The Duke's Masked Wife

Though Rose had offered Alessandra the choice to leave, she was slightly surprised Alessandra had taken it.

"I'm sorry for having you pick me and you've already told your friends about me but at this time, I really want to enjoy the peace before Edgar and I go back to Lockwood. There's a lot back home that I already have to deal with which is part of the reason Edgar decided to travel here. I-"

"No need for you to keep trying to explain choosing peace. I understand it, dear. I'm used to the playful banter and the cattiness of the women here but my excitement to show you off made me disregard how you would feel. I have a feeling there is a sad backstory behind the mask and your life may not have been easy. It is me who needs to apologize to you. I'm sorry," Rose sincerely apologized to Alessandra.

"Thank you," Alessandra accepted the apology. "I would still love to spend some time with you. There is so much I can learn from you. Considering Edgar and I will soon have to return to Lockwood, would you care to spend the day with us? I was planning to go shopping and leave Edgar home but we can all go out and then return for dinner."

"Are you asking that I skip out on this party I have been invited to by a dear friend?" Rose asked in a stern voice and judged Alessandra.  "I don't see why I should miss out on a day with Edgar," Rose chuckled, enjoying the momentary look of horror on Alessandra's face. "I was merely teasing you, dear."

'Another example of why Edgar probably should not have spent so much time with her,' Alessandra thought.

"Back to my grandson's residence," Rose ordered the coachman waiting outside to open the door. "My sister is sick and unlikely to attend so it would not have been fun anyway. Do you have any siblings, Alessandra?"

"I have a half-sister but we do not have a good relationship," Alessandra answered.

"What a shame. I don't know how life would be without my sister. It's important for a child to grow up with siblings so that when their parents are gone, they have someone to be there for them. Nothing is stronger than a bond between siblings."

Alessandra saw right through what Rose was trying to say and asked, "Is this your way of telling me that Edgar and I should have more than one child?"

Rose clapped her hands, impressed with how quickly Alessandra caught on. "Of course. Why only have one child when I can have many great-grandchildren to play with?"

"I have to let you know early that although Edgar and I will one day have a child, it will not be anytime soon. We are not ready for a child in our lives right now."

"Well now you are hurting this old woman's heart but I can wait. I will hold all of my great-grandchildren before I pass on. After winter, I will visit you and Edgar in Lockwood. It's been so long and I must see my son. I need to wack some sense into him for letting his wife disrespect you," said Rose.

"I don't know if I can say this since I am new to the family but it has been on my mind for a while. I am not a fan of Priscilla as she is trying to ruin my marriage but there seems to be some talk of Edmund cheating on her at some point. I have heard it twice and one of those times it came from Edgar's mouth. It might have played a large part in her unhappiness."

"It did not. My husband was the one to arrange their marriage even though he knew Edmund loved someone. Priscilla found out about this woman before she married my son and to everyone's surprise she continued with the wedding. Priscilla made it clear she could live alongside Edmund and his mistress as long as no one else found out about it to ruin her reputation. I found it to be nonsense and got rid of the woman," Rose explained.

She continued to say, "That woman showed up once in a while in Edgar's youth until Edmund stated he had fallen for Priscilla. Priscilla stated she found love in her marriage but if you ask me, those two have just tolerated each other for the sake of Edgar. Not that they needed to because that boy hardly cared for either of them and what they did. Priscilla has always been obsessed with her reputation and that is why she dislikes you for Edgar."

"Edgar no longer needs his parents to be together so why haven't they divorced?" Alessandra asked.

"It is obvious dear. No one wants their reputation to be damaged by becoming divorced. The young ladies will look at Priscilla differently and question why her marriage failed. Edmund would be fine but after years of living with that woman, he must care for her enough to not want her to lose the reputation she treasures. Ridiculous," Rose rolled her eyes. "Perhaps he does love her but it certainly more than how much Priscilla loves him."

'Please let me continue to have a simple marriage,' Alessandra prayed and looked out the window as the carriage took her back home.

Twenty minutes later, Edgar was standing before them.

"What kind of party was that?" Edgar questioned the two women as they exited the carriage. "You are aware you are meant to stay to chat and eat? Is there some new trend among women to get dressed, greet each other at the party, and then return home? Not that I mind of course. We can continue where we left off this morning."

"None of your dirty talk while I am present Edgar. Alessandra chose peace over drama so we have returned to spend the day with you. Where is that eye candy you go everywhere with?" Rose walked past Edgar as she was interested in someone else.

"Eye candy?" Alessandra looked at Edgar for an explanation.

"She's referring to Alfred. My grandmother likes looking at him but I always have to remind her that Alfred is off limits and you are too old to be looking for new love," Edgar repeated the same thing he always told his grandmother when she came looking for Alfred.

"Oh, hush. Romance has no number. I will see the two of you inside," Rose replied.

"I was not expecting that. You can let go of my hand now," Alessandra told Edgar. The moment she stepped out of the carriage, he had held onto it.

Edgar tightened his hold on Alessandra's hand. "I am making sure you don't fall."

"I am standing still," Alessandra retorted and tried to pull her hand out of Edgar's.

"But you are bound to start walking any second. Don't lie and say you have plans to stand outside when the rain is going to fall. It is also clear you enjoy my touch due to the red hue of your cheeks. I recall you were the one that permitted me to touch you more."

"Not like this!" Alessandra argued.

"Oh, so it was meant only for me to touch you sexually? If that's the case," Edgar placed his hand on her waist before sliding it dangerously slow down to her buttocks.

"Edgar!"

"What? I am doing as you told me to or will you allow me to keep holding your hand?" Edgar asked with a grin as he knew he had won this battle.