The Duke's Masked Wife

"Not if I ban them. Fuck," Edgar released her hand now that they were a good distance from his parents but looking back where they came from, he saw his mother once again chasing after him with Heather to her side. "Heather is someone my mother has always pushed for me to marry. Do not let that upset you."

"It doesn't," Alessandra honestly replied. "If you wanted to be with her, I wouldn't be standing here. I don't want to run, Edgar. I'm not afraid of what your mother has to say. It is time for breakfast and it would be rude to not have them stay."

"After everything the world has thrown at you, you are too kind, Alessandra. I could never be like this. If you are determined to let her stay, I won't stop you but I will not allow my mother to disrespect you. That woman gets ahead of herself too much because there is hardly anyone to put her in her place," said Edgar.

"Did you really threaten your mother?" Alessandra wanted to believe his mother was exaggerating when she said this.

"Don't worry about it. Mother," Edgar looked to their side where Priscilla was impatiently tapping her foot. "For a woman who cares so much about manners and etiquette, you are not displaying it with your behavior right now."

"If you did not run away from me, I would not need to act like a fool and chase after you, Edgar. You," Priscilla finally looked at Alessandra and frowned at the sight of the mask. What was wrong with Edgar for him to choose her instead of the other Barrett girl? "Don't you have any sense?"

Alessandra touched Edgar's hand to stop him from approaching his mother. Just from the first thing Priscilla asked her, Alessandra could see why Edgar did not want her to speak to his mother. She was happy to have Edgar protecting her but this was a battle she needed to win on her own. Plus, Alessandra did not want to see Edgar being at odds with the woman who gave him life.

Alessandra ignored Priscilla's question and said, "Edgar and I are extending the invitation for everyone to have breakfast with us. You came just in time."

Priscilla found Alessandra to be sly to stand here and say she was inviting them to stay. Only one day had passed but Alessandra had already begun acting as if she owned the house. "Edgar, give us some privacy."

"So that you and Heather could gang up on my wife? I don't think so. She's inviting you to breakfast while I have no problem getting rid of you. Do not push it or I will do as I wanted," said Edgar.

Heather balled her fists, feeling sad Edgar would think she was the type to bully his wife. All she wanted to do right now was run away and lock herself in her room. Why was it so hard for anyone to see that she did not want to be here?

However, now that she saw what Edgar's wife looked like, Heather understood why Priscilla was so upset. Heather always had an image of what Edgar's wife would look like and Alessandra was nowhere near what she envisioned. It annoyed Heather to learn she had lost to a woman who could not show half her face.

'What is so bad about me?' Heather wondered.

"I'll be fine, Edgar. Please tell Alfred we'll be having more guests. If I need anything, Sally can come to find you," Alessandra reassured him. A one on one was inevitable anyway. Why not get whar Priscilla wanted to say out in the open now?

Edgar did not want Alessandra to be subjected to his mother's words but he also did not want to keep pulling her away when she was confident enough to want to speak with his mother. Many times he told her being a Duchess came with power and now was another chance for her to showcase it.

His mother thrived off knowing she could make people fear her. Right now, Edgar could see his mother expecting to break Alessandra with her intimidating presence. On the other hand, Alessandra looked so confident that it would be a shame to make it look like she needed her husband to hide her from a conversation with another woman.

"I'll be back. Do not try anything mother."

Alessandra watched Edgar walk away from the three of them. She snuck a glance at the woman named Heather and felt a slight pain in her chest that she could not explain. "I have not properly introduced myself. My name is Alessandra-"

"I do not care what your name is," Priscilla stopped Alessandra as she did not care to be pleasant with her. "I asked you a question earlier. Do you not have any sense? In what world do you think a marriage between you and my son should exist? Do you honestly view yourself as worthy to stand by him?"

"In this world," Alessandra replied, surprising both Priscilla and Heather. "That is why I said yes and married your son. My name is Alessandra Collins. It's a pleasure to meet you," she held out her hand mid-air to greet Priscilla. Alessandra was going to be respectful to Priscilla and whatever happens later, at least she tried.

"You, a Collins?" Priscilla chuckled. "You are not a Collins, my dear. I have not accepted you and neither will the rest of the family. You do not belong with my son and somewhere in that head you have, you know it too. You're making things difficult for the people around you. Heather, is now going to be talked about because you stole the man she was promised to marry."

"Forgive me but you should know better than me that Edgar does things on his own accord. Even if I did not marry him, she would not be his wife. And I cannot steal what never belonged to someone else," Alessandra replied.

It appeared like Priscilla wanted her to feel sorry or apologize for being with the man Heather was promised but Alessandra did not care. She was not responsible for Edgar not picking anyone and she was not going to be pressured by others to feel guilty.