The Duke's Masked Wife

When Reed eventually came back to the group, Alessandra questioned where he had run off for so long. She was given the story of him spotting someone suspicious and going to inspect them. Alessandra didn't completely believe the story but she didn't bother to get the truth out of him. She could only hope they would tell her of any dangers they spot nearby.

They left Jeanette's shop after the order was made and a bag was picked out for Sally's mother.

Alessandra continued to look around the shops they passed to see what other interesting shops were present. She stopped right in front of a bookshop that had numerous books lined up outside.  "Sally, you should see if the book Alfred wants is here," she said.

"Oh right," Sally remembered her gift. She left Alessandra's side for a moment to look through the mountains of books.

"Pleasure and seduction," Alessandra read the name of a book. She flipped it open, reading the first page she stumbled across but quickly closed the book.

"Not into dirty books, Duchess?" Caleb mused.

Reed smacked the back of his brother's head. "That is not something you ask a married woman, you fool."

"Were you trying to knock off my head?" Caleb glared at his brother as he rubbed the back of his head. Ignoring his brother's words he said, "There are dirty books targeted for men if you have not bought your husband a gift. It would be more enticing if he caught you reading one."

"Why?" Alessandra innocently asked.

"Well, he'll think you are looking for ways to up your nightly activities," Caleb softly spoke so no one around would judge Alessandra speaking about this in public.

"Or he will think he isn't satisfying you well enough and you've turned to books," Reed said.

Caleb frowned, turning to his negative brother. "Why must you always ruin the moment?" He asked.

"Stop blabbering to the Duchess about things you have no idea about. Do not take his advice, Duchess. Caleb is enticed by the most foolish things," said Reed.

Alessandra put back the book, not needing it for what Caleb suggested. Though, she would love a man's perspective on seduction. Edgar made it quite clear what he wanted for his birthday and at this point, she wanted to make him eat his words with a big surprise. The only issue was, she didn't know how to seduce him. Whatever she did to make Edgar lust after her, she did it without thinking about it.

Alessandra remembered on the night they got married Edgar spoke of a growing business for things couples used for pleasure. She thought of going there but felt like she would be overwhelmed by the things she saw there.

"Duchess Collins," a feminine voice interrupted the moment.

Alessandra looked to her right, finding a group of women with familiar faces from the day she went to the palace. She wasn't sure if they were trouble since she had not spoken to anyone outside of her group with Hazel, Eleanor, and Heather. "Hello," she greeted the group.

"It's a pleasant surprise to see the Duchess out on a wonderful day like this. I'm afraid I didn't get the chance to speak to you when you were in the palace. I was looking forward to meeting you. I am Viscountess Nadine Powell," Nadine introduced herself, extending her hand out for Alessandra to shake.

Andre and Clyde, who separated Alessandra from the group of women, only moved when Alessandra signaled for them to step aside. Alessandra shook Nadine's hand but was still cautious of the woman and her friends. She guessed the other young women around Nadine were trying to attach themselves to her because of her title.

"Have you found any interesting books?" Nadine asked, looking through the books. "I am looking for children's books. My husband and I recently learned that we are expecting. It came as a shock since we only married two months ago and did not think it would happen so soon. We are lucky to be blessed so early in our marriage," she placed a hand on her flat stomach.

"Congratulations. I hope you have a safe pregnancy," Alessandra said with a smile before going back to look through the books.

"Are you with child, Duchess? I heard rumors you were," a companion of Nadine's said.

Sally stopped looking through the books upon hearing the young woman's words. She knew what rumors they spoke of which did not concern Alessandra being pregnant with Edgar's child. It was the foolish rumors about the cook.

"I am not pregnant. You have heard wrong," Alessandra replied, slightly annoyed with where the conversation was heading. "Are you finished, Sally?" She asked, ready to move on before any more questions could be asked.

"Yes, I only need to pay for it," Sally showed the book she was buying for Alfred.

"Isn't it odd to not be pregnant yet?" The young woman named Penelope pushed further.

"Stop it," Nadine snapped at the young woman before it could get out of hand. "I'll apologize on her behalf, Duchess."

"It's alright though I do not see what is odd. I have not been married for more than the Viscountess has.  Did you think it was odd she was not pregnant when she was married for less than a month?" Alessandra asked, flipping the conversation to put the young woman in the hot seat.

Penelope looked to Nadine who was waiting for an answer. "I-I did not think it was odd for you, Viscountess.  I know how much you and your husband were trying.-"

"You know nothing about me and my husband to call me not being pregnant yet odd," Alessandra interjected the young woman's hypocrisy.  One of the things she truly hated was anyone questioning her lack of a child when her marriage only just started and it was not even a month as yet.

"Well, you are older than most young women here. Your peers should have at least one child now and move on to another. Don't you question if you have waited too late to marry and now it will be harder?" Penelope asked. She was the ripe age of sixteen as her father said so she had better chances of conceiving a child the moment she married her fiancé than Alessandra who was around five years older than her.

"I've been doing a lot of reading in my free time and do you know it wasn't that long ago girls were told to have children the moment they bled? They could be as young as twelve. Sixteen seemed too old back then until the laws increased the age. Turns out sixteen wasn't too old as there is no issue for women that age to conceive but now you point fingers at my age. I wonder if one day my age will be the norm and sixteen will be odd," Alessandra said, curious about what would happen in the future.

"Whatever age I get pregnant only concerns me and my husband. It doesn't take much effort to keep your mouth shut instead of saying foolish things. Excuse me," Alessandra said to Nadine after Sally finished buying the book.

"Rude," Nadine commented when Alessandra walked by her with her guards and maid.

"She certainly is," Penelope agreed with the Viscountess.

"No, I meant you," Nadine clarified for her former companion.