we greet the guests, the sooner we can go home to start our new life," Simon held out his hand for Kate to take.

Kate placed her hand in Simon's. He was wrong. Her new life started right now as Marchioness Kate.