The Duke's Masked Wife

"What connection does this young woman have with me?" Edgar questioned, confused by who around him could have died.

"She's been identified as your maid, Duke Edgar."

"Does the murder seem connected to the ones with the kidnapped girls?" Asked Edgar.

"No, not at this point," the young guard replied.

"Then, I do not have to go with you. You can visit my home anytime to question my other servants and Alfred who will know more about a maid. I am not working on regular murders. If you find some connection to the other ones, send for me and I will come. Excuse me, we have been meaning to go to the bathroom," Edgar took Alessandra's hand and led her towards the bathroom.

"Shouldn't he come with us, sir?" The guard looked to Oliver to stop Edgar.

Any other day, Oliver would have taken Edgar to the crime scene and questioned him about the young woman. There were many cases he dealt with where the servant was killed by the employer after a secret affair took a turn for the worse. However, it was his job to inspect the scene of the crime and then go around asking questions. He did not need Edgar just yet.

"We'll have someone keep an eye on him. If we take him from the ball, there will be a lot of talk amongst the people here. I don't want this news to spoil the king's night. Our superior will have our heads if we do. We'll come back to question the Duke later. Let's go," Oliver ordered his subordinate.

On the inside of the bathroom, Alessandra was trying to process all the information she heard in a short period of time. From a forbidden relationship to death.

"Who do you think it is, Edgar?"

"How am I supposed to know, Alessandra? My land is filled with many young women who I have never met. Many of my servants leave my land at the end of their shifts and I do not care to question where they are going. We will find out by the end of the night. Why aren't you using the bathroom?" Edgar folded his arms. They left the ballroom for this sole purpose.

"Oh, I didn't need to use it. I just wanted to get you and Erin to stop talking about my nightwear. Ow!" Alessandra winced and touched her forehead where Edgar flicked her. "You underestimate how hard you do that, Edgar."

"You could have just said you wanted the conversation to end. Why did you have to pick a long route instead? Perhaps, you wanted to be alone with me?"

"No but it feels relaxing to get away from all the stares for a moment," Alessandra rested against the sink. "We have not been here for long and so much has happened. What more should I expect? Until I learn to dance, a ball does not suit me. It is not exciting to stand around and just watch others."

"Come," Edgar offered his hand for Alessandra to take. "We'll have a quick lesson."

"I don't want to embarrass myself in front of you, Edgar. I'm fine with not dancing tonight. I made up my mind about it far before we arrived."

"Don't be a scaredy cat, Alessandra. The best person to embarrass yourself in front of is your husband. Once you remember the steps you were taught as a child, you will be able to dance tonight. Show me what you know. My hand is getting tired of waiting for you," Edgar held his hand higher for Alessandra to take.

"I'm sorry," Alessandra apologized in advance. "Let's see. I remembered the tutor going like this," she moved her right foot first. 'One, two, three,' she began to count.

Edgar followed Alessandra's lead, slowly moving around the room as she recalled the steps children learned. "This isn't so bad-" Edgar's words were cut off by a groan when Alessandra stepped on his shoe. "That was my fault for distracting you. Try looking up instead of watching our feet."

"Okay," Alessandra replied but it was harder than she expected it to be. It was easy when she could look down and see where their feet were going. Now that she had to face Edgar, she completely forgot where she had to step next. Alessandra found herself constantly sneaking glances at their feet only to realize her mistake and look back up at Edgar. "I'm sorry," she apologized for stepping on his shoe again.

"It's alright. A little pain like this doesn't hurt anyone. You're overthinking where you have to step next, Alessandra. Let your feet move on their own. You are not a bad dancer," Edgar complimented her as they moved around the spacious bathroom."

"You are only saying that because I am your wife. I can tell I am dancing with no rhythm. Thank you for dancing with me," Alessandra stopped moving and placed her hands to her side. "Even if it was in a bathroom I can cross off dancing in the palace from my list."

"What else is on this list of things you want to do?"

"I would love to learn how to swim, ride a horse, see a lot of famous areas around the kingdom, try different foods, paint more, see the sunset on a hill, and many more things. It's a really long list I've created over the years for when I wouldn't be confined to my home. Ah yes, I can cross off wearing a fancy dress," she smiled, looking down at the dress Erin created.

"You didn't mention being with someone. Your first kiss or first love. Is anything like that on the list?" Edgar asked. It was all he ever heard young women speaking about.

"Ugh, well no. I never imagined getting married for a long time. I figured I might end up alone. People might not want to admit it to make themselves sound good but looks do matter and even if there were no stupid rumors about me being cursed, half of my face is still scarred. Why would anyone have settled for me when there are better choices and I am fine with being alone? That's nothing to worry about anymore as I am now married."

"What better choices? Perhaps you did not take a good look around the room. I think the problem is yourself, Alessandra. I know you would have found someone and settled down but you have forced yourself to believe no one would want to be with you. You have a wonderful personality and regardless of the scars, you are beautiful," said Edgar.

Alessandra felt a weird feeling in her chest and her eyes fluttered as tears threatened to fall. "You do not have to lie to cheer me up. We should return to the ball," she did not like being alone with Edgar like this.

"When have I ever lied to you, Alessandra? You are beautiful. It's a shame someone's jealousy broke your confidence and self-love. After all of our playful conversations, I thought you would have realized how much you entice me, Alessandra."

"I-I…" Alessandra found herself unable to give Edgar a response. Her own father had made it quite clear she lost the one thing that made a woman valuable but here was Edgar, one of the most desired men in the kingdom, saying she enticed him.

Alessandra decided to run away rather than listen to Edgar's words. It was hard to accept compliments from a man like him after many years of hurtful comments. She turned around and made a run for the door but as she turned the doorknob and opened the door slightly, Edgar's hand appeared on the side of her head closing the door.

"Three days was all it took for you to make me consider breaking my own rule. Prepare yourself for what you have started, Alessandra. I am not going to let the woman who has done this to me not see the beauty she has."