The Duke's Masked Wife

"Duchess!" Eleanor called when she entered Alessandra's painting room. "Your greatest friend is here. Don't mind that I have given myself the title."

"I do not mind," Alessandra chuckled.

"Good because I wasn't going to change it. Thank you for helping me find her, Alfred. I'll make sure to keep a good watch over her," Eleanor said. She ignored the fact that Sally and Ivy were present. "Even in your home, the Duke has you heavily guarded. I get to witness the Duke taking overprotective to another level. It is needed because of how this town is."

"It's only just begun, but the feeling of constantly being watched is starting to get to me. I can only imagine how it will be when the town learns that I am pregnant. We are lucky that Edgar's servants are so loyal since it has not slipped out yet," Alessandra said.

"And you have trustworthy friends who have not let it slip out yet," Eleanor added, taking a seat beside Alessandra. "I have to thank my aunt for making me attend the Queen's party. I would have missed out on a good bunch of friends. Which is great since I've lost a friend a while back. Life goes on. Is there any growth with the destroyers in your belly?"

"Destroyers? With an s? How many people have Edgar convinced that there is more than one child? Have you been speaking to him behind my back?" Alessandra teasingly asked.

"I heard it from Alfred," Eleanor answered.

"I like to believe that my children will not be little destroyers. The town has nothing to fear. I hope," Alessandra added.

"Of course, they have their sweet mother to take after. The town will have something to gossip about for days when it is revealed you are pregnant. Look at it this way. The Collins are a well-known family, but it is mostly your husband who resides here. The Collins are wealthy, have status, and have a close connection to the palace. Your children will be sought after for marriage," Eleanor explained.

"Mothers will hope you have sons. Families with sons will hope you have a daughter. They'll be trying to get close to you when the children are young to earn your favor. What they will forget is these children will be somewhat like their father. The great Edgar Collins who hated being around everyone and took years to pick a bride. I honestly hope you have little Duke's who will have the women losing their minds. Which do you prefer? To  have a boy or girl?"

"I have not thought about it since it is not something I can control. Whether it is a boy or girl, I hope that the birth will not be too much on my body. There is always a risk of something going wrong really fast," Alessandra said as she was afraid of the risk the birth could be too much on her body and she would die.

"I'm sure it will be fun. I have faith that your husband would fight off the grim reaper to keep you here and I've heard the palace doctors are out of this world.  I've searched high and low for a lady who I can speak to so comfortably so you mustn't leave me," Eleanor replied, now scared of the thought of something happening to Alessandra. 'Children are not worth this. I should never have one,' she thought.

"This is starting to get too sad. What about you? Is your aunt still trying to push you to meet someone? I suspect that next season you will be married-"

Eleanor covered Alessandra's mouth with her hands. "Do not curse me with such a thing. It is already bad enough that your guard is trying to court me and my aunt is smitten by him. Let me remove my hands before your husband walks in and thinks I am trying to kill you," she said, quickly removing her hands and looking at the door.

"The two of you kissed and I am aware he paid you a visit after returning from his search for my mother. I can vouch for Reed and say he is not a bad person. Why don't you give him a proper chance to court you?" Alessandra asked. Eleanor seemed to be running away before something could happen between her and Reed.

Eleanor looked at Sally and Ivy who stood in a corner watching Alessandra. There were at a good distance to not hear if she whispered. "You mustn't share this with anyone else. Are you aware that his mother takes care of the princess?"

"I am aware," Alessandra replied.

"How do you think someone with such a title will react to their son courting me? My father's business is still attached to me though I have no hand in it. I would like to avoid any drama with his family. I don't need to be reminded of what my family does and then have to inevitably move on to someone more suitable for me," Eleanor softly spoke.

Alessandra wanted to give Eleanor a positive response but she had never met the twins mother to know what she was like. She didn't want to help get Eleanor's hopes up and then Eleanor be met with the insults that she wished to avoid. "Why not ask Reed what his mother is like?" She asked in the end.

"Then he will think I am taking interest in him. He just faked a wound to get me to care for him. I didn't think he had in him," Eleanor said.

"It's no surprise for me that the people around Edgar would do such a thing to get the person they like to care for them. What if we ask Caleb when Reed is not around? Or Sally," Alessandra turned to look at Sally. She was now reminded of the fact Sally was fake engaged to Caleb. "Have you ever met Caleb's mother or heard about her?"

"I have never met her, but I have heard from Caleb that she is strict. She seems to be the only woman in his life to scare him. I can find out now if you'd like," Sally offered. She could find him now and get it out of him.

"Yes please," Alessandra replied.

"Look at you so ready to be a matchmaker," Eleanor smiled and tapped Alessandra's hand.

"I have to help out my friends as much as I can. Edgar," Alessandra said when he entered her room.

"Duke Collins," Eleanor stood and curtsied.

"Eleanor. Why does it sound like the two of you are plotting something and why is Sally leaving your side?" Edgar asked.

"Calm down. We are sending Sally a mission to find out about Caleb's mother. What would you say she is like?" Alessandra asked since Edgar must have met her before.

Edgar walked to Alessandra's side and looked at what he considered to be an ugly painting. "She is a serious woman. She has to be when taking care of the princess and she also took care of Tobias. When she is out of the palace, she is more relaxed and a little bit more fun. Why the interest? Are you trying to figure out what your mother-in-law will be like?" He looked at Eleanor.

Eleanor's mouth almost fell open due to Edgar's words. "Of course not!"

"Good," Edgar replied, toying with a few strands of Alessandra's hair. "I'd advise you not to join that family. Reed and Caleb are a pain in the ass."