The Duke's Masked Wife

"Does he pester you about Linda a lot?"

"He used to as a way for us to secure his loyalty. I am in no need of more power to do as he wants. Now he is pestering Tobias. Do not think about him," Edgar replied.

"I take it he will never like me and I don't want him to. I am not fond of people who share those views about women. That I must be silent around two men. I will place bugs in your clothes the day you ask that of me," Alessandra made a threat she would stand on.

"Thankfully that would never happen. It was entertaining to see his mouth fall open because of you. You are better than you think," Edgar commented on her dancing. "I must increase Alfred's pay. He does more work than any other butler. He is your butler, dance teacher, party planner, protector, and future babysitter."

"He should be paid a lot just from dealing with you all your life and now having to teach me basic things a lady should already know. I have been reading books to ease what he has been teaching me. I don't like to bother him," said Alessandra.

"Have you not been paying attention? Alfred loves when you call on him. Do you want to make an old man sad?"

"No, I do not," Alessandra chuckled. She curtsied just like the other women when the song came to an end. They had joined the dance too late for them to enjoy it more but at least they had gotten away from Linda's grandfather. "Incoming three and zero," she said, looking at two people approaching.

Edgar looked over his shoulder and snickered. "You are learning well. What do you want, Tobias? Do you want to dance with me?"

"Hmm. I always knew there was something between the two of you," Hazel commented.

"Please. If I had an interest in men why would I choose Edgar to make my life hell? I came to inform you that Hazel and I will be leaving. The snow has started to come down heavier and it is a long ride back to the palace. It would be dangerous if our carriage becomes stuck on the road back. Hazel tells me your wife will visit the palace tomorrow. Pay a visit, Edgar. Rafael will be there tomorrow. Do not punch anyone," Tobias pleaded with Edgar.

"I punched someone once and now it is becoming a big deal," Edgar rolled his eyes.

"I recall you punching someone at your birthday party," said Tobias.

"That was a fight you started and I jumped in to stop your royal ass from fighting against three men on your own," Edgar retold the story just as it had happened.

Tobias had thrown the first punch for whatever reason Edgar still did not know to this day, and when the man he punched two friends tried to get into the mix, Edgar came to Tobias's defense.

"Oh right," Tobias scratched the back of his head. "I got you into a lot of fights, didn't I?"

"You did and you even got me to go off to war with you. I am yet to figure out why I am friends with you. There is always something I have to deal with," Edgar muttered.

"Oh come on. I am one of the few people who get your personality and can handle your words. I take pride in being someone who can annoy you but you'll still come around and don't try to kill me as you do with others. It warms me," Tobias touched his chest.

"Who said I never tried to kill you?" Edgar said with a grin. When he used to make Tobias jump from high rocks the goal was for Tobias to snap something. "Alessandra, are you okay with leaving shortly? If the roads back to the palace are blocked by snow, we will find trouble returning home."

With Hazel being the only person Alessandra was familiar with and Kate being here along with William, Alessandra didn't see the point in staying much longer. From what she saw so far, the people here were just going to stand around to show off their wealth and not talk about anything other than gossip. She was here to have fun but this was not the party for her. She looked forward to the gathering in the palace tomorrow more than this one as many girls would be around her age.

"We can leave now," said Alessandra.

"Well, this party will be a drag now that the most important people are leaving," Tobias stated.

"I should say goodbye to Mr. Henson," Hazel looked around the room for the said man. She always spoke to Linda's grandfather who was like her own.

"Not right now," Tobias disagreed with it since Grant was unpredictable and tried to tell Hazel about letting Linda become the king's mistress. "We are not attending this party unless Linda's father or brothers are present. What lovely timing they have to be out of town with Linda now," he muttered.

Hazel picked up that something was wrong and it happened when Tobias went to speak with Grant. She would find out by the end of the day. "Goodbye, Alessandra. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Hazel," Alessandra curtsied.

Hazel and Tobias left first followed shortly by Edgar and Alessandra. Alessandra saw a lot of people looking their way and muttering something but wasn't bothered by it.

'They should enjoy themselves more than worrying about us leaving early,' she thought.

Timothy, Edgar's personal driver, opened the door of the carriage for the couple when he saw them come out. For some odd reason, Edgar entered the carriage first and sat down leaving Alessandra to enter behind him.

Alessandra took a deep breath now that she was away from the many eyes in the room. She had not noticed how much weight was on her shoulders until now that she was out of the party. "Hey!" Alessandra squealed when she found herself being pulled onto Edgar's lap as soon as she stepped into the carriage. "What are you doing?"

"The party is not over my sweet wife," Edgar smiled as he had plans for the long ride back home.