The Duke's Masked Wife

"Why is there a line?" Eleanor asked herself when she reached the gates of the Collins estate. "This town works fast," she said, watching the people yelling and then when they saw the carriage coming, they turned their attention to her.

They were in for a letdown since she was no one important to get news from.

"How am I supposed to get out of here?" Eleanor wondered. She paid for a carriage to bring her here since her aunt was using the one carriage they had to their name. "Excuse me," she called to the driver. "Would it be possible for you to- Oh!" Eleanor looked outside at the gates opening already and the carriage going inside.

Eleanor sat back in her seat and waved at the people who appeared frustrated that she was getting to go inside. Eleanor's amusement stopped when the carriage stopped moving and her door opened. "What is- Why are you here?" She asked Reed who entered the carriage and sat like he was welcomed there.

Reed tapped the carriage for the driver to start going again. "We're going to talk. This seems to be the only way without you running away. Unless you want to jump out of a moving carriage? I can hold the door open for you to jump."

"Reed,  why do you want to speak with me?" Eleanor asked.

"Why do you keep running away from me? I'd like to think that if you weren't the slightest bit interested in me, you would tell me long ago that you weren't. We both know you are not one to hold your tongue. What's made you so shy now?" Reed asked, holding the door so that she could not open it herself and jump out.

"We kissed once and for some reason, you think you like me after we spent so many hours bickering with each other. You don't like me, Reed. You're just like the other men who see the daughter of a red-light district owner and think I'm an easy fuck. It's not going to happen," Eleanor replied, certain that it never would.

"There's that fire mouth you have. I'm afraid you're a bad mind reader. I didn't kiss you because I thought you were easy. I simply kissed you because I wanted to at the moment. Believe me, you annoy me, but at the moment I felt the need to kiss you. I honestly don't give a damn who your parents are," Reed added as he never once cared about her connection to the red light district.

"I'd like to believe that but I don't," said Eleanor.

"This is the last time I am going to seek you out. I have no time to waste in this game of catch-Fuck!" Reed grabbed his side and hunched over.

Eleanor panicked seeing that he was suddenly in pain. "W-What's wrong with you?" She reached out her hands to help him but didn't know how to help him.

"That bastard. Don't worry about it-"

"Don't worry? I'm trapped in a carriage with a man who is in pain. Why does their home seem so far away today?" Eleanor asked, trying to peep outside to see how far away they were from the home. She was certain the carriage was going at a speed where one could walk past it. "Did you just hurt yourself?"

"No, yesterday when I was fighting Simon that bastard wounded me. The doctor said it was going to take a few days to heal. Just give me a moment," Reed said.

"You fought with Simon?" Eleanor asked, surprised as she hadn't heard about anyone fighting Simon, but then again, she did hear Edgar's men were involved in solving the case. "We're almost there. Are you sure you do not need my help?" Eleanor asked, standing up from her seat to go over to where Reed sat.

The carriage finally stopped and Eleanor was ready to get out and find someone to help Reed. Eleanor opened the door and helped Reed get outside. She ignored the weight of the man leaning against her and helped him outside.

"Why are the two of you coming out of a carriage? I thought you were going to the gates to deliver a message," Caleb said as he walked down the steps to his brother and Eleanor. "What the hell is wrong with him?" He pointed to Reed.

"His wound from when he fought with Simon is hurting him," Eleanor said.

"Wound? What fucking wound-"

"My brother will help me from here. You shouldn't keep the Duchess waiting," Reed talked over Caleb who didn't have the sense to put two and two together.

"You should come to hold him when I let go," Eleanor said to Caleb.

Caleb wasn't thrilled about the idea of holding up Reed and all his lies. How desperate was Reed to be lying to Eleanor? "You can go inside Eleanor. I will make sure my brother and this painful wound of his are taken care of.  When you go inside, be sure to tell the Duke that Reed's wound from his fight with Simon is hurting. I'm sure he'd want to know."

"Okay," Eleanor said, letting go of Reed who groaned in pain. 'The main character faking a wound to get a woman's attention should be added to the next book,' she thought. Eleanor realized what was happening thanks to Caleb's poor acting. She was angry with Reed, but she had to applaud him for getting her so worked up.

Eleanor planned on telling Edgar if she came across him so Reed would have to keep up his act.

"You've started to stoop low," Caleb said to Reed who stood up straight when Eleanor went inside. "Is this how you get women to be with you? As  your brother, I am a little ashamed."

"I'm ashamed of the fact you have been fake engaged to Sally for weeks now and though you like her, you've never shared a kiss with her," Reed replied, patting Caleb's back as he walked past him.

"I hope this all blows up in your face, you bastard," Caleb muttered, following behind Reed so could witness when Eleanor would figure out Reed was lying to her.

Meanwhile, Eleanor walked with Alfred to find Alessandra.

"Did something happen? You've been smiling since you came in. I thought our guests would be annoyed by the visitors we have at our gates," Alfred said.

"What?" Eleanor snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh, nothing happened honestly. I'm surprised the Duke has not gotten rid of the people at his gates. Is he aware of the fact that a small group is cursing him, the court, the guards and the King? It is led by some of the families who were not fortunate enough to have their daughters returned to them alive. They want the Duke and everyone else to answer for why Simon is already dead."

"I cannot get angry with them for being upset that their daughter's killer is dead, but it still isn't right to harass the people who searched high and low for the culprit for months. Do you mind not mentioning this yet? I'd like the two of them to have a peaceful day, ignoring what is happening with the town," Alfred requested.

While the town would become chaotic, harassing the court, guards, and King for answers about Simon's death and perhaps wanting them to apologize, Alfred wanted the couple here to just enjoy a day without any noise. They weren't given a chance to peacefully enjoy the experience of bringing new life into the world.