The Duke's Masked Wife



Alessandra wasn't thrilled by the news of Daniel coming to Lockwood with Rose. She had no positive interactions with him and what he had said to Edgar was out of line. Rose was being petty, but did it need to go this far? Why was it hard to sit down, have a simple conversation, and promise not to be so controlling in the future?

"I can convince my parents to make him stay if it upsets you, Alessandra. I don't see why Daniel wants to be in the same town as Edgar after Edgar broke his teeth. Well, there is Rose's house that he is after. He truly believes that he can get his hands on it. I will speak to my mother," Dominic promised.

'That is not necessary. I'm not going to have any run-ins with Rose or Daniel when they come to town. Once Edgar hears of it, I might end up with more guards surrounding me. Instead of five," she looked at the group standing by the balcony door. "I might end up with ten. I have not seen Hazel walk around with so many guards."

"That is why what happened with the Queen not having an heir would never happen to you. I need to hire a few more for myself when Edmund's birthday is closer. Why are you still here, Dominic? You have never sat around chatting with me," Priscilla said, staring at the face of Dominic who should have made his exit by now.

"I'm trying to make some changes so visiting you will be one," Dominic said. "And I have to drop Heather off at home. I promised her father."

"Well, at this point I should have lunch prepared for us. I will have it started to be on time for when Edgar arrives," Priscilla stood up.

Alessandra wondered if Edgar had sent a message that he was coming. He had not mentioned coming here when they went their separate ways after breakfast. Alessandra would never bet money that Edgar would visit his mother's home. "How do you know Edgar is coming?" She asked.

"Because you are here," Priscilla stated the obvious. "I don't see why he has placed so many guards around you just to show up wherever you are. It won't be long before he shows up so I will tell the butler to start preparing lunch for us."

"It is a miracle that you have Edgar willingly visiting his mother's home and it's not because he's coming to argue with her. Let me just," Dominic touched Alessandra's hand and rubbed it so he could get some of her abilities to work on him. He kept his attention on the door so Edgar would not walk in on what he was doing. 

Alessandra pulled her hand away from Dominic. "It is already a task to get used to Edgar's personality and actions. I don't want to start having to figure you out too, Dominic. Did the two of you enjoy your time decorating Domnic's home?" She asked and right away she noticed how shy the two became. "Nevermind," she added to avoid making the two uncomfortable.

"Alessandra, I thought you and I had a pretty good relationship. Why did you get pregnant-"

"What?" Edgar asked, walking out to the balcony.

Dominic felt a pang in his chest from the fright of Edgar magically showing up. "What the hell is up with your timing? Aren't you supposed to be at the court? How are you here already? Are the rumors about you being a monster who can fly true?" He became suspicious. 

"This isn't far away from the court. You know the ride here is short. What were you asking about her getting pregnant?" Edgar asked as it sounded like something that would intrigue or anger him.

"You've gotten married and now you are adding a child to your family. Do you know what this means for me?" Dominic asked the pair.

Edgar looked unamused while Alessandra nodded her head.

"Your mother is going to tell you about Edgar being married and having a child," Alessandra answered.

"Correct," Dominic clapped for the right answer. "Every shit Edgar does gets put on me. My mother once tried to buy me the title of Duke. Can the two of you stop doing things?" He pleaded with Alessandra and Edgar. 

"Weren't you supposed to be getting a fake marriage? Or instead of continuing to hide your feelings, just tell the woman beside you that you love her so your mother will be satisfied," Edgar nonchalantly revealed Dominic's feelings for Heather.

Alessandra held onto Edgar's hand and squeezed it as punishment.

"Dominic has always had feelings for you when we were younger, but he feared you would not take interest in him. Your time decorating his home was more so he could spend time with you. His mother had already paid for someone to decorate his home. It was her way of trying to get back on his good side," said Edgar.

"Do you truly have feelings for me?" Heather asked in belief.  She felt something during their time alone, but didn't want to ruin her friendship with Dominic. She thought she had been reading too much into his kindness and would have made a fool out of herself if she mentioned liking him. 

"I thought it was painfully obvious that I was courting you. I mentioned many times that you could stay in my home for as long as you like. It would have been easier if I just let you know that I was courting you," Dominic realized, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. It was never this hard to court any other lady. Heather made him feel like a fool. 

"Yes, it would have made things much easier. Well, instead of going to take me back home right after this, would you like to visit the market and walk around with me?" Heather asked, playing with her fingers for some reason. It was obvious he would say yes so why was she nervous?

"We would need to inform your parents first. Your mother would say yes, but I already told your father the time I would have you home by," said Dominic. Heather's father wasn't too pleased with his wife letting Heather visit his home without a companion. Dominic received a lengthy lecture about not even breathing so close to Heather. 

Alessandra's mouth was slightly open due to the fact Edgar had managed to push the two into becoming a couple. 

Edgar sat down beside Alessandra and pushed her chin up to close her mouth. "Just say thank you. Now we don't have to watch the two of them act shy with each other."

Alessandra turned to face Edgar. "You are amazing," she complimented him. 

Edgar folded his arms, enjoying the compliment. "Have you only now noticed? Go on, compliment me more," he encouraged her.

"No, complimenting you too many times in one sitting will not end well for me. Why have you come from the court so early?" Alessandra asked in an effort to change the conversation so she would not have to compliment him any further.

"The usual happened. Arguing, me almost getting slapped, and Kate might need to borrow your old masks to cover her wound," Edgar mused, on the verge of laughing as he remembered her face when he made the offer.

Alessandra didn't think the wound Simon gave Kate would have her wearing a mask. "I can only imagine that Kate was the one to argue with you for offering masks?"

"It was mostly her mother that I argued with. Kate looks like she is struggling with something. That attitude she once had is not there. The meeting ended early because she could not handle speaking about Simon."

"Living with Simon must have taken a toll on her. Hopefully, her attitude changes after this. I know Kate cherishes her beauty more than anything in the world. We grew up hearing about the importance of a woman's beauty from our father. That we are nothing without. I hope she decides to wear a mask so that she can feel what life was like for me," Alessandra spoke, enjoying the way life took a turn for Kate.

Kate started the wounds on Alessandra's face, but the lies Kate helped spread about a curse were what helped to make life difficult for Alessandra. Kate should get a taste of what life was like behind a mask.

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