The Duke's Masked Wife

"You should be wary of certain streets in town and you should put your coat on when you feel cold. Everyone underestimates how this time of year causes a lot of people to get sick. If you start to feel sick please return home."

"Alfred, she is not a child. As much as I am happy that your concern has shifted from me to someone else, she does not need your lecture as if she is going to war. She is only going to town to do shopping or whatever trouble she can find herself in. Stop being an overbearing parent," said Edgar.

"I don't mind it," Alessandra replied much to Alfred's delight. "Thank you for the advice, Alfred."

"I'm just a little bit worried about the Duchess going out without you, Edgar. You know a lot of people will either flock to her and try to do something stupid. I don't want her day to be ruined by others. Should we increase her guards to three? I think it is warranted on the first day out," said Alfred.

"One guard is sufficient. I know the danger around her and there is a reason why there is only one man with her. His skill is like having four men around her. Are you done now?" Edgar directed his question at Alfred. The only reason he and Alessandra had not left yet was because of Alfred's worries.

"Yes yes. It's good to have the two of you out of the house after that stunt you pulled yesterday. I'll give the house a good cleaning and then read a book. The two of you must be back by six to prepare for dinner. Have a good day, Duchess."

"You're aware I'm standing right here?"

Alfred didn't pay Edgar any mind. Why would he tell Edgar to have a good day when he was going to ruin someone's day?

"Have a good day, Alfred. Thank you," Alessandra said when Edgar offered his hand to help her down the steps where a carriage awaited her. "Good morning, Sally," she greeted the young woman waiting for her by the carriage.

"Good morning Duchess, Duke."

Alessandra looked at the blond man standing next to Sally. He was incredibly tall and buff. He wore the same armor she saw other men and women wearing around the house from time to time. As Alessandra got closer to the carriage she realized how much the man towered over her.

"I would hope my dear wife isn't gawking at her personal guard. I am tempted to switch him with someone else," Edgar's words snapped her out of her thoughts.

"I was not. I'm surprised there is someone taller than you. It is already a struggle to look up at you when we are standing close. Where have I seen him before?" Alessandra questioned as his face seemed to be familiar.

"My brother works at the gates, Duchess. We are twins. It is an honor to be protecting the Duchess. My name is Caleb Chambers, height is six feet three, hair color blond, favorite color blue-"

"She only asked where the hell she saw you, Caleb. There is no need for you to give her your life story. Do not make me regret picking you. If one strand of my wife's hair is out of place when I return home I shall have your head and send it back to your father as a present. Do we understand each other?" Edgar asked.

Alessandra elbowed Edgar in his stomach. "That was a rude thing to say. It is nice to meet you, Caleb. Blue is one of my favorite colors. Have you and Sally become acquainted with one another?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Edgar asked while holding onto Alessandra's hand to stop her from walking to the carriage she would be using.

"Goodbye," Alessandra offered him a smile. "Have a good day?" She added that goodbye didn't seem to be enough.

Edgar sighed and released her hands. He could tell her what he was expecting but it would be better if she thought of it and did it on her own. "Goodbye."

'Did I do something wrong?' Alessandra asked herself. Judging from Edgar's expression she did but normally, he would have told her what was wrong.

Alessandra watched Edgar walk to his carriage before going to her own.

"Duchess, why didn't you give the Duke a kiss goodbye?" Sally asked the moment Alessandra came to her side. "The two of you won't be seeing each other for many hours. Shouldn't you give him something to hold onto?"

"Was that what he was expecting?"

"Of course," Sally smacked her face. What was she going to do with Alessandra? "For once, I pity him."

"I agree, Duchess. There's nothing like having the woman you are with sending you off with a kiss. Small things like that matter. There was this one woman I spent time with who would pleasure-"

Sally lightly smacked Caleb in what felt like an iron stomach to stop him from talking about what he did with some random woman. "Let's get in the carriage. Erin will be waiting for us to pick her up."

"Shouldn't I go give Edgar the goodbye kiss now? His carriage has not moved off yet," Alessandra looked to Sally for advice. She never imagined Edgar would care about this. Maybe they were wrong about what he wanted.

"The moment has passed and he will know someone sent you to do it. The next time he is leaving home, you should do it. Please give me your purse to hold Duchess," Sally took the purse Alessandra was taking along with her.

Alessandra decided to do as Sally suggested when it came to giving Edgar a kiss. Maybe doing small things like that would make their relationship seem more real to others around them. Alessandra entered the carriage Edgar prepared for her to use today. It was quite a shock when she learned he had five carriages at hand.

Sally placed her hand over her eyes to protect them from the sun when she looked up at Caleb. "Are you riding with us or beside the coachman?"

"I am meant to be near the Duchess. I will ride with the two of you," Caleb replied. He was never going to leave Alessandra's side or Edgar might have his head. After many years of being alone, Edgar was finally married and all of the men made an oath to protect the woman he fell in love with.

If Caleb allowed Alessandra to get hurt when he was meant to be guarding her, it wasn't just Edgar who might aim for his head. All the other guards would be out for his blood. Even his own brother.

'Can the carriage even bear his weight?' Sally thought while she turned to enter the carriage before Caleb. 'The day is off to a good start for getting to sit next to this hunk of a man.'

Sally had to refrain from jumping up and down from being able to look at Caleb all day. It was even more exciting to hear him mention a twin. She might pass out if it was possible to spend an entire day with the two good-looking siblings.

Everyone spoke about how well Edgar's servants were paid but they hardly mention the good-looking men he had working for him. Sally wanted the good-looking men to remain a secret so that there would be fewer women looking at them. The best part of working here was when the men would train topless but as winter was approaching, they trained fully clothed.

Caleb entered the carriage last and closed the door. With everyone inside, the carriage took off to start the journey to Erin's home and then to the town where there were many shops for Alessandra to visit.

As the carriage turned to head towards the gates, Alessandra was able to see Edgar in his own carriage sitting by the window. He was watching her carriage leave first and then his would most likely move off. Alessandra stuck her hand outside to wave goodbye to Edgar who did the same in return.

"Caleb, are you feeling what I am feeling?" Sally asked the man beside her after watching Alessandra so lovingly wave goodbye to her husband. Must they always rub it in everyone else's face that they are alone?

Caleb nodded his head as he knew what Sally felt."Like a third wheel reminded that we go home to a lonely bed at night? I feel it loud and clear. Isn't our life sad? Why must we be reminded that we are single?"

"Good to have someone else join the alone club. Hello, I am the queen of this club," Sally offered her hand for Caleb to shake. Outside of his looks, she was enjoying his personality. It was good the Duke had not chosen someone who would remain serious all the time.

"Thank you for letting me into the club. Shall we talk about all the couples on the estate behind their backs?" Caleb jokingly asked while he shook Sally's hand.

"Please find a better club to join," Alessandra said to the duo.