The Duke's Masked Wife

398 Accountability (2)

“I will return with a response to the gates shortly but I need to speak with Edgar first. Please take care of this for me,” Alessandra said, handing over the tray of food to Sally and hurrying back upstairs to speak with Edgar.

Edgar didn’t want her involved in speaking about William, which had to be the only reason Oliver was here. Unless Edgar had done more than he told her about.

Alessandra thought of sending Oliver away for a couple of hours to let Edgar rest but considered it better to get this over with so Edgar could stay in bed for the rest of the day.

When she reached the second floor and turned right to go to her bedroom, in the distance she spotted Hazel and Tobias in a heated conversation while Alfred just looked at the door. Alessandra wondered how Edgar in his weak state had managed to kick out the three of them and she was curious what the loud noise was.

“Alfred,” she went up to the sulking man first. “You should get something for him to eat and medicine. I will take you back inside when you return,” she said to ease his worries about Edgar.

.....

“Thank you. A vegetable soup would do him good. Excuse me,” Alfred bowed to be respectful of the royalty present and smiled at Alessandra before he left.

“What about me? I didn’t get to see much of him before he kicked us out,” Tobias stepped forward to be given access to the room.

Hazel gripped a handful of his shirt and pulled him back. “You and I have a lot of things to speak about. Sensitive things which you seem to forget about. Tell me honestly, who comes first? Me or Edgar.”

“You, my sweet love but it would be rude of me if I do not check up on the person who took care of you in my absence,” Tobias replied.

“Oh please. Alessandra took care of me more than Edgar did and I don’t see you thanking her,” Hazel said, pointing in Alessandra’s direction.

“I was about to but you didn’t let me get there. Hey!” Tobias exclaimed when he looked at Alessandra and found her trying to sneak into the room without him. “How could you be so evil to try going in without me?”

“Good morning. Why is there a gathering outside this room and why wasn’t I invited?” Dominic asked, joining the group with a frown. “It’s things like this that make me feel left out.”

“Don’t try to make this about you, Dominic. Edgar is sick,” Tobias said, not even the slightest bit interested in Dominic feeling left out.

“You are not joking around that he is sick? I have to see this,” Dominic smiled, walking toward the door but it was blocked by Alessandra.

“No one but me or Alfred is going in to see Edgar. He needs to rest and he can’t do so if all of you bother him. I don’t see why it is so interesting that Edgar is sick. You need to speak with your wife,” Alessandra pointed at Tobias. “And you need to find someone to pass time with,” she pointed at Dominic.

Alessandra opened the door and went inside the bedroom before anyone else could try joining her. She locked it behind her for added privacy.

“Did you have to tell everyone that I am sick?” Edgar’s hoarse voice was heard behind her.

Alessandra turned around and found Edgar sitting up on the bed. “I didn’t think everyone would be so interested and come pay you a visit. I only wanted them to know the reason why you were not around. The captain of the town guards is waiting for us to allow him inside. Are you feeling good enough to meet with him?” She asked, going to the bed to help him stand up.

‘”You are acting like I was wounded in battle. My body is simply hot. I was excited for you to be taking care of my every need but you sent an old man to care for me. You know how to kill one’s fantasies well. I will speak with him and return to bed right after. The room really is hot,” Edgar said, slightly annoyed he would have to put on a shirt now.

“We can open the windows a little bit when you return. I will remain here with you if it will make you comfortable,” Alessandra suggested.

“That is not needed. You were supposed to meet with your grandmother and I don’t want to get in the way of it. You can leave when you are ready. I can bet my favorite sword that I will not be able to get rid of Alfred today. Stay here,” Edgar added after he got dressed in a shirt and a change of pants. “Do not think for a second to join my conversation with Oliver.”

“If I wanted to, I would have spoken to him behind your back. If you start to feel like you cannot continue with the conversation, please put an end to it and return to bed. I can meet my grandmother later and stay here with you. She would understand,” Alessandra replied.

“You should stop dangling the offer in front of me because you might end up not leaving my side today. I will be back shortly. Why the hell are all of you out here?” Edgar asked the trio who were still loitering around the outside of his room.

Dominic held up his hands to defend himself. “I just got here.”

“Traitor,” Tobias muttered. “We came to see how you were feeling. You do look a bit pale- Why the hell are you walking away from me when I am trying to see if you are alright you bastard? Why are we friends with him, Dominic?”

“He is family to me and the only reason I am friends with you is through Edgar. Have you ever stopped to think about how the most antisocial person in our group is the reason we are all friends? I would have never been close to you, Rafael, or Benjamin if not for Edgar. It is a surprise someone with a lack of patience like him even has friends. Well, try not to get killed while I am away. Let Edgar know I am going to meet with a friend,” Dominic lazily waved his hand.

“Friend? What friend? You don’t have any friends outside of us. Is it a woman?” Tobias mused, curious about Dominic’s love life. It wouldn’t hurt to meddle in Dominic’s love life as he did with Edgar. He wasn’t successful with Edgar but at least Edgar ended up married.

“Don’t even think of getting involved in another conversation. Come with me,” Hazel held onto Tobias’s hand and started to pull him to her bedroom so they could have a conversation. She knew he was purposely avoiding talking about Julia and everything that happened throughout the years. She wished to know what exactly it was that Tobias was trying not to speak about.

‘See this is why I prefer to be alone,’ Dominic thought as he watched the man, who was considered to be the most powerful person in the kingdom, get dragged away by his wife.