The Duke's Masked Wife

266 New butler (2)

“You’ve agreed to this better than I anticipated,” Edgar said, full of suspicion with Alfred’s cooperation. “Don’t even think about going to Alessandra to change my decision. I have my way of getting her on my side. Enjoy your last day working, Alfred. We can open a good bottle tonight to celebrate.”

“Celebrate doing nothing after today?”

“You’ll find a hobby like other people. Since you enjoy flowers and making tea, pick a spot to make your little garden, and work will get started once winter has passed. You should be ecstatic to find him a young soul and turn them into the best butler anyone has ever seen. Aside from yourself of course,” Edgar added the compliment to get Alfred to go along with it. “Your skills are too wonderful to be kept to yourself. Get a pupil.”

“Stop flattering me,” Alfred said, seeing right through Edgar’s compliments. Still, he liked the idea. “I’ve visited many homes with you and seen how the butlers failed to do simple tasks. I have considered starting a class to lead them on the right path but never had the time for it. Now I can offer free classes sponsored by you.”

“And why the hell do I have to sponsor this?” Edgar asked. He didn’t see why he was brought into teaching others how to be a butler.

“You fired me which stops my income. Since it is your idea for me to live here it is only fair you pay for my hobbies,” Alfred smiled. One way or another he could pester Edgar enough to get his job back.

“Hmm. Create a budget for it and a location for where you would want this school because no one is coming inside my home. You are not getting out of this, Alfred. While you are still employed, get the cook to start breakfast and send out a notice that we are looking for a butler. Alessandra and I might head to the palace later but she needs to rest before then. Make sure no one interrupts us,” Edgar said, turning around to go back upstairs until breakfast would be ready.

“Do you have any idea where those two kittens are?” He asked, remembering the two things Alessandra wanted.

“Sally fed them earlier and when she was going back to her room, the two of them were behind her. Would you like me to-”

.....

“No,” Edgar stopped Alfred. “I will get them myself. Please get breakfast started and alert me when it is done. I will need a carriage ready by twelve.”

“Understood,” Alfred replied.

Edgar walked back down to the third floor to go to the servant quarters to find Sally. Of all things after a night of making love to his wife, he didn’t have to search for two kittens on the list of things he had to do in the morning.

‘I’ve become a sucker,’ he had to painfully admit. He could not even go back to his old ways considering how much Alessandra had wrapped him around her finger. It hurt his pride that she did not realize it. He needed to tease her more to ruin her day for the person she was making him become.

Edgar finally reached Sally’s room, finding the door ajar with the perfect view of her sitting on the floor with money laid out in front of her as she had just gotten done counting it. He watched her sigh and tug at her hair most likely from not having enough money. He knocked on the door to get her attention.

Sally jumped out of shock from the knock on her door and Edgar being the person visiting her. “Duke Collins,” she said, getting to her feet. “I didn’t go to the Duchess because Alfred told me not to.”

“That is not why I am here. I am looking for these two,” he pointed at the kittens who rushed to play at his feet. “All of the rooms have locks. If you don’t want anyone to see you counting money, you should lock the door. Can I come in?”

Sally gave her room a quick glance double checking that it was tidy. “You can. It is your house after all.”

“This is your private space in the house I prefer not to meddle in. Are you having financial troubles or saving up to run away from working for my wife? You did not want to be here in the first place.”

“No, I want to continue working for the Duchess. I just,” Sally paused to play with her fingers out of nervousness. She didn’t like speaking about her financial troubles. “I am sure my family’s demise has reached your ears.”

“It has,” Edgar replied, careful not to step on her money as he entered the room. “I’ve been paying you a good sum of money for aiding my wife as her maid and a friend. It should be enough to get you back on your feet and not be stressing over money. I am aware after your parents sold everything they owned, the debt was settled. They just never recovered.”

“I have been trying to save to buy a home-”

“And yet you decided to work for the Barretts at first when they could barely afford their own home and had to be pushed to work for me. I thought you were a smart girl. I pay you enough that you should be able to rent two rooms or a small house. Don’t tell me you are looking for a home similar to the one you had before the debt,” said Edgar.

Sally shook her head. “No. I am looking for a house that is just cozy enough for the three of us to live in without bumping into each other.”

“You do know there are expenses you will have to take care of after spending a lot of money to buy a home. It is better to build one from the ground up piece by piece. With the right planning, it is cheaper than buying. I can offer space on my land but I recall you already have a better deal. Caleb offered his home to you,” Edgar said what was told to him during the trip.

Sally’s eyes widened. “How did you-no. I can’t believe Caleb brought that up. Did he tell you everything else?”

“No, I did not care to hear the whole story. He is never in his home so it would be a good place for your parents to reside while you consider building a home from scratch. He has his annoying moments but he does care for the people around him and would not expect anything in return. Be realistic about the rate at which you will own a home. Come the two of you,” Edgar instructed the kittens.

He would not meddle any further in Sally’s affairs.

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