The Duke's Masked Wife

Katrina sat back down at the table and poured herself a cup of water. She did not bother to look up at William walking in to greet him.

"Katrina," William addressed her without the title. "You look lovely. Each time I see you I can't help but feel jealous that you were wasted on a man like Desmond. I hope my old friend isn't turning in his grave because of my words. Where is your daughter? Is she not home or have you hidden her from me?"

Katrina drank her water, not caring to respond to what he already had the answer to.

William wasn't offended by her not acknowledging him. He didn't mind the disrespect when it came from Katrina. He liked how bold she was with him. If only she was more unique he would take her. Katrina was beautiful but there were many women just like her.

William proceeded to sit down in a chair directly opposite Katrina. "I hope it will ease your mind that I am not the slightest bit interested in your daughter. I cannot deny that she gained her mother's beauty but she is a tad bit boring don't you think? Hardly my taste so there is no need for you to hide her. Though I will be honest I would snatch her away from you if you ever make me wait so long again."

Katrina gripped the cup in her hand. She should be happy William did not want Kate but it was still an insult that he viewed Alessandra as better than her precious daughter because of the mask she wore. "What is the real reason you are here? Let's get this over with," she said.

"I am here for dinner," William stated the obvious. "I wouldn't be a good friend to Desmond if I did not check in on his mourning wife and daughter."

Katrina would consider herself a fool if she were to ever believe that William was here to check on her. He wanted something.

"I saw Alessandra recently. Why didn't anyone tell me how splendid that girl grew to be? The rumors didn't do her any justice. Why focus on her face when her body is better?" William grinned, leaning back in his chair to inspect Katrina's reaction. She tensed up when he complimented Alessandra.

William now knew where Katrina's anger toward her stepdaughter came from. Alessandra was almost a replica of Desmond's first wife. Katrina prided herself to be the most beautiful woman in town and then the second was her daughter but she was wrong. Before Katrina, there was Melanie and no amount of seduction from Katrina would make any man in town pick her over Melanie.

Katrina was oftentimes compared to Melanie when Desmond first remarried. Some of his peers wished to know why he let a woman like Melanie get away just to settle with Katrina who came to him with only her body.

It couldn't have been easy for Katrina to have her daughter be compared to Melanie's daughter and perhaps, Katrina found herself envying Alessandra who would be sought after just like her mother.

'Had I known Melanie was going to run away I would have let her run into my arms and marry her. Her daughter will do for now,' William thought.

"Are we talking about the same Alessandra that I know? Your eyes have gone bad. I thought you were a well-known collector of fine things, William. That girl is bland," Katrina chuckled.

"Bland? Yet she managed to marry Edgar Collins when your daughter could not? Come on," William clicked his tongue, wanting Katrina to be honest for once. "I wouldn't call her bland. She was dressed up in expensive clothing and jewelry. Your daughter became an afterthought with Alessandra in the room. Had I known she was so alluring I would have come for her myself. Then I would have her, not Edgar."

Katrina didn't like the jab he took at Kate. His disinterest in her daughter was good but the insults were not necessary. "I'll ask you again William, what do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious? I want Alessandra. Seeing her change just angers me that you fools took so long to bring her to me. Then there's that mouth she has. Thinks she can insult me," William said, touching his bottom lip with his thumb as he thought of ways to break her in for her disrespect. "I want her."

"I know that you want her but it has nothing to do with me. I have been paying off the debt since you did not get her and I believe it is almost paid off. If you want her, go get her," said Katrina.

"About that debt. I've been wondering how you were suddenly able to pull money out of thin air when your husband struggled to pay me back. Was it your mother-in-law? Seems too good to be true that she would help you but not her son. You know why you're going to get me Alessandra-"

Katrina interrupted him, "You have the resources to take her from Edgar so just do it yourself. I am not going to be tied up in anything that concerns Edgar Collins. I won't alert him of your plans because I have wanted her to be with you from the very beginning so leave my family out of it."

"That's not what I want Katrina. One of my people died when I got involved and it's such a hassle to replace them. I rather you take the risk. Let me give you some motivation to help me. There are people going around asking about you. Not just in this town but in others. I heard you have visits from the court," William said. Katrina's surprised expression confirmed it.

William continued to say, "I have a person on the inside of the court so I happen to know what is going on. Whatever the court is searching for, they will find it eventually. If only you had a person like me on your side to clear your tracks."

Katrina's hands started to tremble so she placed them on her lap to be out of sight of William. Her old life was wiped clean so no one could connect her to it except the man who helped her vanish. If he were to hear about her, he would come looking for her. He knew all her secrets and should the court find him or he came looking for her, she would be doomed.

Katrina did not want to meet anyone from her past because the trail she hid would start to become visible again.

William watched the inner turmoil Katrina was going through with amusement. "We all have our secrets that are dirty but lucky for you, I am a man who believes they should remain hidden. I'm starting to like you more Baroness," he used her title to show that they were on good terms again. "I only need one thing and I will help hide your secrets."

Katrina bit her tongue, knowing she could not trust William but he was her only chance against the court if he did have someone on the inside. "The money I paid to you will need to be given back to me since you are getting her," Katrina said.

"Of course! A deal is a deal. Ah, good wine," William said, picking up the glass of wine placed before him by a servant.

Katrina looked at James who gave her a little nod.

"Baroness, I don't want to be disappointed a second time. I will take your daughter if you fail me," William warned her.

Katrina watched him drink the poisoned wine. With this agreement back in place, they would meet often for her to poison him. "Don't worry, William. I won't fail this time," she replied.

To William, it sounded like she referred to failing him but Katrina truly meant she would not fail to poison her victim again.