The Duke's Masked Wife

"What is it?"

"It is obviously a flower, Alessandra."

Alessandra tilted her head to the left to see what Edgar was seeing and then tilted her head to the right. "What kind of flower is it? It doesn't look like any I have seen in your garden. Is it a rare flower?"

"Are you teasing me, Alessandra? It is a simple blue flower. You see the petals here, the stem and leaves here," Edgar pointed out the obvious. He clearly saw the vision of the flower he painted.

Alessandra looked again and even squinted her eyes in hopes to see the flower painted. Nothing on the canvas before them resembled a flower. "Well done."

"Do not compliment me when you do not see that it is a flower. I told you I have never had any interest in painting. We cannot all be able to paint flowers in a vase as you have but I believe my painting is more artistic."

"Well, it is all about perspective. I see a bunch of circles and lines but you see a flower. You have to sign it now and then we can find a space to hang it up. I'll get you a new canvas to actually draw a flower this time," Alessandra left Edgar's side.

"You are quite sassy today Alessandra. Why are you being so cruel to someone who is not a professional painter? Is this your way of getting back at me for teasing you all the time? Please get out of my way," Edgar ordered the kittens who were hellbent on playing with his feet. "Alessandra, please come for these little creatures."

"I do not understand why they have taken a liking to you when I have been feeding and cleaning them along with Sally. Maybe they are both females and have fallen for your face. It won't matter if I move them, they will run back to your feet. I am jealous," Alessandra muttered.

"I'd bet if I stepped on their tails they'd-"

"Edgar!" Alessandra sprung around and walked back to Edgar's side. "You cannot hurt them. I will place them in a box to keep them out of trouble or maybe they should go with Sally. Would you like that-Oww," she pulled away her finger after the white kitten scratched her. "Why are your claws so sharp already?"

"That is for not seeing that my painting is a flower. Well done," Edgar said to the kitten.

'They are meant to be my kittens. Why is he teaming up with them against me?' Alessandra thought as she rubbed around the small scratch on her hand.

"Since the two of you are so close please place them in a box or open the door and hand them over to Sally. I do not want to be scratched again," Alessandra left Edgar's side. "You are blessed to have any and everything falling in love with you."

"How could anyone look at this face and not fall in love with me? It's a blessing and a curse. That is what we should call the kittens. The white one will be named blessing and the black one will be cursed."

"Absolutely not. I am going to find better names that suit them shortly. I'll hang this up for you," Alessandra replaced Edgar's painting of a flower with a blank canvas. "I will have a wall dedicated to just your paintings and another with mine. We can place them in a way to show our progress the more we paint. That is if you will have more time to paint in the future."

"I can make time for something like this, Alessandra. I work at home unless there is something concerning the missing girls. In no time I will become a better painter than you are. Let me help you," Edgar walked over to where Alessandra had been tiptoeing to place his canvas on a hook. He placed one hand on her waist while the other took the canvas from her and hung it up. "It is not bad to ask for help."

"Do you ask anyone for help? It seems like you always have everything under control. Who do you go to when you need help?" Alessandra continued looking forward. Once again, the feeling from last night returned as Edgar's other hand made its way to her waist.

There was no need for him to hold her any longer when the canvas was already hung up.

"There are some things I cannot predict or control and I need help from those around me. I ask Alfred for help many times and there is a rare occasion where Tobias is useful. You have helped me get rid of annoying pests by marrying me. If there is ever a moment when I need your help, I can come to you right?" He asked dangerously close to her right ear.

Alessandra left a tingle by her right ear as she felt Edgar's words against her skin. "Of course. I would love to be helpful to you in the future. We should get back to painting right now."

"Why? There is plenty of time for us to continue painting. We have to take a moment to think about what we are going to paint next," he repeated the words she told him when they started to paint. "I would love it if you can teach me how to paint an ear as red as the one right in front of me," he grinned right before leaning down to lick the back of her neck.

Alessandra's face warmed up and to escape Edgar teasing her once again, she moved her hands to try pushing him back but ended up elbowing him in his stomach.

"Dammit woman," Edgar released her waist and hunched over to get over the sudden pain. "If you are determined to wound every inch of me, just say that."

"That was your fault for suddenly licking me but I apologize. Does it hurt really bad?" Alessandra started to worry she might one-day break Edgar with the number of times she accidentally injured him.

"I fear you might need to kiss the pain away."