The Duke's Masked Wife

200 Cattiness (2)

“No fair. The two of you have been holding out on me. I wasn’t aware you had spoken to Kate after what happened at the ball. Can I also just call you Simon?” Grace asked. She was less interested in Lila’s news now that the marquis was here. Leave it up to Kate to already hook her claws into another man.

“He has a title and it should be respected,” Kate glared at Grace. Why should anyone other than her at the table just call him Simon?

“It’s okay. It’s tiring to be called by my title in settings like this. Please, just call me by my first name,” he permitted Grace. “Were the three of you celebrating good news?”

“Yes. My best friend Lila is getting married. I can’t wait to help her with the preparations. It would be good to take my mind off of my father’s funeral and other family drama,” said Kate.

“I see. Congratulations Lila. I wish you a lifetime of happiness. Would you two like to tag along to the party I wanted to take Kate to?” Simon asked.

Kate disliked the thought of them joining her when she wanted to brag about the party. “Isn’t it a private party?”

“It is but I can get more invitations. I am quite close to the host. If anything, you can ask your sister for an extra invitation. Your brother-in-law normally attends with the king and queen. I’ve been meaning to meet the new Duchess. What is she like?” Simon asked Kate.

Kate wished the conversation did not have to turn to speaking about Alessandra but she forced a sweet smile. “My older sister is quite shy so sometimes it feels like I am the older sister. I care for her but these days she hardly comes around now that she has this new life. She did not even try to attend the funeral.”

“Really? Well, I don’t know much about your family to comment on why she did this. So I will keep my thoughts to myself. The last thing I need is for the Duke to put me on his hit list,” said Simon.

.....

Curious about how close Simon was to Edgar, Grace asked, “Are you friends with the Duke? It seems like the two of you always attend the same parties.”

“We have the same circle of friends but the Duke and I are not friends. If I were to say we were, there’s no doubt he would harshly shatter my words. There are times when I have spoken to him and gotten to know him a little bit which is why I am curious about the Duchess. I never pictured the Duke would have gotten married in a flash. Now my mother is jumping down my throat to get married which is why I need a date,” Simon looked at Kate.

“I’m sure you would have no issue finding a wife, Simon. I would be delighted to be your date. Perhaps it can calm my mother’s heart about me getting married. Now that my sister is married, my mother is so determined to make me get married. We’ll be able to make our mothers happy by being around each other. What do you think?” Kate hinted at them pretending to be together.

“Your mother must want you to find a husband and move on from grieving your father. It would not be right to toy with her. Besides, I already like you which is why I want you to be my date. I will make sure to send the invitation to you by tonight. Unfortunately, I have to go now but it was nice seeing all of you again,” Simons said as he stood up from his chair.

Kate wasn’t happy with the fact he had to leave so soon but judging from how quiet Lila was, more than enough was said to knock Lila off the high horse she placed herself on. “I will see you soon, Simon. Goodbye,” she bid him goodbye with a sweet smile.

Once Simon was far out of sight, Kate’s smile changed. “How rude of you to try talking down on me just because you are getting married, Lila. You are lucky that we have been friends for so long or I would have said some things that aren’t pleasant. I hope you enjoyed feeling like a queen bee for a moment. Well, you still can be queen bee if your husband-to-be is better than Simon.”

“Is he?” Grace asked to add to Kate humiliating Lila. She personally liked Lila more than Kate but she did not enjoy how big-headed Lila got for a moment. It was not in Lila’s personality to act as she did a moment ago as she was always the quiet one.

“He’s not,” Lila muttered.

“Well then. Congrats to you on getting married and me about to snag a marquis. Cheers!”

Meanwhile,

Alessandra had gotten dressed and left with Rose to attend the party she was invited to. She was nervous about the people she would meet today but Rose assured her she would be fine and make a lot of friends.

“I’m surprised my grandson allowed me to snag you away from him for a couple of hours. Did the two of you spend a lot of time together this morning?” Rose asked. If anything, she would prefer to sit around and watch how Edgar was with Alessandra. There was much she had to witness when it came to this new side of Edgar.

“We had a picnic for a little while. It was fun and I learned that Edgar does not enjoy being out in the garden.”

“No, he does not. He wondered why out of all things it was a hobby his father picked up after stepping away from his old job. The beautiful flowers, dirt, and bugs do not amuse him. Now I see all it took was for a pretty little thing to convince him to have a picnic. I used to put together picnics for him but he did not enjoy them. Edgar is such a weird man. I commend you for dealing with him daily,” Rose complimented Alessandra.

Rose adored her grandson but if her husband was anything like Edgar she would have strangled him early in the marriage. She might not have gotten married in the first place. She preferred happiness over money when it came to love.

“Sometimes I find him to be very annoying but then I enjoy being with him more than anyone else. It just takes some time to get used to him and you’ll find he’s not the way others portray him to be. Then again, you can only find this out if he allows you to get close to him. Once he dislikes you, that’s it,” Alessandra added because she had witnessed how his dislike for her father had never once changed.

Rose thought of something because of this. “Have you ever worried about him one day disliking you and never changing his mind?”

“No,” Alessandra quickly replied. It had nothing to do with the contract but the sole fact she would never do anything to make Edgar dislike or not trust her. She expected the same from him. There was no reason to have any concerns about their relationship when they have been getting along so well.

“That’s the spirit. I am leaving my grandson in good hands. As long as his trifling mother stops meddling in your marriage, the two of you will live a happy life. Luckily for me, my pain in the ass mother-in-law died at a young age,” Rose smiled, thankful she did not have to deal with the woman for too long. “I was hoping Priscilla and I would have a good relationship but that was lost from day one.”

Alessandra hoped that at some point in time Rose and Priscilla could get along as they were two important women in Edgar’s life. No one was getting younger and should not live to regret the things they said when the other passes on.

Rose looked out the window and announced, “We’re here. Prepare to deal with catty women.”

“You told me there was no need to worry as the women were all nice and I would make friends.” Alessandra mostly came because Rose promised there would be no drama. They came on this trip to get away from the drama in Lockwood. Alessandra did not need to deal with it here.

“The women I am friends with are nice and so are their daughters and granddaughters. However, there are a few I am not fond of attending. Honestly, when you put rich women in one room there is bound to be cattiness. I will shield you from it so stick by my side alright?” Rose held Alessandra’s hand to reassure her. “If you wish to leave, we can. I don’t want you to think I am setting you up for trouble.”

Alessandra thought over what was best for her and came to what she believed was the best conclusion. “I know that you were not trying to set me up and I would have fun but I am not in the mood to deal with catty behavior. Please have the carriage take me back.’