The Duke's Masked Wife

Melody grabbed Claire's arm to stop her from leaving already. "Claire! You cannot say such a thing. Never say that in front of Alessandra. Do you know how much it would be a slap in the face to hear you admit that too?"

"You know, Alessandra isn't going to bring you into her fancy world just because you switched your tune. She still doesn't trust us. It was fake of you to tell her about wanting to be a scholar. You really think she will let you teach her children?" Claire asked.

"If I work hard then yes. And I switched my approach because I realised how rude we were coming off to someone who has trouble with relatives she meets. I want to get to know our sister. That is the reason we came here with our mother. Isn't it? I get defensive for mother too but we have to put ourselves in Alessandra's-"

"You weren't saying that yesterday!" Claire yelled, deeply frustrated with her sister.

"I said that from the moment we left home! I got angry when mother said she was threatened, but the more I hear about Alessandra's life, I understand why her husband is wary. Claire, I will always defend my mother and I hate to see her look so sad, but we have to stay out of this if we want to have a relationship with our sister. She could be acting worse toward mother," Melody said.

Alessandra was quite calm in the face of a parent who abandoned her. Alesandra had the power to make their lives hell, but here she was, meeting with them and trying to get to know her half-sisters.

"Claire, why are you acting like this? You never cared about the glamour of towns like this before. You have to stop asking about how much things cost or pouting when you hear someone is a butler. You don't have the wealth to pout at a butler. Promise me that you will start to behave. I will tell father about your behavior when he arrives tomorrow," Melody said, knowing this threat would get Claire to behave.

"Father told mother to be prepared for a cold shoulder. He wasn't happy to learn about mother's hidden life and the fact she wasn't travelling to see her sick father. I told you that he and mother got into a screaming match before we left. We should be more worried about their marriage," Melody added, fearing her mother's secrets would crumble her marriage. "Do you think it was right for mother to hide this from us for years? Especially father?"

Claire looked off to the side. "Of course not. I was angry with her too. I can't get how hurt father looked when the news arrived. I just don't like seeing mother looking sad. I suppose I should stay out of it. It wouldn't be fair if you get a new sister and I don't. It might be too late for Alessandra to want to start over with me."

"It isn't. As older sisters, we write off your behavior as being bratty and annoying. You have to apologize for the way you have behaved. The looks and the side remarks," Melody said.

"I know," Claire muttered.

"Good," Melody sighed, glad this was over with.

"I'm sorry that I said your dream is foolish. I was just angry with you at that moment. I am just against it sometimes because it means you won't always be at home. I'm sorry," Claire apologized.

"I know. See, you're a sweetheart when you control your emotions. We should return before they think I am out here pulling out your hair," Melody said, walking back to the room where everyone was.

"Why would you be pulling my hair? I am the better fighter- Duke Collins?" Claire almost choked on her words when she saw Edgar standing not too far away from them. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. She thought he had appeared out of thin air to kill her.

"Duke Collins," Melody curtsied. She also wanted to know why Edgar was here when Alessandra said he would be coming later.

"Hello," Edgar gave a short greeting and went into the room to find Alessandra.  After a quick meeting with Tobias to talk about what was happening at the border, he left the palace and came straight to Alessandra.

"Edgar!" Alessandra exclaimed, surprised to see him. She was happy to have him here as the sit down with her mother was suffocating after her sisters left. "I thought we would not be seeing you for another hour."

"I finished early so I came here to see you. How lucky are you to be so loved," Edgar said, taking a seat beside Alessandra. He made an attempt to touch her stomach, but his hand was pushed away by Alessandra. Edgar briefly glanced at Melanie who had no idea Alessandra was carrying his children in her stomach. "Hello again," he greeted Melanie.

Melanie understood why Alessandra did not call her mother, but she found it rude for Edgar to not refer to her as mother-in-law. There was still some respect owed to her. It was thanks to her that Alessandra was in this world for Edgar to be married.

Although it bugged her, Melanie knew to keep quiet as talking about it would only make Alessandra angry. Melanie also asked around about Edgar to see what he was truly like.

She didn't like the things she heard about him. The last thing she wanted was for Alessandra to marry a man as cruel as her father. Although Edgar did not care for appearances like Desmond, there were a few things said about him that she did not like for her daughter. Everyone she turned to said Edgar Collins was a cruel man you should stay far away from.

At first, she viewed Edgar's actions as love, but now, Melanie found that it was a bit controlling and rude. He carried a don't care attitude that she greatly disliked and then there was that look in his eyes whenever he looked her way.

"The two of you have not been married for long. Have you thought about children?" She asked, watching Edgar's reaction.

"We have. We are both looking forward to having children one day.  Although we have not reached a year yet, I think we have been married for a good enough amount of time to think about children," Alessandra answered. "How many months into your new marriage did you have Melody?"

"I was pregnant with Melody before we officially got married. Luckily, the timing was quite close so no one ever assumed anything. It is something I never told Melody," Melanie said, smiling at Melody and Claire as they returned to their seats. "I hope you can have a child soon so I can become a grandmother."

"Hmm," Edgar made a sound. He felt Alessandra pressing her shoe down on his but it didn't affect him. Melanie will become a grandmother, but it did not mean she would see the child.

"Is there something wrong, Duke Collins?" Melanie asked. "We should all be able to speak freely since we are family. Speak your mind."

'You don't want Edgar to speak his mind,' Alessandra thought.

"You already told me that you do not like or trust me. Quite frankly, I feel the same when it comes to you," Melanie added.