The Duke's Masked Wife

"Alfred, what the hell was that? Are you determined to make Alessandra think I invite all sorts of women into my home? Do not play the petty game with me. I will throw paint across the floors for what you have done," Edgar leaned up against a door post in the kitchen with his arms folded.

"I do not know what you are speaking of. If you and the Duchess are going to engage in any sexual activity, the two of you should go to the privacy of your bedroom. You wouldn't have been in this position had you been patient enough to return to your bedroom. The two of you shouldn't have gotten dirty with paint anyway," Alfred muttered.

"You are talking as if I was going to have sex by the front door. It was innocent fun that you have ruined. You interrupted our conversation about having a child. Now that will be pushed back."

"I'm sure you can make up with her soon and talk about it," Alfred switched his tune now that a child was involved. Had he known that was what they were talking about he wouldn't have been petty because of the paint. "I can tell her she misunderstood my words."

"No thank you. I don't need you to dig a deeper hole and the moment has passed.  You should know you can never bring up the matter of children to us. I have to deal with a cold shoulder thanks to you. I should introduce you to someone only to ruin your relationship with them," Edgar placed his hands in his pocket and left the kitchen.

Edgar prepared himself to deal with the silent treatment the moment he entered their bedroom. He was certain after one or two jokes he could get her to speak with him again. Although the moment was ruined it was enticing to see Alessandra be jealous at the thought he had someone here.

Edgar entered their bedroom and heard talking coming from inside the closet. The dress Alessandra previously wore lay on the floor near the closet. "Alessandra," he made his presence known. Edgar began to unbutton his shirt as he also needed to change into fresh warm clothes.

He sighed at the lack of response though he could hear whispering between her and her maid. Edgar placed his shirt in a basket used for dirty clothes as he passed by to go into the closet. "Alessandra, we need to talk."

Edgar watched Sally aid Alessandra with putting on her new dress. "Bring us some tea and treats. She was outside in the cold air far too long," he ordered Sally.

"Yes Duke," Sally turned to leave but before she could take a second step Alessandra spoke.

"Stay, Sally. I will go downstairs with you," Alessandra ordered Sally.

'What? Don't tell me they are arguing and now I am in the middle,' Sally started to panic. She wanted to disappear into thin air.

"Alessandra, I will not play this childish game with you. Get out now," Edgar said to Sally. "I will not say it again."

'I'm sorry Alessandra but I am more afraid of Edgar than you,' Sally mentally apologized to Alessandra while she bolted out of the closet to get away from their argument.

"I have never slept with anyone in my home. I will admit that I have never slept with anyone and looked for a serious relationship afterward. It was always in the spur of the moment due to lust but never in my home for anyone to get the wrong idea. I have been honest with you from the very beginning and I will not start lying now. Alessandra," he called her name as he wanted a reply.

"I understand. You do not have to explain it to me. I do not care where you have slept with anyone. There are no feelings involved, remember? I would have no reason to get angry."

"Oh boy," Edgar looked to the ceiling for a moment wishing he could reverse time right before Alfred arrived. "You have a right to be annoyed if you think I am fooling around with you in the same place I had sex with another woman. It's a situation I expect you to not be okay with but it never happened. Alfred is just being petty because of the paint and now he feels sorry. Communicate what you are feeling, Alessandra."

Alessandra wished to move on from it but there was a rule in the contract for the two of them to communicate their problems. "I did feel upset at first but then I got over it. It's not you that I am angry with right now. It's myself. I feel stupid for walking away over something like that."

"It would have been odd if you continued to stand there. It's amazing how two little words caused this. I was thinking of getting back at Alfred but he's already suffering. He dug his own grave," Edgar chuckled.

"How?"

"I told him he interrupted us talking about children and now he is regretting playing with us. How about we torture him a little bit more? It's hard for me to let an opportunity pass by. Please pretend as if you are still upset with me. I want to see him self-destruct and apologize only to find out there is no problem," Edgar grinned as he imagined the priceless moment.

"No thank you. I do not want to join you in teasing Alfred. Have fun," Alessandra began to walk out of the closet.

"It's either you or him that I torture. I still have not told you my secret and we seem to be on good turns to continue-"

"Pretend to be angry with you right? I can do that," Alessandra swung around, accepting to go along with Edgar's plan.

"Good decision," Edgar patted her head as he walked by her to go to the door. He opened the door and looked at Sally falling to the floor because she had been eavesdropping. "I will place spikes on the door for you to fall on if you don't stop eavesdropping. What are you wishing to hear from our bedroom, you perverted nosey little thing?"

"N-Nothing." Sally jumped back up to her feet. She was only trying to hear if they had reconciled.

"You were supposed to be bringing us tea for the Duchess to warm up and snacks but here you are. Luckily, we need you for something. Go get what I requested and make sure you find a way to tell Alfred that the Duchess and I are not speaking to each other. We might also need separate rooms tonight. Add whatever is needed to get the point across that our relationship has taken a hit. Go on," he shooed her away.

'But the two of you seem to be good," Sally thought as she was highly confused. She could only conclude they were playing with the butler but why? 'Hey, better him than me,' she shrugged her shoulders and left to do as she was told.

"Why on earth did she shrug her shoulders and walked away? Has she finally lost her mind? It was bound to happen," Edgar closed the door.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Alessandra started to regret joining Edgar to mess with Alfred. "We might cause him to have a heart attack."

"That would make us exceptional actors."