The Duke's Masked Wife

The guards helped Kate out of the room first since she needed to be taken to a doctor.

Bella nervously rubbed her hands as it was her turn to finally leave. It was a surreal moment and she hoped she had not nodded off to sleep leaving this to be all a lie. That she would open her eyes and end up back in this room. Leaving was too good to be true. If this was a dream, it felt truly real and she would enjoy it while it lasted.

"Bella," Edgar called to the young woman who seemed hesitant to leave.

Bella looked behind her at Edgar who promised to personally escort her home. She didn't feel safe with anyone but him since he was the first face she saw when the door opened. "I know I said I wanted to get out of here quickly, but I'm scared. What if I wake up and I am back down here? My mind doesn't want to believe this is real. What if Simon comes back?"

"Simon is dead. He killed himself while trying to take someone else," Edgar said. He was meaning to tell her earlier, but whenever someone mentioned Simon's name she started to panic and her breathing quickened. "You might have liked the chance to get back at him-"

"No," Bella shook her head. "I thought of one day killing him with my own two hands in the past, but now, I am satisfied with him no longer living. He will still haunt me but I will be free of this place. Of course, he was crazy enough to kill himself."

"He got into a fight he knew he could not win. It was only women he liked to attack. He killed himself to play with us. Expecting we would never find you. He made the mistake of dragging Kate out here while she was bleeding," Edgar said.

"His plans were ruined," Bella smiled. "I'm sure he is angry in hell.  He always said he was carrying on what his parents started," Bella said, looking around the room. "He never took men despite there being men who put on a show in front of others too. Please have this place burned, Duke Collins. I don't want it to become someone else's nightmare."

Bella took a deep breath and began to climb out of the room. She looked up and became teary-eyed at the night sky that was in perfect view with no trees blocking the sky. The night breeze kissed her skin the moment she reached the top.

Bella was never happier to see snow. The moment she got out of the hole, she picked up a handful of snow enjoying the coldness she missed. She would love to run around and enjoy feeling the outside world a bit more. Never again would she take such things for granted.

Edgar got out of the room right behind Bella. There were still guards on the inside who wanted to inspect it further. Soon the court would arrive to start building the case on Simon before stripping everything from his name. He was another noble not deserving of the title he held in his death.

"We're taking Bella home," Edgar said to Reed. After that, he was going straight home to his wife who will certainly be giving him the cold shoulder. They started to walk toward Simon's home which was full of light because of the guards looking at all the dead servants.

Edgar hoped Alessandea had at least fallen to sleep.  He would tell her the good news about Bella to make her get rid of her anger. News of him no longer being the one to lead this case should excite Alessandra. Now they had more time to start preparing for the growing family.

"I cannot wait to see my mother and hug her.  I have to make up for the many times I did not tell her that I love her. She's fine right?" Bella looked at Edgar. She couldn't help thinking about the things Simon told her about her mother.  "Simon told me her health wasn't good."

"Well, her beloved daughter was missing so I've been told she stopped eating and started to lose a lot of weight, but many of your relatives have been taking care of her," Edgar answered.

"I see," Bella replied in a soft tone.

"Would you like us to find you a coat?" Edgar said after he noticed her rubbing her arms.

"No, I want to enjoy the cold a bit more."

Edgar was curious about something as he watched Bella. "You said Simon played a game where he took girls who acted two-faced and forced them to carry on the act or die. Kate, I understand, but you seem to be different," he said.

Bella smiled as she was glad to hear he thought otherwise. That she was the odd one in the bunch. "Time alone with an insane murderer helps to get rid of my attitude and change the way I think. I did act nice depending on who I was standing in front of.  I was mean in the past and I can't help but hate my past actions now."

"Wait!" Bella realised something with what Edgar said. "Why do you understand Kate being chosen? I didn't have many interactions with her before all of this, but she was kind here. I think she played a part in Simon being caught. I honestly feel bad for her with the wound and then Simon wanting to bring her sister here."

'Oh shit,' Reed thought. He was listening to the conversation in and out but this part caught his attention. He looked to his left at Edgar who looked pissed off in a split second.

"He wanted to do what?" Edgar slowly asked, clenching his fist to suppress his anger. What was Alessandra included in all of this?

Bella covered her mouth as she remembered being told that Edgar was married to Kate's sister. "I'm so sorry. I  am not used to the fact you have gotten married, Duke Collins. I shouldn't have let him wanting your wife slip out like that.  I think he intended to bring Kate's family into that room to mess with her. That was why he planned to take your wife."

Edgar knew Simon wanting Alessandra had nothing to do with wanting to mess with Kate. Kate didn't care for Alessandra for Alessandra's presence there to mess with Kate. Kate was the type to enjoy Alessandra being in Simon's hands.

Edgar pushed his hair back and began to pace back and forth to calm his mind. It was by some luck that with Alessandra being pregnant, she had only travelled around to meet her mother, and had many guards by her side. Had she ever been alone there might have been a chance for Simon to get close to her.

Edgar was angered even more by the fact that he couldn't tell if taking Alessandra was something Simon wanted or Kate wanted. Once Kate was patched up by a doctor, he would get his answers.

"Duke Collins," a guard with some age to him compared to the others, approached the three. "It is good to see you are well, Miss Bella," he acknowledged the strong young woman first. "I heard you were taking her home. That is not necessary. We've already sent word for her mother and Marchioness's mother to meet us at the court. The Marchioness is being taken to the court so a palace doctor can look at her. You need to escort the young lady here to the court. There is much to be done to end this case."

Edgar wasn't in the mood to be going to the court instead of going home when he already sent word to the guards about what he knew about Simon and how he figured it out but it could not be helped. He wanted this done with tonight. "Reed, find your brother and have him deliver another message to Alessandra. I'm going to be home late."