The Duke's Masked Wife

"I'm sorry your dinner was disrupted dear but I am sure it would have been wonderful. I'll come again tomorrow with the portraits of you and your mother. I must remember to bring a gift for your husband's birthday. I hope whatever is happening gets better," Wilma kissed Alessandra's cheek as she hugged her.

"Thank you. I'm sorry you didn't get to stay for dinner but I will make it up to you tomorrow. Maybe I can visit you instead?" Alessandra asked, stepping out of the hug but she was still holding Wilma's hand.

"That would be nice but it seems something big happened today so you might not have time to travel tomorrow. I don't mind coming to you tomorrow and if everything settles down I can host a little dinner for you and Edgar. You will love my cooking. Besides my good looks and personality, my food is how I got your grandfather to fall for me," said Wilma with a wink at the end.

"Really? Do you know how to bake? I wanted to make a cake for Edgar but I failed. I don't have any experience in the kitchen but I would love to bake more. Making cookies sounds fun," Alessandra said as she thought it would be good to do one day when she has children.

"Then how about you and I have a baking day and then Edgar joins us for dinner-"

"What is going on?" Rose's voice interrupted the peaceful conversation between Alessandra and Wilma. "Where is Priscilla?" She asked.

After Edgar abruptly left home without telling anyone what was happening and Alessandra was being tight-lipped, Rose had taken it upon herself to visit Priscilla only to find her cell empty.

"I will see you tomorrow," Alessandra said to Wilma, quickly ushering her out the door so she could leave on a peaceful note rather than stay to hear Rose's questions.

Wilma noticed what Alessandra was doing and left after saying a final goodbye. She didn't know what to make of Rose Collins yet but from what she saw with Edgar, Alessandra was in good hands. She was worried about what made Edgar suddenly leave and the queen to be nowhere in sight but Alessandra reassured her everything would be alright.

Alessandra waved goodbye to Wilma as she walked down the steps and went to her carriage. "I do not know where Priscilla is. I do not check up on her and wait until Edgar gives me an update. If she is not there, then her punishment is over," she answered.

"Has that boy lost his mind? It is odd how you do not know what is going on in the house you live in. My husband could never get anything past me-"

"The difference is," Alessandra interjected before Rose could scold her again. "Edgar is not hiding anything for me to have to be looking around to know what is happening. He will tell me about his mother when he is ready because we communicate with each other. Should I have your carriage prepared for you to leave?"

"Why would I leave when my grandson left in such a rush and took a lot of men with him? I looked out the window and saw him riding out the gates with many of his followers.  It is rude for the two of you to leave out everyone else at the table who is worried about what is going on. We are all worried sick," said Rose, desperately needing to know what was going on.

"There is a chance that I drank something which would affect my chances of becoming pregnant. It was only a little bit and my friend says she has the solution for it.  Edgar has left to see if it is true," Alessandra revealed, keeping Hazel's part out of it.

If it were possible, Rose's jaw would have dropped to the floor. She was waiting anxiously for Edgar to have children she could dote on but now there was something to potentially push back happening? "Where were you when you drank it? Were you not paying attention-"

"Can we please go back to how we were before you came to Lockwood? I don't understand why there is a sudden change in how you act toward me now. You knew back then who my family was and that I was trying my best to take on the role of Duchess. There is only so much I can take and as much as I know you are excited for Edgar to have children, it is my body and I am already shaken up by this. I don't need your questions," said Alessandra.

Alessandra closed the door now that Wilma's carriage was gone and she needed to check up on Hazel who went to her room with Eleanor.

"I am not trying to be against you, Alessandra. I love you and I want the best for you. It can only happen if I give you tough love and you stop Edgar from interfering with my help. I find that you are a bit too sensitive. I am easier on you than I am with anyone else who comes into our family," Rose said, once again annoyed by Alessandra. "Now that you have your grandmother are you going to treat me like a bad guy?"

"That is far from what is happening here. My grandmother has nothing to do with the uneasiness I feel toward you today. I would love to have more than one grandmother in my life but this easy approach you speak of is not working for me. I'm sorry but I must ask that you take your leave now as dinner will not continue. Caleb," Alessandra looked in the corner where he watched them from a distance.

Caleb was made to stay behind to watch over her as he was her personal guard. She sent Clyde and Andre up to Hazel's room to make sure no one would pester her at this sensitive time.

"Please have lady Collins's carriage brought to the front of the house," Alessandra said, ignoring Rose wanting to stay to wait for Edgar. She needed to focus on Hazel but would not be able to do that with Rose present.

"Duchess, there seems to be another carriage at the gates," Sally spoke. She stood by the window trying to not make her presence noticed by Rose and as she stood there, she could see thanks to there being less snow falling, that there was a carriage by the gates.

"What now?" Alessandra muttered as she walked to where Sally stood to see the carriage she spoke of. She had no time for other guests unless it was someone coming to tell her about what Edgar was up to. She watched a guard running from the gates toward the house to deliver the message of who the person was.

Rose remained silent as she considered staying though Alessandra was sending her away. If she stays, she would learn what Edgar was really doing quicker but at the same time, her relationship with Alessandra might change and the last thing she wanted to do was be at odds with Alessandra. Instead, she needed to speak with Edgar as she planned to. He would understand where she was coming from.

Sally went to the door to open it for the guard delivering the message. "Who is at the gates?" She inquired.

"A miss Linda Henson. She says the king has sent her here to speak with the queen."