The Duke's Masked Wife



"There should be some news right now. Where is she?" Kate wondered as she looked out the window of her home, waiting for someone to bring news that she could go for her mother or see her mother return on her own.

It was the next day after she had gone to court to speak about the things she had done in the past. 

Kate did exactly as Alessandra wanted, so her mother should be released from Edgar's hold. She was already packing up most of their things so they could leave town and never come back. They had no place in Lockwood anymore. Too much had burdened them in this town, from her father's death to her marriage to Simon. They could run away and forget the life they had here. 

Kate placed her thumb in her mouth to bite away at her nail.

"Marchioness-"

"Just pack! Unless it has something to do with my mother, just pack as I instructed you to. Why did they have to take James too?" Kate muttered, annoyed with the fact she had to be the one ordering around the servants. She had other things to worry about instead of giving the same order to fools who didn't get it the first time.

Kate faced the window once more, and this time, she noticed a carriage had stopped at the gates. "Mother," she whispered, moving to the door and opening it. Kate ran outside to meet who she believed was her mother, but slowed down when she saw that it was a man. A man she did not wish to see now. "Uncle Clark," she muttered.

Of course, he was here when their lives were falling apart. Clark was here to see what he could grab for himself. Kate wanted to send him away, but since Clark was always so desperate for money, she thought of using him. She allowed him to enter the gate and walk toward her.

"Good morning, Marchioness," Clark dramatically bowed. "My nieces have such fancy titles. I'm sure your father is proud. One is doing so well with that rich husband of hers, and the other husband just died, leaving her with his wealth. I'm sorry I missed the wedding, but I wasn't invited."

"What do you want from me?" Kate asked.

"Want? Do you think I came here to beg? I came here to see the state your mother is in. The woman did try to kill me, so it is only fair that I come here to see her life go to shit. She isn't here, is she?" Clark asked, knowing Katrina couldn't be here since he had easily walked through the gates. She certainly wouldn't let Kate come greet him. Unless she was now desperate,

"My mother will be back home short-"

"Ha! Who fed you that lie? Your mother's name is being talked about all over town. I know there was something about her getting into relationships with men who had money, but it is amazing how much more there is to her. I made my way here as soon as I heard. I was enjoying life after my dear niece gave me a bit of land," said Clark.

Kate didn't know what Clark was talking about. "I didn't give you any land. Are you drunk?" She took a step back.

Clark frowned. "You are aware you have a sister, right? You have that wound on your face. Did you lose your memory?"

Kate gasped, covering the bruised side of her face with one hand. She had forgotten about it because she was worrying about her mother. A new bandage needed to be placed.

"So this is your karma. Why don't you ask your sister for one of her masks?" Clark chuckled, walking around Kate to go inside the home, which should belong to him.

"That is not funny! Where do you think you are going? Even if something were to happen to me or my mother, this house and land would never belong to you!" Kate yelled, following behind Clark. "I do have a job for you. I will pay you handsomely."

"Is that so? It's a shame that I don't need your money and I would be a cruel man if I took money from you at a time like this when your home is falling apart-"

"Don't act so high and mighty," Kate said, ticked off by the fact that Clark, of all people, was looking down on her. It wasn't that long ago that he was here, begging to have the house and land they stood on. "You've come here for money, haven't you? Help me and my mother get out of town, and I will pay you. I will give you this house and the one in Simon's name."

"Why haven't you been listening? I said that I am not here for your money. I've come to see the state your mother is in. Why would I want something that belonged to that crazed man? I am not so desperate. The land Alessandra offered me was small, but it give me a bit of money. You cannot offer me any kind of job. I am not looking to get on the Duke's bad side," Clark said, taking a seat on the step right before the front door.

Kate's eyes widened. How did he know she wanted him to go against Edgar?

Clark fished his pockets for the end of the cigar he had been smoking. "Why do you look so surprised? It's obviously Edgar you want me to go to, and he must be the reason your mother is not here. That man is the only one who makes life feel like hell. I don't want to be on his list, so I will enjoy the show. Just asking to speak with Alessandra alone made him want to kill me. Look!" He pointed to the gates. "You have more guests."

Kate wanted Clark gone since he would be of no use to her, but first, she had to deal with whoever was coming to speak with her now. All she wanted to hear was news about her mother. "You need to leave," she said to Clark and then turned to look at who was at the gates.

Kate saw one familiar face, which was Mark. He had to be here to tell her that her mother would be released. 

"Where is my mother?" Kate questioned Mark, skipping any kind of greetings.

"That is why I am here," Mark said, sliding off of his horse. He didn't plan to be here long so he would not leave his horse and go inside. "You need to read this," he handed her one of the two papers he brought here. 

Kate didn't see why she needed to read anything. She just wanted to hear about her mother. Kate began to read through the paper and felt like someone had splashed her with water. "I am losing my title," she looked up at Mark. "I had nothing to do with Simon's games. I do not need this added to what is being said about me."

Once again, Mark was put off by Kate wanting to keep something that connected her to Simon and caring so much about what others were saying. She would live just fine without the title. Well, if she had been a good person. He kept up his promise to Edgar and released everything she told the court.

To get the other men to agree to it, Mark lied and said that Edgar was ready to march an army to their doors. Though he lied, Mark knew it was something Edgar would certainly do. 

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