The Duke's Masked Wife

"Are you saying you have fallen in love with me?" Alessandra found this to be impossible but she still needed to ask.

"Love is a strong word, Alessandra. I am not familiar with it but I doubt it happened over three days. I can admit I am starting to feel something for you and I have made up my mind to see where it leads me. I don't expect anything in return from you,"  he removed his hand from the door.

Edgar merely wanted to test out what he had been feeling since Alessandra started to stay with him. He knew it was not love but some sort of feelings had started to blossom. He had no shame stating he was the one to start feeling something first when he was adamant about no love or feelings.

"I see," Alessandra took a moment to process things. She never expected Edgar to say any of this ever. What was she supposed to do now that he said he felt something for her? "What happens now?"

"Nothing. We continue as we were doing these last few days. I will figure out what I am feeling and let you know what I have discovered. However, I won't allow you to continue being harsh on yourself. If I have to tell you a compliment every day, I do it. I'll make up for the years you were surrounded by fools."

This was another reason Edgar regretted giving the Baron a quick death. The man, his wife, and his daughter had spent countless years ripping Alessandra's self-esteem to shreds.

Alessandra opened her mouth wanting to say he didn't need to but she stopped herself. It would be nice to receive a compliment. 'Why am I so harsh on myself? Edgar shouldn't have to help me love myself. Why did I allow my father's words to stay with me for so long?'

Alessandra wanted to continue letting go of the past with small steps. She could also start complimenting herself. There were many things she loved about herself that did not revolve around beauty.

"Alessandra," Edgar interrupted her thoughts.

"Y-Yes," she anticipated his next words.

"You can open the door now or do you wish to stay hidden away in this bathroom with me? I am fine with the latter but I cannot promise we will remain with our clothes on."

Alessandra quickly turned the doorknob and pulled open the door once again. Edgar's confession of having feelings for her was all she could handle right now. For them to end up without clothes, she just might pass out from the thought of it.

"Your ears are turning red. Are you thinking about something naughty?" Edgar bit Alessandra's earlobe.

"Ah!" Alessandra squeezed her eyes shut and gasped at the weird sensation where Edgar bit her. Alessandra twirled around to push Edgar away from her as she was at her limit but with her eyes closed, she ended up hitting him in the face.

"Fuck," Edgar grabbed his nose. "What is your obsession with hurting me, Alessandra?"

"I'm so sorry," Alessandra opened her eyes and panicked at the sight of Edgar holding his nose. "Let me see. There is no blood," she felt relieved. "It is your fault for randomly biting me. An ear is not something you should put in your mouth."

"There are many things we should not put in our mouth but curiosity always gets the best of us. One thing is for certain, you have a strong right hook. I should start training you to properly use it to defend yourself."

"I'm sorry. I should have opened my eyes. How badly does it hurt? Should I find someone to take a look at it? Should we leave?"

"No, but my mother used to kiss my wounds. Maybe that would make it feel better?" Edgar lied. If he was going to be punched in the nose, he had to get something out of it.

Alessandra contemplated it for a moment and then replied, "That doesn't seem like your mother and I doubt you would allow her to kiss you. Just this once I will go along with your scheme because I am sorry for hitting you."

Alessandra gently placed her hands to the sides of Edgar's face, careful not to harm his nose any further, and tiptoed to place a light kiss on his nose. She had a faint memory of her mother doing this when she hurt her knee.

"Right here too," Edgar pointed to the side of his nose.

"Forget it," Alessandra removed her hands from his face and turned around to actually go out of the bathroom this time. "Erin must have gotten the wrong idea about the two of us being gone for so long," she sighed, already hearing the words leaving Erin's mouth.

"It isn't too late to make what she is thinking true. All we need to do is lock the door-"

"I'm not listening to you," Alessandra covered her ears with her hands and left the bathroom. "This would have all been avoided had I simply changed the topic of our conversation," Alessandra felt the need to slap her face with her hand.

'But then I wouldn't have learned Edgar is starting to like me,' a small smile formed as she thought about their conversation. 'Could we honestly love each other in the future and be a normal couple?'

It did not seem impossible. Even if Edgar were to one day wake up and no longer feel anything for her, she was satisfied in knowing she made a slight change in his heart. From the way everyone around Edgar spoke, no one had ever been able to bring out this side of Edgar.

"I need to give myself more credit," Alessandra muttered.

"Duchess! What took the two of you so long? I was bored out of my mind waiting for you to return. Did you fool around in the bathroom? Exciting feeling, isn't it?" Erin whispered to Alessandra so prying ears wouldn't hear.

"No," Alessandra replied but the blush on her exposed cheek told Erin a different story.

"Don't be so modest. As rude as the Duke is if I had a man like that I would be on and under him every chance I get. The time or place wouldn't matter to me. Let's keep this between us. My mother would pass out if she heard me say these things," Erin chuckled.

"Nothing happened. You are mistaken," Alessandra stated to stop Erin from getting the wrong idea. She knew Edgar was right behind her but he was not saying anything to clear up what Erin thought. "I only went to use the bathroom but my dress was stuck and Edgar helped me," she lied.

"Liar liar, dress on fire," Erin sang.