The Duke's Masked Wife

"Mother, I need an idea for a gift to make it up to Simon for mentioning his parents. I should have asked around before I went to him about his parents. What if he finds it unpleasant that I did not know about his parents? I don't want to lose his favor," Kate sighed, collapsing on the couch her mother sat on.

"It was an honest mistake Kate but you can find a nice bottle of wine as an apology if you wish. I will have James send someone to get it for you," Katrina replied.

Kate turned to look at her mother. "He is not just some random person. It must be an expensive bottle or he will take me for a joke. People were already talking about us having no money. I don't want him to think it is true."

"I would only pick out the best bottle for him, Kate. Nothing less. Ignore what the people are saying, Kate. This house is blooming again. I think it is time we hold a party in your honor. We will redecorate and show that they are mistaken about our finances. You should have Simon by your side to make your peers jealous," Katrina said, raking her fingers through Kate's beautiful hair.

"Mother, can I ask something without you getting angry or dismissing it?" Kate asked, gaining the courage to inquire what was on her mind these last few days.

"What is it?"

"Well, when my father was alive I wished to deny it that we were in debt but then servants became few and took on odd jobs plus I had to stop going on shopping trips with my friends. After my father passed,  I thought it wouldn't be better but you turned it around. I know you sold many of your father's belongings but I don't think it was enough. Aside from the money grandmother left, how did you do it?" Kate finally got to the point.

Katrina knew that Kate would be curious about their life suddenly going back to normal but she had no plans of telling Kate how she came to save all of this money. It would require Kate to learn about her past but it wasn't a story Katrina planned to tell ever her daughter.

"Good mothers will always do what they need to so their child does not suffer. I have not done anything bad and that is all you need to know," Katrina replied, choosing not to make up some story she would have to keep lying about.

"What is it that you cannot tell me-"

"Kate," Katrina raised her voice. "There are many things on my mind and the last thing I wish to be bothered by is you constantly asking about money. I did what your father could not when he was alive and I did it without needing any favors from anyone. That is all that matters. Let it end there."

"I'm sorry," Kate apologized for bringing it up. She tried her best not to show that she was hurt by how aggressive her mother was with her response. What was so bad about telling where the money came from? She was not foolish like others may think and picked up on the sudden burst of money.

Katrina touched her head to calm a growing ache. "Good, now it feels like I am the bad guy. I only wish for you to not worry about money Kate. I want you to focus on Simon. Nothing less, nothing more. I like seeing you enjoying yourself without worrying about whether there will be a roof over your head tomorrow. Let me be the only one thinking of it."

"Baroness," James appeared before the two with a grim expression.

"Who is at the door? Is it William?" Katrina asked, hoping that it wasn't him. She had not done anything to start getting Alessandra for William.

"No," James shook his head. "It is a man from the court and he does not seem happy."

Katrina didn't want it to be the court either. She had not found the things left for Alessandra by her mother and now she would have to pay up. She wished she could turn back time to stop Alessandra from meeting with Edgar so she would not be doing all of this. Money was slipping through her fingers because of Alessandra.

"There is no point in trying to avoid the court. Invite them in so I may get this over with," said Katrina.

James left the waiting room to bring the man to Katrina. He did tell Katrina that she was too lax in handing over what else was meant to go to Alessandra. Katrina turned a blind eye to it but the court would not. She was even given a few days extra to gather everything for Alessandra but failed.

James returned with Mark right behind him.

"Baroness and Kate," Mark greeted the mother and daughter. In his hands were a few papers with bad news for the Baroness. "I am sorry that my visit to your house was delayed as the court was quite busy the last few days and since this case is a bit problematic it is only me who can deal with it. I hope the extra days gave you enough time to get everything in order for the Duchess?"

"First, allow me to send my daughter away-"

"No," Mark interrupted Katrina. "There is a matter which your daughter will need to be present for."

Kate looked at her mother, deeply confused by why she would need to be present.

"We will get to that matter after you have confirmed you have everything remaining for the Duchess's inheritance. Do you?" Mark inquired but he had a feeling she did not have it.

"I was able to find a few of her mother's belongings but I do not have everything for Alessandra. It was either destroyed or my husband must have sold it. He is the one who dealt with his ex-wife's belongings," Katrina lied as she was the one who personally dealt with removing everything which reminded her of that woman. "I will pay instead."

"I will remove what you were able to find from the list and the amount you will have to pay the court in a day's time will be sent tomorrow. Have your servants start packing up what is meant for the Duchess so that I can take it to the court to inspect and then it will be sent to the Duchess," Mark explained.

"Do as he said," Katrina instructed James.

"Now, let's get to some other issues brought to the court's attention. Let us start off with what happened to Melanie Barrett."