The Duke's Masked Wife

Two days later, Wilma had already departed Lockwood to return home to care for her husband. Lockwood was turned upside down during these two days as those invited to the King's birthday ball rushed to prepare for it.

It would be the highlight of the winter season so everyone wanted to look their best as one simple bad outfit would be remembered until the next ball.

Hazel returned to the palace as she needed to be dressed there and enter the ball by Tobias's side.

One by one, carriages lined up outside the palace to drop off the excited guests.

"This is grander than the first ball I attended. I still think we should have brought a gift for Tobias. He would have appreciated it if it came from you personally," Alessandra said. She sat in a carriage with Edgar, waiting until they would reach the steps to go into the palace.

Unlike their other visits, there wasn't a quick ride to the steps as they were met with too many carriages going in at once. Alessandra didn't mind the time to prepare herself before going inside.

"I will send him one-"

"It is better to hand it to him yourself," Alessandra interjected. "He would thank you in person and you get to see his reaction."

Edgar didn't see what the difference was. For most years, he sent Tobias a gift. Tobias would then find a way to get out of the palace to visit his home to tell him how much he liked the gift. "If I go myself, Tobias doesn't have an excuse to be away from the palace. He used to visit me to take a break from being inside the palace, doing his job as King. Linda is Hazel's excuse."

Edgar looked away from the window to Alessandra who sat all dolled up. If he had it his way, he would take her away from the palace and enjoy the night with just the two of them. First, he would like a portrait done of how beautiful she looked tonight. If the painter could not capture her beauty, it was only fair he gave up painting. Maybe his fingers too if Edgar wasn't in the mood.

"Will you be alright without your mask? You don't need to rush this," he said.

"We've been through this from the moment I told you that I wasn't going to wear my mask to the ball. I am fine but thank you for worrying. People will either accept this is how I am now or have something to say. All that matters is that I am ready. I don't want to be your masked wife anymore," Alessandra replied, feeling confident in herself.

She had gotten comfortable being without a mask at home around the servants and guests who came to see them. Alessandra was more than ready to show her face at the ball.

"If anyone talks about a curse, tell me right away. I will take care of it," he promised.

"No fighting tonight, Edgar. You should not ruin Tobias's birthday. I don't care if anyone mentions a curse. It doesn't bother me anymore."

"Fight? I will ruin their livelihood in the morning. They will see a curse affect their families for years if they speak ill of you. Stick with your friends and do not wander off when I am not near," Edgar instructed her.

"I am not a child, Edgar. I know not to wander off. Eleanor will be attending so I will meet with her. We will meet with Linda and then Hazel when she has time. If anyone troubles me, I will scream at the top of my lungs for you. Everyone will think a crazy woman has entered the palace," Alessandra joked.

"That might be the best thing for you to do. Or maybe I should have Reed enter the palace with you," Edgar seriously considered. No other guards aside from the palace guards would be present but the status of Reed's mother inside the palace would grant him entry as a guest.

Reed sat with the coachman and was meant to look out for any danger while all the guests were inside. It wasn't uncommon for someone to mess with the carriages while all the coachmen went off to chat with each other.

"I am certain Reed had plans to sleep in the carriage the moment we left. He will not be happy with this. Caleb would have done it in a heartbeat. It is almost our turn," Alessandra said, her nerves suddenly coming back as a man dressed in white was waiting to open their door. She touched her hair Sally had done an excellent job in pinning it up into a bun so a certain necklace could be displayed around her slender neck.

Alessandra was dressed in red to match the rubies decorating her necklace. There was no better time to wear the Queen's heart than now when she was revealing her face. Having no mask would get the people talking but the Queen's heart would shut them up. It was not worn by anyone in years so it would leave those who know about it puzzled.

"Good evening Duke and Duchess Collins. The King welcomes you to his birthday ball," a male servant greeted the pair.

"I will help her out," Edgar said when the man tried to give Alessandra a hand out of the carriage. "Her husband is still alive to do simple things like this," he added, forcing the servant to step back as he got out of the carriage first to help Alessandra.

"If I were dead, I would haunt any man trying to help you," Edgar whispered.

Alessandra chuckled and shook her head at Edgar's possessive behavior. "Thank you," she accepted his help. Leave it to Edgar to find a way to haunt someone.

"Reed!" Edgar called to Reed who was already dozing off at the front where the coachman sat. "You're coming with us."

"What the fuck?" Reed mumbled under his breath. He should have known his plan to rest would be ruined "Every sinlge time I look forward to resting there is some-"

"We should go inside now before you end up with a cold. You can leave your coat behind. I will send Reed for it later," Edgar said, not trusting her coat being placed with others. After the tea incident, he doubted the safety of the palace more than usual.

"Right," Alessandra replied, taking off coat to show of more of red dress.

"The Duchess is here without her mask," an endless night of chatter started.