The Duke's Masked Wife

"Duke, Duchess!" Caleb called out to the couple as he exited the front door.

"Go away," Edgar ordered the tall man.

"Yes sir," Caleb quickly turned around to mind his business.

"Please stay, Caleb," Alessandra said.

Caleb turned back around regretting his decision to come outside. Now he was in the midst of whatever they were talking about.

"Caleb," Edgar said in a stern tone.

"You can't do that," Alessandra poked Edgar in his stomach. "Caleb is my bodyguard which means he listens to me."

"He is my loyal subject before he is your bodyguard. Isn't that right, Caleb?"

Both Alessandra and Edgar looked at Caleb to see who he would side with.

"Why are the two of you outside when your grandmother is here to spend time with you, Edgar?" Alfred questioned, unknowingly saving Caleb from his torture.

'Thank you!' Caleb sang in his head.

"Why are you out here when she is more interested in seeing you and you enjoy her fawning over you?" Edgar retorted.

"Someone's a little bit too upset that his grandmother has a tiny crush," Alessandra said to make fun of Edgar.

"It seems you have forgotten I have plans to get back at you for leading me on the night before. Keep on making your jokes but do not cry to me when the time comes. I will thoroughly punish you for all the things you have done on this trip," Edgar said in a low tone.

Alessandra had forgotten that Edgar was meant to get back at her for her teasing him. She thought they had moved past it after nothing had happened but of course, Edgar was petty enough to hold onto it. "I think it would be a good idea if I stay over at your grandmother's home tonight-"

"Certainly not," Edgar killed her hope to run away. "You and I have a lot to talk about tonight. Keep on making jokes and teasing me. It fuels me to torture you some more."

"The sexual tension between the two of them is through the roof, isn't it?" Caleb asked Alfred while the couple were lost in a conversation. "Should all of us leave to give them some privacy? What if we were to create a romantic vibe and lock them in the house?" Caleb joked.

Alfred on the other hand enjoyed the idea. "It will take great planning and scheming."

"Hey, I wasn't serious-"

Alfred ignored Caleb and continued to plan, "We can make use of his grandmother being here. I will need to speak with the butler and have the servants leave early."

'He's not listening to me,' Caleb gave up. Edgar wouldn't mind Alfred plotting to have him alone with Alessandra but Caleb wasn't sure how Alessandra would react. 'They should get to spend the night alone in the house.'

"What's the matter with the two of you?" Edgar asked the two men as they were standing around in a daze.

"Nothing," Alfred and Caleb replied at the same time. They looked at each other taken aback by the unison reaction.

"I heard from your grandmother that the Duchess wishes to go out and shop. I suggest we leave now to come back in time to relax before dinner. The Duchess is already dressed to leave. Edgar, run along and put on something fit for wearing outside."

"No," Edgar replied to piss Alfred off.

"I will take care of it," Alessandra said to reassure Alfred everything would go as he was planning. She tugged on the hand she had to let Edgar keep holding onto in the end, forcing him to follow her inside. "Edgar will be ready in a couple of minutes."

Alfred smiled, grateful he had Alessandra on his side to deal with Edgar.

"Is it just me or does it seem like the Duchess has turned the Duke into a big puppy? Do you think that is what love is, Alfred? Alfred?"  Caleb called the butler's name again and looked to his side to see Alfred in deep thought. "I give up. I hope the Duke and Duchess are aware that I was just joking about locking them inside," Caleb grumbled.

Meanwhile, Alessandra led Edgar upstairs for him to get ready to leave.

"If you do not want to come along with us, you can stay home," said Alessandra.

"I was only messing with Alfred. I want to join you and my grandmother. It is a good opportunity to see what else interests you so I can take notes for future gifts."

"You do not need to buy me any more gifts, Edgar. It's not like it is my birthday and when it comes, I rarely celebrate it. The more gifts you buy for me the more I feel guilty about not giving you something in return. I haven't started the paintings I promised. I will start them as soon as we return to Lockwood. Our time here has gone by so quickly," Alessandra sadly spoke. She felt more relaxed here where no one knew anything about her.

"Do you wish to live here?" Edgar asked, seriously considering staying if it would make her happy.

"No. You have your estate back in Lockwood and you need to be close to the king. Plus I have made new friends I would miss. I am going to miss the peace we had here. The only way we can have that in Lockwood is to allow fewer visitors into our home and avoid big crowds. That will be hard as winter is coming and there will be numerous parties you have to attend."

"I do not attend all the parties I am invited to. Only the ones from friends and something to do with Tobias.  You will find peace in your life when you learn to ignore others and avoid situations where there will be a conflict like you did today. Always go with your gut feeling." Edgar was glad Alessandra had returned home inside of sticking around somewhere she would be uncomfortable.

In a short time, Alessandra went from desperately wanting his grandmother to like her to doing what was best for herself.

"Moving onto important matters," Edgar caged her up against their bedroom door by placing his arms to the side of her shoulders. "You have brought me up here to get me dressed. Does that mean you will help me take off my clothes and put on the ones you will pick out? I suddenly find myself unable to get dressed alone."

"Edgar, we both know I am not confident enough to strip and dress you. I only brought you upstairs to convince you to join us. I will give you some privacy," Alessandra stated then tried to get away from him but his hands did not bulge. She was forced to look up at him with a pleading look to let her go.

"After being so bold in the garden this morning you won't run away from me tonight, right? You have far more confidence than you think you do. There is no reason to be ashamed of what you want to do with your husband. Like how you touched me as you wanted the night before," Edgar whispered. He had closed the distance between the two of them to the point his warm breath tickled her cheeks as he spoke. "I think you are confident enough to strip me."

"Children," Rose's voice was heard down the hall where they had walked up the stairs to get to their room.

Embarrassed, Alessandra pushed Edgar's chest as hard as she could to get him away from her. She regretted this when she heard him groan. "A-Are you alright?"

"Just kill me and get it over with, Alessandra."