The Duke's Masked Wife



"We just need to convince Edgar to not be so worried. I will let you take care of that," Priscilla said as she already knew Edgar would not listen to her. "There's a party coming up which will be full of elite women. You mustn't miss it. You might have received an invitation already but ignored it. I will make arrangements to have you sit with me," Priscilla said. 

"Were we never seated with each other because you've made it known that you dislike me?" Alessandra asked as she was never once seated at the same table as Priscilla.

Priscilla frowned. "Why do you love to bring up the past?"

"It helps me to understand you more. You had to have told someone you didn't like me as many of the young ladies who followed your rule kept a distance from me. I knew it wasn't because of my mask back then," Alessandra said.

"I didn't parade you around as my daughter-in-law and I kept Heather close by. Seeing me walk around with the young lady who I said many times I wanted to marry my son instead of you who married my son was all the evidence they needed. And I might have said some things," Priscilla added, looking away from Alessandra. 

"Don't be ashamed or embarrassed about what you did. I already knew what you were doing then. Luckily, we've come to a place where I can visit your home now. It's good we got your hate out of the way before becoming friendly," Alessandra joked. It was the opposite of what happened with Rose who was sweet at first, but then turned sour. With Priscilla, there should be no more arguments now. 

"If anyone told me that I would be aiding you in preparing for your child, I would have called them mad and have them taken somewhere to be treated. There are some things about you that still annoys me, but you are not as bad as I thought," Priscilla honestly spoke.

Alessandra was stuck in a weird position of feeling offended and glad for the honesty. "Just like with Edgar, I can sort of count on you, to be honest with what you think about me. I can also admit that there are some things I question about you when it comes to Edgar, but I see you are working on it."

"Oh, I've lost faith that Edgar and I will have a mother-son relationship in the future. We are both extremely stubborn and I prefer the relationship we have now where we are cordial with each. The little bastard will never see it, but I do care for him. I carried him for many months and dealt with the pain of bringing him into this world to not love him," Priscilla said, thinking back to the time Edgar was first placed in his hands.

She was happy to see there was a healthy baby boy who filled her ears with his cries. Priscilla's mood was soured when Edmund quickly walked into the room with his mother right behind him, taking Edgar from her arms. Edmund handed Edgar to his mother and then tried to kiss Priscilla for a job well done.

Priscilla remembered being annoyed with the two and because she had been angry about something before, she said to them, "I've given you the son you wanted, now leave me alone."

It led to her and Rose arguing about Priscilla ruining a good moment with her attitude. 

"I just wasn't ready to be a mother, but I wanted to get pregnant quickly so Rose would stop pestering me. I knew Edmund wanted to get it over with quickly because he was still running around with that woman.  A little advice from a former married woman. If Edgar is foolish enough to bring another woman around you, just kill the woman early to save yourself stress," Priscilla said, regretting she had placed the task on Rose.

Alessandra had a different thought about it. "Why wouldn't I just leave Edgar?"

"Because we're foolish to think that with the woman gone our husband will turn to us. They never do. Don't be foolish like I was. You might not have to leave Edgar since I would strangle and kill him for being like his father. I swear if the two of you ever become close to that woman, I will make your life hell in the social world," Priscilla warned, meaning every word.

"Noted," Alessandra replied. She had no plans to get involved in Priscilla and Edmund's drama. And it was quite impossible for her to ever meet with Edmund and Cassidy since Edgar was not on good terms with his father. Edgar was not fond of the relationship Edmund had with Cassidy. He was on Priscilla's side when it came to this.

"We've been searching all over for you," Heather said as she walked onto the balcony with Dominic following behind her like a guard.

"Heather," Priscilla sighed and covered her face to hide her disappointment. "Why is there a Carson following you?"

"I thought I mentioned I was with Dominic?" Heather asked, looking to her side at Dominic who now stood at her side. "I was helping him with his home. He has moved close to Lockwood to get away from his mother. He wanted help with decorating his home so I went to help him."

Priscilla looked at Alessandra and asked, "Do you believe this nonsense story?" 

"No," Alessandra shook her head. She saw right through what Dominic was doing, but Heather was yet to realize he was doing this to be near her. 

"It is the truth. I have been away helping him with his home. I'm honestly surprised my mother let me go without a companion," Heather said as she sat down.

"That's because your mother sees the golden opportunity that is right in front of her. Do you know why I disliked it when your mother would bring you to visit Edgar, Dominic? It is because I knew you would ruin my plans back then," Priscilla revealed. She noticed his feelings for Heather when he was younger and she had already made plans for Heather to be with Edgar. 

Back then, Priscilla would not allow Dominic to ruin her plans.

"Luckily, Alessandra was the one to ruin them," Dominic pointed out. 

"Why?" Alessandra squinted her eyes, trying to understand why Dominic was bringing her into the mix.

"Am I the only one missing what the three of you are talking about? What would Dominic have-"

"It is better we let you figure it out. I am not in the mood to watch someone's feelings be turned down. I know the Collins and Carsons are still at odds so I hope that means none of your relatives would be in town for Edmund's birthday, Dominic. I cannot deal with the two sides at once," Priscilla said.

Priscilla mostly had a relationship with the Carsons who disliked the Collins and tried to compete with them. Anyone who disliked Rose or Edmund had the potential to be a friend of Priscilla. 

"As far as I am concerned, only my brother and his wife are coming. He claims Rose has taken an interest in him again. I doubt it," Dominic replied as Rose had always tolerated Daniel. He found it odd Rose would be interested in having Daniel around when she had banned him from her home after Edgar punched him to defend Alessandra. 

"I believe it," Priscilla said, looking at Alessandra.