The Duke's Masked Wife



"How did you get in here without me noticing?" Priscilla asked, dumbfounded by Edgar's presence in her home. "Did you just walk freely inside of my home?"

"I did," Edgar answered. "A maid opened the door for me and I walked right in. Now you know how it feels when you show up unannounced at my home."

"That is not the same," Priscilla replied, walking back to the group that was quickly growing. 

"I used to think Edgar was more like his father, but when you see him and his mother go at it, you see he is really similar to her," Dominic said, looking back and forth between mother and son. He had rarely seen the two conversing like this so he had never noticed it. 

Edgar found Dominic's claim to be ridiculous. "We are nothing alike," he said.

"That I can agree with," Priscila nodded her head as she walked behind Edgar to get to her seat. "He mostly took after his father when it came to looks and he spent so much time with his grandmother that he became rude like the old bat."

"I also see the two of you being similar," Alessandra agreed with Dominic. She ignored Edgar staring at her because he didn't like the fact she was agreeing with Dominic. " You are both stubborn and find it hard to apologize to each other like you would die if you say I am sorry. Honestly, sometimes I see a bit of Priscilla when I look at Edgar. Your noses are the same. Why is it so hard to admit that you share some things in common? You are mother and son."

"You know he once told me that he didn't think I was his mother. That his father had an affair and I was made to be his stepmother?" Priscilla rolled her eyes as she thought back about it. 

"I do believe it is something he would say," Alessandra side-eyed Edgar. "How did you get him to think otherwise?"

"I don't know. He just went back to calling me mother and dropped the whole stepmother theory," Priscilla replied.

"I realized you would never raise the child of your father's mistress and unfortunately, we do share the same nose," Edgar answered. His mother would rather crawl through the underworld than raise a child that was not her own.

"I certainly would not. If you were not my son, I would have packed you off to be with your real mother."

"Are there any good memories between the two of you? Everything seems to be so aggressive. I am already aware of you kissing Edgar's wounds when he's hurt. He asks me to do it from time to time," Alessandra said.

"It was the only thing to get him to stop whining. I don't know if he thought he could not die since he would be outside playing the most dangerous games you could think of. He'd come inside trying to act like he wasn't in pain, but I could see it in his eyes that he was on the verge of crying. With one kiss and a cookie from the kitchen then he'd be back out to play. Where has that little boy gone?" Priscilla asked, looking at Edgar to figure out how that little boy became this. 

There was a short period of time when Edgar would cling to her whenever she was near. Then he got older and paid attention to what was going on around him. He followed suit and distanced himself from her and Edmund.

"Edgar, there has to be something about your mother that you liked," Alessandra nudged him. They were in a good space to move further with mending the relationship Edgar and Priscilla had. 

"Just so you know, I am going to make you have to speak with your mother again since you are forcing me to do this. I used to be afraid of thunder and before Alfred, she would lay in bed with me until it was over. That is all," Edgar said, wanting this to end.

Dominic snorted before chuckling as he imagined Edgar of all people hiding under his blanket when thunder was heard.

Edgar glared at Dominic for laughing at his old fear when Dominic;s was more ridiculous."What the fuck are you laughing at? You used to be afraid of cats. You still are based on the way you try to avoid the ones Alessandra has."

Dominic stopped laughing and stared at Edgar in shock. Why the hell would Edgar reveal this in front of Heather? "I am not scared of cats anymore. It's because of you and Tobias throwing two at my face that I hated them in the first place."

"Yea sure," Edgar replied, not believing Dominic.

"Why did this need to turn into an argument? We should go inside to be seated before lunch is ready. It is getting too cold outside for you Alessandra. I will find you a coat for when you are ready to come back outside," Priscilla said, standing up and motioning for Alessandra to stand up to leave.

"So everyone else should freeze," Dominic said, watching Priscilla take care of Alessandra.

"Carry my grandchildren and I will take better care of you," Priscilla stated. 

"I will walk with my wife," Edgar swatted Priscilla's hands away.

"It was better when you weren't here. Walk with me, Heather. There are a few people here giving me a headache," Priscilla held out her hand for Heather. 

"That wasn't a bad conversation between the two of you. You two of you don't need to be so negative when you are around each other. Your mother seems more relaxed these days. You'd be surprised to learn that she has already picked out a room for the baby to stay in when it is her day to watch over them," Alessandra said. She found it to be sweet how Priscilla's eyes lit up as she described how the room would look.

"Unfortunately, she might be moving since she doesn't seem to be happy here. It is a big home for one person," Alessandra added. "Before you ask, I did not ask if she wants to live with us."

Edgar looked ahead at his mother. Though she spoke about headaches and acted annoyed, she must be enjoying the company. Having people over that she did not have to watch her back around and could be more relaxed. Edgar did not hear of his grandfather in town to check on his mother during the divorce. 

If his grandfather were to come to town and learn that his mother was not happy, there would be a war between the two big families. His mother was the beloved daughter of a wealthy man. She was spoiled and loved because she was the only daughter. It was surprising that his grandfather was not here in town strangling Edmund for not taking care of his daughter.

Edgar figured his mother had said something to keep the peace and not get her father worked up. 

Living in a big house with only servants reminded Edgar of the days his parents would leave home. Edmund at court and Priscilla out finding ways to make herself happy. Luckily, he had Alfred who followed him to the estate he now owned, but before Alessandra, it was still another home without a family present. Not that he minded most of the time. 

"Mother," Edgar called out to Priscilla.

Heather looked back at Edgar and was confused when Priscilla kept walking. Heather tapped Priscilla's hand to get her attention and said, "Edgar wants to speak to you, Priscilla."

"That was not in my head?" Priscilla asked, turning around to see Edgar looking at her. 

"Are my things still in my old room or have they been tossed out? I want to show Alessandra," said Edgar.

"They are still there. The only time someone goes in that room is when the maids do their cleaning. It should be the same as when you walked out of here," Priscilla replied, still trying to wrap her mind around Edgar calling her mother. She thought she would die before Edgar would go back calling her mother.