The Duke's Masked Wife

"You need to join me for dinner tonight. We will be having a few couples over so do not think of burying yourself in any work. You are supposed to be retired which is the reason we moved away from Lockwood," said Priscilla.

On the opposite side of the table, Edmund sat reading a paper while the maids rushed around them to place breakfast on the table.

"Edmund!" Priscilla called him again after no response. "Whatever is on that paper cannot be more important than what your wife is saying."

"I beg to differ," Edmund finally replied. If he continued to ignore her, his ears would only suffer. "I told you to give me proper notice when you want to entertain your friends. A day in advance is better."

"If you had come to bed while I was still awake you would have heard of it sooner. It isn't only my friends but yours as well. We haven't been around many of our peers since we returned. Well, you have not."

"I don't care to be social like you are. I grab a drink with a friend once in a while and call it a day," Edmund replied.

"That is why your reputation will fade away. People will forget you ever existed. Speaking of reputation, I have to suffer through questions about your son's wife. I have a headache just thinking about it," Priscilla said, touching her head. "I cannot stomach the thought of Edgar creating a new generation with that girl who has nothing."

"He loves her so you should stop judging her and welcome her into the family. From my mother's letters, Alessandra has been welcomed into the family. You are only making trouble for yourself by being against their marriage. Take her under your wing and Edgar shall come around again," Edmund suggested what should have been done from the beginning.

"Under my wing?" Priscilla chuckled as she found it to be a joke. "I only pick girls with good backgrounds under my wing. My standard will fall if I let someone like her in."

"She is now a Duchess and your daughter-in-law."

"I do not recognize her as either," Priscilla replied.

"You mustn't-"

Priscilla looked to her side where the chatter was coming from. She informed the maids she liked silence in the morning so whoever was creating the noise was looking to be fired. "Who is it being so loud? Send them away-Edgar?" Priscilla choked up at the sight of her son.

For a moment she thought she was still dreaming as she watched him approach the table.

Edmund placed his paper down, surprised to see Edgar paying them a visit. "Edgar, what a pleasant surprise. It is not like you to visit us."

"I had some motivation that brought me here. Do you wish for me to leave?" Edgar asked, stopping before he reached where he wanted to sit.

Edmund was suspicious of the visit but he would not send his son away. "No, have a seat. We were just discussing you and your wife," he said.

Edgar sat down in the middle of the table, at an equal distance from his parents. "Is that so? What about?" Edgar calmly asked.

The maids were quick to start setting up the space in front of him.

"My mother and a few of the relatives have taken quite a liking to your wife.  Alessandra is doing a wonderful job making everyone fall for her. Even you. When am I going to see some grandchildren? I want to shower them with gifts and make my friends jealous. I am tired of having to listen to their stories and have none in return," Edmund said, eagerly waiting for him to have little children to spend time with.

"You were hardly around for me so what makes you think I am going to let you disappoint my children?" Edgar retorted, not feeling bad at the hurt expression his father now wore. "Are you trying to make up for what you lacked with your son through your grandchildren? Alessandra and I will soon have children. It is unfortunate they are lacking grandparents on both sides."

"Edgar, what on earth are you talking about? Our relationship needs to be worked on but it is not bad enough that you should not let me see my grandchildren," Edmund said, furious by the news Edgar brought to him so early in the morning. "Why are you here son?"

"To have breakfast. We have not sat like this in a long time. You would be buried in work, mother arguing about not having enough attention, and me in the middle, wanting to be somewhere else. Those days were entertaining sometimes," Edgar said, picking up a knife and fork to begin eating. "I would have brought Alessandra along but I could not bring myself to subject her to the torture of sitting at a table with the two of you."

"Edgar! That is enough. We are still your parents and are deserving of respect. You should be grateful if we were to allow her to step foot into our home. If you have come here to insult us, you can leave," Priscilla pointed at the door.

"Like always, I must disobey your commands. I am not leaving what shall be our last breakfast together. It is quite good," Edgar said before placing a fork full of egg in his mouth. "Father, the person who can best answer your question of why I am here is her," he pointed at his mother.

Edmund looked at his wife for an answer.

"I do not know why he is here. This game you are trying to pull is not funny. Stop eating and be honest with us about why you are here," said Priscilla. The wait was eating her up. What made their son who hated visiting them come so early in the morning?

"A dear friend of mine was killed yesterday. He died far before his time and worse of all, he died with no one by his side. We buried him first thing this morning-"

"What does that have to do with us? If you came here to be comforted, you are asking for it the wrong way. Why didn't you go to that wife you hide at home?" Priscilla asked, not the slightest bit interested in this dead friend.

Edgar placed his knife and fork down. "You needed to let me finish mother. I spent many hours searching the snow for someone I care for…"

Edmund tried to listen to Edgar's words but the sight of a maid with a worried expression running towards him caught his attention. "What is it?" He asked the young woman.

"T-There is a group of men out front the house with weapons. They wear the symbol of a falcon."

Edmund looked back at Edgar who had gone quiet. "Edgar, why are your men outside my home?"

Edgar turned to his mother who appeared confused. "I am here for the person who tried to kill Alfred. Speak while you still have your tongue, mother."