The Duke's Masked Wife

"Little lady sure can drink," Dominic commented, enjoying the entertainment of watching Erin drink like she was a fish just placed back in the water. "Mother troubles is it? We all have those days. Mine is forcing me to get married since Edgar is now married. I'm starting to think that if Edgar died, my mother would want to kill me so I am not left out of something Edgar has done."

"And I thought my mother was crazy," Erin said, suddenly feeling better about her mother. "Why are they like this? Why can't they just let us do what we want? We are still so young. Why do I have to get married and push out a baby instead of working? I don't even like babies. So ugly when they are born," she chuckled.

"I think that is enough," Alessandra said from the other end of the dining table. She was sitting next to Erin until Edgar came and lifted her chair up to take her to where he was going to sit. "For you too, Dominic."

"No," Dominic shook his head. "It is good to vent about our mothers," he spoke, slurring his words. An indication that he was drunk. "Hey hey hey!" He repeatedly yelled when Edgar took up the good bottle of alcohol.

"Not only have the two of you arrived making my home an inn but you are making it like the cheap ones where drunkards spend their days," Edgar said, greatly disgusted by the sight of the two drunkards. If anyone was going to get drunk in his home, it could only be him and Alessandra. "Drinking my good alcohol I spent so much money on. I don't even drink to feel better about my mother."

"You should. Your mother is like the queen of all overbearing mothers. Do you have any trouble with your mother that you want to drink to, Duchess?" Dominic asked.

"I have not seen my birth mother in years and I would rather not speak about my stepmother. Do not hit him," Alessandra said to Edgar when he raised the bottle in his hand to hit Dominic over the head for mentioning her mother. "He did not know and he is somewhat drunk."

"I am sorry. I think it is time I stop drinking and sober up before I truly become drunk," Domininc said pushing away the cup Erin poured with alcohol for him and reaching out for a fresh cup to pour water in.

"I'm glad it wasn't me who said something wrong. So, Dominic. Why haven't you found someone to settle down with? Hasn't there been at least one woman you thought of marrying or loved at one point? Doesn't matter the age," Erin spoke, feeling nosey with his problems.

"I haven't had the feeling of marrying someone and I have never loved anyone. No, wait. There was one but she loved this bastard," Dominic answered, pointing at Edgar who ruined his crush.

"This bastard is about to throw you out of his house if you do not watch your mouth. Do not make me come to dislike you as much as I do with your brother, Dominic. Try not to ruin dinner before it starts. I am going to get Alfred," Edgar finished, unfortunately leaving the two in Alessandra's care.

Erin waited until Edgar left the dining room to ask Alessandra, "Is he always so grumpy?"

"No. Edgar has really sweet moments. He is not exactly a people person and it wasn't that long ago that it was only him sitting at this table. He will get used to it going forward since I like sitting at a full table," Alessandra answered.

"I recall him mentioning filling the chairs with children. There are about six empty chairs at this table. Do you plan to have that many children, Duchess?" Dominic asked.

Alessandra almost choked on her spit at the mention of her having six children. "Six?  I was only thinking of having one child. A boy but I wouldn't mind having a girl too. Six children are too many," she shook her head, feeling her palms sweat as she imagined how much pain that would be.

"I highly doubt you will only have one child with your husband. I don't like him that much but there is no denying how handsome he is. Can you really imagine not letting him get you pregnant? I mean, you get to do all kinds of things when you welcome the idea of creating a child from your activities," Erin said, not caring how her words came out.

"I feel the need to exit this conversation," Dominic stated since the topic lost him. He didn't want to hear about Edgar getting his wife pregnant. "You have a dirty mind, don't you? No wonder you are at odds with your mother."

"I always have a clean mouth around my mother. Talking about sex with your friends is such a ridiculous taboo. We are grown up to make children but it is somehow not proper to talk about the process with your friends. Get out of here," Erin rolled her eyes. "There are too many rules for women in this world."

"I can't argue with that. Edgar has stated for years that he only needs an heir so I doubt you will end up with six children. Please do not have more than three because my mother will push for me to have four," Dominic pleaded with Alessandra.

"It is honestly not something I can control. Whether I want six or two," Alessandra replied.

"You can if you stop making love to your husband. I heard there was recently a woman who gave birth to four at once but she died shortly after. The husband isn't too sad about her death. He now has three boys and a girl. He gets to rejoice to have three sons while she is dead. You know what Alessandra, don't get pregnant," Erin said, now disliking pregnancy because of how dangerous it was. "Don't have sex with your husband anymore."

"Get the hell out of my house," Edgar stated in a low, dangerous tone.

Edgar returned to the dining room with Alfred by his side only to hear the annoying woman trying to persuade Alessandra to no longer be intimate with him. That was the final straw to seal the deal that he did not like Erin Potter. Her mother deserved a gift for kicking her out.

"The table is quite busy today," Alfred said, surprised by the two guests. It was heartwarming to see how much Edgar was opening up to let others into his safe space. "Let her stay a little longer, Edgar."

Edgar was about to deny Alfred's request until he saw the limp Alfred now walked with. He bit his tongue to hold back what he wanted to say regarding Erin and his mother. For now, Edgar wanted to make Aflred happy to get past what he experienced with Timothy while he recovers.

If the annoying woman pleased Alfred, he had no choice but to let her stay a little longer. Edgar considered getting rid of this Dale Scott to hit Erin where it hurts and see who wasn't sleeping with who anymore.