The Duke's Masked Wife

"Just so you know, you're not the only one not happy about this. I would have preferred to travel with your brother who seems to be the pleasant one," Eleanor said, walking down the steps toward Reed who did not hide his dislike for taking her home. It was an unexpected twist of events that Caleb had a twin. A grumpy twin it seems.

"You can still let him take you home and Edgar would not find out. I would not tell him," Reed replied.

"Your brother is busy and there is a lady I am certain he would love to spend his time with. Besides, it is a bonus to see someone grumpy be annoyed. It will be a quick silent trip so you will not suffer as much as you think," Eleanor said, looking in the direction Caleb went to see when the carriage was coming.

From his horse, Reed looked down at the latest addition to Alessandra's group of friends. Her circle had an odd mixture of personalities. This one was annoying him already but he had to be grateful it wasn't the talkative dressmaker he heard about.

The more he stared at her the more he found her to be familiar. "Do you frequent the red light district?" Reed asked.

"I am not a prostitute. My father has a business there," Eleanor answered, hoping he would end the conversation here. She didn't like when most men bring up seeing her there.

"I never called you a prostitute I just asked if you go there. All sorts of people pass through that place. Even women looking for a moment to satisfy themselves with men who sell their bodies."

"I see. You look like the type," Eleanor smiled, looking up at Reed.

"Type to do what?" Reed inquired.

"The type to go there to enjoy yourself," Eleanor said, picturing the uproar he would cause among the women who loved having handsome customers.

Reed found her words to be funny. "You took one look at me and think I have to pay for sex? That is the last way I would waste my money. You must be mistaking me for my brother. Women find their way into my bed without me having to do much to entice them. Do not put me in the same box as the sleazy men in your father's business."

"All of the men that go there do not have a sleazy look. I would watch my words if I were you. I can easily find out if you do visit there and find all your little dark secrets," Eleanor smiled, expecting this would shut him up.

"Have you fallen for me?" Reed asked, watching the triumphant smile on her lips quickly disappear. "I don't know why else you would go around asking about me unless there is some infatuation there. I don't like to mix business with pleasure so I must turn you down. My apologies."

Eleanor couldn't believe his nerve to assume she like him. "I do not have any feelings for you. Are you insane?" She asked.

"Look at you two conversing. Getting along?" Caleb asked as he walked up to the pair with his hands in his pockets. Someone else had taken care of the horse and the carriage was getting prepared to leave.

"No!" Reed and Eleanor replied in unison.

Caleb was taken aback by the aggressiveness of their tone. "Alright. It was just a simple question."

Meanwhile, Edgar went straight to his bedroom to see Alessandra. He was surprised she was not waiting for him by the door as she was the type to worry too much and most likely thought about the worst-case scenarios about what must have happened today. It was unfortunate that the day she was looking forward to was ruined but it still ended on a good note with one person dead and the other awaiting their punishment of being hung in the morning.

Upon opening the door, he first saw Sally sitting on the bed with Alessandra nowhere in sight.

"Duke," Sally stood up from the bed. She hoped he didn't think she wasn't doing her job and was just lazing around. She came to help Alessandra change into a nightgown which she had started but then Alessandra freaked out and left her alone to get dressed in the closet. Sally was just waiting around in case Alessandra needed help. "She is in the closet."

"You can leave us now," Edgar spoke softly to not alert Alessandra of his arrival. It was by some luck she had not heard Sally address him. He walked to the closet while Sally hurried out of the room and locked the door behind her.

Without making his presence known, Edgar entered the closet and in the corner, he saw Alessandra failing to untie the strings at the back of her dress. "You are a married woman," he said, walking over to help her. "Sally would understand you having marks on your skin from our intimacy."

Alessandra jumped at the sound of Edgar's voice behind her. She quickly spun around to get double-check if her mind was playing tricks on her because she wanted to see Edgar. Although Edgar was walking toward her, Alessandra still could not believe he was actually there. It was only when he touched her that she finally believed Edgar had returned home.

"No one told me if you were alright," Alessandra whispered, relieved to have him back home without any wounds. Everyone else had faith in Edgar winning the battle and didn't worry about him but the same couldn't be said for her which was why she hated the silence from everyone who returned. "It is wrong for no one to update me on how my husband is doing."

"I apologize for not sending a message to let you know that I am fine. I wanted to return and show you that I am alright. If a couple of hours in a fight scares you, what would you do if I were to ever go back out to war? It is weeks instead of a few hours. I have to say," Edgar pushed her chin up with his index finger to make her look at him after she looked away. "I would love the sight of you running out to me with teary eyes upon my arrival."

"It is not funny," Alessandra pushed his hand away and turned around to continue with getting undressed but truthfully, she wanted to wipe her watery eyes.

"I was not telling you a joke. This is the first time I have returned from a fight to someone waiting for me with such emotions. Alfred does not count," he said, earning a chuckle from Alessandra but she tried to hide it. "I am sorry for my late return. You would see if you turn around to face me that I am in one piece. Your wonderful husband rarely loses a fight."

"It is unlike you to admit that you have lost fights," Alessandra replied, slowly turning around to face Edgar once more.

"Well I am human. There are times when I have been outnumbered and had to retreat before returning with a new plan. I am only talented now not because I was born perfect but I have learned from my mistakes. Like next time, I should send you hourly updates," said Edgar.

"I hope there won't be a next time. Hazel is resting and so is Linda in another room. She said Tobias sent her," Alessandra informed him.

"He did. He said Hazel wanted to have a word with her and it was her father's request she be far away to not see the fight amongst her family. Tobias has taken Grant to be killed before the town as a warning to anyone who tries to harm the queen," Edgar said, playing with a strand of Alessandra's hair as he spoke.

Alessandra found it to be a good way to warn their enemies. "I hope there can be some peace in their lives now for them to have the child they yearn for."

"Hmm. I apologize if this is bad timing but I am in desperate need of your touch," Edgar said, snaking his right hand around her waist to pull her closer.