The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 48: Embarrassing (2)

"I told you to leave when she started to act like that, yet you stood there. You’re going to end up fired," Warren said, walking away from Mary. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Mary looked around, making sure no one was around to spy on them. Then, she followed Warren to his room.

"Mr Kennedy instructed me to stay by her side until he came up to take care of her. I can take what your mother says," said Mary.

Mary knew that Kate had her moments of rambling on about things that weren’t true. It was best to ignore everything that Kate said.

Besides, Mary didn’t want to court Noah behind Kate’s back. He was not someone that she had any interest in.

Mary entered Warren’s room to tend to him. "I think it is because she is placed by the window that Lady Kate gets upset. I wish to take her to the garden."

"You are to do as you are told. Have her be by the window so she can see the people passing by," said Warren.

His mother needed to see the outside world before she completely lost her mind.

Mary approached Warren to help him take his coat off. "It is the mention of balls which upsets her. Perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to get her a lovely dress to wear so she can remember what it is like to attend balls. If only you could hold a ball here."

"Do not make foolish suggestions," Warren said, discarding his shirt.

Warren knew Kate would never get dressed up again. She would take one look at her feet and insult everyone because they were beneath her.

Mary wrapped her arms around Warren’s waist, trying to comfort him. "You and your father both need help with your mother. It is hard on you both. I heard that when her uncle was here, she was in a much better state, but even then, he was alone."

Mary smiled, enjoying that Warren did not push her away. "You’ve needed help from the Collins family. They could employ the servants you need to look after your mother or to get her the finest doctors. You did nothing to them. They at least be kind to you."

Warren pried Mary’s hand from around his waist. "Kind to me? I’m not considered their family."

Warren couldn’t think of one time he had been around the the Collinses and they acknowledged him. They acted like he had done something to them when he was an innocent child.

As kind and welcoming as his aunt Alessandra presented herself to be to the town, she failed to put her issues with her sister aside and notice that there was a child who needed help.

"There once was a time when I wanted them to take mercy on us and take me into their family. Their son and daughters live such a spoiled life with the world at their fingertips, while I am here to care for my mother, who is haunted by an unfortunate past," said Warren.

There was a time when Warren hated his mother because he didn’t understand her outbursts, but he soon realised that it wasn’t her fault.

Kate had been punished for the things she did. She lost everything she loved. How could anyone remain sane after that?

Kate had been punished while the Collinses got to live happily ever after.

For a child left to tend to his mother every day, it wasn’t fair.

"Perhaps it was best that you weren’t taken in by the Collinses because you would have become like them. You are a great man," Mary said, inching closer to hug Warren.

Mary managed to snake her arms around his waist again. "You are a good man."

Warren looked down at Mary. "I told you not to come to me like this."

"No one is here to see us," Mary replied.

She knew how upset Kate would get if she learned her son was sleeping with her maid.

This was why Kate had greatly misunderstood which man had caught Mary’s eye.

Warren allowed Mary to keep her hold on him. He did it to satisfy her so his mother wouldn’t learn of them sleeping together.

It was nothing serious for Warren. She was the only woman around back then when he needed something to distract him from his mother’s behaviour.

Mary wasn’t someone Warren would marry, but Mary didn’t seem to realise it. He didn’t say it out loud to keep her loyal to him.

"I need to get changed," Warren said, stepping away from Mary. "You have work to do. My mother resting doesn’t mean you don’t have other duties. If you keep this up, I won’t be able to convince my father to let you stay."

Mary smiled. "Mr Kennedy thinks highly of me. Despite what Lady Kate says, I have become quite used to her. She might not take it well to have a new face around. What is this?" She asked, noticing a bag on the table.

"Get out," Warren ordered Mary. "I want to be alone."

Mary didn’t understand what she had said or what she had done wrong. She was only curious.

Despite the way Warren spoke to her, Mary was not upset. Something else had to be bothering him, and he was taking it out on her without realising.

"I shall return to my duties," Mary said and then proceeded out of the room.

When Mary opened the door, she was startled by Noah’s presence.

"Mary," Noah said, stepping into the room. "I was wondering where you went. Since Kate is resting, you should do your other chores. Or, were you helping my son with something?"

Mary didn’t know what to say.

"I told her to help me get changed. I just sent her off to do her other work. What do you need?" Warren asked, placing his shirt over the bag of money he received. "Leave us, Mary."

Noah sensed there was something more to why Mary was in a room with Warren since she had never helped him dress before. Her job was mostly to look after Kate and perform other small duties around the home.

Noah waited for Mary to leave the room to then said, "You don’t need to hide it from me if there is something between you two. I won’t judge you."

"I have nothing to hide. I’m not going to marry a maid, so don’t go digging around for something which doesn’t exist. What have you come for?" Warren asked, worried his father knew where he went.

"We have a job which is going to pay well. I need you to come with me," Noah said, excited to share the work he found.