The Duke's Masked Wife

Edgar tapped his fingers on his table, trying his best to ignore the fool pacing back and forth in front of him. It was going on for about five minutes now and it was only due to other things occupying his mind that he had not snapped yet.

Thud!

Now he did. Edgar looked up from the paper in his hands which detailed everything the little boy saw when the young woman's body was left in the snow. Before him was a tall brute pacing back and forth.

"What the fuck do you want from me, Caleb?" Edgar gave in to see what was the issue now. He had been hoping if he ignored Caleb long enough he would vanish.

"What would you think if I said I was getting married?" Caleb asked, genuinely wanting to know Edgar's opinion. Reed was a let down with his response of 'I don't care'.

"Poor girl," Edgar replied, going back to his work.

"Hey! I had a better opinion when I heard you got married," Caleb said, walking up to Edgar's desk. "If you were a parent and you heard I was courting your daughter, how would you feel?"

"I would shoot you," Edgar answered.

"First of all, it is a law that guns are not to be used in the kingdom yet."

"Then I would get your brother to kill you. I'm sure you wouldn't be missed. Your mother was only expecting one baby. Are we finished or is there something more about Sally you wish to annoy me with?" Edgar asked, getting it out the way before he would be bothered again.

"You rude ass," Caleb mumbled under his breath. He sat down on the edge of Edgar's table but quickly stood up when Edgar reached for a rock placed for decoration. "How did you know it was Sally and why aren't you surprised I am talking about marriage?"

"I can't be surprised if your business does not interest me and what other poor young woman would you be bothering with marriage? Make sure whatever is going on between the two of you does not bother me-"

"Sally will soon tell your wife about it so it mostly will bother you," Caleb smiled, despite fearing the look of irritation on Edgar's face. "Your wife will help her pull off being fake engaged to me. The Duchess has been worried about Sally so she's going to tell your wife about her troubles with her family."

"Fake engaged? Are you sure you want to do that? Feelings will get involved," Edgar said. He had plenty of experience with the whole no falling for each other thing not working though it was the first and most important rule. It didn't help that Caleb clearly liked Sally but he was in denial.

Caleb wasn't worried about feelings getting involved since he was just friends with Sally. "That is not a concern. We both know it is not real and once she gets her house, we end this."

Edgar could see this all backfiring before it started. However, he didn't feel like stating the obvious to Caleb any further. It would be somewhat enjoyable to see Caleb be in turmoil because of his feelings. If he had to eat his words when it came to not falling in love, Caleb should have to choke on his.

"I don't see why all of you care if I like Sally or not," Caleb said.

This got Edgar's attention. He put down his papers, knowing he would not get the chance to read more of it unless he got rid of Caleb. "What makes you think I care about your relationship or lack of one? I thought I have been making it obvious that I do not care and I would appreciate it if you tell less of your business to Alessandra so I don't have to hear about it from her. Now," he paused to point at the door. "Get out."

Caleb placed his hand on his chest feigning hurt. "You hurt my feelings."

"There is nothing to wipe your eyes with here so get out. I have work to do," Edgar replied.

"Don't you care about me?"

"I do," Edgar honestly replied. "It is your relationships I do not care about. There were so many in the past that I lost interest. Quite frankly, I have been thinking of banning you from having any sort of relationship with Sally. If whatever the two of you are getting into fails it will affect Alessandra which will then bother me. You do not want to bother me these days, Caleb. Leave-"

A knock on the door of Edgar's private room interrupting.

"Fucking hell," Edgar cursed, leaning back in his chair. It seemed everyone was hellbent on wasting his time when he informed those who needed to hear that he would be busy for an hour.

"I will send them away for you," Caleb said, going to the door to send the person away before they get their head chewed off by Edgar. "He's- Duchess. Didn't think it would be you. Edgar doesn't want to be bothered-"

"Don't listen to him," Edgar interrupted Caleb.

Caleb turned around in disbelief. It was not even less than a minute that Edgar did not want to be disturbed but now that it was Alessandra, he was singing a different tune. 'This love sick bastard,' he thought.

Alessandra didn't step foot into the room as she contemplated leaving. She knew Edgar had been busy but it was long since she saw him and thought she could step in for a moment. "If you are still busy, I will come back later," she said.

Edgar got up from his seat and walked to the door. When he reached it, he nudged Caleb out the doorway and pulled Alessandra in then closed the door, locking it this time so Caleb or anyone else could not annoy him.

Alessandra got the feeling that Edgar was indeed busy but he was having a break for her. "The two of you act like children sometimes," she commented on the behavior between Caleb and Edgar. "I am surprised you have chosen to be here instead of questioning your mother."

"She is being stubborn and no longer wants to give me information about the man she hired. I'm giving her alone time in the darkness of my dungeon to clear her mind. Why have you come to me? Are you bored or is there something bothering you?" Edgar asked, leading Alessandra to his chair for her to have a seat.

"A little bit of both. I am bored and I was thinking about my mother. I came to bother you because when you are bored, you bother me. What is this?" She asked, looking at the papers spread across his table. Alessandra sat down to get a better look at them while Edgar sat at the edge of the table watching her.

"I still have a case to solve to find who is taking and killing the young women. Then I have to plan getting rid of William alongside finding the man my mother hired. These days I will be a bit busy so you will have to find someone else to deal with your boredom," said Edgar.

"I will use planning for my sleepover and your birthday as a distraction. Judging from your expression you are not too happy about a party. One that I would host for you or the annual one hosted by your grandmother," Alessandra said.

Edgar had enough of being around other people whether they bought drama or not. He also did not want to be the focus of a party. "I am not in the mood to be socializing with others even if it is with my family for a celebration of another year I am alive."

Alessandra was looking forward to inviting Edgar's family and friends but she would not go through with a party if Edgar would dislike it. "Well, what do you want?" She asked.

Edgar smiled as her words sounded ever so sweet to his ears. He already knew what would make his birthday wonderful and it was almost laughable she had to ask. "You," he replied. "You waiting for me wearing only this ring," he added, tapping her finger where her wedding ring was placed to show off their union.