The Duke's Masked Wife

Alessandra entered the house ready for whatever Priscilla would throw her way.

"Duchess, my shoes," a maid awkwardly scratched the back of her head and tried to hide her bare feet as much as possible.

"Oh right," Alessandra looked down at the shoes she borrowed to go outside. "Please come to my room after dinner. I will give you one of mine  that I have not worn as a thank you for offering me your shoes."

"T-That's not needed, Duchess," the young girl blushed. "Excuse me."

"What interesting habits you have," Edmund commented on the sight of Alessandra standing barefoot. "Have you and my son grown tired of shoes? He wasn't wearing any a moment ago."

"I was out all day so my feet were a little swollen and red. Edgar was kind enough not to wear his shoes so that I do not seem odd. Now that I think about it, why do we have to wear shoes inside our homes? It's such a hassle," said Alessandra.

"I'll be honest, I take them off as soon as I get home. It's not like the floors are dirty and I wash my feet before getting in bed. It's a surprise my son took it upon himself not to wear shoes along with you," Edmund found that little detail to be interesting considering this was Edgar. "Anyway, I've been meaning to give you a gift as my daughter-in-law. Think of what you want and when you are ready, please tell me."

"Thank you. Should I also give you a gift?"

"No no. I'm meant to be the one spoiling you. It'll be good for me to get on your good side so you can persuade Edgar to see me as you did just now. You and I will be good friends," Edmund winked his right eye.

It seemed harmless but Alessandra didn't like the idea of anyone giving her gifts so they could use her to get to Edgar. Even if it was his own father. Edmund would be disappointed in the future as she had no plans of getting into their business.

So far she liked Edmund but she did not know him at all. The last time they were all together it seemed like he was playing a game between her and Heather but when things got out of hand, he played peacemaker. Perhaps he did it to tease his son but it placed her in an uncomfortable situation as Heather clearly liked Edgar.

An awkward silence fell among the two once the greetings were over.

"What are you doing standing around with my wife?" Edgar narrowed his eyes, finding his father to be suspicious. "You cannot bribe her."

"I was not trying to. Be careful when walking around barefoot, son. You might bruise your skin and make your mother have a heart attack."

"If only," Edgar grabbed Alessandra's hand as he passed by and pulled her away from his father.

"I will see you at dinner shortly," Alessandra said to Edmund. "Slow down, Edgar.'

Edgar released her hand when they reached an empty space in the hall. "What's going on here, Alessandra? Have you forgotten the last two encounters you had with my mother? I'm her son and I don't even want to be around her. Speak truthfully."

"Your father wishes to speak to you about Jennifer. He shouldn't be excluded from your life because of what your relationship with your mother is like. Maybe he has some clues about what happened to her and will be able to show you were not involved so no one gets the wrong idea because she was your maid."

"Alessandra, I don't give a damn about public opinion. I don't care if people think I was involved in her death. Facts will come out later or maybe they won't but eventually, this town will move into something else. I know I had nothing to do with her death so think about it. The only reason my father is here is that he has an idea who did it and wants me to either hide or expose it. I'm not getting involved," said Edgar.

Alessandra did not see it that way. It was true if Edgar had nothing to do with it, why was Edmund here instead of going to the town guards? Was Edmund truly here to make Edgar hide who the killer is? The only person she could think of Edmund trying to hide the truth for was Priscilla. "I'm sorry for being rash with my decision," she apologized. "I only want for her murder to be solved so the guards no longer view you as a suspect and for your father not to be pushed away because of your mother."

"You might not see it yet but I have equal issues with my father as my mother. I'm more level-headed with him because he's not as stubborn as my mother. The night was going so good," he picked up a strand of her hair and caressed it. "I was expecting to end on a high note."

"It won't if you allow your mother to stress you."

"I was avoiding that by not letting her inside but someone went ahead and sided with Alfred. We can still throw them out now if you have changed your mind," said Edgar.

"If I was passing by you on the street and heard you say this, I would never assume you are meaning your parents. If your mother, at any point in time, gets out of her seat to come for me, then we can throw them out. I don't mind her words. It's about time I show I can handle anything as your wife. Edgar?" Alessandra had to take a step back to balance herself after Edgar rested his head against her shoulder.

"You make me conflicted. I don't know if I should protect you or let you bring chaos to this town as I anticipated," his muffled words against her skin were heard.

"After the pain that I've endured over the years due to ridiculous rumors, you should let me bring chaos. What a mighty married couple we would be," Alessandra said as she imagined how tables could turn in the future.

"Do not say that because now I am looking for some entertainment. Let's go to dinner," he lifted his head from her shoulder. "I can hear your stomach muttering that it is hungry."

"That is not true!" Alessandra exclaimed as she would have felt her own stomach. "I am warning you, one of these days I am going to tease you far beyond what you have done to me and you'll regret always playing with me."