The Duke's Masked Wife

Edgar exited the bathroom and wasn't surprised to find Alessandra sitting up on the bed waiting for his return. He went to add more wood to the fireplace to last till morning and then got on the bed so Alessandra could go back to sleep.

"How blessed am I to have someone who can't sleep until I am in bed?" Edgar asked.

"You always had someone who did this. Alfred was awake for a long time and I have a feeling he was still awake until you returned. We can't help but worry. You are not hurt right?" Alessandra asked, inspecting his body when he laid down beside her.

Edgar enjoyed the feeling of her hands roaming his body to look for any wounds or bruises he might have. He could tell her now that he did not have to fight anyone, but then she would stop willingly touching all over his body.

"You don't have any," Alessandra said in relief. She didn't know how she would ever handle Edgar going back out to fight again. He left home for less than a day and she was already restless. "If Tobias asks you to go help at the border again, you mustn't."

Edgar was confused as to why she was bringing up the border. "Rafael has already dealt with the border. There is peace there now so I have no reason to leave. Why?"

"When Tobias wanted to send you there, I thought you should have gone because he needed your help, but I can't handle worrying about you. If he ever asks you to go out of town, say no. Use our child as an excuse," Alessandra said, placing her hand on her stomach. She would personally go to the palace to turn Tobias down.

"You are something," Edgar carefully pulled her down to lie on his chest. "I had no plans of going anywhere anyway. He'll have to find another noble to bother or call back Rafael. Even without the babies in your stomach, you make it quite hard to leave you."

"I give up trying to convince you that there is only one child in my stomach. You are too stubborn. I'm starting to hope there is more than one so you won't be disappointed. You're going to regret wanting more than one when I start to get fat," Alessandra said.

"I will still love you when you're fat," Edgar replied. It would be foolish for his feelings to change because she was gaining weight. She was carrying his children. Their children.

"I know. I must warn you to watch how blunt you will be in the future when I do get bigger. I'm told I will be emotional and there is no telling how I will react to certain things. I might try to strangle you."

Edgar had a feeling she was told this by his mother. Though he wasn't fond of Priscilla's visits entirely, she did seem to be helping Alessandra. It was sort of the mother-and-daughter relationship Alessandra should be having with Melanie. He had to thank his mother for helping Alessandra have an experience where she could depend on an older woman in her life for help.

Edgar frowned as the thought of thanking his mother started to give him a headache. If he had to add a hug into the mix, he might just faint.

"You can strangle me if you want. Here in bed if you'd like," he said, picking up strands of her hair and letting it fall.

Alessandra's eyes widened for a moment. No matter how many hours she spent with Edgar, there was still something left for him to say to surprise her. "I would rather not strangle you at all. Must you always think of something sexual?:

"Sexual? I simply thought it would be easier for you to do it here on the bed than standing up. You have a naughty mind," Edgar teased despite the fact she was right about him.

"Good night," Alessandra rolled to the other side to stop facing him. Why did she wait up for him?

"Why are you embarrassed? I always knew you had a dirty mind. It is part of the reason you are pregnant now," Edgar said, moving his body to be closer to her. "Must I remind you of my birthday?"

"I said good night," Alessandra closed her eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

"It is actually morning now. Am I not allowed to hold you?" Edgar asked after she pushed his arm away. She reminded him of the cats when they didn't want to be touched. They would try to scratch anyone invading their space. "You wound me, Alessandra. I looked forward to coming into bed, holding you, and touching your stomach."

"Do not try to guilt trip me, Edgar. You can hold me again as long as you do not mention your birthday or any other way that I might have become pregnant," Alessandra said, slowly turning her body to face him once more. She did enjoy sleeping in his arms and though her stomach was still quite flat, she enjoyed his touch since the moment he found out she was carrying their child.

Edgar pushed her hair out of her face. "Am I also not to mention that you look beautiful and if not for the fact you are already pregnant, I would get you pregnant right now?"

"I am tired," Alessandra replied. If he had returned home a bit earlier, she would have been in the mood, but her body was starting to become heavy with the sleep she fought for hours to try to stay awake to see Edgar return.

"I am aware. You should get a lot of rest ahead of tonight or as long as you don't plan to have any guests over, we can have fun during the day," he suggested.

Alessandra gave him an apologetic smile. "Eleanor might be visiting me tomorrow. I will make it up to you after she leaves," she touched his left cheek. Worrying for his safety made her want to be close to him and if not for the fact she was extremely sleepy, she would love to be intimate with him now. "Now that you are no longer working on the case, we will have more time to be together."

Edgar held the hand she placed on his cheek and squeezed it. "We can take a trip if you wish. Get out of Lockwood for a while. I wouldn't be against you bringing a few of your friends along. Anyone but the dressmaker. The town will be noisy tomorrow since Simon killed himself. I am predicted to be partially blamed for it."

"You shouldn't be blamed for him dying by his own hands. You helped save one of his captives and Kate. I watched you for weeks trying to piece together who was behind all of this and now the person is found. If anyone tries to blame you for Simon dying without facing the town, I will get rid of them for you," Alessandra promised.

"How kind of you but there will be no need. No one can come to visit us without our permission and when I do leave home, there won't be many bold enough to tell me in my face that I should have kept him alive. Sleep now," Edgar covered her eyes with his hands. "You need to get some rest before the sun rises."

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