The Duke's Masked Wife

"Duke Collins, your wife, and I have come to ask for a favor."

"I've already done the two of you a favor by letting you spend the night here. Do not ask for more or you will find yourself where your bag is," Edgar replied, continuing to read up on updates concerning Federick. "How did the two of you get in? The door was locked and it is my understanding you do not have a key," he said to Alessandra.

"My bag is outside?!" Erin exclaimed. She thought by now it was in the room she would be sleeping in.

"Alfred told me where he kept the spare for himself," Alessandra replied. Alfred didn't question why they were attempting to enter Edgar's study when it was locked which meant he wanted to be alone. He just told them the exact location of the key in his room.

"Of course, he would," Edgar muttered, making a mental note to get back at Alfred and take away his key. "What is it?"

"Your wife and I have decided to become business partners. We just need you to agree to fund it. Should we get some wine to celebrate?" Erin asked, forcing a smile as she awaited his answer.

"My wife doesn't need to work and you're just trying to grab onto whoever has money because your mother kicked you out. Go ask that mystery fiance you have to fund it. Besides, why would she need to become partners with anyone when I can make her an owner? It isn't a good idea to work with friends," Edgar said, looking directly at Alessandra.

It sounded good now but as time goes on their opinions would clash and most likely ruin the friendship.

"If you do not want to help I will use the money I recently received from the court to start it. If it fails, only I would be losing out," Alessandra said.

Edgar sighed, greatly disliking this stubborn side of Alessandra.  "Rather than jumping to do this business together, have some time to really think it over. It only sounds good now when nothing needs to be paid for. I am almost tempted to kick you out of here," he said.

"Come on. You just don't like the fact that I will have to take away some of the time you get to spend with your wife," Erin said, seeing right through why Edgar disliked the business idea. "How greedy can you be when it comes to Alessandra?"

"Extremely greedy. It is a side you do not want to see. Leave the key you used to come inside and get out. Matter of fact, you go home," Edgar pointed at Erin. "You stay so I can keep an eye on you," he pointed at Alessandra.

If he left the two alone Alessandra would end up giving all of her inheritance she just received to help Erin. She was too nice sometimes. Perhaps all the time.

"First of all, my fiance isn't a mystery. He is Dale Scott," Erin said, sticking her nose high in the air as she was proud of the man she was with.

"Never heard of him," Edgar replied.

"He spoke of meeting you once before," Erin stated, disliking how Edgar claimed to not know Dale.

"A lot of people have met me before but it does not mean they were memorable. I am the well-known one, not them,"  Edgar stated as a fact. He was the popular person everyone spoke of. Even if he was a Duke, his last name made him the topic of many conversations.

"We should stop now before he starts complimenting himself," Alessandra said to Erin. "We should do as he says and think about it further to make sure we really want to do this- What are you doing?" Alessandra questioned, trying to calm her aching heart after Erin suddenly grabbed her arm without warning.

"Getting closer to you to piss your husband off just as he has pissed me off. I've decided I want to steal you away from him, Alessandra. Your heart is too kind for him," Erin said, pulling Alessandra closer to piss off Edgar further. She knew he hated the closeness between the two of them. It didn't matter that she was a woman.

"Erin," Alessandra said with a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I don't think you want to provoke, Edgar."

Edgar leaned back in his chair no longer interested in what he was doing before. He silently watched Erin cling to his wife like she was hungry and Alessandra was the last piece of meat.  "Leave her, Alessandra. There are only so many times you can offer me provocative clothes to make me like you. Have you ever been physically tossed out of a home? Your mother doesn't count," he taunted her current predicament.

Alessandra sighed, palming her face as she knew it was too late to stop the two of them from taking jabs at each other. She could predict right now that Erin was not going to win against Edgar. He always had an answer for everything and he was never one to hold back what was on his mind.

"We're going to leave you alone now. Thank you for the advice," Alessandra said, tugging on Erin's arms to get her out of the room.

"So that's how you want to play," Erin grumbled, clenching her fist. "You do not want to get on my bad side, Duke Collins."

"I don't want to be on your good side. I hardly like you. You are like a little fly making too much noise when you visit," Edgar replied.

"And you are like a grumpy old man!" Erin retorted.

"Is that all?" Edgar questioned, bored of the conversation.

"Can the two of you please stop? I can't believe I am saying this but I like when the two of you are speaking about my clothes. Edgar, we'll bring a proper business plan to you. Even if you have a lot of wealth it cannot hurt for me to invest the money I've received into a business to keep making more money on my own. I could really use your help making this work. For the both of us," Alessandra said in a gentle tone.

"Fine," Edgar agreed. "Bring the plan, a proper one as if you were taking it to a stranger, and I will give you my advice on if it will work. Now, please leave me alone."

"What was that? Why are you all of a sudden accepting it after I have stated we wish to work together?" Erin asked, confused by what clicked in his mind to change his answer so quickly. How much was he smitten by his wife?

"It is simple. I love my wife. You, not so much so I will reject whatever you want. Now that we have an understanding please leave before you create a record of being kicked out of two houses in one day. I'd hate for you to experience that again," Edgar said as if he cared for Erin's feelings but his smile said something else.

"I know the one thing that can get you to shut up. Duchess," Erin turned to her wonderful friend. Alessandra was the puppetmaster making Edgar dance so if you wanted Edgar's strings to be pulled you needed to speak with Alessandra. "Can I stay here two more nights?"

"Absolutely not," Edgar quickly rejected the request.

Alessandra felt pushed between a rock and a hard place. "Erin, unfortunately, Edgar does not like too many people in his home and I have to respect that so I can't ask for you to be here longer than we first agreed. He's already not happy to have Dominic and you here so I don't want to push the boundaries any further. I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Don't apologize," Erin said, feeling her heart pang from Alessandra's apology. Alessandra was like a small kitten with big eyes pleading with her to not be offended. At times she felt herself having a little crush on the cute woman. "All of a sudden I feel jealous of the relationship you two have. I need to drink something," Erin said, turning on her heels to leave Edgar's study."

"Do not let her get into any of my good alcohol. It is not for people sulking. Give her the cheap bottles," Edgar said.