The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride

"I would have," Kate said, biting her tongue as she could not finish her answer. "It doesn't matter what I would have done."

"What you would have done does matter. Clark had no one to lean on. I, too, found it questionable how he was able to support you after all I heard about him. Whatever reason she had, you benefited from it," said Noah.

Noah didn't think there was anything wrong with what Alessandra did. Even if Alessandra was trying to appear good in the eyes of the town, Kate benefited from it.

Kate didn't like how reasonable Noah was being. It was already eating her up inside that she would not have taken Clark going to Alessandra well.

"Are you going to ask that I care for her, or that I write to her, wishing well with the murderer?" Kate asked, unwilling to do either.

"No. I would never ask that of you since I know you would never do it. I think you needed to hear it to realise that she has already moved on. You can do the same and pass on the kindness," Noah suggested.

"Haven't I been doing that with the advice I am offering the ladies in the court? I am doing my best. Please don't think so little of me because I am not giving that kindness to Alessandra. We are not sisters," Kate spoke softly.

"I won't force it upon you, and I am most certain the duchess may share your feelings in not wanting to act as sisters. You are taking little steps to better yourself, and I am proud of you. Don't dwell on the past," Noah advised Kate.

Kate wasn't the same as she was when Noah first met her. She was more comfortable now, and though she still sometimes tried to defend her actions, she would eventually realise her faults.

"It is hard not to do so when Mark comes around to speak of the past. My troubles with Alessandra are with her and Edgar alone. I'm not going to wish any harm on her children, though she has likely caused harm to mine," said Kate.

Noah leaned down to kiss Kate on her forehead. "It is a good step. For this day, we have spoken quite enough of the duchess and her family. Since you don't need to go to the court tomorrow, we should spend the day together."

"Don't you need to work?" Kate asked, not wanting him to leave.

"I will not stop working because you earn from the court," Noah said, smiling.

"That wasn't what I meant. See, even you think the worst of my words right away," Kate muttered, tired of her failed efforts.

"Kate, I was merely joking. Can we not have moments in our lives where our words are not to be taken seriously?" Noah asked, going down to Kate's level to hold her hand. "I didn't mean to spoil your mood."

"You need to become better at telling jokes. It is not my fault that I misunderstood you. You must go to Mary before she worries herself too much and hurts the baby," Kate said purposely to move on.

Before Noah stood up, Kate held his hand and asked, "Knowing what I did in the past, would you have still married me?"

"No. I fear I wouldn't have gotten the chance to. You were the daughter of a baron, but don't think so little of yourself. My life wasn't all perfect. I have messed up far more than you did. I am the one who must be thankful you accepted it," said Noah.

Noah had a colourful past, which he never wanted to come to light. If anyone from his old life saw him now, they would be surprised that, the first chance he got since Clark died, he had not stolen from Kate and run off.

"We both had our fair share of mistakes. I know that over time, you can be better because I have been down this path before. I had to better myself. Before I met you, I did not think I would be married and building houses," Noah said, still surprised by his change.

"What did you think you would do?" Kate asked.

"I was certain that old mistakes would catch up to me and I would be placed in a cold room somewhere in the palace. Clark's offer to court you saved me, and I am grateful for it. I won't have you think that you are the only bad one here," Noah said, palming Kate's face.

They both made terrible choices in their younger days and failed as parents to Warren. When Kate passed her hatred for others onto Warren, Noah wasn't stern enough to correct Warren or Kate.

"I must know. Do you intend to raise Mary's baby as a replacement for Warren to correct the mistake we made, or is there some other reason?" Noah asked, worried that her intentions were the cause of losing Warren.

"How could that even be a thought you have? I will not claim a child I have not birthed as mine. That child will only belong to Warren and Mary, but I will be here as a," Kate choked up, unable to say the word. "They will make me old."

Noah chuckled. "You are still quite young in my eyes. What you are doing for Mary is good."

"I am doing it for Warren. Mary made a foolish mistake. If my mother were alive, no," Kate corrected herself. "I cannot speak of my mother scolding Mary."

If Katrina Barrett were still alive, she would not be pleased to see her daughter married to such a common man.

Kate cleared her throat and said, "We've all made mistakes at one point. Hopefully, she listens to my advice and does not do this again. Should she become pregnant again, I will not care for the next child."

"You cannot expect her not to marry at some point," said Noah.

"She may marry, but I don't want her to be tricked again. If Mary wants to marry, the child she shares with Warren must stay here. Once I feel Simon no longer lingers, I will pass on his home for someone else to make use of it," Kate decided.

Kate had something which could offer her family money. While she didn't want to set foot in Simon's old home, it might be useful to someone else in the future.

"I am certain that once they hear the tales of what occurred there, they will not want to live there. I am also certain that no one in this town would want to buy that home, but I am letting go of it," said Kate.

Simon's home was the last connection Kate had to him, and she truly wished to sever the tie.

"It is a good choice. Now, let us find Mary," Noah said, turning Kate's chair. "Then we must go to bed."