The Duke's Masked Wife

"Today is awfully boring and it is already past noon. When will something exciting happen? I am tired of sitting around doing nothing."

"Would you like to go for a walk, Mrs. Collins?"

"To do what? Stare at the same trees I have seen countless times? I am not a person who enjoys walking around outdoors unless there is a party," Priscilla Collins said.

Sitting at a table on one of the balconies of her home in the White town, Priscilla was bored out of her mind.

"I will never understand why my husband packed all our things and moved us away from Lockwood. Although he wished to retire it did not mean we needed to leave to live in a place like this boring old town. Nothing happens here compared to Lockwood and I am missing my son oh so much," Priscilla looked at the lands surrounding her home with disgust.

"Will Edgar be visiting anytime soon?" Heather Powell, daughter of a long-time Collins family friend questioned. She came to spend time with Priscilla as her mother requested.

"That boy has no plans on visiting his parents. It is always us taking a carriage to Lockwood to pay him a visit. Have you continued to send him letters as I told you to?" Priscilla studied the woman she viewed as an excellent choice for Edgar's wife.

"Yes but I receive no response. My heart can only take so much and I have to say I might stop sending them soon. I can never force Edgar to like me and none of your tricks seem to work. The fact that we live in two different towns has made it hard," Heather smiled apologetically at Priscilla as she wished to give up on chasing Edgar.

"I won't allow you to give up. Your mother has been my friend for many years and the only light I have in this town. I promised I would do everything in my power for you to marry Edgar and I won't stop now. The two of you have grown up so close which means the two of you will get along well in the future."

Heather showed Priscilla a small smile as she could never mention the truth that she and Edgar weren't as close as his mother thought. If Edgar didn't like you, he made sure you knew it and although he was never rude to her, Heather picked up on the fact he was always annoyed by her presence.  It might've had something to do with their mother's continuously talking about marriage whenever they were in the same room.

Heather knew there was no possible way she would end up with Edgar and to be honest, she did not want it to happen. However, she had to play along to please her mother and to avoid ruining the relationship she had with Priscilla. Not just anyone received an invitation to spend alone time with Priscilla.

"I don't know when I will ever get a reply from Edgar. I'll have to wait until he comes to visit you and his father. There is a lot I wish to know about him and what he is doing in Lockwood. I wish to visit the town to attend one of the grand balls the king has. My mother and I might go for the winter," said Heather.

"If my husband wasn't so adamant about staying here, I would be in Lockwood right now. It's as if the man does not wish to see his only child. How did he go from being a ruthless Duke to a gardener?" Priscilla sighed, picking up a fan as she became hot.

"I think it's lovely that Mr. Collins wants to surround your home with flowers to match your beauty but he has not been able to do so no matter how many flowers he has placed. So many women were envious of you when he said those words."

"It is lovely but more flowers means more bugs. I'd rather he just put a few in a vase and call it a day. I am missing my old life in Lockwood. I should sneak out while he is away and take a small trip there," Priscilla contemplated it. She had no need to worry about where she should stay.

Although they moved, they owned a home in Lockwood and if she would feel lonely, she could always stay with her relatives.

"Why wait until winter, Heather? I will speak to your mother about the two of you coming along with me. There is nothing for the two of you to do here anyway. Don't you miss when you were in Lockwood? It's a shame your father had the same foolish idea as my husband to leave. This town is too peaceful and the gossip is boring. The most exciting things you hear here are about people from other towns."

"It is up to my mother to decide but I do miss being in Lockwood. There are many friends I must catch up with," Heather replied.

"And you must spend time with Edgar. If we sit back and do nothing, we will only waste your youthful days not being married. Heaven knows you are nearing the end of your best years," Priscilla shook her head as Heather would soon be of no use if she remained this way. She was in need of a healthy young woman to give her grandchildren.

Heather desperately wanted to bring up the fact Priscilla had made her mother reject all marriage offers she had in order to be free for Edgar. Had it not been for Priscilla meddling in her life, she would have been married by now.

Priscilla kept her waiting for Edgar who did not want her and now the woman was commenting on the fact she was getting older. A hint that Priscilla might find another young woman younger than Heather to be with Edgar.

"Do not look so sullen, Heather. I will have the two of you married by the end of our trip. My son knows he is in need of a wife to give him an heir. If he's going to marry someone it should be a woman he can tolerate in the beginning and then you two will grow to love each other as the years go by. You will make an excellent daughter-in-law because you listen to me so well," Priscilla smiled.

She was picky when it came to the type of woman Edgar would wed as not anyone was worthy of the Collins name. Her daughter-in-law also had to obey her every word. Heather fit both categories thanks to her background and how she was raised to respect her elders.

"Lady Collins," a man stepped onto the balcony.

Priscilla's nose scrunched up as she looked to inspect his poor attire. "What gives you the right to greet me with such a poor appearance? Who on earth allowed you to enter?"

"The butler did. I rode from Lockwood with news about your son. I did not have time to change my clothes since I wanted to come to you right away. It is urgent-"

"Stop blabbering and just tell me what it is. Did something happen to Edgar?" Priscilla placed her fan down as concern filled her body. There was no news of Edgar for weeks and now her messenger looked too nervous to relay the news.

"I received word that your son, Edgar Collins, has gotten married."