The Duke's Masked Wife

"Alfred," Alessandra tapped his shoulder to wake him. Alfred had fallen asleep by the door waiting for Edgar to return.

"Alessandra," Alfred opened his eyes. "You should be sleeping by now. What time is it?" He looked around for the clock.

"I could say the same for you. I am going to bed soon. I just came to make sure you also go to bed. I am sure that Edgar is fine and he will return home soon. You should get some rest, Alfred. This chair is uncomfortable," Alessandra said, disliking how uncomfortable he looked in the chair. "I will only go to bed if you go to bed."

"That is evil of you, Alessandra. You know that I want you to get some rest. Alright," Alfred stood up.

"You cannot come back out here when you think I have fallen asleep," Alessandra said, seeing right through what Alfred intended to do.

Alfred smiled as he had been caught. "I will not. I suppose by this point Edgar will return in the morning. I am always nervous when he goes out for long hours doing something dangerous. I fear he might never return. Let me walk you to your room."

"Thank you," Alessandra replied. She knew that seeing her safely get to her room would sort of take his mind off Edgar for a moment.

"Did you enjoy the fruits I had sent to your room? I'm told most of them are sweet. I hope none of them upset you," said Alfred.

"They didn't. I enjoyed the sweetness and it all stayed down. You've been helpful with the smells and the foods that upset me. They all disappeared right after they made me vomit," Alessandra said, remembering how eggs were suddenly off the menu after the smell upset her.

"It's my job to do whatever I can to help make this an easy pregnancy.  Anything you dislike will not get past me. Even if it's Edgar. Say the word and I will throw him out of the house," Alfred joked.

Alessandra chuckled, believing that Alfred would make Edgar leave if he annoyed her during her pregnancy. "Thank you, Alfred. You will make a wonderful grandfather when the child is here."

"Don't you mean children?" Alfred corrected her since Edgar was adamant that there would be more than one child.

"Do not encourage him, Alfred. I've been slowly getting him to stop saying children. It's scary that I am starting to believe that I am pregnant with more than one child. How did Edgar go from only wanting an heir to wanting a house full of children?" Alessandra wondered out loud. He had a quick change of heart early in their marriage.

"That would be all your doing," Alfred said as no one else, but Alessandra was able to make Edgar suddenly like children. "I've waited a long time to see Edgar so excited to grow his family. Do you know he has called for a craftsman to make rocking horses already? The little ones will be quite spoiled."

"They certainly will be. We will witness Edgar being unable to say no to someone else and spending his fortune buying things that are not needed. This is far enough," Alessandra said when they reached her bedroom. "Good night, Alfred."

"Good night Duchess," Alfred replied.

Alessandra entered the room by herself and close the door behind her. The room was still lit up by the fireplace which was burning to warm up the room. Alessandra walked to the bed and began to take off her coat so she could go straight into bed. She was already in her night dress, but had put on a coat to go downstairs to check on Alfred.

Alessandra sat on the bed and then crawled to the middle where she liked to sleep. She laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes right away. The sooner she fell asleep, the sooner she would wake up and Edgar would be right next to her.

After minutes of worrying herself about Edgar, Alessandra had fallen into a deep sleep.

Time quickly passed in the quiet room.

Alessandra opened her eyes when she felt something touch her hair.

"Edgar," Alessandra softly spoke, watching Edgar who sat at the edge of the bed taking off his shirt. "What time is it?" She began to sit up.

"You don't need to get up. It's far past midnight, but nowhere near time for the sun to rise. I will join you shortly after I wash up. I'm sorry for worrying you," Edgar apologized.

"It is alright. I was told you were searching for Kate," Alessandra recalled what the coachman who came for Edgar's dogs told a guard. "Why?" She asked. It was extremely odd for Edgar to go looking around for Kate unless she had done something stupid.

"Simon was one the kidnapping the young women and killing them. He tried to hurt Peter and ended up killing himself. We had to search for Kate and found a young woman named Bella who survived all this time. They are now speaking to the court," Edgar said. It was alright to tell her this early since by the time they woke up in the morning, the news would be spread all around the town.

Alessandra couldn't believe there was truly something about Simon. She didn't know him to say it came as a surprise, but she couldn't believe the look he gave her might mean so much more. "Are Kate and Bella alright?" Alessandra asked.

"Bella is fine. She only wanted her mother. Nothing more. Kate, on the other hand, has a big wound on her face. Simon seemed to have struck her with something on her face. It will most likely leave a permanent wound. She is lucky to be alive after being hit in the head and having such a wound. Her mother arrived at the court just before I left," Edgar replied, folding his shirt and placing it to the side and then began to take off his shoes.

"Her face is injured? Wow," Alessandra said.

"It is karma working on her for injuring your face. I don't care about her being a child when she did it. Don't feel sorry for her or think about forgiving her past actions. There is something about her and Simon that I need to confirm," Edgar said, referring to Simon wanting to take Alessandra. He could not mention this to her now.

"I don't have the heart to not feel bad for, but it doesn't mean I've let go of the past. I am a little shocked by how the world works for Kate to end up with a wound. She will experience what I did with the insecurities and wanting to hide my face. It's all over now, right? You don't have to be hunting down anyone anymore?" Alessandra asked as she didn't want Edgar to putting his life in danger with a case like this.

"It is," Edgar replied, taking hold of her hand. "I am going to wash up quickly. Normally, I would take the chance to ask you to join me, but I will let you off the hook tonight. Keep my side warm for me," he stood up.

Alessandra shook her head, but sighed in relief that he was home safe and sound.

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