The Duke's Masked Wife

"Good morning Alfred. What are you watching outside?" Alessandra asked as she walked down the stairs and found Alfred looking out the window by the door.

"Good morning, Duchess. There are people by the gates. I heard from one of the guards that news about the Marquess has spread like fire through the town. The paper men have come to get information from Edgar to write in tomorrow's paper and some of the townspeople are outside. It'll be a busy day for the guards at the gate," said Alfred.

"So early," Alessandra said, going to Alfred's side to get a look at how many people were by the gates. "Edgar has no plans of going outside to speak with anyone. They would have better chances of going to the court. If they are going to stand outside our gates, I hope they don't try to rush in when we have guests. They will end up hurting themselves."

"The moment they step on Edgar's land we have the right to do as we please with them. Do not worry about them, Duchess. Where is Edgar?" Alfred asked, looking back up the stairs expecting Edgar to not be too far behind Alessandra.

"When I left our bedroom he was still laying around in bed. He should sleep a bit more after being out so late yesterday. I'm looking forward to having Edgar home more often. Please make sure no one goes into our bedroom to disturb him and I don't want him to know about the people at our gates yet. Eleanor is to arrive soon so please inform the guards to help her safely get inside," said Alessandra.

"Yes, Duchess. Oh! You have another letter. It came in the early hours of the day."

"Who is it from?" Alessandra asked, following behind Alfred as he was going to the letter.

"It is from your mother," Alfred replied.

Alessandra frowned and stopped walking. "Another one? Why is she so persistent now? She wasn't like this when my sister pleaded with her to make me stay the last time. This needs to stop."

"Perhaps she is trying to make up for what she did wrong," Alfred said, picking up the letter from the table he placed it on. "You've been doing well with getting Edgar to speak with his mother again. Why not continue to work on you and your mother?"

"Because her actions don't seem the slightest bit genuine. I would love to create a relationship with my mother, but I have a feeling she is only inviting me to dinner because her husband is in town. I will not help her look good in front of her husband. I don't see why she has not left town when I said grandfather is ill," Alessandra said, quickly reading through the letter which was yet again another invitation to dinner. "She's going to regret not meeting with him one last time."

Alessandra gave the letter back to Alfred since she was not going to entertain the request. "I would like to meet with my sisters again, but I wouldn't put it past my mother to try tagging along with them. I have no reason to meet with her husband when I don't want to see her. Please throw away all of the letters from my mother. I am not in the mood to deal with her invitations."

"Understood," Alfred replied. Melanie had no idea how much she messed up for someone like Alessandra who liked to see the good in people and gave them second chances to not want to continue mending the relationship with her mother. 'Well, Melanie was given a second chance and she blew it,'' he thought.

"Before you go, there is a letter addressed to Edgar. I think it's best to give you a heads-up that Rose might be coming back to town soon. It seems she will be holding a family dinner here in honor of Edmund's birthday," Alfred said.

Alfred was aware that Alessandra and Rose did not end on good terms and with Alessandra being so close to Priscilla these days, it would only make Rose angry. Rose was already petty enough to send an invitation to Alfred, who was just the butler in this family, and one to Edgar.  Alfred sent a guard out to double-check that there was a letter for Alessandra that was messing, but there was none. As of right now, Alessandra didn't seem to be invited to Edmund's birthday dinner.

It was like Rose to forgive Edgar who took his wife's side, but Rose would want Alessandra to apologize and listen to her once more. Alfred felt like he was back in the early days of Edmund and Priscilla's marriage. Priscilla's refusal to bow to Rose was what started this long hatred between the two.

"Another family dinner. It's unlikely that Edgar would attend. He's not really a fan of his father at the moment or ever. Then there's that woman who might be back with his father. I take it from your expression that I wasn't invited to this family dinner?" Alessandra asked. She was hoping after some time apart everything would go back to normal between her and Rose. She had long moved on from what happened over a month ago.

"There were only two invitations sent to me and Edgar," Alfred answered.

"Right," Alessandra sighed. "Well, if you and Edgar want to go, I won't stop either of you. I will find something else to do. Maybe invite a few friends over and have a dinner of my own. I should warn Priscilla that Rose will be in town. The two of them shouldn't stumble into one another. There's going to be a lot of noise when Rose finds out I am pregnant and Priscilla has been helping me, right?"

Alfred nodded his head. The moment this was known, it would create chaos in the Collins family for those members who cut ties with Priscilla right as soon as they received word about the divorce. The Collins believed in loyalty and right now, they would view Alessandra as not being loyal for seeking help from the woman who cursed this family with divorce.

"I should accept Edgar's offer to go on a trip. The last thing I want to argue over is who is helping me during this time. What would it take for there to be no arguing or drama in our lives?" Alessandra asked as just when life started to feel peaceful there was something to pop up and disrupt the peace.

"Move far out of Lockwood and never speak with any of your relatives again. I'm afraid that is the only way for peace. Many couples eventually move to the edge of Lockwood which is more quiet. I would recommend you and Edgar take a few trips out of town as the months go on. Enjoy the moments and make more memories for when it will just be the two of you," Alfred said.

"Maybe I should take the lead in planning a trip for us. Edgar always takes the lead. I will think about it, but as for right now with our gate being blocked, we won't be going anywhere. I am going back upstairs with Edgar. When Eleanor arrives, please send for me," Alessandra said.

The house was quiet and for the moment, there was nothing to do so she would go back upstairs and maybe read a book while Edgar continued to rest.

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