The Duke's Masked Wife

Jeanette caught onto what the Duchess was doing. It wasn't the first time she was put in the position of having to choose between two women who didn't like being in each other's presence.

'Alessandra Collins or her sister I didn't recognize at first glance,' Jeanette thought, already making her decision. She would be a fool to pick the latter.

Jeanette smiled at Kate, hoping she would quietly leave along with her friend. "I'm sorry but your sister was here first and we're already making preparations to make the shop private for her. Please come again once she has left," she pointed at the door.

"I am not going to leave. I have every right to look around this shop and buy a bag now that I am here. I don't want to come back later. Would you prefer that I tell all my friends how you treat your customers?" Kate asked, refusing to back down. "Have you forgotten she only has her title? I can make you lose customers thanks to the long list of friends I have and it won't be long before I also have a title."

Grace found it funny how Kate was so sure about Simon marrying her. 'She should wait until there is a ring on her finger before making a fool of herself,' she thought. Still, it was good entertainment to see the slow downfall of Kate.

Jeanette didn't care about the number of friends either of the two young women had. She heard enough about Edgar Collins not to get on his bad side for making his wife leave. Plus, she had an inkling the two young women were making a big scene but weren't going to buy anything.

"Ladies, please serve the Duchess and her guests something to drink and seat her. Bring out the best bags we have," Jeanette said in a sweet voice. She then turned back to the two women who were ruining this moment for her.

As she walked to the two, her smile fell. "I don't know what is going on between you and your sister nor do I care but I would like for you to leave before I get the guards involved."

"Do you know who my father is?" Grace asked, ready to use her name to be allowed to stay. Unlike Kate, her father was well alive and had a good reputation.

"No and whoever the hell he is can't stop me from kicking you out. You two are not the only ones with friends. I can have you banned from many of the shops in town. Bye-bye," Jeanette said, forcefully turning them to exit her door.

"Take your hands off of me," Kate smacked Jeanette's hand away. "You will regret this in a few weeks. I will be sure to visit again then and have this place begging for customers. You'll see," she promised.

Just like Edgar, Simon's last name should have others caring about the things she had to say once again.

"I don't know why you brought me here to see these ugly bags," Kate spoke, scrunching up her nose like she smelled something foul. "Come Grace."

'I promise I wouldn't hit a customer but she isn't making this easy,' Jeanette thought.

"I will tell my father of this," Grace said, sticking her nose in the ear.

"Spoiled brats," Jeanette muttered when they finally left. She didn't see these young girls who liked to boss her around with threats about their father's thought it would make her suddenly listen to them. "Duchess!" She changed her voice to being happy again.

"Well done," Sally whispered to Alessandra before Jeanette came back to them. It was exciting to see how Alessandra was learning to play the game. Sally wanted to laugh as loud as she could when Alessandra was picked over Kate. It reminded her of the sweet memory when Alessandra threw shit on Kate.

Caleb, on the other hand, didn't see why Sally was congratulating Alessandra. He was watching the whole exchange but ended up not understanding anything. He thought of asking his brother but when he looked at Reed, his brother seemed just as lost. 'Women and their strange battles,' he concluded that he would never understand it.

"Before I start, I would love to know what kind of bag you are looking for, Duchess. What is your style? What suits you best?" Jeanette asked so she would know what was best to show Alessandra.

"I do not know. I heard you have bags that resemble art," Alessandra said.

"Yes, we do. We work with a talented designer who is taking things outside the box. We had so many trends with bags each season but one bag doesn't suit everyone so we created a business that tailors the bags to your liking. You pick the color, give us an idea of the design you want, and the colors that make up that design, and then we create your dream bag," Jeanette explained.

"The process is different from our already made bags so it will take at least two days to be delivered to your residence depending on how many bags you order. This is an example," Jeanette took a white bag with lines of different colors going in different directions. "You can pair it with any color dress."

"It is pretty. You are right, Sally. It is like art," Alessandra commented on the bag. "I would like the one you are holding and I have an idea for a few others," Alessandra said, feeling like she finally found something in fashion which suited her personality.

She was not fond of the bags with a flower pattern on them that Edgar had bought before she moved into his home. However, she was grateful for the gifts and wore them.

"Wonderful," Jeanette clapped her hands. Her bags started to create a buzz among young women because of how different they were but she didn't have anyone with status like Alessandra wearing them yet.

Alessandra's lack of a reputation outside her husband could create bad business for Jeanette since no one would want to be seen wearing something similar to Alessandra but she was putting faith that would not be the outcome. After all, she heard that Alessandra's personal dressmaker now had a booming business.

Sally looked around at the bags on display while Alessandra spoke with the owner. She would love to have one of the bags but it would take away an entire week of her pay. 'I am more suited for the cheaper ones in the market now,' she thought.

"Which bag should we get?" Caleb asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Do you like this one?" He pointed at the one she was staring at.

"I do not need a bag," Sally replied.

"I've learned you still think I don't have money so I wouldn't waste my time trying to buy a bag for you. It is for your mother as a gift for when we tell her the good news later. Have you forgotten I wanted to buy a gift?" Caleb asked.

Sally felt embarrassed for thinking the bag was for her. It wasn't unlike Caleb to offer her a bag and she completely forgot he wanted to buy her mother a bag. "Right. The ones here are a bit expensive-"

"Don't give me some lecture about a cheap bag, Sally. I can do what I want with my money. Pick a bag your mother will like and while you're at it, pick one for yourself. I can't have your mother questioning why I didn't buy you one," Caleb quickly said before Sally could object to it.

Reed couldn't help shaking his head at his pitiful brother who failed to realize the hole he was digging himself in. He was tempted to send a letter to their mother to make Caleb have to go through with this fake marriage.