The Duke's Masked Wife



Once again, Alessandra found Edgar to be acting strange. Whenever he was too happy and it wasn't because of her, he had done something to someone else. She was curious who it was this time since Katrina was here and she had banned him from going to see her so frequently. 

"What are you up to now, Edgar?" Alessandra asked, giving in as she could no longer stop her curiosity.

"You haven't read the morning paper? For once the court has done its job right although it took so long to do it. Here," Edgar handed Alessandra the paper. He almost found himself wanting to give Mark a pat on the back, but he wasn't that kind. He had to give himself a pat on the back since he was the one pushing Mark to be better at his job. 

As Alessandra read the paper, her eyes widened with every sentence. "The court released everything Kate said. That's surprising since from what Tobias told us, it didn't seem like they wanted to do anything to her."

"Perhaps they had a bit of motivation," Edgar said, leaving out that he threatened to keep Katrina if the court did not hold up its end of the deal. "I will hand Katrina and the others over to the court or guards today. Whoever comes for her first. Are you sure you don't want to torture her a bit before she has to go?"

"What happened to keeping my hands clean?" Alessandra asked.

"We can find you a pair of gloves to wear," Edgar replied.

"You always have an answer for everything. I don't want to bother myself with Katrina. You've done enough in my place. I  just want to see the guards take her so I can feel like it is truly finally over. I hope that the court does not need me to do or say anything. I don't want to travel to the court to see what her punishment will be. I've had enough of the court," Alessandra said, tired of the drama that came with visiting the court.

"They have enough evidence to not need you. The brother of one of the men Katrina killed is here in town to speak. There is another bright side to Katrina's case. The court is pushing forward with removing children from the red light district as workers since the owners are lying about not having the children sleep with customers. They hope to get rid of the light district altogether soon," said Edgar.

First, they wanted to make a law that no one could be sold to the red light district, but as always, they were men in the court who frequented the area and did not want it to come to an end. The discussion of lowering the age women could marry came up again.

"It is good that they are moving to put an end to it. No one should have their youth spoiled like that.  I feel sorry for her when it comes to her youth, but no more than that," Alessandra said as the Katrina she knew was a monster. "Alfred, since you find yourself having nothing to do, would you like to paint with me today?"

Edgar narrowed his eyes, trying to find where his invitation was. "What about me? Why aren't you inviting me to paint?"

"You can't paint Edgar and I do not want the room to have an ugly painting. Please find something else to do. I heard Caleb say that it is time you and the men start training. Then there are repairs from winter that you want to oversee. You shall be busy," Alessandra smiled.

"Duke, Duchess Collins," Sally greeted the pair. "There are guards at the door wishing to speak with the two of you."

"Good," Edgar stood up from his seat. "It is time to get those horrid people out of our home. They have been sucking up the good air. Let them through the gates," he told Sally.

Alessandra stood up along with Alfred who also wanted to see Katrina being taken out. Alfred was no fan of Katrina for the way she treated Alessandra. This was one time he wouldn't have minded Edgar keeping someone in the dungeon forever. Let her rot below Alessandra's happiness.

Alessandra and Alfred walked behind Edgar to the front door and stood near the drawing room. Their home was well protected, but Alessandra didn't want to stand near where Katrina would have to pass in case Katrina would try her last attempt to do something stupid. 

They watched Edgar speak with a guard who left the front door, most likely to have others bring up Katrina while Edgar spoke with the visitors. 

"Are you alright, Alessandra?"  Alfred asked since Alessandra seemed nervous.

Alessandra looked to her right at Alfred. "Yes. It is just that a wave of emotions has just come over me. It happens each time I think of the fact all the people who once hurt me are getting what they deserve. It feels like a dream and I have to pinch myself to know that this is real. It will probably stop when I hear Katrina's punishment from the court. It is truly over then."

Nothing would be heard from Katrina once the court gave her a punishment. Be it death or imprisoned in the palace dungeon. The town would talk for a few weeks, but then everyone would forget about the former baroness. Everyone but Kate. 

Alessandra silently watched one of Edgar's guards bring out Randall, who was trying to wiggle his way off the guard's hold. Alessandra wondered if he were to get away for a second, where he would go? There were town guards coming for him, Edgar was right here, and there were too many of Edgar's men walking around the estate. 

"I never thought he would become like this," Alessandra said, watching James be brought out next. 

How did James go from being loyal to her father to helping Katrina with her dirty deeds? In the past, Alessandra wouldn't place him as someone who would get one of the servants killed under Katrina's command, but then again, she didn't have many interactions with James to know if he was always like this or if his love for Katrina changed him.

Just like James, Katrina walked out quietly. Not putting up a fight or muttering things under her breath like Randall, whom Alessandra could hear yelling that they would all pay for this.

Alessandra took in how dirty Katrina looked, unlike her other appearances when she was dolled up.  Her look reminded Alessandra of a wet dog. 

Katrina refused to look in Alessandra's direction. She could accept that the perfect life she had pieced together was ruined. That death most likely awaited her, but she could not stand to look at Alessandra. 

See that the girl who made life difficult for her daughter in their youth had somehow still gotten a better life. See Alessandra dressed in fine clothes that Katrina wanted to cover her own skin with.

Katrina gritted her teeth, wanting to get out of the guard hold to destroy Alessandra's face again and have her become the insecure mess who hid from others once more, but she didn't have the energy to make a move. Time in her cell had taken a toll on her.