The Duke's Masked Wife

Priscilla would have rather stayed home if she knew Rose and Edmund were going to be present. She thought about leaving for a moment, but quickly decided against it. Her leaving would only make Rose think that she could chase her away. Priscilla would never run away from Rose or Edmund. Not in the new shoes she just received as a gift. 

"Fight outside as much as you wish but do not bring it inside. I swear if any of you ruin this night for Alessandra and I am left to deal with it, no one would be celebrating another birthday," said Edgar.

"You are aware that the night your wife is enjoying is my birthday? Alright," Edmund held his hands up when Edgar glared at him. "I'm happy this day is making someone else happy. I'd like a word with you before I go inside. It will be short and not annoy you. Wouldn't you rather I speak with you now before you let me walk into your home."

"You do have some sense after all. I am giving you two minutes to say whatever it is that made you come here. If it is a repeat of the other conversation, you will experience falling on your ass tonight," Edgar replied, folding his arms as he awaited what his father had to say. Edmund also had some common sense not to bring that woman with him and if she were to show up now, Edgar would send out his father.

Any form of conflict or drama and he would be sending the people involved out of his home.

"In private," Edmund said, letting go of Rose's hand. He didn't need the opinions of the others to be heard right now. "Alfred," he said, looking up at the door. "Please help my mother-"

"I can get there myself," Rose interjected. She couldn't let Priscilla take joy in seeing that she needed help. Rose wanted to know who was the man by Priscilla's side. Priscilla had moved on quite quickly to be bringing this man to Edgar's home.

So much had changed since she had left Lockwood. Rose regretted not finding a way to kill Priscila when Edgar had her in his dungeon.

Instead of going inside and having to pass Rose who would cause trouble for her and the man by her side, Priscilla decided to walk around outside and then return when Rose and Edmund were gone. She didn't have it in her to argue with either one yet.

"So," Edmund said, watching Priscilla walk away with the man he did not know. "Your  mother gets to move on but-"

"Do not go there with me or I will send you out of here. Don't try to make it seem like your situations are similar. Have you come here to move forward or to piss me off? You're quite close to the latter," said Edgar. 

"Right. After some thinking about our last conversation, I see where I went wrong. You are right that I have been a coward. I have thought about myself and the kingdom, but not my son or wife. I ignored your feelings because I was so caught up in my own happiness. I apologise for allowing Cassidy to be our home and you seeing that your mother and I were not happy with each. I could have stepped in with what Rose was doing with Alessandra," Edmund said.

"I was once again caught up in the fact she was accepting Cassidy into the family. If I could turn back time there are so many things I would do differently.  I should have made you comfortable in your own home so you didn't have to leave to stay with my mother to find peace and then have this house at a young age to practically hide away from everyone."

"I have to be honest that I will not be leaving Cassidy. I know the best scenario for this family would be for me to leave her, but I do love her. I will do my best to keep her out of your sight and she will never approach Alessandra or your mother again. I hope that you can give me a chance to start over and if I mess it up, I won't ever show up before you again," Edmund said, putting his right hand in the air to swear on it.

Edgar stared at Edmund, contemplating if he should go through with it. His father was no doubt a smart man when it came to helping the kingdom, but when it came to family he was clueless. "I will be fair since I have to start over with my mother. If you fall back into your old ways of being a coward or that woman shows up before my family trying to act like my second mother, I will forget your existence. Like you have vanished from the world."

"If that is all, I have to see what grandmother is doing with Alessandra," Edgar said, going up the steps to find them.

Edmund looked back out to where Priscilla had gone and saw her coming back. He assumed she was either waiting for his mother to leave or for Edgar to go inside. He wanted to have a conversation with her too. He had not done what she asked for him to stay away from Cassidy right after his marriage and he had to apologise.

"Priscilla, we need to talk," Edmund said when she was about to walk right past him. Edgar shared his features but he certainly had his mother's personality. 

Priscilla stopped and looked at Edmund. Now was not the time she wanted a new man in her life to meet her ex-husband. "Do we? I thought we said enough before we went our separate ways. Fine," she decided since he would try to speak with her the entire night while looking like a pitiful puppy. "Be a dear and get me some water to drink. I will be inside in a moment," she said to the man on her arm. 

"Who is he?" Edmund asked, following the man's movement up the steps. Priscilla purposely did not use his name.

"I am saving proper introductions for Edgar and Alessandra. What do you want from me, Edmund? Why do you and your family continue to bother me? The divorce finally happened, and yet I am still on the Collins minds. It is annoying," Priscilla said, turning to face Edmund.

"That would be my mother's doing. Listen, about what you told me to stay away from Cassidy-"

"I don't care," Priscilla quickly interjected, knowing where this was going. "I don't care that you went back to her as soon as our marriage ended. I should have never expected you to do me that one favor. That was your final slap in the face. I do not care about what you do anymore, Edmund. Be with those who make you happy. You are no longer my husband, so I don't expect you to think of me. Well, you never did."

"Has your newfound love changed that?" Edmund asked.

"Love? I am just reuniting with him after not seeing him since my youth. There is no love yet. I want to move on from our marriage, and getting mad at you for being with her won't help me forget. So I don't think of you, and I don't expect anything from you, so I won't be disappointed. I was thinking of selling our old home, but I will make it look brand new. I don't need your apologies and I am not angry with you. I've fought with you long enough," said Priscilla.

"I see," Edmund said, resting his hands in his pockets. She was like a different woman. 

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