The Duke's Masked Wife



Rose wouldn't believe it if Alessandra herself were to come and say that she had somehow become close with Priscilla. Women had their own games that men would not understand. Alessandra was playing it well, and Alfred did not realise it. Rose didn't think Alessandra had it in her. 

"Long after Edmund's marriage has ended, I am still having trouble with that woman. I will not have Alessandra be so close to Priscilla if she wants me to be near her. You know the trouble that I had to deal with his mother, Alfred. I cannot and will not be made to be anywhere near Priscilla. Edgar should have gotten rid of her when she almost had you killed," Rose said, still angered by what happened.

"We have all moved on from it. Edgar punished his mother, and after it, she changed for the better.  Edgar has become close to his mother now that she is no longer against Alessandra. It is something that I have always wanted and that he has always needed. Since they can work things out, so can you, but you must do it early," Alfred advised Rose.

"For me and you, we have more limited time in this world. Our age works against us, and we must make the most of the time we have left with the people around us. I can feel my body growing tired so I try to enjoy life so I will not have any regrets. You've spent many years by Edgar's side, hoping that he could find someone to love. He has that now. You would be a fool to continue with your pride and ruin it," Alfred said as he stood up. He could say nothing more to change her mind. 

Rose had outlived many of the younger Collins, but time stopped for no one. Alfred had seen for himself when he had traveled to see Rose, how she could not get around on her own and needed someone to lean on before resting her feet. Rose was looking smaller each time he saw her. 

Why hold on to so much petty anger instead of making up with Alessandra and Edgar? Why let her dislike for Priscilla get in the way of moving on? Edgar needed his parents around so it should never be a choice that Alessandra had to stop being close to Priscilla for Rose to come around. 

"I have been by Edgar's side since he could barely look over the table. I have seen him sit at a table alone for dinner. Nothing warms me more than seeing the seats at his dinner table slowly fill up. From Alessandra to his friends, the family they have reunited with, and now me, after he has welcomed me not as a butler, but as family to sit with them. I wish for you to see the love that fills that house when we all sit together. Excuse me," Alfred said, ready to leave. 

Rose wanted to see Edgar's happiness, but once again, she never took well to being disrespected. "I take it you will not be here tomorrow night to celebrate Edmund."

Alfred smiled, as the answer was obvious. "I go wherever Edgar goes. I will be with him and Alessandra tomorrow night. Excuse me," he said, bowing his head slightly and then making his way out. It was now up to Rose to decide if she wanted to see Edgar or continue to play these foolish games that Edgar would match her on.

"Alfred!" Edmund called before Alfred could get out the front door. "It is a surprise to see you here. Did Edgar come?" He asked, trying to look outside to see who else was there.

"No. He is at home with Alessandra. Is there something you need from me?" Alfred asked.

Edmund placed his hands in his pants pockets. "I guess you came here to speak with my mother about Edgar and Alessandra. I see why Priscilla was so jealous of your place in Edgar's life and hated you. There have been many times when I hated you."

"I know. You masked it well for a few years until I finally noticed it. I thought it was Priscilla who once tried to send me away from Edgar, but it was you," Alfred replied. Edgar had then hired Alfred as his own butler, so his parents could not get rid of him. 

"Well, he is my son, and I wanted him to take after me in court. You say father and he would look to you. It would anger me, but with everything that happened with his mother and me, I felt grateful that you were there in my absence. Did she hurt him that much?" Edmund asked, referring to Cassidy.

"Yes. He was still a child with feelings, though he tried not to let them show. Edgar would never admit it, but even though his mother would sometimes push him away or anger him, he loved her dearly. How would you feel if you watched your father let another woman enter the home where your mother rested? There was no respect, and Edgar started to have a bad view of marriages," Alfred replied.

"So, more than anyone else, I fucked up my son by trying to hold onto someone who made me happy. I cannot let her go now that I have her. I have waited too long for this moment, but I do not want to let go of my son. I will keep her out of his sight until he is ready. What are the chances of him letting me enter his gates to spend my birthday with him? What my mother is planning doesn't suit me," Edmund said, looking around at the decorations that were already placed. 

He would have Cassidy stay at home and spend his birthday with his son. Even with Priscilla around. 

"I messed up, and I want to make up for it. Would you be able to convince him?" Edmund asked, hoping Alfred would try. This was all he could think of to be near Edgar again. Priscilla had done it so there was a slim for him. He would deal with the aftermath of not showing up to his own birthday dinner. What was the point of going if his son and daughter-in-law were not present?

Edmund thought a lot about what Edgar said the last time they spoke. This time, he thought about Edgar's feelings instead of his own. He did expose Edgar to affairs and secrets at a young age. Edgar should never have witnessed him allowing Cassidy to sometimes enter their home. He worked hard to help create laws to make the kingdom safer for children, but he neglected his own. Only thinking of himself.

It was what helped turn Priscilla into a woman full of hate. Edmund wanted to apologise to his former wife for getting back with Cassidy so soon. It was the one request she had, and he didn't fulfill it. He couldn't do as she wanted, and he needed to have an honest conversation with her.

"I will mention it to him, but I cannot make any promises that you will be able to enter if you show up. It is Edgar after all," said Alfred. 

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