332 Opening up (3)
Sally couldn’t wait for the day Kate would witness Alessandra without her mask. Kate would not be able to hide her jealousy and most likely make an outburst. “Duchess,” Sally called to Alessandra before they entered Alfred’s room. “Will you expose what you endured with your father? I can back you up with what I have seen.”
“I plan to when the court finds out more about Katrina. The only issue is that my face has healed so there wouldn’t be much evidence to show it did happen. I can still prove the maltreatment the maids witnessed. It will be revealed at the right time. Thank you for wanting to help me,” said Alessandra.
“The town will come to love you when it learns the truth and your family will pay for ignoring what you were going through. Why does it seem like that does not please you?” Sally asked as Alessandra didn’t appear to be happy about it.
“I don’t want the town to love me all because my past is revealed. It won’t be genuine love. Everyone will just be happy to use me to talk about Katrina or Kate. I want my family to pay for what they did because they deserve it not for the town to like me. I do not know if in the next few years, I shall remain in Lockwood. It is not a place I would want to raise children if Edgar and I were to have any,” Alessandra said, truly contemplating taking Edgar’s offer to move.
Alessandra wanted to raise her children differently than how other children were raised in town. Specifically, the girls. She would love to give Edgar the heir he needed but she would also love to have a girl. However, Alessandra did not want to raise a girl here where marriage was crucial at an early age and then there were the cruel young women who attacked each other with words or physical items.
She needed to discuss it with Edgar later on. Alessandra dropped the topic as she entered Alfred’s room, after knocking and getting a response, with Sally right behind her.
Right away, Alfred was stunned to see Alessandra without her mask and rubbed his eyes to wake himself. When he looked again, Alfred found himself even more stunned. “Duchess, you are without a mask. Did something good happen today for you to be without it?” Alfred happily asked.
Alfred was delighted to see her without the mask since it showed she was coming far out of her shell.
“I spoke to a priest today after I prayed for you to recover well and be safe. I showed Edgar my face during our trip and today, I thought it was time I showed the people I cared about here. It would have been a bigger step if I went to town without the mask-”
.....
“One step at a time,” Alfred patted her hand. He noticed the way her hands trembled out of nervousness since this was strange for her and she kept biting her lip. “You did well with being open to show us. It’s no wonder Edgar always looks like he will murder the people around you. We shall see more of his jealousy when you decide to be without your mask outside this house. I shall have his guns hidden.”
“I wish to see the Duke’s jealousy,” said Sally.
“I do not,” Alessandra replied since his jealousy toward Mario placed them at odd’s for a moment. She didn’t want to see the lengths Edgar would go through to remind others that she was his life. “Besides, I don’t think he will have a reason to be jealous.”
Sally and Alfred shared a look with each other.
“Give her time,” Alfred mouthed to Sally. Once Alessandra would go around without her mask, she was bound to notice the change in the looks she received. There will be men eyeing her, wanting to take Edgar’s place, and women wishing for her to cover her entire face instead. “Will you keep your mask off inside the house from now on or is it just this moment?” He asked.
“I won’t wear it in the house any longer. If I continue to wear it here, it will prolong me being confident enough to be without it outside. As of right now, my main concern is the maids who obviously think I am cursed but they don’t want to make Edgar angry. I thought by now they would have known there is no curse around me,” Alessandra said, a bit let down by the maid’s reaction.
“I-”
The bedroom door opened and in walked Edgar. He arrived home the moment Alessandra and Sally went into Alfred’s room and had been searching for his wife.
Edgar’s eyes went straight to his woman without the mask he had grown accustomed to. He walked to her, ignoring the other two people present in the room. “I will need to keep my gun on me at all times,” Edgar said as there will be pests he would need to get rid of.
Edgar noticed the stares she received from Grant’s party when she covered half her face. Now those stares would increase.
‘That is why I shall hide all of them,’ Alfred thought.
“Did something happen?” Edgar inquired since she had not brought up wanting to be without her mask at home.
“Peter helped me decide to take off the mask when I returned home. That means you should be nice to him the next time you two cross paths. He wed us and has offered me good advice,” Alessandra said, holding out her pinky finger for a promise to be made.
Edgar didn’t see why she would think two pinky fingers meant a promise would be kept. Where was the fun in not poking at Peter each time he visited the church? “I will make no such promises but I will consider donating something since he has been helpful. Did anyone give you any trouble or say something foolish?” He asked, referring to the servants and guards.
“Nothing was said but I witnessed shocked and scared expressions. Clearly, some of them believe the rumor that I am cursed. After a day or two they should realize how stupid that rumor was and if they do not, I will personally let them go so they do not need to stay where they are not comfortable. Do not meddle,” Alessandra said since she wanted to take care of this by herself.
As the lady of the house, it was her duty to deal with matters concerning the servants and she wished to avoid Edgar scaring them again.
Edgar yet again would not make any promises. Alessandra was too kind for her own good sometimes and might allow the servants to get away with nonsense. He would step in when he felt like they were disrespecting her. “Did you have a good time in town?” He switched the topic.
“For the most part, yes. I bumped into Kate but I did well with avoiding her and I met Viscountess Nadine. I didn’t like something her friend said but I still enjoyed my day out. Have you met her or her husband before?” Alessandra asked.
“I’ve been around her husband before. He is not a bad person but I know nothing of his wife. Enjoy your time with Alfred,” Edgar kissed her forehead. “I need to speak with Caleb or Reed. Excuse me.”
“Is it just me or were we completely forgotten through all of that?” Sally whispered to Alfred. Though she had to admit she liked watching Alessandra and Edgar speak.
“I do not mind,” Alfred smiled.