174 Family (1)

'Why did morning have to come so quickly?' Alessandra thought.

She continued to lay in bed long after Edgar had already gotten up to prepare for the day. Now that all of her courage was drained out, she was slightly afraid of what Edgar would do today. He gave her a warning and she knew he was petty enough to get back at her. All she wanted to do now was magically disappear from around him.

Meanwhile, Edgar stood with a cup of water in his hands, watching Alessandra pretend to be asleep. She was so bold last night and he wished she would carry it on today. Seeing her not want to get out of bed, he knew he did not have to do much to get back at her.

Doing nothing would be her punishment but at the end of this he would find out if she was telling the truth about her first kiss. The only person Edgar had in mind was the cook and he already found the man to be a thorn in his side.

To give Alessandra time to get ready, Edgar walked to the door and left the room. He considered jumping back in after the door was closed to catch her opening her eyes but he was going to save her the fright.

"Good morning, Duke Collins," Sally bowed her head as she greeted him. "I've come to help the Duchess get ready."

"Hmm," Edgar hummed and began to walk past Sally but he only got two steps ahead. "You," he turned around to speak with Sally. "You offer Alessandra a lot of advice, don't you?"

"Yes," Sally smiled as it felt like she would be complimented on her good work in helping his wife. "If there is anything she needs help with I offer my advice."

"I can't make up my mind whether I like you by her side or not. Be careful of the advice you offer her. You might make a certain cook go missing one of these days."

"What?" Sally needed an explanation but Edgar simply walked away without offering her any information. "Cook? What on earth did the Duchess do last night? I hope he doesn't think it is my idea," she gulped.

Alessandra had taken her advice in a different direction yesterday. What happened between the Duke and Duchess?

"Let's see. Good morning," Sally knocked on the door before entering the room. "Uh," she was lost for words after finding Alessandra sitting on the bed staring out at nothing. "Are you alright, Duchess?" Sally closed the door behind her. "Did everything go well with what you were planning to do with the Duke?"

"It did," Alessandra nodded her head. "But I think I pushed it a bit too far when I tried to tease him. Now I can't help thinking how he will get back at me. What should I do?"

"Well first, I don't think I should offer you any advice," Sally awkwardly scratched the back of her head. "You should clear up with the Duke that whatever happened last night was all your idea. Okay? However, I am sure it could not have been that bad. It's time to get you ready for the day.  I overheard the butler talking about an invitation to the Duke's grandmother's home. The two of you are going to have breakfast there."

"Really? I was planning to avoid Edgar as much as I could," Alessandra muttered. It seemed the world was determined to punish her for being too bold last night. "I guess I have to own up to what I did last night and not hide."

"That's the spirit," Sally cheered Alessandra on. However, on the inside, she was glad she was not in Alessandra's shoes.

Alessandra slid off the bed as she had to think about meeting Edgar's grandmother and not his revenge. "Please pick a nice dress that will make a good first impression."

"Of course!"

After twenty minutes of freshening up and dressing up, Alessandra followed Sally downstairs to where the others were waiting.

"Good morning, Duchess. It seems Sally informed you that you were invited to have breakfast with Edgar's grandmother. You look splendid. I hope the two of you have fun," Alfred wished her well.

"You are not coming along?" Alessandra asked.

"The invitation was only for you and Edgar. I am merely a butler, not someone to receive an invitation. There's also the fact I am not the butler here and under Edgar's orders, I cannot work. I am going to start a new book while you two are out of the house," Alfred replied.

"Then, are Sally and Caleb coming along with us?"

"No," Edgar answered her question. He enjoyed the look of horror as she realized they would be traveling all alone. "It is just the two of us. We should hurry before my grandmother scolds us for being late even though she sent the invitation at the last minute."

"Are you going to wear this to see your grandmother?" Alessandra pointed at his casual attire. It was clothes he would wear home not to visit someone.

"I am going to my grandmother's home, not the palace. This is what I always wear when I go visit her. Come," he held out his hand for her to hold.

"Should I change?" Alessandra asked as it did not seem right for her to be dressed up while Edgar was not. Others might think she was trying too hard.

"No. If any of my relatives are there they should be jealous of the things you wear and your beauty," said Edgar.

'I don't know about beauty,' Alessandra thought but she decided to stay as she was since Edgar preferred it.

"We will see everyone later," she bid goodbye to Sally and the others.

"Had a good time pretending to be asleep this morning?" Edgar commented as they walked to the carriage. "I hope that side of you has not disappeared already."

"I did promise you one of these days I would tease you just as you did to me. We are even and now it is game over," Alessandra said so that she would not have to bear whatever Edgar thought of to get back at her.

"Game over? I think that it is far from over," Edgar disagreed with her. "To tease me in such a way and then mention sharing a kiss with another man, surely you did not think I would let this go by? I must congratulate you for surprising me but I will get back at you. Be it today, tomorrow, or next week."

Alessandra did not like not knowing when Edgar would make his move. Last night, she dug her hole and now she had to lay in it. "I was lying last night about being kissed before. Well technically, I wasn't kissed by a man. It happened when I was young before the incident with my face. It was a simple kiss on the cheek by a boy so you can forget about that part."

Before they could enter the carriage, Edgar said, "I can't forget the side of you I saw last night, Alessandra. You started it but I will end it. I assure you that when the time comes, you will enjoy it to the end unlike what happened to me."