267 Rafael (1)
More than two hours passed since Alessandra was served breakfast and put to soak in warm water to ease the soreness. After having to convince Edgar three times that there was no longer discomfort, he agreed to head to the palace with her. Edgar was only going to the palace as Rafael would be there and he wanted to start his plan to infiltrate William's home with Tobias.
"If you feel any pain and want to return home you can-"
"Edgar, thank you for the concern but it is not warranted. I am honestly alright and I am not lying to you. If it will ease your mind, I will send for you if I need to return home. Happy now?" Alessandra asked.
"Hardly. One of us has to worry about your well-being. It is annoying what horrible timing this gathering has. If not for you so determined to attend this gathering, we would be tangled up in our sheets till this very hour," said Edgar.
"There will be plenty of time for us to lay in bed when we return and the day after. I have not compiled enough guests for my party. I want my first party to be done right with the right people there. Do you want me to fail?" Alessandra asked, hoping to guilt trip Edgar into being happy they were going to the palace.
Edgar stared at Alessandra unamused about this party when he would rather be in bed right now. Secondly, this party called for him to open up his home to others.
"Consider it your last apology for those marks you left on my skin. I am in luck that it is winter since the women would have found it odd for me to be wearing a dress covering my neck," Alessandra glared at Edgar for smiling when she did not like it now. She was fine with him leaving the marks but not anywhere to be easily seen.
Alessandra wasn't upset by them at first because she considered it to be done in the spur of the moment but the smile Edgar wore each time it was brought up told her otherwise.
"Given the way you cried my name last night, there is nothing for me to apologize for. I am wearing the marks you created on my back with pride, aren't I?"
Alessandra looked out the window to hide her blush. Edgar reminded her of the marks she created every chance he got. "For the next couple of hours let us not talk about what happened between us. We should talk about something else like Alfred finally resigning."
"You mean how much it is costing me to make him retire? None of you can ever say that I am not nice. I even offered your maid a piece of my land to-"
"You did?" Alessandra exclaimed as this was the first she was hearing of this. What prompted Edgar to do this? Was he aware of something she did not know? "Sally is always quiet when it comes to her family and I know it is wrong to pry but I would like to help her. I spent the most time with her but I know and do so little. She wouldn't accept money so what do you think she would like?"
"A house. She is trying to obtain one for her and her parents. Do you intend to give her one?" Edgar asked.
Alessandra awkwardly smiled because technically Edgar would be the one actually buying the home. "Can't you allow her to use one of your other homes?"
"I only have two homes in Lockwood. The one we occupy and a smaller one. It is already being used by a couple from out of town. The other homes are out of Lockwood and I doubt she would want to leave town when she has a well-paying job here. Caleb has offered his home but she has not accepted it. I've told her to be realistic so the two of them will work it out. What part of this is fun? I want to go back talking about us," said Edgar.
Alessandra rolled her eyes. "The topic of conversations cannot always be about you, Edgar. Thank goodness we are here," she felt relieved to enter the palace gates. The moment the carriage stopped Alessandra was ready to jump out and rush to meet up with the other women attending but Edgar held her hand.
"Slow down miss rabbit. We both have to go inside the palace and there is someone I want you to meet," Edgar said looking ahead at the familiar black carriage in front of him. A gift he had given to a close friend. "Rafael is right on time."
"Rafael? Is the knight who resides out of town?" Alessandra asked, recalling this name being brought up while they were in Rose's home.
"Yes. He is here to deal with the trouble at the borders so he won't be in the palace long. Take my hand," Edgar said as he held out his hand for Alessandra to use to step out of the carriage.
Luckily the snow was not as bad as on other days when they would have to rush inside. Alessandra wore one of the coats she had bought from out of town to keep herself warm. Alessandra looked at the tall well-built man standing outside his carriage waiting for her and Edgar.
Edgar seemed to have friends with many great titles and wealth. Given his status it was inevitable but she was more intrigued by the fact Edgar actually had numerous friends because of how antisocial he could be at times. Well, at all times.
"Edgar," Rafael greeted his childhood friend. He looked at the woman beside Edgar ignoring the mask she wore. He had seen people wear all kinds of things in public thanks to his travel around outside the kingdom to fight against enemies. Plus, Tobias could not help his habit to gossip about Edgar and sent him a letter about the new Duchess. "It is nice to meet you, Duchess Alessandra."
"It is nice to finally meet you, Rafael," Alessandra greeted him with a handshake.
"You look annoyed already, Rafael. How long has it been since you returned home to rest before Tobias called for you again?" Edgar asked.
"Three months. I have thought about strangling him for continuing to annoy me but I was in need of a distraction. I should be angry with you too for denying going to the border and now I am here but I guess you have good enough reason to stay home. We should hurry inside to get this day with a pain in the ass over with," said Rafael.
