The Duke's Masked Wife

"What now?" Priscilla stopped brushing her hair for a moment when her bedroom door opened and Edmund walked in. She expected him to scold her for dismissing his mother.

"I'm sorry for everything I put you through. I told my mother I won't fight the divorce and I asked her to not speak ill of you. We both know that won't happen but I at least want you to know that I told her. I will be returning to our house in White town once I finish my business so it would only be fair that I get that house," said Edmund.

Priscilla was surprised by how he had finally joined her in wanting to separate. "I did not like that town enough to want that house so you can have it. I won't be petty and try to own it. You need to tell the servants to send your belongings there because I have been telling all the maids to send your things to hell so I have no clue where they planned on sending them."

Edmund chuckled as it was the only thing he could do after hearing her words. It was very much like her to tell the servants to send his things to hell.

"I hope you do not think I am joking because I did tell the servants to send them to hell. My first thought was maybe they would send your things to your mother's house. That is the closest thing to hell for me.  I accept your apology but I would honestly feel better if I were not looking at you right now," said Priscilla.

"I know. I had to come to let you know I will not try to convince you to work things out. We were never meant for each other. You must know that at one point in time, I did love you even if I did not do a good job at showing it," Edmund confessed.

"And I love you at one point. At the beginning when you were kind to me, I loved you. It didn't go away when I learned about the woman you loved. I thought I could stomach you being with her as long as you continued to be kind to me. I was young and foolish obviously. Waiting for it to be my turn to be loved. The realization that it would never happen might be worse than the pain of birthing Edgar. My anger stemmed from hurt and it has taken you twenty-five years to properly apologize," Priscilla said, slowly continuing to brush her hair.

"We were both young and dumb in our own ways. I've done things I should apologize for to others. Our marriage wasn't fun to be a part of but we did get a wonderful son out of it. No matter how he treated the last few days we still have a good son. Right now I do not wish to be near you but I would like for us to be cordial at some point. We've been together for twenty-five years and I don't want to be always avoiding you. I only have one request for you," Priscilla turned in her seat to completely face him.

"If you get back with that woman, do not ridicule me.  Try not to stand before me with her by your side. I do not love you but it still hurts. You might not believe it but I have feelings. If I were to ever fall in love with someone, I would not belittle you before them. Not unless your mother starts a whole lot of rumors about me," Priscilla added as she would fight fire with fire. "If you don't mind, I am in the middle of getting dressed. I have a closet I need to fill. Shopping for dresses calms me."

"Alright. I will try to be gone by the time you return. Goodbye Priscilla," Edmund said, going back out of the room to leave her alone.

Priscilla stopped brushing her hair when the door closed and looked at the ring which suddenly felt heavy. Despite asking for a divorce, out of habit she woke up and put on her wedding ring. It would be strange to be without it or see Edmund daily. However, she did not mind being alone and happy rather than married and miserable.

Meanwhile, in the Collins estate.

"Edgar, I will tie you to this bed if you try to leave it again," Alessandra said, pinning her husband down to the bed.

"That isn't much of a threat and I am enjoying you holding me down," Edgar replied as it only riled him up.

"I warned you to stop leaving home without a coat and now you are burning up. You do not want to admit it but you are sick," Alessandra pushed him back down when he tried to get up again. On other days she would not be able to overpower him so easily.

Alessandra woke up to Edgar's body drenched in sweat and his body hot. Edgar claimed to be perfectly fine though it was apparent he was not.

"Are you the type of person who doesn't like to admit that you are sick to avoid taking medicine? There is no other reason for you to deny you are sick. You do not have a cough right now so we must make you better before it gets worse. Let me take care of you," said Alessandra.

"Will you nurse me back to good health?" Edgar asked, now interested in staying in bed if it meant she would take care of him.

The only reason he did not want to stay in bed was due to the fact William's death would have been discovered late last night and Grant would be hung in a couple of hours. He did not want to remain in bed for when the guards would come trying to question him and get to Alessandra first because he was resting to get over a small fever.

Alessandra bit her lip to refrain from scolding Edgar for being more interested in her taking care of him instead of wanting to get better. He was a difficult person to deal with when he was normal so she knew to take it slow with him when he was sick. Once she got him to stay in bed, she planned to call for backup. Surely, Alfred had experience getting Edgar to rest.

"I will personally take care of you today as long as you remain in bed. Now I regret what we did last night. I should have made sure you wouldn't get sick."

"I am not sick," Edgar repeated for the fifth time. "I believe I know my body better than you do. I will be perfectly fine if-"

"Edgar, in my eyes you are sick and I will not share a bed with you let alone kiss you if you are burning up like this.  Which do you prefer? Getting out of bed now while you are not well or sleeping alone tonight?" Alessandra asked though she already knew the answer.

"You are a cruel woman," Edgar relaxed, no longer fighting against staying in bed. "Have Alfred give you medicine so I can get this over with quickly," he closed his eyes. "When the palace doctor comes to check on you and Hazel, you must not have me stay in bed."

"I won't but it is still a while before the doctor comes and for Eleanor to return. Rest until then. I will come back with the medicine shortly," she said, releasing his hands now that he was no longer resisting.

"Hmm."

Alessandra slowly sat up from the bed, making sure he was not tricking her and would try leaving the bed now she had released him. Luckily, her threat had worked. Alessandra hurried out of the room before Edgar might change his mind about staying in bed.

"Oh, Alfred. I was coming to look for you. Is this our breakfast?" Alessandra closed the door behind her so Edgar wouldn't hear their conversation. She looked at the tray of food in Alfred's hands.

"The two of you didn't join everyone so I brought food up. Is everything alright?" Alfred asked. He didn't get to speak with Edgar when he returned yesterday to know if he was wounded or not.

"Not exactly. Edgar has a fever-"

"We must move quickly," Alfred pushed the tray into Alessandra's hands. "It's been so long since he has gotten sick. I will have the cooks prepare a better breakfast with more healthy food to help him get better. I will need a towel and water to help him cool down. Excuse me, Alessandra."

"I see why Edgar never needed a wife," Alessandra muttered, feeling like her role of taking care of Edgar was stolen by Alfred.