The Duke's Masked Wife

"You will need to ask the Duke to have shelves built to place some of the paint. There was also paint packed up in the belongings you had sent here. There won't be enough space," Sally concluded after looking around the room.

They barely had enough room to get most of the canvas out of the way. The bigger ones were lined up against the wall while the smaller ones took up a lot of shelf space.

"I will ask Edgar about it during dinner. I think we just need someone who might be better at organizing than us. Still, we did a good job. Thank you," Alessandra was proud of what she accomplished with Sally so far.

"You do not need to thank me. This is my job after all. Should we-Oh!" Sally finally noticed how much darker the sky was becoming when her eyes landed on the window."It is getting dark, Duchess. How long has it been since you have eaten? I cannot remember."

"I am not hungry," Alessandra ignored the dark sky. She was more interested in tidying up the rest of the room. "I will eat when it is time for dinner."

"But you need to take a bath and change clothes. There is so much paint over your beautiful dress," Sally started to panic. The dress looked to be expensive but Alessandra wasn't treating it like it was.

"Really? That is why I wanted to change into something more simple but you said my dresses from home didn't suit a Duchess. I will try washing it out when I go to bathe-"

"Absolutely not!" Sally exclaimed. She would not make the mistake of letting Alessandra wash her own clothes for the Duke to strangle her for allowing it to happen. "I will find out where the clothes are washed and have someone take care of it. We spent too much time here, Duchess."

"Alright," Alessandra gave up. There was no need to push getting the room ready when there was a brand new day almost here. "You can go ahead and prepare the tub. I will be right after you."

"Okay-Oh," Sally stopped at the doorway when she found the butler panting like he had been running. "Hello, Alfred. Do you need something from the Duchess? I am going to have her bath prepared."

"That is alright. I sent someone to do it for her already. I injured one of my feet while hurrying to get down to the kitchen to tell the cook dinner will be starting at least one hour late. Can you go down and inform them? I will take care of the Duchess. I'm afraid I can't go down the stairs yet," Alfred patted his alleged injured foot.

"Uhm…" Sally looked at Alessandra still walking around the room. The butler was the one telling her to leave so it should be alright. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Excuse me."

"Please, take your time," Alfred replied as Sally walked past him to go to the kitchen. "Duchess," Alfred knocked on the door to alert her of his presence since she did not once look at the door when he was speaking to her maid.

"Alfred! Did Sally run off already?" Alessandra now noticed the young girl was gone. "Do you need something?"

"It is almost time for dinner. Edgar has started to get ready but it appears you are behind time. You should start now if you do not wish to be late," Alfred advised her.

"Oh, is it that late? I'll get ready as quickly as I can. I will see you soon, Alfred."

To avoid being late, Alessandra walked past Alfred without asking which room Edgar was using to get ready.

"They'll work everything out on their own," Alfred now had to hide to avoid being questioned about his trick later on. If it was successful, they might not look to scold him but thank him.

The room with the art supplies was only four rooms down from the bedroom Alessandra would have to share with Edgar. Alessandra entered the room and as soon as she closed the door, she tried to reach the knot where the dress was tied from behind.

"I need Sally's help," she muttered. Her arm already ached from the weird position she placed it in to try loosening the knot. "Sally?" Alessandra looked to the bathroom door as water splashing onto the floor could be heard.

Thinking Sally might have accidentally fallen into the water or done something to make the water spill out of the tub, Alessandra approached the bathroom door. Her eyes never went to the empty glass which would have alerted her someone else was in the bedroom beside herself.

As she reached the slightly ajar door, Alessandra's eyes widened at the sight of Edgar sitting in the tub. His left hand was spread across the edge of the tub, showing off details of his muscles that were normally hidden beneath his shirt.

Getting a handful of water in his right hand, Edgar pushed back his brown strands of hair from his face. Tiny droplets of water dripped from his hair down to his neck and back.

'This is wrong,' Alessandra snapped out of looking at his bare upper body. 'I wouldn't want him to stare at me at a time like this and not say anything. I should leave quietly.'

"Going so soon?" Edgar's voice stopped her the moment she slightly turned to leave. "You should make yourself aware of the mirror straight ahead of you. You should see your face as you stare at me. Enjoyed the show?"

"I-I didn't mean to stare at you. Alfred said the bathroom was prepared for me to use. We must've gotten mixed up," Alessandra replied, looking everywhere but at Edgar sitting inside of the tub now that she was caught. She wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it because Edgar might think she was a creep.

"There is no mix-up. We are both victims of Alfred's tricks. He sent us here expecting something to blossom between us. I can't be angry with him considering I got to see my wife staring at me with so much lust."

"I truly did not mean to stare at you and there was no lust involved. I was just surprised to see you here. I'll leave to give you some privacy," Alessandra said and began to close the door but Edgar stopped her.

"Wait. There isn't a lot of soap in the water. Do you mind handing me one from the counter? I spilled water and I might fall if I step out now," Edgar stared at Alessandra in the mirror, trying to read her facial expression.

"If that's the case, won't you just end up falling when you try to get out anyway? And I might fall if I walk where you want me to go. All signs lead to you getting the soap you want yourself. Goodbye," Alessandra quickly closed the door before Edgar could say something else.

Her heart could barely handle the sight of him in the tub and even though she had been looking away, the image was still clear in her mind each time she blinked.

"Alfred, how evil of you," she shook her head.

On the other hand, Edgar tapped his fingers against the tub, slightly irritated he couldn't get her to come into the bathroom rather than stand at the door.  He only needed her to be within arm's reach to bring her closer to the tub he sat in. Unlike Alessandra, he was not the shy type like Alessandra was earlier today.

If she wanted to see more of his body rather than silently watching him from a distance, he would have stood up to show all of his glory or guide her hand through the water for her to get used to a man's body.

"How will she handle us being in the same bed together tonight?" Edgar would not allow her to run away even if it felt too weird for her. "Should I tell Alfred to bring dinner here and tie her up when it is over?"

Edgar had no intention of bedding Alessandra any time soon due to the fact he needed her to get comfortable in moments like this where she wouldn't run away from her naked husband.

He wasn't in a rush to create a child with Alessandra as neither of them was ready to be parents. However, they were still a  man and a woman, therefore, it wouldn't be long until they desire each other intimately. When the time came, he wanted Alessandra to be as comfortable as he was. This was why he had to slowly start introducing her to things she never experienced from this moment.

"This is the first time I am excited to retire to bed," Edgar tilted his head back so he could look at the bathroom ceiling. Normally, it was only him after he had dinner but now there was someone to share his bed with when night came upon Lockwood.  "I can hardly wait to make her heart wish to escape her body."

Had he known marriage would have been filled with this much entertainment, he would have done it sooner but then he considered that it was only entertaining because of the person he married.