The Duke's Masked Wife

The hardest task Edgar experienced in his life was convincing Alessandra that it was Reed returning home with work for him to do and if they did not move now, their moment would be interrupted. Alessandra didn't believe it at first but with some luck, Edgar was able to wash away her doubt.

While Edgar locked their bedroom door and even placed a chair behind it as an extra precaution when Alessandra went into the bathroom, Rose entered the front door of the house.

"Where is Alfred?" Rose asked as loud as her voice could go. She took a trip straight to Lockwood the moment news of what happened to Alfred reached her ears. Now that she was here the house was too quiet for her liking.

"Lady Collins," a passing maid greeted her, shock evident in the young woman's voice as she was not informed of Rose Collins visiting the home. There was always so much to be done whenever Edgar's grandmother was in town.

"Good evening. Where are Edgar, Alessandra, and Alfred?" Rose asked. She wanted to see Alfred specifically.

"Alfred is resting and the Duchess was by the door a moment ago," the maid named Tiara looked around for Alessandra. She was quite certain she spotted Edgar walking toward Alessandra and the two should be by the window. 'Unless he ran when he saw his grandmother coming as he does with his mother,' she figured.

"Take me to where Alfred is resting. Then go inform the Duke and Duchess that their grandmother has arrived. I wish to speak with both of them right away," said Rose.

Tiara nodded her head. "Alfred is resting this way," she pointed toward Alfred's room then walked ahead of Rose to lead her there.

"This is not his room. Why is he here instead of in his room? Is he badly hurt?" Rose asked, wishing that it wasn't the case.

"I've heard that when Alfred was found the Duchess had him taken to the nearest room. I believe he was unconscious when he returned home but he is better now. Alfred comes out of the room to have dinner with the Duke and Duchess. Alfred," Tiara knocked on the door. "Lady Collins is here to see you," she said then opened the door.

"Find my grandson and Alessandra for me. I shall take it from here," Rose said, entering the room without the maid. She disliked the sight of Alfred on the bed with an arm bandaged up as soon as she walked in.

Just like Rose, Alfred was a person who could not keep still so seeing him on the bed riled her up.

"What a pleasant surprise. Did you come to town for Edgar's birthday?" Alfred asked though he knew the real reason why Rose was here days before Edgar's birthday.

"I am not here for Edgar's birthday you old fool. First of all, my grandson has not told me what his plans for his birthday are yet. I assume he plans to spend it with his wife. What happened to you, Alfred? Why are you in this state?" Rose asked, holding back the anger she felt to get to the bottom of this.

Rose was only informed that he was attacked but was not given more details. She had not sat around long enough to wait for more news to come in.

Alfred didn't want to be the one to inform Rose of Priscilla's involvement in this just like he didn't want to tell Edgar. Just like her grandson, Rose would see out blood but with less mercy than what Edgar was giving his mother. Rose's dislike for Priscilla over the years would make it easy for her to hurt Priscilla physically.

"We should leave that until Edgar arrives. He will have more news to share with you. You must be tired after a long ride here.  I can have one of the maids prepare the room you like so much," Alfred said.

"Even when you are wounded you are still the butler," Rose shook her head.

"Unfortunately, I am no longer the butler. I didn't have the time to write to you that Edgar has fired me," Alfred muttered, still displeased with no longer having his job.

Rose thought she heard it wrong that Alfred was fired but when she saw his anger, she knew she heard it right. Rose could not hold back her amusement with the matter and found herself in a fit of laughter. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried to apologize for laughing at what clearly upset him but her apology was lost in her laughter.

Alfred didn't take any offense to her laughter. In fact, he enjoyed seeing Rose genuinely laugh like this. As head of the Collins family, she always had to be strict as there was so much crap she needed to put up with. "I am glad that one of us found it funny," he laughed along with her.

"I am sorry," Rose finally managed to apologize as she wiped a tear from her eye. "I never expected Edgar to fire you and for you to take it so easily. What is it that he has fired you for? Did you meddle in his relationship again? I hope it is not that as I have meddled with it also. Do you think he will disown me as his grandmother," she snorted and the laughing began again.

"Ha ha," Alfred dryly laughed this time. "He fired me because he wants me to be a part of the family. His children will grow up calling me grandpa," he recalled the most important part in all of this. The only bright side to being fired was he would have more time to take care of Edgar's children.

"So you have been demoted to babysister. I envy you Alfred. You will spend more time with the children than I will. I will have to wait for when Edgar is in the mood to visit. I should consider visiting Lockwood more often but the trip is a burden and the people here are a pain. What would it take for me to convince Edgar to move?" Rose wondered.

"It is not Edgar you must convince, it is Alessandra. Edgar may be against it but if Alessandra mentions wanting to leave, he will follow. Don't let them know I had any part in this," Alfred put his hands in the air as he wanted no parts in meddling. "I might lose my role of babysitter if Edgar finds out."

"It's a shame you cannot threaten to walk out of this house unless you get your job back. Edgar will see right through your ploy and help you pack your bags. Where are those two? I sent a maid for them. I hope they come quickly," Rose said since she needed Edgar to tell her what happened to Alfred.

Meanwhile, Tiara looked around the first floor for Edgar and Alessandra but did not have any luck. Of all times for the two to disappear, why now? As big as the house she did not have the time to search all of it for the couple. She hoped they had gone to their bedroom or private rooms.

"Moxy!" Tiara called out to another maid. "Warn the other maids that the Duke's grandmother is here. Have you seen the Duke and Duchess?"

"I saw the Duke carrying the Duchess to their bedroom. I advise you to not interrupt them," said Moxy. It was obvious what the two ran off to do.

Tiara found herself between a rock and a hard place. "But his grandmother is looking for the two of them. Should I at least knock or just tell her they are busy? When is Sally when you need her?"

"I think you should tell her that you are busy and drop enough hints for her to understand why they should not be disturbed. Think of who you wish to disappoint more. The Duke or his grandmother?"

"Neither!" Tiara whined.