The Duke's Masked Wife



"Now that the dark cloud is gone, I say we sit at the table and enjoy whatever food you have planned. It would be good if Edmund could join his mother in leaving, but I will take what I can get. Let me introduce you to my guest," Priscilla said, tugging on Alessandra's hand so they could move away from watching Rose leave.

Alessandra looked away from the front door to Priscilla. "I honestly thought you were bringing Mark. I am a little bit disappointed. I kept the fact you were bringing someone a secret so I could see Edgar's face."

"What part of I don't want a man who is involved in the court don't you understand? I want someone who is the opposite of my first husband. Someone who has time to spend with me. I knew him a long time ago and he just happened to be in Lockwood recently. He has been doing well with showering me with gifts. Look at my shoes," Priscilla said, holding up her dress a bit to show off the shoes she received.

"They are pretty," Alessandra replied. "Is it awkward with Edmund here?"

"Of course it is. You would not believe he seems to find it odd that I am with someone. There was a sadness that should not be there. I hope this is not that you don't know what you had until it is gone sort of thing. I don't need for it to be now that he realises he loved me. Come with me," Priscilla said, leading Alessandra to the dining room. It would have been more entertaining to watch Rose leave if she was being lifted out.

"Before I close this door, is there anyone who wants to act a fool? This is your chance for me to let you walk out of here on your two feet instead of throwing you out on your ass," Edgar said as he held the door open. At the first second of what sounded to be an argument, he was going to kick those involved out. He didn't care if it would come to just being him and Alessandra left.

"Did we miss the drama?" Eleanor said as she carefully walked by Edgar without touching him. It was like a flame was before her and if she accidentally touched it, she would be set on fire. If Bryce had not suddenly shown up at her doors to tell her that he was leaving Lockwood and never coming back, she would have been here on time to witness whatever has made Edgar angry.

For Eleanor, it was good entertainment when Edgar would be angry and looking to kill someone. It was something she could add to her books.

"I am sorry we were late," Eleanor apologised.

Alessandra was glad Eleanor came when she did so she did not have to witness the fights among the family. "You are right on time. We were just going to sit at the table. Reed, you should find Caleb and have him come to eat with Sally. I don't know where those two have gone off to."

"It is a young man and woman, Alessandra. If they ran off somewhere, they are doing something no one else should see," said Eleanor.

'I doubt it,' Reed thought. His brother's relationship with Sally had not changed. They were still fake engaged, and now Sally was building a home on Edgar's land instead of staying in Caleb's home. 'He's going to die a lonely bastard.'

Edgar closed the door since no one else was supposed to be joining them for dinner. There was more for him to be angry about like Alfred telling their secrets, but the dinner already had enough drama for one night. He would have a conversation with the old bastard tomorrow. Right now, he would focus on letting the night go as Alessandra planned.

"There is still some time for you to join her," Edgar said as he walked by his father, who was staring out the window at his grandmother leaving.

"I am fine," Edmund replied, pulling his eyes away from the window and following Edgar to the dining room. He would deal with his mother in the morning if she was still in town. What bothered him now was watching his ex-wife be with another man. It wasn't something he ever thought would upset him since he had wanted her to move on and be happy.

"Do you care to tell us who is sitting at our table?" Edgar asked when he entered the dining room. He kept his eyes on the man his mother brought along with her. Priscilla now had Alessandra's talent for picking up strays.

"Edgar, you could have allowed me to sit down before diving into who he is. This is David Wright, someone I knew when I was younger. He is an excellent businessman, and I am sure you would like to hear that he is here in Lockwood because he has a talent for making guns, so with them soon allowed to be used in the kingdom, he is setting up a business," said Priscilla.

"I've spent time outside of the kingdom for many years and studied how they are built. How they work. There are many sizes of guns that the kingdom is not yet familiar with. I hope to be the first to set up a business making and selling different guns here. Your mother says you have a liking for guns, Edgar," David said, hoping this could spark a conversation between him and Edgar.

"I am not a child, and a gun is not a toy for you to wave around in my face for me to like you," Edgar answered, still not fond of the stranger in his home. What he did like was the fact that this man was making his father uncomfortable. It was time Edmund knew how this felt.

"Fun little story, if not for my family's strong ties with the Collins, it would have been David who I would have been arranged to marry. Our families were also close before they moved out of town. Isn't that something?" Priscilla smiled. Had her father not cared about the Collins and their wealth, she might have been with David and missed out on all the petty arguments with Rose.

Alessandra felt the air become tense after what Priscilla said. It would have been fine if Edmund were not here. "I am glad to have all of you here tonight," she said, changing the conversation before Edgar could be his normal cold self to David and before it would get more awkward between Priscilla and Edmund. 

"I care for all of you in different ways, and I am happy to be seated with you here tonight. It is unfortunate that everyone could not join us tonight, but I am sure there will come another time when we can all meet and all the chairs will fill up," Alessandra said, looking down at the other end of the table where there were a few empty chairs.

"Thank you for the invite. If not for you, I would be holding onto my friendship with Bryce since I had no other lady friends. Thanks to you always inviting me, I have met many more ladies who I enjoy spending time with," Eleanor said, taking a glass of water to raise for Alessandra. "I would not have met Reed if not for you. I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing yet."

Reed ignored Eleanor because, when they were alone, her actions didn't match her words now. In fact, her mouth would be in sync with her actions then.

"I suppose Edgar and I would still be at odds if not for you," Priscilla said, joining in on thanking Alessandra.

"The same can be said for me," Edmund said, raising his glass.

"I would still be worrying about Edgar being alone. Thank you for showing up in his life," said Alfred.

Everyone, besides Alessandra, looked down the table at Edgar.

"Why the fuck are all of you staring at me? She knows how my life changed because of her. I don't need to say it before you," Edgar said.