The Duke's Masked Wife



"Why are you asking for my permission? Let my wife in," Edgar replied. He never gave any orders that Alessandra could not venture down to the dungeon. Then again, one would think he wouldn't want her to see the horrible things that happen here.

"Wonderful," Katrina forced a smile. "All of you are coming to enjoy the show. You say she has a kind heart, but I am certain she is coming here to torture me."

"Why shouldn't she? After all you've done, she should get her revenge now. Alessandra can yell, curse, or even throw something at you if she wishes. This is a long time coming for her. To see you here. Alessandra," Edgar changed his tone when Alessandra stepped inside. "Why are you glaring at me?"

"You were supposed to be seated for dinner yet here you are. You didn't have the decency to tell me you were coming down here," Alessandra answered. She did not like eating dinner alone and though Alfred was there beside her, she needed her husband. 

"Right. I sent a message to a servant, but I suppose they forgot. I will fire them tomorrow," Edgar replied.

"Duchess," Reed interrupted the couple's moment. "I have somewhere important to be. May I have your permission to leave?"

"Is that important place Eleanor's home? It is quite late to visit her, Reed.  No matter what, she is still a lady who you should not meet in the late hours of the night. You're a little late with your visit, but it is because of what Edgar tasked you to do. I will speak to Eleanor if she is upset with you," Alessandra said. 

Alessandra and Eleanor kept sending letters to each other about what was happening between Eleanor and Reed. Alessandra was aware the two had to meet, but Reed had forgotten the important  task Edgar placed upon him today. 

"You can leave if you still wish to. Eleanor might love to see you now, but please do not let anyone see you sneaking around her aunt's home so late. Her father's business already creates trouble for her. Do not ruin my friend please," Alessandra pleaded with Reed.

Eleanor already had to deal with people thinking she would sell her body like the women in her father's business. She did not need to have Reed seen sneaking around her home so late for more rumors to start.

"I have no intention of doing so. I will make sure not to be seen," Reed said and then excused himself.

Edgar wondered how Reed intended to do that with his giant body. Somehow was bound to see his giant shadow moving around and get scared. 

Alessandra looked around at the cells, purposely ignoring Katrina who she had seen first when she walked in. She had heard of a man named Randall being here and this was her first time seeing him. She knew why he was here, but why was James here?

"Edgar, why is James here?" Alessandra asked as she wasn't keeping up with news about Katrina's household to know what James might have done to deserve to be here. 

"That was Reed's brilliant idea. Since James here is so in love with Katrina, Reed thought he would become a headache later. The two of them have been fucking each other," Edgar said, enjoying the way James tensed up. 

"What?" Alessandra stared at James in disbelief. She remembered how loyal he was to her father so how did he end up sleeping with Katrina? How long was it happening? "This is a day full of surprises," she muttered.

"James," Alessandra walked to where he was being kept. She had no issue with James. He wasn't rude to her, but like everyone else, he never viewed her as a Baron's daughter. She remembered how he tried to send her away from sitting at the table after she was engaged to Edgar. "Nothing will happen to you. Does Mario still work there? I have not heard from him in a long time."

"Must we really speak about that man?" Edgar said, annoyed by just the mention of the cook's name. After the cook's last visit, Edgar thought Mario was out of Alessandra's life forever. 

James looked away from Alessandra. Given his current situation with him being here because of her husband, he did not want to answer any questions for her. He did not want to state his involvement in taking Mario and then knowing about his death, but saying nothing. "I don't know anything about-"

"He's dead," Katrina answered in place of James. She wanted to hurt Alessandra and she knew the man's death would do just that. No one could convince her that there was nothing between Alessandra and the cook. "He died a slow painful death. All because he was tangled up with you. What a shame."

Katrina didn't fear what would come from her revealing this. Her life was pretty much over at this point.

Alessandra looked away from Katrina to James so she could see if Katrina was telling the truth. Seeing that James could not look her in the eye, it had to be true that Mario was dead. "Why?" Alessandra softly asked.

Mario had nothing to do with anything. He was just a kind cook who became her friend. He was meant to leave and get away from Katrina. Alessandra gripped her dress and thought about how she had failed her friend. 

Edgar went to Alessandra's side and placed his right hand on her shoulder. He would have never predicted Katrina would kill Mario.  Edgar always envisioned it being him who would get rid of Mario. 

Alessandra released her dress after she calmed her emotions. She would properly mourn her friend away from the people who had killed him. Alessandra turned to Katrina who had the nerve to be smirking. Katrina made it quite hard for anyone to have an ounce of sympathy for her. "You deserve everything that is coming to you."

"I am shaking in fear of what awaits," Katrina replied. 

"You should. I hope that for all your crimes, the King will not have mercy on you. As much as I would like for him to keep you imprisoned forever, I hope he hangs you in front of the town. So that as you die and gasp for air, you shall remember the stares. The people you have killed will meet you wherever you end up and get their revenge," Alessandra said. 

Katrina frowned, taken aback by the words that left Alessandra's mouth. It was something she could expect to hear from Edgar, but not Alessandra. "So, the little girl has finally grown up. You had to wait until you had a husband to do it. Child, do not be angry with me. Be angry with your father who allowed you to be an easy target. I pity you. Not loved by your parents."

"You are in no place to pity me. Regardless of who loved me or didn't love me in the past, I am loved now. I shall go on to live a wonderful life while you rot somewhere. After all the schemes you have pulled to get riches, here you sit with none of those riches near you. Was it worth it?" Alessandra asked.