The Duke's Masked Wife

"Edgar, what on earth do you mean by the two of you did not sleep together? I left the two of you looking happy and enjoying your time together. Are you playing with me?" Alfred asked full of suspicion. Had this been anyone else he would have believed it but Edgar was always playing around.

"Alfred," Edgar sighed as he poured himself a cup of water. "I do not have time to deal with your questions. I am already dealing with enough. I don't want to be bothered by anyone."

Alfred inspected Edgar's tone and body language. It did not seem like Edgar was playing with it but what could have happened to make the two like this? "Edgar, please be honest with me so that I know how to deal with the Duchess. Regardless of what happened, you want me to make sure she is alright, right?"

"I was a fool to open up my heart to anyone. My life was fine before she stumbled into it-"

"We both know that is not true!" Alfred yelled out of frustration. This was the happiest he had seen Edgar in a long time. "You were home all alone just working yourself away. The Duchess brought warmth and love into your life. Something that you desperately needed. Whatever happened, the two of you can get past this. Go to the Duchess and reconcile."

"I am not going anywhere, Alfred. Alessandra," Edgar paused to force a guilty expression. "Does not want to see me right now. We need some space from each other. We have been too close these days. When the butler arrives, inform him to bring my breakfast to my private room so that Alessandra can eat at the table as she likes."

"Edgar!" Alfred exclaimed. Edgar and Alessandra were never one to argue. Alessandra might push him away because of the teasing but then she would end back up close to Edgar, laughing about something. Quite a few times they would communicate their feelings when a problem arose which was why he found it easy for them to express they loved each other.

'That's right you old bastard,' Edgar deviously thought.

"Do not push the matter, Alfred. I do not want to be interrupted," said Edgar.

"Wait! Young master!" Alfred called out to Edgar but he was ignored. "Lady Rose, what has happened? I need to see Alessandra."

Alfred knew Alessandra would be much better to talk to than Edgar.

"Oh! Good morning," Calvin greeted Alfred as he entered the front door but received no reply. "He is quite fast on his feet. I guess there was good news from last night's events. Get to work quickly to prepare breakfast," he ordered the maids and cooks who had arrived on time just as he requested.

"Yes sir."

Meanwhile, Alfred impatiently knocked on the bedroom door desperately wanting to see Alessandra right now.

Sally opened the door and once she saw that it was Alfred she knew that things with Edgar had not gone well. "The Duchess is inside the closet getting dressed on her own. She doesn't want me to aid her although I am used to doing it every morning," she informed Alfred. Sally wished Alfred and Edgar's grandmother would stop meddling in the relationship of the couple.

"Inform the Duchess that I wish to come in," said Alfred.

Sally left the door and went to the closet where she informed Alessandra of Alfred on the outside. "You may come inside," Sally told Alfred after she got Alessandra's approval.

"Good morning, Alessandra. I must apologize for not returning to you and Edgar yesterday. Circumstances arose to prevent us from returning."

"That is alright," Alessandra replied.

Inside the closet, she had chosen a dress that needed to be tied from the front. If she had been one second late getting out of the bathroom, Sally would have found her with the cloth wrapped around her body and quite possibly seen the marks Edgar made on her chest.

"Alessandra, it seems to be some sort of issue between you and Edgar. Can you please enlighten me as to what went wrong yesterday? I don't like to see the two of you at odds," Alfred said, hoping Alessandra would be open to talking about it.

"I do not wish to go over the events of last night, Alfred. I need some time to think," Alessandra replied as she stepped out of the closet with her dress tied and her mask present. "I wished all of you would have been here last night. It would have- never mind," she shook her head. "I am glad to have all of you back safe and sound."

"Is Edgar downstairs?" Alessandra asked in a shy tone as if she was reluctant to speak about him.

"Yes, if you wish to join him for breakfast-"

"No," Alessandra looked off to the side. "I do not want to see him any time soon."

Yet again Alfred wondered what could have happened between the two and said, "Duchess, can you-"

"Alfred," Alessandra stopped him before he could intrude. "I would like to be alone. Sally, can you please bring my breakfast up here once it is done? I will spend the rest of my time here and start packing. You are both free to go now."

Sally opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. She had no idea what was happening between Alessandra and Edgar to try offering advice. Alessandra and Edgar were always the ones to communicate with each other so all everyone else needed to do was give them space and mind their business.

Sally saw Edgar as a needy man who always needed to be around his wife these days so she figured it wouldn't be long until he gave up and tried to reconcile with Alessandra. "Please call for me when you require my help. I will bring your breakfast shortly," Sally excused herself first.

Alfred was reluctant to leave but there was nothing he could do. "Please have a good day," he said before leaving.

Alessandra sighed in relief after Alfred finally left the room. The plan had jumped into action so quickly therefore she was worried she might mess it but Sally and Alfred seemed to believe the act. "I could join the theater as Edgar said," she muttered.

She could not wait to see the look on their faces once the truth would be revealed.

"Wait, Edgar did not tell me when this would end. How long are we supposed to fool them?" Alessandra wondered out loud. She did not want Alfred to be too concerned for a long time but Edgar could carry this on forever. "I hope it does not go on forever or Alfred's poor heart will fail from guilt."