The Duke's Masked Wife

"Just when I thought your estate was too much for one person, your grandmother's home had to be much larger," Alessandra stared in awe at the large home as they drove through the gates. "Does she live here alone or are there other relatives?"

"She is normally here alone. My grandmother wanted to have a big house so that when her family is in town they could all stay with her. She enjoys having the family all together even when it is drama and conflict. She is the only one able to silence all of us," Edgar said as he looked out the window. "I spent many days here when I was younger. Aside from Alfred, she has raised me."

"Seeing that you are willing to come to her, you must love her a lot. She has to be a strong woman to put up with you as a child. I already pity Alfred. Now there is someone else," Alessandra joked.

"Believe it or not, I was never a bad child around my grandmother. Whenever I visited, it was to keep her company after my grandfather passed away. Or to hide from my mother," he added. This was the one place his mother could never visit and drag him back to the school she sent him off to. "My grandmother never tried to force me to act a certain way just because I am a Collins. She allowed me to be my age. Even when her knees were aching, she would still run around with me."

Alessandra enjoyed seeing Edgar speak about his grandmother. As she had only met his parents and saw how strained the relationship was between the two sides, she was glad he was not in her predicament of not having good family members around. She felt more relaxed when it came to meeting his grandmother.

When the carriage stopped by steps leading up to the entrance, Alessandra looked out and found a man and a woman standing at the top, most likely waiting for them.

Alessandra looked at Edgar and asked, "Who are they?"

"The father of a pain in the ass. That man is the son of my grandmother's sister. He must be in town with his family and staying here. It is not him I dislike but one of his sons who does not know when it is time to shut up. Hopefully, he is not here," Edgar tried to be positive. "The woman next to him is his wife."

"Smile Edgar. We have not exited the carriage but you are already moody. Thank you," Alessandra said to the coachman and accepted his hand to step out of the carriage carefully. "What is your name? You have driven the carriage many times but I have not learned your name. You always run away to the front before I can ask"

"Troy, my name is Troy Wall. Thank you for asking," Troy tried to hide his smile as he was happy someone other than the Duke cared to learn his name. "I have spoken to your guard and maid many times. They would have told you my name."

"Yes but I feel that it is better if I ask you instead. I will be sure to remember it. Thank you for always getting us around safely," Alessandra thanked Troy. She entrusted him with her life each time she rode around so it was only right she learned his name.

"T-Thank you."

"You are creating a list of men I have to watch out for," Edgar playfully said as he exited the carriage on his own. This was why he believed Alessandra would have been sought after by many men if the Baron cared for her reputation and had gotten rid of the lies surrounding her face.

"Never!" Troy immediately let that be known so that the Duke would not fire him. He happened to like working for Edgar. Edgar was quiet compared to the other people who liked to yell when they didn't get where they needed to go in a blink of an eye.

"I was joking," Edgar stared down at the small young boy. "Go park the carriage somewhere else."

"Yes sir."

Alessandra covered her mouth with her right hand, trying to hide the fact she was laughing at Troy and Edgar. "You unintentionally scared him. Maybe if you smile more no one would be so scared of you."

"I prefer them being scared of me so they don't try stupid things. I'll reserve my smile for only you," Edgar promised her. It was weird how he found himself saying things he thought were cringe when other couples said them. Now he understood why others said these things.

"Now that I think about it, you do smile when you are up to no good so there is no solution to making others not afraid of you even when you are joking. I must be immune to being afraid of you because you have never once scared me," Alessandra said as they walked up the steps hand in hand. She noticed the woman and man share a look when she held Edgar's hand. Was this a home that did not like men and women touching each other?

"Edgar, it's nice to see you in town. It was quite a shock to hear from your father that you had gotten married. Allow me to introduce myself," the man turned to Alessandra. "I am Bernard Carson and this is my wife, Mae Carson. It's a pleasure to meet you…" Bernard paused to allow her to introduce herself.

"Alessandra Collins," Alessandra shook his hand and then the woman's hand.

"Unfortunately, we have to leave unexpectedly but I hope you get to know our sons well. Be nice," Mae chuckled after seeing Edgar sigh. "I hope to see you for dinner. Go on inside. You shouldn't keep your grandmother waiting, Edgar."

"It was nice meeting you," Alessandra said as the older couple walked down the steps. "Carsons? I feel like I have heard that name before. No matter where I look, it seems like your family has well-known people.  Then there is me."

"Alessandra Collins, the Duchess. Seems like a good person to be," Edgar said to remind her of her title. Her life before becoming his wife did not matter. She was now a Duchess and there was no one in this world to question her position.

"You know what I meant Edgar but thank you. I was hoping there wouldn't be anyone else when I meet your grandmother for the first time but there is nothing we can do now. I just hope the rest of your relatives are-"

"Edgar," the aged voice of a woman interrupted Alessandra.

Edgar smiled, seeing his grandmother standing before him. He noticed how frail she was becoming but that would not make her someone you could walk all over. "Hello, grandmother. Somehow, I fulfilled my promise to bring you the woman I would spend the rest of my life with."

"So it seems. I thought I would have died before you got married," Rose Collins chuckled.