The Duke's Masked Wife



Alfred straightened out his coat as he walked up the steps of the home he had not visited in a long time. The Collins were hardly here and when they were, he came with Edgar. As much as he would like to stay home with Alessandra and Edgar, he had something important to take care of. So that while Alessandra's family drama had ended, she wouldn't have to deal with Edgar's family.

When Alessandra was away with Priscilla and Edgar was busy outside looking over the repairs, Alfred had sent a message to Rose that he would be visiting this evening. 

Alfred followed the butler inside and as they walked, he eyed the servants moving around in a haste to prepare for Edmund's big dinner. It would have been a nice family moment, but Rose was ruining it.

"Lady Rose. Your guest has arrived," said the butler. 

"I was starting to think you wouldn't be coming. Leave us," Rose said, looking up from her paper to Alfred. She wasn't surprised that he had reached out to her. Alfred was always the one she could reason with when Edgar was difficult. She hoped he came here with good news. "I was hoping you would not be coming alone."

"Alessandra and Edgar are spending time alone. I don't want to disrupt that and they don't know that I am here. I came to talk to you on my own because of what I feel. If you would allow me to speak freely," Alfred requested since he wasn't of any status to speak with Rose as he liked.

"You know you can. You have taken care of my beloved grandson for years so it grants you the privilege. Though I can't say that he is beloved now. That boy has been working my nerves for how many weeks now? Sit down," Rose said, pointing to the chair opposite her. She had never gone this long fighting with Edgar. In fact, she could not think of a time she had fought with him at all.

"He is defending his wife," Alfred answered as he moved to sit down. "I've witnessed time and time again that anyone who tries to harm Alessandra or even mess with the life she has now becomes an enemy of Edgar. After what she experienced under her father's care, Edgar wants her to enjoy her life. I would have liked to see you help Alessandra grow, but  it was more like you were scolding her and you knew Edgar would not like it."

"I had to scold her since she did not understand the importance of the things I told her. I care for Alessandra. She has helped Edgar to finally marry and I have accepted her. However, Collins has always married into wealth. It is how we carry on our wealth for generations. It was the one thing she lacked so she needed to make up for it by becoming the perfect duchess. I purposely give her enough time to be carefree before I came to help her," said Rose.

"I let her do as she wanted for a while before I came to Lockwood to help her change. I have never been so lenient with anyone aside from Edgar. She was getting stones thrown at her head, talking about her being involved with a cook, and then her family was no better. What happens to her affects my grandson. I wished to make her better so he would not be sullied by her nonsense. Has she at least done something that I told her?" Rose asked. 

She expected that by now Alessandra had realised that she was wrong for not listening. 

"The duchess has been learning her duties at her own pace and she is doing well. She has a home that is different from others. I do not mind being the one to change around a few pieces of furniture in place of her. Though Edgar spoils her, she doesn't see the need to waste money to show off she can buy expensive pieces. It isn't like the two of them have guests who will care," said Alfred.

Rose didn't like where this was going. "Have you come here to ask me to apologise?"

"I came here because you are the head of the Collins family. You can make life difficult for Alessandra since the other Collins member would not want to be near her to upset you. She has had enough of being pushed away from her family. You should recall how happy she was to meet you and the other relatives Edgar cared for. I ask that you stop trying to change her and apologise so you can all move on," Alfred said.

This had gone on long enough. It was like history was repeating itself with Alessandra falling into Priscilla's former role. Alfred didn't like the strained relationship between Priscilla and Rose since it affected Edgar in the long run and he certainly did not like how it was heading with Alessandra.

"Alessandra is not without wealth. She reconnected with her grandmother whose families own a number of mines. They also have other businesses that are here in Lockwood. They have been spoiling her to make up for lost time. You should know the wealth that comes from mines. She would be perfectly fine without Edgar," Alfred revealed.

Rose's mouth fell open for a moment. This was wonderful news. "If that is true, why hasn't she told anyone? If the town knows her family owns mines, they won't look down on her as she would have more wealth than most of them. Do these mines have a lot of gold? Jewels?'

"Her mother's side of the family does not like to flaunt their wealth. Without being around them most of her life, Alessandra is the same way. She has never once flaunted being married to Edgar and having his wealth at her hands. Alessandra has no plans of telling anyone about the mines. She doesn't need anyone viewing her differently because of it just as your eyes light up a moment ago," Alfred said, slightly annoyed that Rose now saw Alessandra as worthy.

"All his life, Edgar has run to your home as a place of comfort when his parents were at odds with each other. You have been someone he cared for and the first relative he wanted Alessandra to meet. It will always be Alessandra first for him because he loves her. You will miss out on everything that will blossom from their marriage if you continue to be this way. Please let it go," Alfred begged Rose.

Rose tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair as she thought it over. She did miss Edgar dearly, but she was never one to apologise to the wives first. As head of the Collins family, Alessandra needed to come to her to apologise, whether she was right or not. 

Edgar, she could let him do as he pleased and the other relatives would not question it. However, if she apologised to Alessandra, the other wives would get ahead of themselves and act foolish. Then there was the fact that, since they were not on good terms, Alessandra ran to Priscilla. Anyone could see it was a jab to set her off. 

"I will not apologise, but we can move on. She can stop playing nice with Priscilla to annoy me," said Rose.

Alfred frowned because Alessandra's relationship with Priscilla had nothing to do with Rose. The two had a moment where they finally bonded, and now they were on good terms. It was only tomorrow night that Alessandra was using Priscilla to anger Rose. "You've misunderstood. Alessandra isn't close with Priscilla to anger you. The two have come to care for each other," he replied. 

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