The Duke's Masked Wife

406 Ruined name (3)

News quickly spread around the town about a noble losing his title. It was a rare event in Lockwood so all eyes and ears were on the case, waiting for when the outcome would be announced. After Katrina and Alessandra received their letters to visit the court, the time came for them to meet once more to discuss Desmond.

Edgar traveled with Wilma and Alessandra as a husband and as the person who had killed Desmond. He was the one to pool together all the evidence about Desmond’s crimes and would be working with the court today if not for the fact he was married to Desmond’s daughter.

It was brought to his attention that Katrina had complaints about him being the one to kill Desmond. She claimed he wrongfully killed Desmond not just because Desmond had committed crimes but because Edgar did it in a fit of rage for Alessandra.

“Why are you smiling so much when we are going to the court?” Alessandra asked after she looked at Edgar and noticed how much he was smiling.

“The better question is why aren’t you smiling? We are in for a lot of entertainment. Back-to-back days of fun. I haven’t had such a wonderful birthday week in a long time,” Edgar replied.

.....

Alessandra did not know how to respond to Edgar’s idea of fun. They went from making love all over the house to him killing someone the day after his birthday. How had this ended up being a good birthday week for him?

Aside from William’s death and Grant being hung at the palace gates yesterday, Edgar’s birthday had not gone as she planned. Edgar enjoying his birthday was all that mattered but Alessandra wanted it to be much better next year. No deaths, no fights with family, and not having to see Katrina days later.

“I am curious to see what your father’s second wife is like. If her looks match her awful personality for the way she treated you. I must apologize if I cannot hold back my tongue today. I can’t help it when I am angry,” Wilma apologized in advance. She would not go easy on anyone who hurt her granddaughter and if she needed, she would use any measure to get rid of Alessandra’s awful family members.

“There is no need to apologize. Curse her as you see fit,” Edgar said, indulging Wilma in speaking her mind. Today was not the day to keep quiet and not let your thoughts be heard. After today, Wilma might not see Katrina ever again since she was heading back to her sick husband soon.

Alessandra pressed her shoe down on Edgar’s own to stop him from using Wilma to find entertainment for himself. The Barretts were no doubt going to act a fool but in the midst of the chaos, she wanted to keep her anger under control, so the men of the court heard everything she knew about her father.

She didn’t want to get off topic and talk about other things. Alessandra had other days she could curse and point fingers at Katrina but today, she wanted to ensure her father was punished. As always, the person she hated the most was her father, and his death just wasn’t enough to satisfy her. Alessandra looked forward to the title he loved so much being stripped away.

Edgar wasn’t fazed by her stepping on his shoe. Whether she liked it or not, there would be a lot of foul words used today. Perhaps even from herself. He tried to predict how Alessandra would be once they were all settled in the court but her quiet nature made it hard for him to make assumptions.

Edgar looked at the mask she chose to wear today. He found this meeting to be the perfect time for her to be without it, but Alessandra said this was not the time she wanted to reveal her face. She wanted to get dolled up and enjoy herself when the time came. She wanted it to be a happy occasion for herself and the people she cared for.

She did not want to reveal her face for the sole purpose of startling Katrina and Kate. Alessandra wanted to do it for herself when she was finally letting go of her past self-hate and would be able to walk around people she didn’t know without feeling the need to put back on the mask.

The carriage stopped in front of the court which was near the palace. In Alessandra’s eyes, it resembled a big church.

“I will help them out,” Edgar sent the driver away. He helped Wilma step out of the carriage first and then Alessandra right after. “Nervous?”

“No, I am looking forward to this meeting,” Alessandra said, not the slightest bit nervous or anxious. She was not the same person who held her tongue when she was living with Katrina. As someone who snuck around the house in the shadows, she knew more than Katrina thought she did. “You cannot try to kill anyone today, Edgar. No matter what is said. Promise me,” she stuck out her little finger for the promise to be made.

Edgar stared at her little finger which was just waiting to be hugged by his own. “I am not a fool to try killing anyone while I am inside the court. That is for when they are sleeping or traveling alone,” he made the promise.

“I forget there is someone talented with the way he kills people by my side. We should go inside now-”

“Alessandra!” Greta called to her granddaughter. As soon as she heard the news, she traveled back to Lockwood. Her son was already dead and never coming back so she didn’t see why they needed to hold this meeting to ruin the name of a dead man.

Alessandra looked to her right where Greta, Katrina, and Kate were walking from their carriage to the entrance of the court. The carriage they rode in was lavish so she wouldn’t have thought it was them inside. She remembered her father sold his beloved carriage and bought a cheaper one.

She noticed how Katrina and Kate were dressed like they did before her father started sending away the servants because he had little to no money. Alessandra was curious if Greta had paid off all the debts and inheritance. If she could pay for it now, why didn’t she help her son in the past? Something was off but she couldn’t place what it was right now.

“Are you satisfied?” Greta asked as Alessandra would be the one person to enjoy what was happening to her father. “Your father’s downfall will affect your reputation-”

“I remember clearly that you will not think of me as your granddaughter, and I do not care for what will happen to my father. I will continue to live well after this is all over. It is you who will be affected. Is that not why you came back to town as fast as you could?” Alessandra replied, quickly putting an end to Greta trying to think of how this would affect her reputation.

The three women standing to her right did not care about her reputation. Two of the three were the ones to ruin it.

Kate found it amusing how Alessandra was acting now. A little power to her name made her bold. Kate opened her mouth to speak but stopped when a third carriage arrived with an unexpected passenger. “Uncle Clark?”