The Duke's Masked Wife Chapter 541 Make It Right (2)



If Alessandra herself showed up claiming some unlikely bond with Priscilla, Rose wouldn’t accept it as truth. Women engaged in subtle rivalries beyond men’s grasp. Alessandra navigated it masterfully, slipping past Alfred’s notice. Rose had never imagined Alessandra possessed such cunning. 

"Even long after Edmund’s marriage dissolved, that woman continues to plague me. I won’t tolerate Alessandra growing so intimate with Priscilla if she expects me to stay close. You remember the ordeal I endured with his mother, Alfred. I refuse to be forced anywhere near Priscilla. Edgar ought to have banished her back when she nearly caused your death," Rose declared, her anger undiminished by past events.

"Everyone has put that behind them. Edgar disciplined his mother, and afterward, she transformed positively.  Now Edgar shares a closer tie with his mother since she no longer opposes Alessandra. It’s what I’ve always hoped for and what he’s truly required. If they can reconcile, you can too, but you need to act swiftly," Alfred counseled Rose.

"Our time on this earth grows shorter with each passing day. Age limits us, demanding we cherish every moment with those we love. My body wearies more now, so I seize joy to avoid regrets. You’ve stood by Edgar for years, yearning for him to discover love. He’s found it at last. It would be foolish to let pride sabotage it," Alfred continued as he rose to his feet. No further words could sway her resolve. 

Rose had survived many younger members of the Collins family, yet time marched relentlessly onward. Alfred had witnessed during his visits how she struggled to move independently, relying on support before easing her weary feet. She appeared frailer with each encounter. 

Why cling to such trivial grudges rather than reconcile with Alessandra and Edgar? Why allow her aversion to Priscilla to block progress? Edgar deserved both parents present, so Alessandra’s friendship with Priscilla shouldn’t be the barrier to Rose’s return. 

"From his earliest days when he could scarcely peek over the table, I’ve remained at Edgar’s side. I’ve watched him dine in solitude at the table. Nothing gladdens me more than the gradual filling of those seats. From Alessandra to his companions, the relatives they’ve reconnected with, and now even me, invited not as a servant but as kin to join their meals. I long for you to witness the warmth enveloping that home when we gather as one. Pardon me," Alfred stated, prepared to depart. 

Rose yearned to witness Edgar’s joy, yet she bristled at any hint of disrespect, as always. "I assume you won’t join us tomorrow night for Edmund’s celebration."

Alfred offered a knowing smile, the response evident. "I follow wherever Edgar leads. Tomorrow night, I’ll be alongside him and Alessandra. Excuse me," he replied with a slight bow before exiting. Now, the choice rested with Rose: embrace Edgar or persist in these pointless games that Edgar would counter just as fiercely.

"Alfred!" Edmund called out just as Alfred reached the front door. "What a shock to find you visiting. Is Edgar with you?" He inquired, peering outside for any other arrivals.

"No. He’s at home with Alessandra. Do you require something from me?" Alfred responded.

Edmund slipped his hands into his trouser pockets. "I suppose you’ve come to discuss Edgar and Alessandra with my mother. It explains why Priscilla envied your role in Edgar’s world and resented you so deeply. There were moments when I resented you too."

"I’m aware. You concealed it skillfully for a time until I caught on. I initially believed Priscilla attempted to drive me from Edgar’s service, but it was you," Alfred answered. Edgar had then employed Alfred personally as his butler, shielding him from parental interference. 

"After all, he’s my son, and I wanted him to emulate me in court. Call him ‘father,’ and he’d turn to you instead. It infuriated me, but amid the turmoil with his mother and me, I appreciated your presence when I wasn’t there. Did she wound him so deeply?" Edmund questioned, alluding to Cassidy.

"Indeed. Though he was just a boy with emotions he struggled to hide, Edgar would never confess it. Despite her occasional rejections or provocations, he cherished her profoundly. Imagine how you’d feel seeing your father invite another woman into the home where your mother lay? There was utter disregard, and it soured Edgar’s perspective on matrimony," Alfred explained.

"In essence, above all others, I ruined my son by clinging to the woman who brought me joy. I can’t release her now that she’s mine after so much waiting, yet I refuse to lose my son. I’ll shield her from his view until he’s prepared. What odds are there of him allowing me through his gates for my birthday? My mother’s plans don’t appeal to me," Edmund remarked, surveying the festive preparations already in place. 

He planned to keep Cassidy at home and celebrate his birthday with his son, even if Priscilla was present. 

"I’ve faltered, and I seek to mend it. Could you persuade him on my behalf?" Edmund pleaded, banking on Alfred’s influence. This seemed his only path back to Edgar. Priscilla had succeeded, so a chance existed for him. He’d face the fallout of skipping his own birthday feast. Why attend without his son and daughter-in-law?

Edmund reflected deeply on Edgar’s final words to him. This time, he prioritized Edgar’s emotions over his own. He had indeed exposed Edgar to infidelity and hidden truths too early. Edgar never should have seen Cassidy occasionally entering their home. Edmund toiled to enact laws safeguarding the realm’s children, yet he overlooked his own, consumed by self-interest.

It was precisely what fueled Priscilla’s bitterness. Edmund longed to atone to his ex-wife for reuniting with Cassidy so hastily. It had been her sole plea, which he failed to honor. Unable to comply, he owed her a candid discussion.

"I’ll bring it up with him, though I can’t guarantee entry if you arrive uninvited. It is Edgar, remember," Alfred cautioned.