The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 138: Fighting back (4)

"Must your kindness to me depend on whether my mother would help you? The way I heard the duchess was described, I thought you wouldn’t need to gain something to help others," Warren said, tiptoeing around the question.

Warren was met with a gun pointed at his face.

It didn’t come as a surprise that a man with many resources and a business that dealt with the making of guns was pointing one at him now.

Warren looked right at the gun. Edgar and his family underestimated how he didn’t fear death.

Warren didn’t have a title or wealth. He had an ill mother who sometimes made his life hell, and he owed money which he had yet to find a way to turn into far more money so he could pay it back.

Warren didn’t have much to live for, and his death might spark the downfall of the Collinses.

"Do it," Warren urged Edgar. "My mother would help you," he lied.

Alesandra didn’t believe Warren. Though Warren was Kate’s son, he didn’t seem to know his mother like Alessandra did.

Alessandra wanted to give the benefit of the doubt that perhaps Kate had finally admitted to her wrongdoings and she had become a changed woman, but even then, Alessandra didn’t want anything to do with Kate.

"You must go," Alessandra said, touching Edgar’s hand and slowly pushing it down for the gun to be lowered.

Alessandra didn’t want her daughters to witness Edgar shooting anyone. She hadn’t noticed it at first, but after looking at the girls for a moment, she noticed a crowd was standing near the door.

This was exactly what Warren or maybe someone else wanted, and Alessandra wouldn’t allow her family to be placed in even more hot water.

Matters like Warren approaching them could be dealt with privately. Edgar was very good at it and hadn’t been caught for years.

Warren smiled since Edgar didn’t have the guts to kill him. He watched as Alessandra whispered something to Edgar, and the duke’s gaze was elsewhere.

Edgar sighed, frustrated that he couldn’t kill the little bastard for approaching Alessandra. Like Alessandra said, he had to think of Penelope since she was faced with plenty of gossip.

It was harder for Edgar to put away his gun when Warren was smiling like he had won something. Unfortunately for Warren, this wasn’t over. Edgar could play these games as well, and he was far better at it.

Edgar smiled, puzzling Warren.

Warren’s brows were knitted, filled with confusion. Why was Edgar smiling when he had lost this one?

From the crowd of eavesdroppers, Tyrion emerged with Elijah right beside him.

Tyrion first looked at Penelope, checking that she was not harmed and remained just as he had left her. His gaze then went to the duchess momentarily before settling on Warren.

Tyrion’s anger from his unfinished business with Zane targeted Warren.

"What is he doing here?" Tyrion asked, drawing closer to Warren.

Tyrion had never once forgotten the interaction Penelope had with Warren at the ball.

"I have come to ask my aunt for help, but it doesn’t seem like I will get it. I am surprised not to get the kindness I hear others speak about concerning the duchess. Maybe you could talk some sense into her," said Warren.

Tyrion noticed Edgar’s hand in his coat and assumed that there had to be a gun. If there was one, why wasn’t Warren shot dead?

Tyrion turned around to face the crowd he walked through. "Duke Collins, I think it is time that the women return inside so we can talk with Warren. We will only talk," he promised Penelope.

Tyrion was well aware of how a death at a ball, either by his hands or Edgar’s, wouldn’t be the best timing with Penelope and the duchess already being blamed for events that were not their fault.

However, Tyrion needed to talk with Warren. It was long overdue.

"Take your mother and the others back inside," Edgar told Elijah.

"Unless all of you want to be brought out here to be dealt with, I suggest you go back to enjoying the ball," Tyrion addressed the crowd. "Now!" He yelled when they wouldn’t move.

The crowd dispersed, making it easy for Elijah to take the women back inside.

Tobias exited just as Penelope entered the ballroom.

Penelope looked back, hoping the talk wouldn’t lead to her father or husband being injured.

’What is the meaning of this?" Tobias asked. "I heard you got into a fight," he said to Tyrion.

"It was nothing. Why did you approach the Collinses? I do not believe it was to get help from the Duchess. It seems that you have a wish to die," said Tyrion.

"I have come for help. You should have thought twice about the family you were-"

"Don’t ramble," Tyrion said, not interested in Warren’s thoughts about the Collinses. ’Who put you up to this? It couldn’t be that you were so foolish to come up with this yourself."

How did Warren manage to get an invite to this ball?

Lady Spencer was a sweet woman, but even she was not one to invite someone who had no name or wealth to her home.

Tyrion didn’t miss the coat Warren wore. It bore the symbol of a tailor in town who wanted his work to be distinguished from the work of others.

Kate needed help, yet Warren was dressed extravagantly.

"Don’t approach the duchess or the duke for help when you would rather spend your money on things that do not matter," said Tyrion.

"I don’t know what you mean. I have not done anything wrong for the prince and the king to be standing before me, along with the duke. I came for help, but did not receive it. I hope the town sees that the duchess isn’t as kind as she claims to be," Warren said.

Tyrion smiled. "Father, wasn’t it recently that the court showed some interest in the former Marquess case? Especially with the lady Bella, who was a victim, finally speaking out about her experience a year ago. We should invite Kate to the court."

Warren frowned. His mother wouldn’t do well outside.

"There is much that was missing from the case since Simon died before you could get many answers, and the two surviving ladies were too traumatised to say all that they knew. Speaking with Simon’s former wife should help with your current troubles," Tyrion suggested.

"You cannot do that. My mother cannot leave our home. She has not stepped foot outside our gates," Warren argued.

"That is because she cannot walk. Court guards will visit to lift her out. Expect their arrival," said Tyrion.

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