The Duke's Masked Wife

"What?" Jennifer's mouth fell open upon hearing she could be thrown into the dungeon. Her sweat turned cold as the stories of Edgar's dungeon came rushing back to her. Alessandra was being unnecessary by ordering this."This is uncalled for."

Jennifer surprised her own self after she slapped Alessandra and wanted to apologize but Alessandra did not give her the chance to. A slap to Jennifer's face would have made things equal but Alessandra wanted to go the extra mile to make herself feel better in Jennifer's opinion.

"You have ignored my orders and slapped me in my own home. I have every right to see to it you face the consequences. I will not have you punished but I think I night or two in there would help you clear your mind. You should learn to control your emotions and keep your hands to yourself next time. Alfred," Alessandra called to the butler for him to start taking Jennifer away.

Jennifer made things become this way and Alessandra wasn't going to change her mind after being struck in the face. There was a feeling in the back of her head that there would be a lot of conflict surrounding this soon. Whether it be from Jennifer or Edgar's mother.

Edgar's mother might not enjoy Alessandra throwing one of her people in the dungeon. However, Alessandra did not enjoy someone striking her. Regardless of whether Priscilla likes her or not when she pays a visit, Priscilla should know it would be wrong to argue for Jennifer's release.

"You cannot do this. I will leave this place instead. Release me, Alfred," Jennifer shuffled her body to get out of his grip. She changed her mind about staying now that things were becoming dangerous for her. "I am going to gather my things and leave. Please, do not do this to me."

"I have given you the option to leave but you rejected it each time. You have the face the consequences of your actions-"

"You are only doing this because you don't want me to tell Edgar's mother about how you are acting!" Jennifer yelled.

Alessandra sighed, annoyed with the conversation once again. It was foolish to continue having a conversation with Jennifer. She was hungry and the longer they stood here, the longer it would take for her to get food. "I want to go sit at the dining table. Where is it, Alfred?" She ignored Jennifer. It was something she should have done from the beginning.

"I will take you there myself. You there," Alfred called to a passing by male servant. "Take her to the Dungeon. Inform them it is the Duchess who sent her and she is not allowed to be freed until the Duchess sends word about it. If you lose her, you shall take her place."

"Yes sir."

"I said I would leave on my own," Jennifer continued to fight Alfred to break free of his grasp. She heard many stories of the dungeon Edgar owned. It was said people who went into the dungeon rarely came out of it. "I am sorry for slapping you. Please allow me to leave! My family needs me."

Alfred handed Jennifer off to the servant. It filled him with guilt to know it was partially because of him that Alessandra was slapped today. Going forward, he would never make the mistake to feel sorry for anyone besides the Duke and Duchess.

"As much as I would like to help you save face, I must be honest with Edgar about this entire situation when he returns home. If I start keeping secrets from him now, it will create a mess in our relationship further down the line. I have to tell him that you knew about her. I'm sorry," Alessandra apologized to Alfred.

She preferred not to make it a habit of keeping things from Edgar. If she were in his shoes, she wouldn't want anything to be hidden from her.

"I understand," Alfred was completely fine with this. He messed up and was not going to hide the fact that he did. "I apologize once again for not taking proper action. Come, let me take you to have breakfast."

Alessandra hoped Alfred would not think about it too much. Although he is the butler and is the person to keep the house together in Edgar's absence, he was only human and would make a mistake at some point.

"What do you like to do in your free time, Alfred?" Alessandra questioned to change the topic.

"Me?" Alfred was surprised to hear her ask about his private life. "I like to go for walks and enjoy the scenery on my days off. If I pass by a book shop, I would buy a new book and go home to read it with some tea. I'm afraid my life is pretty basic when I am not with Edgar."

"I suppose it's good you have a balance of chaos and peace. It seems conflict follows me wherever I go. If you do not mind, can I join you on one of your walks? I would love to walk around with someone and enjoy the scenery. It is completely okay for you to say no. I do not wish to ruin your private time," Alessandra said.

"I would love it if you joined me, Duchess."

Alfred loved how Alessandra genuinely wanted to get to know him. He could not figure out why anyone would hurt her face or continue to spread those nasty rumors. Had no one stopped to get to know Alessandra? Was it jealousy that made the world turn against her?

As someone who never cared about public opinion, Alfred would have at least greeted Alessandra if he saw her in public.

"Allow me," Alfred gave his hand for Alessandra to hold onto as they reached the stairs. After the way Alessandra handled Jennifer, he had no doubts she would surprise the town and have them begging for her to accept them. "At any point, you wish to visit Jennifer in the dungeon, I can take you."

"No thank you. I don't want it to be as if I am taunting her by throwing her in the Dungeon and then visiting to see what she has become. I do not care to see her anymore. It is-Edgar?" Alessandra muttered when the front doors opened right as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Edgar entered the home with his shirt halfway unbuttoned. "He is back."

"Excuse me a moment, Duchess," Alfred left Alessandra's side. In the few seconds Edgar had returned home, he was itching for some reason. "Edgar, is there something wrong? Did you go meddling with a bee hive again?"

"Haha, Alfred. When did you become a comedian? I was correct when I said Barrett's house makes my skin itch. Please bring me an ointment. Alessandra," Edgar greeted her with a charming smile but it disappeared when he noticed a red mark on her cheek as if someone had hurt her. "Anyone care to enlighten me on why my wife's cheek is red?"