163 Trip (4)

Seven hours passed by and the two carriages were far out of Lockwood and in a neighboring town that looked nothing like Lockwood. From the trees to the way the houses were built, it was evident they were no longer in Lockwood.

Alessandra was glued to the window, taking in everything as they passed by the homes and tried to spot where they would be staying. "How many times do you travel to stay here?"

"Two or three times a year. Mostly when it starts to snow as my grandmother has an annual winter party for all of the family to gather. A lot of my relatives would stay at her home so to get away from that, I bought a home. Servants are tending to it while I am not here. We should leave behind some clothes for you so you don't need to pack a lot of bags when visiting. Alfred and I have several clothes at all my homes so we can make a quick escape from Lockwood," said Edgar.

Alessandra couldn't help finding it cute how close Edgar and Alfred were. "How many homes do you have including the one used in Lockwood?"

"We have twelve homes.  One in every town and a few extra to rent to anyone looking for a place to stay. Most of them are a way to earn extra money," Edgar replied.

"You are quite the businessman. I wonder how many ways you have found to earn money."

"More than you can imagine. I've gained enough for us to live comfortably for years and I could just stay at home. That is why you do not need to work. I would not withhold money from you if we were to have an argument. I am not that petty. Toward you at least," he added as he was indeed that petty to others.

"I see. We've stopped," said Alessandra.

"Art supplies and traveling. What strange gifts I have to offer you to see you light up," Edgar commented in a dull tone. At least he was getting to see her energetic side from the way she couldn't sit still in the carriage. "Alessandra, see to it you never lose this energy."

"Why?"

"Nothing," he shook his head and opened the door for her before the coachman could. "Go explore it to your heart's content but do not stumble far away from the house. There are a lot of wild animals in this area. Many that you do not see in Lockwood like foxes."

"I will be careful," Alessandra reassured him as she practically jumped out of the carriage.

"Duchess," Sally exited the other carriage at the same time. "I will remove my bag from the carriage and join you-"

"I will take out your bag from you, Sally. You can go along with the Duchess," said Caleb.

"Oh, thank you. I will owe you for this. Where should we go first?" Sally asked Alessandra. She was just as excited to be out of Lockwood as Alessandra was. It had been so long since she went on a trip after her family had lost all of their money.

"We should see the inside first and then come back out inside," Alessandra suggested. She hooked her arm with Sally's and walked up to the entrance of the home that was smaller in comparison to the home back in Lockwood.

"Which one was her bag again?" Caleb looked around the back of the carriage specifically for Sally's so that he could set it aside and take it straight to her room after helping with unloading the others. "Why are you staring at me, Duke Edgar?"

"Whatever happened to not mixing business with pleasure?" Edgar asked as he walked by Caleb to remove Alessandra and his bags from the back of the carriage.

"I've warned the servants many times not to get into relationships with each other. One of them has to end up quitting because of the drama," said Alfred.

"Sally and I are nothing like that. We have only become close because we are both around the Duchess a lot. Besides," Caleb paused to lift a bag off the back of the carriage. "I have not seen any opportunity for me to get pleasure yet for it to be mixing business with pleasure. I'm supposed to be setting her up with someone."

"Found anyone yet?" Alfred asked.

"No," Caleb replied.

"I wonder why," Alfred replied while Edgar snickered. "While you and Sally figure out whatever is going on between the two of you, remember what you two do will affect the Duchess."

"I'd hate to have to hear about your relationship problems because of Alessandra worrying about her maid. Do not try anything if the relationship will not be serious. I will increase your training if I have to be burdened with listening to your problems," said Edgar.

"All I did was offer to take down her bag for her and the two of you are talking about relationships."

"Caleb, you have been nicknamed the lazy giant by the other men. When you are not fighting or doing a task for me, you are lazing around and won't lift a finger unless there is a woman you are trying to impress. You know what you are doing. Fuck," Edgar cursed as he lifted one of Alessandra's bags down. "Did she pack rocks?"

"Since you have gotten married, you have become weaker, Duke Edgar. Sorry," Caleb apologized after Edgar glared at him.

"I am not weak. I was not expecting her to have such heavy bags. I am certain she has brought rocks from Lockwood along with her. There is no way she has packed so many clothes for a simple four-day trip," Edgar stated. He picked up two of the heavy bags and walked them to the front door.

"Duke Collins," a man stepped outside just as Edgar reached the steps. "Allow the servants to take care of those while you settle in. I am Calvin, the butler. Your guest has gone ahead to see the rooms."

Edgar placed the two bags down for Calvin to take. "The woman with dark hair and green eyes is my wife. Inform the servants to treat her well. This is her guard," he pointed at Caleb. "And Alfred my butler but he is meant to be on vacation. If you see him trying to work, tie him to a chair or whatever you see fit."

"Understood," said Calvin.

"He would need to be able to hold me down first. I will do as I please," Alfred muttered.