The Duke's Masked Wife

"I do not want to talk about it any further. Where are we going next?" Alessandra changed the subject. The little bit of information she gave to Edgar was all that she could handle right now.

"It must be boring to just look inside the rooms. Do you want to go outside? I'm thinking of building a pavilion in the garden for you to go out and enjoy snacks outside instead of being stuck in the house. Your opinion will be needed for where it should go. My men train right here but there is an empty spot out by the trees over there," Edgar pointed far beyond where the shirtless men were running around.

"It should be there then. Rather than enjoy snacks, I think I might paint out there. There is so much scenery around your home-"

"Our," Edgar interrupted her as it wasn't the first time she referred to everything as his. "This is like you calling me Duke rather than Edgar all over again. You are aware that being husband and wife means that what belongs to me also belongs to you? This is our home, our servants, and our bedroom."

"Sorry. It is still taking some time to realize that I share all of this with you. You put a lot of faith in me, Edgar. What if I was secretly the type to want everything you have? What if I end up spending all your money? Why are you willing to split what belongs to you?"

"Alessandra, I would have to be a fool to let anyone walk into my home and take everything that belongs to me. I do not worry about those things because I know you aren't that type of person. Consider that I wouldn't have entertained marrying you if you were the type. What is it, Alfred?" Edgar questioned when he saw Alfred coming down the hallway as fast as his legs would let him walk.

"Young master, there is someone requesting your presence. They are here to congratulate you on your wedding," Alfred huffed as he had run up the stairs with the news.

"Why didn't you send someone younger to find me, Alfred? You are hunched over like you are about to pass out. On a scale from one to ten, what is our guest?" Edgar asked.

"Four," Alfred replied.

"Hmm. Come, Alessandra. We have someone to entertain," Edgar held out his hands for her to take.

Alessandra without any hesitation held Edgar's hand and walked with him behind Alfred to meet the guest. "What is this scale?"

"How irritating the person is based on past interactions. We will not be accepting anyone five and up today."

Alfred led the young couple to a waiting room where countless boxes were being stacked up by men who didn't work for Edgar.

Alessandra inspected a man with a large stomach walking around the room observing each decoration placed to add character to the room. As he was about to pick up a vase, Alfred cleared his throat making the guest aware of his presence.

"Duke Edgar Collins," the flustered man quickly placed his hands behind his back.

"Patrick Gamble. You were snooping around in my things again. You have once again taken up that hobby of trying to buy what I have. I'm flattered," Edgar called out what Patrick was hoping he didn't see.

Patrick pulled on his collar as the room started to feel suffocating now that the Duke was present. "It is merely a coincidence that you and I end up with the same things."

"No, it is not when you go out trying to hire the same people I had in my home and ask them to give you a list of what I bought.  Do you think it wouldn't get back to me? You can be honest in front of me, Patrick. I don't mind having such a devoted fan or, well, stalker," said Edgar.

"I will admit I love taking inspiration from your home, Duke Collins. One day you might accidentally walk into my home thinking that it's yours," Patrick joked.

"Never," Edgar quickly disagreed. "My gates are not broken and make that awful creaking noise you hear as you arrive at your property. There is also the fact you choose cheaper materials than I did when you are remodeling your home to look like mine. Now I am offended by what you are doing, Patrick. Find inspiration elsewhere."

"Very well. Is this your wife?" Patrick glanced at the woman with the mask beside Edgar. He had an idea of who she might be but figured Edgar would not be that crazy.

"No, this is a statue I have brought to life and I hold its hand for it to follow me wherever I go. Of course, it is my wife. What do you want from me?" Edgar got straight to the point now that the greetings were over. "Would you like to sit down?" He spoke softly to Alessandra.

"No, I don't mind standing." Alessandra had a feeling they weren't going to be entertaining their guest for too long so there was no reason for her to sit down.

"The wonderful news of your marriage is flooding the kingdom so I thought it was only fitting to bring some of my wine to you and your wife. I don't mean to be rude-"

"Then don't open your mouth if you think you'd be rude," Edgar stopped him.

"I was only going to ask if your new wife is Alessandra Barrett. Daughter of the Baron, Desmond Barrett? You know, the one the town says is- Forgive me," Patrick bowed his head when Edgar threw him a glare. He was only trying to see if the Duke was aware of the rumors surrounding the girl.

'Why would he marry such a woman when there are better ones begging to be his wife?' Patrick wondered. The town was in for a shock when they learned who the Duke's new wife was. Patrick found it hard to look at her face but had to do so as there was a big panther right by her side patiently waiting to attack.

"Cursed? Is that what you were going to say?" Alessandra spoke up, surprising the three men in the room. "Go on and say it. It won't hurt my feelings. I'm sure there is a lot on your mind that you wish to tell the Duke now that you know it is me that he married."

Alessandra didn't need Edgar to have to stop anyone from talking about her being cursed. It was never something that hurt her feelings. It only annoyed her that people were so stupid to hang onto ridiculous lies for so long but it couldn't be helped that society loved having something to talk about.

"I am only worried about the Duke. I care about his reputation and I am afraid of what the town will say when they learn of this union. I want to speak with the Duke alone," Patrick's words came out like an order for Alessandra to leave rather than requesting a private audience with Edgar.

"Anything you have to say to my husband can be said in front of me as I am sure it will concern my marriage. If you don't like this, you can leave," Alessandra proceeded to take a seat. She would not be looked down upon once again in her own home and do nothing about it quickly as she did with Jennifer.