The Duke's Masked Wife Chapter 546 A Seat At The Table (1)



"Against my better judgment, I allowed you and my father entry so that you could deliver your apologies and put an end to all your schemes. It's frustrating that I personally admitted you into the house. I should be furious at Alfred for encountering the pair of you. I'll address that with him soon enough. What exactly did you tell Alessandra?" Edgar demanded, coming to a halt in the center of the room.

"I uttered nothing improper to make her depart so suddenly. When exactly were you planning to inform me about the mines? Why must it come from Alfred instead of from you or her?" Rose replied, annoyed that Edgar hadn't approached her directly.

"This serves as the proof that she deserves the Collins surname. We wed into fortune and prevent just anyone from entering our bloodline. I desire your happiness, yet your union has forced you to repeatedly clean up after her troubles. I hold Alessandra in high regard, but my affection for you stems from you being a true Collins and my cherished-"

"Nobody has ever compelled you to act against your will, and the same applies to me. I manage the idiots surrounding her because I choose to. She is my spouse, and I'll take every required step to shield her. I require silence from everyone in this household," Edgar stated, irritated by Alfred's disclosure about the mines.

Now that Rose was aware, the Collins clan would learn of it, and soon Lockwood would as well. This issue affected not just Alessandra, who preferred secrecy on the matter, but also her grandmother and kin, who avoided drawing notice to their ownership of mines. When would it finally sink in that tranquility couldn't always prevail?

"What other secrets has he shared with you?" Edgar probed, restraining his fury in case Alfred had revealed Alessandra's pregnancy. They weren't prepared for the public to discover it yet. They intended to guard that information until Alessandra's condition became visible.

Rose squinted suspiciously. "Is there something additional?" She inquired.

"No," Edgar answered curtly.

"I hold you in high esteem, grandmother. As a child, I enjoyed observing how you intimidated others into submission. The way you dominated the Collins family and your tendency to dismiss my mother whenever I avoided conversation. I never imagined that my entertainment would one day turn against me. But now you've set your sights on distressing my wife. We've barely dealt with her relatives who tormented her," Edgar remarked.

"I find no fault in eliminating my own kin who seek to spoil her life. Since the moment I encountered her, I've been outraged by her sufferings and impressed by her unwavering optimism. I provided her the means to command that residence without her family interfering, yet her response was mere child's play. She spared them too lightly. Though I don't object, as I prefer her hands remain unstained. I could truly use a cigar at this moment," Edgar confessed, tempted to retrieve one from his pocket.

"That habit will be your downfall if you don't quit."

Alessandra's pure voice from their initial encounter prevented him from grabbing one and discarding it. What began as a mere proposal for a contractual union had transformed him into this devoted figure. Edgar often overlooked that humble origin. Now that love had blossomed between them, their first meeting seemed utterly transformed.

Rose felt bewildered witnessing Edgar's smile.

Edgar shook off the warm recollection and gazed down at Rose. "You will keep the mines a complete secret from everyone. Erase it from your thoughts by tonight. Act as if your only knowledge is that she's the offspring of a disgraced baron and currently my spouse."

Rose found it entertaining that Edgar believed he could intimidate her. After all, she had bestowed power upon him and Edmund. It was her influence that granted them the Collins legacy. "Threats won't work on me, Edgar. Not if you want the full Collins family opposing you," Rose warned.

"You might be shocked at what I'm capable of, even if it means facing their opposition, should you desire it. You'd be astonished, in a confrontation between us, at how many would side against you. For your own good, I pray I don't hear whispers of mines or Alessandra from you or any relative come morning. Cease your efforts to reshape my wife right here and now. I'll confine you to the very cell that once held my mother if you persist in harassing Alessandra," Edgar vowed.

"I am your grandmother!" Rose shouted, enraged by Edgar's threat of imprisonment. "I nurtured you more diligently than I did my own son. My sole offspring."

"In my heart, I always recognized that your affection arose from your grandmotherly bond and because my father was an imperfect Collins. His reputation endured for his notable achievements, but you foresaw that his concealed lover would destroy him. I became someone you could shape, which is why you sought to dominate my mother. I tolerated it since I pursued my own path regardless, and I relished your company," Edgar disclosed.

"As Duke of these lands, I hereby decree that you are forbidden from entering my territory. Upon sighting your carriage on my grounds, the guards will ready their weapons, and rest assured my soldiers possess deadly accuracy. You are unwelcome at any of my other estates-"

"Edgar!" Rose cried out, attempting to rise, but a sharp pain in her foot hindered her.

"I'll instruct Alessandra's protectors that if you or your allies attempt to near her, they must draw their blades. Should you come within striking distance of her in my presence, I'll strike you down personally. I've offered you a chance to amend your ways, and you've squandered it. Blame only yourself for our current rift. I demand you depart immediately. Exit voluntarily, or my staff will watch as the guards carry you out," Edgar commanded, pivoting to summon one of his subordinates if required.

Rose nearly toppled upon managing to stand fully. "Edgar, would you truly cast me aside over a question about mines? I won't permit you back into my world after this insult. Once I leave this chamber, there's no undoing it, so choose prudently. I won't bequeath you my residence if you behave like this."

Edgar grinned, knowing as ever they assumed he craved that property when his own holdings were vast. "I have no need for your house, but bear this in mind. I shared equal time with my grandfather as with you during his lifetime. That estate isn't yours to bestow freely. My grandfather always assured me it was destined for me. I'll include it among the properties to lease once you're no longer around."

"You-"

"If feasible, I'd shed the Collins name and adopt my mother's surname to spare you further worry about us, but I rather enjoy being the pair of Collins beyond your grasp," Edgar declared, then proceeded to exit the room.