The Duke's Masked Wife

"Why are you glaring at me?" Edgar asked after he noticed the look Alessandra was giving him while she lay on the bed.

After their uninterrupted moment in the bathroom, he brought her out and laid her on the bed to rest since her energy had faded away.

"I told you it couldn't be so long because I needed to put up the paintings," Alessandra grumbled.

"What is the rush? You can have a little rest and put them up before dinner. I remember after the first time you clung to me to go again so it is not only my fault but I will help you with the paintings later. Am I forgiven?" Edgar asked, sitting down on the bed to pull the blanket he placed on her further up her body.

"Hardly. Only if you wake me in an hour. I don't want to push back putting the paintings up," Alessandra said.

"Then I will be back in an hour," he leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Your hair is still damp. I have not dried it good enough," he said, raking his fingers through her hair.

"It is fine. It is not so wet that I will catch a cold and the warm air in the room shall help it dry quickly.  You can go to the person you were running away from," Alessandra replied letting him know that she did not buy the story about Reed.

"Make sure you dream of only me when you go to sleep. You must stop harming me, Alessandra," Edgar said because of her reaching out to pinch him. "It is hard to believe you were so against the whips and other toys when you love inflicting pain on me. All the times you harmed me were preparing me for my birthday."

Alessandra pulled the blanket to cover her head. "Please leave, Edgar."

Edgar chuckled, finding her to be cute and if not for his grandmother, he would join Alessandra in bed. "I will be back soon. Hopefully," he added since his grandmother must have many questions about Alfred. "Do not go to sleep with that Blanket over your head," was the last thing he said before getting up to leave.

Edgar carried a towel with him to dry his wet hair because he had been so focused on drying Alessandra's rather than drying his own. He closed the bedroom door behind him as he left the room and started the search for his dear grandmother. His mother should be glad she was locked away in a cell to avoid being hurt by her mother-in-law.

Edgar went straight to Alfred's room since Alfred now gained himself a personal rich maid. Just as he expected, Edgar found his grandmother sitting in a chair beside Alfred's bed when he entered the room. Their laughter filled the room which would normally be silent during this time.

"What is so funny?" Edgar asked, bringing attention to his presence since neither of them noticed he had come in.

"Edgar, it is about time you come to me. I've sent for you so long ago. Why are you like this?" Rose pointed at his unbuttoned shirt and then at the towel on his head. "Do you plan to catch a cold?"

"Hence the towel to dry my hair. Why are you in Lockwood? I could have sent you updates about Alfred. This is not good weather for you to travel so far in," Edgar said.

"Oh please, you worry wort.  The roads weren't so bad when I left home and I needed to see Alfred's state myself. Where is Alessandra?" Rose looked behind Edgar expecting to see Alessandra come in behind him. "I wanted to see both of you."

"Alessandra is resting and I do not want her to be disturbed. She is quite tired," Edgar replied, sitting on the edge of the bed by Alfred's feet.

"At this time of the day? It is hardly a time to be asleep. Though I do remember feeling tired all the time when I was pregnant with your father. Is there some good news you want to share with me?" Rose said with great excitement.

"Yes," Edgar smiled, seeing this as a golden opportunity to break some hearts. "I have recently received a new sword."

Rose felt like there was an arrow shot right through her heart. "Edgar, what on earth are you talking about?" She asked.

"Well, you asked if there was good news I wanted to share. The new sword is quite good news. The blade has some of the best work as it is sharper than my other swords and there is a beautiful design engraved on it. I will show it to you after we are done here. I have it placed somewhere out of reach for everyone to touch," Edgar further explained why it was good news.

"Edgar, do not tempt me to slap you. I meant good news regarding my great-grandchildren. You know I am not patient waiting for them," Rose clarified the good news she wanted.

"Grandmother, it wasn't that long ago you never thought you would have any. Be patient like you promised you would. I am not going to let anyone make Alessandra feel burdened to have children quickly. Focus on Alfred instead, He is the reason you are here when it is rare you travel to Lockwood to see me," Edgar said, not caring to hide the jealousy in his words.

"You are young and nothing ever happens to you. If I have to come to town for something you are involved in, it is that you have hurt or killed someone. I've left you in Alfred's care for years and at this age, if something happens to him, I must show up since I am in his debt. Now tell me, what happened?" Rose got straight to the point. She wasn't in the mood for all the other things they were talking about.

"He was attacked by a gang of men. Timothy, my driver who was with him has passed away. Do not get so heated just yet. We have captured most of the men present that day but it is the man in charge that we have not caught yet," Edgar stated, purposely leaving out his mother to not get her riled up.

"Who ordered them to attack Alfred? Which one of your enemies was it? I told the two of you to be careful because if they cannot get to Edgar they would attack whoever is close to him now look at you," Rose pointed at Alfred once again angered by his state. "Give me a name and I shall use my resources to find them for you."

"No offense grandmother but if I had a hard time digging him out of his hole, you will not have an easy time. My men are close to capturing him and shall have him in my dungeon by tomorrow night," Edgar replied.

He received an update that Federick tried to visit his parent's home to speak with his mother, not knowing that she was here in his dungeon. Edgar wouldn't be surprised if Federick was caught all now as they spoke.

"That is good to hear but I wish to hear who ordered this. I will not drop the matter until I find out," said Rose.

"Then you shall keep holding onto it," Edgar retorted, standing up from the bed as he was finished with how much information he wanted to give his grandmother right now. "I have a wife who is alone in bed and I would rather be there than here so goodbye," he excused himself.

Before Edgar could leave the room he looked back at the two of them. "Do not keep this door closed," he stated since he didn't trust his grandmother to keep her hands off Alfred. This was not how he wanted Alfred to become a Collins.