The Duke's Masked Wife

232 Duchess Alessandra Collins (1)

First, it was Clark and now her grandmother was here. Alessandra knew it wouldn’t be long before another relative would show up at her home. She didn’t know whether or not Clark had spoken about his run-ins with her but Alessandra did not put it past her family to be bold enough to not care about what Edgar would do them which was stupid considering how easily he killed her father.

Edgar wasn’t pleased to have the two women invited into his home but he was going to stand by what Alessandra wanted. There had to be a lot on her mind when it came to her family and when he was in their bedroom a moment ago watching Sally get out of the coat she wore to protect her from the snow, he could tell she was frustrated about something.

‘That woman deserves another cut on her face for this,’ Edgar thought. He gave Katrina a clear warning to stop messing with his wife but the woman had the nerve to show up today.

“Caleb,” Edgar waved for the tall man to come over to him. “When the Baroness is alone, get two men to cut her face again. That woman seems to be forgetful about my warning. I want more information about her life before Desmond on my desk by nightfall. She is connected to the red light district in some way so have some men visit all around the kingdom.”

“Yes sir,” Caleb replied.

Depending on the way this conversation would go, Edgar would add a third cut to Katrina’s face.

“I’m ready,” Alessandra exited their bedroom wearing a new dress. “Why did Caleb run away when I came out? You’re not doing anything bad with him right?”

Alessandra wanted to take charge of dealing with her family. She was grateful for Edgar’s help but it was about time she used her title to put her enemies in their place.

“He is gathering some information for me,” Edgar gave her half the story rather than lying about everything. Once he had more information about the Baroness, he would let Alessandra know what he found and what he would do right after.

.....

Alessandra felt like Edgar was leaving something out but knew now was not the time for them to be questioning each other.

Edgar held Alessandra’s hand and felt her give his hand a light squeeze to show that she was nervous but she was masking it well. Watching Alessandra slowly gain confidence Edgar knew there was nothing for her to be afraid of. Once the moment came, Alessandra tended to step away from her shell and deal with the person before her.

They both walked downstairs to the waiting room where Alfred had placed the two women and was offering them something to drink.

“The Duke and Duchess, Edgar and Alessandra Collins,” Alfred happily announced the couple more extra than he did when anyone else visited the home.

Neither Greta nor Katrina stood to greet the couple. Both their eyes went straight to Alessandra. One watched her with jealousy because of the expensive things she wore and the other watched her with disgust.

Katrina found it to be a waste that such fine clothes and jewelry were placed on Alessandra. Such things belonged to a woman like herself and now Katrina regretted not going after someone with a higher title. Regardless of Alessandra wearing expensive clothes, Katrina knew she was still better looking than the young woman.

‘Kate’s beauty was more suited for this man,’ Katrina thought. She hated Edgar for what he did to her but she would have still liked for Kate to be able to steal his wealth. Then Katrina would kill Edgar as payback for ruining her face.

Even though they were not shown respect in their own home, Alessandra greeted the two women. “Good afternoon.”

She did not want to stoop to their level and be rude.

Alessandra and Edgar sat down on the other chair facing Greta and Katrina.

“You killed my son,” Greta started off the conversation, not caring to be pleasant to the murderer and traitor before her. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

Edgar snorted, highly amused by the woman’s boldness. “Because if you pull a weapon out on me or my wife I will see to it you are reunited with your son. Do not think for a second I will not harm you if you mess with my family. Your son had it coming to him for trying to sell my wife.”

Greta slammed her cane against the floor. “My son would never-”

“He did. Your precious son who is the most innocent man in your eyes was ready to send me off to be sold to a man his age,” Alessandra said as she gripped her dress. The memory of herself running through the night was not fun to look back on. “I don’t know what story you have heard from Baroness Katrina but I know it has been twisted to make me the villain.”

“And how are you not the villain? Do not let me get started on you,” Greta’s anger increased the more she looked at Alessandra. “What kind of daughter allows her father to get killed instead of having him arrested? After everything that your father did for you before and after you got that ridiculous mask, that was how you repay him? All for money?”

Alessandra bitterly smiled as she realized where her father got his backward thinking from. “What kind of daughter am I? What kind of mother or grandmother are you? You completely ignored that my father tried to sell me and I know you must have been aware of how I was being treated at home so instead of addressing it, you stopped visiting to not feel guilty about anything.”

“The thing I hate the most about this family is hearing how much my father did for me when in truth, he allowed me to be mistreated by his wife and his other daughter. My father loved money more than me. It was evident from him trying to sell me to a friend. I do not feel bad about his death and I would let my husband do it all again,” Alessandra confidently spoke about what she felt.

“You!” Greta raised her cane to strike Alessandra but failed to do so.

The cane was not caught by Edgar but by Alessandra herself who would no longer allow another Barrett to abuse her.