The Duke's Masked Wife

"Outside of getting slapped, how has your experience here been? Do you find our bedroom to your liking?"

"Was there really a need to bring up the slap?" Alessandra sighed.

From the moment they had come back inside after all the servants had greeted her, things were going well between Edgar and Alessandra until they sat down at the dining table and this was the first thing he had to say.

"I don't see anything wrong with stating the obvious negative experience you had. It has been dealt with and now I want to hear about everything else. Did you sleep comfortably last night or were you thinking of me?" Edgar questioned.

He sat at one end of a small dining table with one leg thrown over the other and his chin resting in the palm of his hand as his arm kept him propped up.

"It feels like you are constantly flirting with me, Edgar. What makes you think I missed your presence last night? I wouldn't mind if all nights were like last night where you sleep elsewhere. Everything in your bedroom was to my liking. When I start unpacking my things I will try not to create a cluster there."

"You couldn't if you wanted to. Daughter of a Baron but yet you are coming here with fewer things than my servants. Go shopping with Alfred tomorrow or have him call some shop owners to my home. They are always looking to dip their hands in my money so I am sure they could be here for you early tomorrow. Thank you, Alfred," Edgar thanked the butler after a cup of coffee was placed before him.

"I do not need to spend any of your money. I am happy with what I have right now. Before you say something smart, I don't feel the need to buy things I don't need just because I have a wealthy husband. If there is something I want, I will let you know. Besides the bugs, did your conversation with the Baroness go well?" Alessandra was curious about this from the moment he returned.

"When does it ever go well? She was expecting money from me as if I look like one of their tenants. What a fool," Edgar shook his head. "My entertainment came from your younger sister when she learned you and I are married. I warned the Baroness not to step foot on my property. Alessandra, I would kindly ask you never once have the thought to make amends with them after everything and invite them to my home. Do not take one foot forward then take five steps back."

Edgar sat back and watch the many occasions where people were tricked by their abusers to start over. Whatever happened to when people show you their true colors you stay away from them?

"I am foolish to one day forgive them. I am extremely happy you dislike my family but you should know they are both stubborn. You are the only thing Kate loves more than her parents and money. She will find a way to enter your house. Oh," Alessandra suddenly remembered something. "I have heard about your mother twice today. What is she like from your perspective."

"Nosy. Do not concern yourself with her," Edgar honestly replied.

"But she is your mother."

"That is exactly why you should not concern yourself with her. I hardly pay her any mind. Who told you about my mother? Surely, that person was trying to scare you." Edgar knew it at some point they had to sort of deal with Alessandra being worried when it came to his mother but he didn't expect it to be this soon. "Who is the unlucky soul to have told you about her?"

Alessandra quickly glanced at Alfred standing behind Edgar. "That part is not important."

"So it was Alfred," Edgar hid a smirk behind his cup of coffee.  He did not have to look around to see the grim expression on Alfred's face. "Do not look so worried for Alfred. I am glad he is the one to tell you about her. At least he wouldn't be so biased. Alfred and my mother have a love-slash-hate kind of relationship. My mother thinks I love Alfred more than her. Foolish right?"

"I mean children will love their parents first-"

"No," Edgar held up his hand to stop Alessandra. "I meant it is foolish she has to think about it. My mother tried to send me off all over the kingdom to have someone else raise me.  My mother loved social gatherings more than being hands-on with raising me. I don't know why she continues to act surprised that I enjoy Alfred's presence more."

"I'm sure you must have heard you will not fit the criteria she had for me when it came to a wife. Do not allow that bullshit to make you cry or hurt your feelings. If I had the same interests as my mother I would have married one of the women she picked long ago. My mother rules over a lot of the women in high society but there are some who are not fans of her. You can seek friendship with them and their daughters," Edgar recommended.

"I didn't expect to hear my husband say I should make friends with my mother-in-law's enemies," Alessandra replied but she knew she would have no choice but to make friends with the women who weren't following Priscilla.

High society in Lockwood was one big game of following the leader based on what Alessandra heard from eavesdropping on Kate and Katrina's conversation. To not be an outcast, everyone followed the ring leader in circles.

The leader was obviously the person with the most wealth and had the power to exile anyone from important gatherings.

If Priscilla ordered her followers to stay away from Alessandra there was nothing much Alessandra could do to make friends with the other young ladies. Edgar's name offered her protection from any horrible pranks but Priscilla's dislike and past rumors would make it hard for her to make friendships with anyone as they would be afraid of being attached to Alessandra's feuds and getting called cursed.

Alessandra did not wish to sit alone at home forever so she would do as Edgar recommended and make friends with women who did not care what Priscillia had to say.

'This will only make her feel as if I am trying to become her enemy. I do not wish to fight against his mother,' Alessandra thought.

"I think I should wait until I meet her before I make a judgment about what I should do," Alessandra tried to be positive. She was going by what everyone said about Priscilla without even meeting her. Their relationship could turn out differently than everyone would expect. "She might end up loving the sole fact that you are married and be thankful."

"Yeah, no. My mother will be furious. When the news spreads, there will be a raging bull on its way here,"  Edgar shot down Alessandra's positivity. "We can do as I always do, which is pretend I am not home when she visits. I have several homes we can go to when my mother arrives."

"I do not wish to join you in hiding from your mother," Alessandra declined the offer.