章節 30: Loyal (3)
"I am too old to be dealing with all of this," Desmond muttered, as he waltzed into his bedroom the next day.
William made him stay the night to have drinks and brought a few women from the red-light district to entertain them. No matter how many times he mentioned going home, William ignored him, and eventually, morning was upon them.
"This is the shock of the century. Two powerful men are fighting over Alessandra. What is there not to like about Kate? Where on earth is this woman?" He looked around the empty bedroom for his wife.
At this time, Katrina would be waking up.
Desmond took a seat on the edge of the bed to take off his boots. He had no time to rest as there was work to do. He needed to prepare Alessandra to be sent to William's home at night when no one would see.
"You are late," Katrina glared at her husband when her eyes fell on him as she exited the bathroom. "Can it even be counted as late when my husband left in a hurry last night and came back in the morning? Were you with a woman?"
"Katrina, do not be ridiculous. Why would I entertain a woman when there is a possibility you would hang me by my balls to a tree?"
Katrina covered her nose as the stench of wine filled the room the more Desmond spoke. "You were drinking."
Desmond placed his boots on the side of the bed for a maid to move later. "I am allowed to have a drink here and there. Not even my mother would be able to scold me for it if she were alive. Do not think being my wife grants you that privilege."
"Believe me, Desmond, I do not think it does. You could at least tell me where the hell you were running off to so late in the night so I wouldn't be concerned. You would wish to know where I was going if I were the one to rush out," said Katrina.
"Well, obviously it is different for a woman. You cannot just leave home at night when so many women are disappearing and the culprit has not been caught. And as a wife, where would you be going when your husband is right here? I don't have the tolerance to deal with you this morning woman," Desmond abruptly stood up, taking off his shirt to prepare for a bath.
"You insufferable man! I am disgusted by the sight of you. Do you think the other husbands treat their wives this way?!" Katrina exclaimed, annoyed with the constant secrecy on Desmond's end.
"I would not know since I do not think about them. I have a lot on my mind and the last thing I need is you yelling at me as soon as I arrive home. Give me a break," Desmond sighed, sitting back down on the bed to rest his head in the palm of his hands. "I have found myself in trouble."
"Then tell me what is happening so I can share your burden. That is why I am upset with you," Katrina walked to the bed and sat down next to him. She was curious to know what happened between him and William.
She ran her hand up and down his back to calm his nerves. "Talk to me, my sweet husband."
"We have to send her away tonight. Alessandra, I mean. William wishes to take her and then he would give us more money for this exchange or have my neck if she does not go to him. Do you see why I have no time to argue with you?" Desmond looked at his wife.
"Then, we shall give her to him and take the money," Katrina did not see what was so difficult for him to be in this state. "Did you spend all of the money he gave you before?"
"No, I invested it properly this time and it is showing to be a good idea. The money has doubled but it is not enough to pay back William. If I had a bit more time it could triple and then we would be back on our feet. I promised her to William last night because of his threats but now, I am more concerned about Edgar."
Now that Desmond wasn't so close to William that the man could hurt his leg, reality hit him with who he should be more scared of. William was a cruel man but Edgar was a monster.
"Why? You promised William he would have her tonight so you should stick to your promise. Edgar should know he cannot interfere with what a father chooses for his daughter. Alessandra does not have a ring on her finger from Edgar. Place one for William on her hand. We need the money William is offering. The money from the residents on your land won't be here in time to put us back on our feet," said Katrina.
She wanted the money William was offering in their hands so that when Desmond died, it would belong to her.
"Let's hope we do not see Edgar until tomorrow. That is the only way I can survive this. Katrina," Desmond became alerted when he saw something alarming now that he got a good look at the woman beside him. "What happened to your neck?"
"Oh," Katrina traced the marks she ordered Krystle to make on her skin last night. They were right above her breast and thanks to the loose night dress, it was clear as day for Desmond to see. "I-It is nothing," she pulled up the dress to cover the marks.
"Nothing? It looks as if someone hurt you. Did someone harm you while I was away?" Desmond's blood started to boil. No one was to ever lay a hand on his wife. Who could disrespect him like this? "Who did it? Give me a name right away. Was it Alessandra?"
"I do not wish to speak about it, Desmond. Please give me time-"
"Give you time? Someone has hurt you and you are talking about time? Fine, keep quiet but I will find someone who can tell me what happened while I was away. Where is James?" Desmond knew James would be able to find out about it for him.
"Desmond, you should not get sidetracked like this. You have other things to worry about," Katrina tried to reason with him.
"I cannot let someone get away with hurting my wife. Then they'll think it is right to do it to Kate! Why are you protecting this person, Katrina? Did they threaten you with something?"
"Desmond, I will tell you about it after we have given William what he wants. We have no time to go after others when there is someone trying to kill us. I promise I will tell you about it tonight. Please drop it for now," Katrina held his hands, rubbing the back of them with her thumb to calm him down.
On the inside, Katrina was smiling since she got the reaction she was looking for. This would be her evidence if James were to speak of last night.
"I want the person front and center to be dealt with after Alessandra is gone. I will not let someone get away with harming you, Katrina. Come here. I need to relieve this built-up frustration," Desmond pulled her towards him, ripping the front of her night dress.
Katrina held onto him while he tried to lift her up and then placed her on the bed. 'It's a pity I am not drunk to bear this,' she thought.
After all the years they had been married, Katrina always found their intimacy to be lacking. The pleasure had always been one-sided for her husband who was not good in bed. She started to regret not sleeping with James last night to make up for what was to come shortly.
"My beautiful wife," Desmond mumbled against her bare skin as he laid on top of her.
"Baroness?" A knock on the bedroom door interrupted the moment before it could get anywhere.
Katrina couldn't be more than happy to hear Krystle's voice. "We have to stop, Desmond. There is a lot I must do today," she gently pushed his body from on top of her. Another second of them in bed together and she might've killed him right then and there.
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Violet_167
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章節 31: You cannot marry the Duke (1)
"Alessandra, this is your new maid, Sally Winters. I have come to help you with your morning tasks," Sally said after knocking on the door. Her nerves were the highest they could be and her hand shook from fear, but as the butler said, this was better than working for Kate or being fired.
"Alessandra-"
"Did you refer to Kate by her name when you worked as her personal maid?" Alessandra questioned as she opened her door. She was curious to know who was calling her name until she remembered she asked for a maid. "Am I not worthy of having a proper title?"
"That's…" Sally bowed her head out of shame and to avoid looking at Alessandra's cursed face.
Alessandra stepped to the side to give space for Sally. "Come inside."
She knew it wasn't going to be easy to get anyone to be by her side without thinking of the rumors. Alessandra didn't understand why people truly believed looking at her face would make anyone become cursed and then die shortly.
Alessandra closed the door behind Sally to avoid anyone listening to their conversation. "Are you going to continue staring at the floor? I don't think there's anything interesting about it. If there is, please tell me."
Alessandra looked down at the floor to find what was so interesting for Sally to stare there instead of looking up. "Are you afraid to meet my eyes, Sally? That would make it really hard for you to work for me. I don't need someone who will be scared of me. You can return to Kate-"
"Wait!" Sally exclaimed. Working for Kate again was something she could not do. "Are you truly not cursed?"
"Are you cursed?" Alessandra threw the question back to Sally. "How do I know I won't be cursed if I look at your face? There are rumors that if someone stays too close to you their house will fall just like your one did."
"That is false!" Sally yelled defensively. "I don't know where you heard such a thing. My family's misfortune was caused by bad decisions and there is nothing cursed about us. Where did you hear this?"
"I made it up just now," Alessandra walked to her window to look out at the workers hurrying off to their jobs. "However, if I keep mentioning this lie it will keep spreading to everyone and surely they'll believe it."
"You cannot do that. It will ruin my life more than it already is," Sally did not want Alessandra to do this. "Isn't that too much of a punishment because I didn't look you in the eye? It's just that-"
"You, like many others, believed the lies passed around about me. I've heard guests telling my father that if the entire town believes I am cursed it must be true. People in this town love gossip and rather than finding the truth, they'd rather believe a lie. I am not cursed, but if you do not believe me, please leave. I have no plans to keep someone who is afraid of me."
Sally stood still, contemplating her options. Kate was the devil trapped in a young girl's body, but there were many rumors surrounding Alessandra. The only saving grace for Alessandra would be Edgar and once they are wed, everyone will change what they say about her to be on the duke's good side.
"I apologize for my earlier behavior. Please give me the chance to make it up to you," Sally lifted her head to look at Alessandra by the window. An opportunity presented itself for her to work for a future duchess which meant she had to overcome her fear of getting cursed by Alessandra.
"Very well. Showing you my face will be your first test," Alessandra grinned as a faint gasp from Sally was heard. The girl was too easy to scare, which would be a bad thing in the future.
Alessandra needed people by her to help maneuver around people who would start showing up in front of her once her engagement to the duke was announced. There will be new enemies, people looking to use her, and those wishing to be her friend. She needed an extra person to help her keep an eye on these people.
"If that is what you want," Sally played with her nails to calm her nerves. No one knew what the other side of Alessandra's face looked like. The half you could see was certainly beautiful, but the other half hidden away behind the mask outshined what could be seen.
Everyone feared what they would see if Alesandra were to ever remove her mask. Some people claimed there would be a mark from the devil or maybe her face had melted away.
"You passed," Alessandra walked past Sally to the corner where she had her things packed up for when the duke would arrive tomorrow.
"But I didn't see your face."
"I was only teasing you. Kind of expected you to run but your determination to never work for Kate again is keeping you motivated," Alessandra said. "You know I picked you because of what happened in Kate's bedroom yesterday. I saw the look on your face while Kate lay there helpless."
"You picked me because you know I don't like Kate. Am I only here to tell you Kate's secrets or be the one to get revenge on her in your place?" Sally did not want to get involved in either of those things.
If Kate were to ever find out Sally told Alessandra her secrets, Kate would do everything she could to ruin Sally.
"No. I picked you because I know you wouldn't willingly run back to Kate to tell her everything I am doing because you fear her. You'll have to avoid her since you witnessed me throwing shit on her," Alessandra knew Kate well enough to know she would be out for blood when it came to Sally.
Kate did not like being embarrassed and all those who witnessed the embarrassment would be on her list.
"I don't want anyone by my side who will hang around Kate. When I leave here, I want nothing to do with Kate. If I ever find out you secretly met with her, I will not keep you," Alessandra did not want to concern herself with Kate when she was no longer living here.
The moment she stepped foot out the door to go live with the duke, her ties to Kate and Katrina would be severed. It would only be her father she wanted to get back at for abandoning her all these years.
"I will never go back by her side. I promise. Working under Kate made me feel like an animal. She kept belittling and hitting me even when I did not make a mistake. I will tell you one thing since you saved me. Kate no longer seems worried about you being engaged to the duke which is odd considering how much she is obsessed with him," Sally revealed.
One moment Kate had been visibly upset about the engagement but then, she kept smiling as if something good happened.
"Kate isn't the type to sit by while others take what she thinks belongs to her and the baroness gives her daughter whatever she wants. I am always meant to be near Kate and when she was supposed to dig the grave for your kitten, the baron and baroness went to speak with her," Sally figured this information would be useful since this all happened right after the duke left.
Alessandra was glad Sally mentioned this. She found it weird her family had not once come to convince her to turn down the duke's proposal. Other than their dislike of her roaming the house as she pleased, they all seemed awfully calm. "They talked about something while I wasn't around. They must have a plan to break my engagement to the duke but I have no idea what it is."
Alessandra had an unsettling feeling concerning the last day she would be with her family. "It might be a good idea to avoid them for now. Sally, bring enough food and drink to last the both of us through this day," she gave Sally her first task.
Alessandra preferred to hide away in her room than to walk around, expecting her family to not do anything foolish when it was possible they would.
"Yes, my lady," Sally replied before hurrying off to do as she was told.
Alessandra placed her hand on her chest trying to calm down her body to get rid of what she was feeling. She hoped Edgar had someone watching her home just in case her family might try to get rid of her. "Please let this one day go by smoothly."
When Sally returned with the food and drinks, the door would be locked until the duke arrived.
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