The Duke's Masked Wife Chapter 547 A Seat At The Table (2)



"Why did you tell her about the mines when you knew we were not on good terms?" Alessandra questioned Alfred after pulling him aside to discuss his conversation with Rose.

"I had hoped that it would end her trying to change you. It was a great mistake on my part. It wasn't my secret to tell, and I shall never do it again," Alfred replied.

"I should hope not. I would like to think I can trust you to keep a secret. This secret concerns not only me but also relatives I just reunited with not long ago. I don't trust Rose to keep her mouth shut about it, and I don't want my grandparents to think I revealed it to help with my status. I have learned that we cannot always try to make peace for others. That is why I step back these days and let others come to me," Alessandra stated. 

She allowed Erin, Melanie, and surprisingly Clark to approach her rather than initiating contact herself. Things ultimately resolved favorably when she refrained from forcing fixes on broken relations. Erin approached to clarify her distance, Clark reached out to express gratitude for the land that drew him to care for Kate, and by refusing to accept any tale from her mother and simply proceed, she uncovered her mother's true nature. 

"I didn't need you to go to Rose and try to get her to like me again. That was something that I needed to happen because she thought of coming to us. I wouldn't have felt like a fool for thinking I was finally in a good place with her, only for it to shatter right after. I see how much I angered Edgar," Alessandra remarked, as she was typically the one eager to open the gates for others to explain themselves. 

These days, she had grown accustomed to keeping people at the gates and denying them entry into their home.

"I know you did what you did with my best interest in mind, but it led to Rose not being genuine in the future. I know your heart, so I am not angry, but please don't ever do this again. It is bad enough that I have to read the intentions of the people who surround me because I am the duchess. I don't need you going behind my back to Rose to tell her something to please her enough to move on," Alessandra pleaded.

"I understand, and I will not do it again," Alfred assured her. Revealing the mines had been a reckless error, especially since Alessandra wished to keep them hidden. He had crossed a boundary this time, and moving forward, he vowed to stay out of such matters. 

"I can easily get past it, but if Edgar were to find out you told Rose," Alessandra expressed, concerned over Edgar's potential fury. No sounds emerged from the room where Edgar remained alone with Rose.

"Why are the two of you being so secretive and keeping all the gossip to yourselves?" Priscilla inquired, nearing them with arms crossed. "I am sure you just came from arguing with Rose, and yet you look calm as you speak to Alfred. Whenever I argued with Rose, I felt like I wanted to destroy everything in my home. You certainly would have been hard for me to crack. Now tell me, what are you two whispering about?"

"You are supposed to be seated at the table," Alfred noted.

"I was, but then a plate broke-"

"What?" Alfred burst out, hurrying off to inspect which one. He had permitted the servants to use the precious pieces from storage.

"I knew that would have gotten him away so we could talk. Now, what is it that Rose is arguing about? Is it my presence, or is it still that ridiculous issue the two of you have?" Priscilla wondered. Inviting Rose for a peaceful dinner had been a major error. 

"Alfred told her about the mines. That is the only reason she was here to apologise. I left right after she told me, and now Edgar is inside with her. There is still some time left for this dinner to go as planned. I hid Edgar's weapons so he wouldn't try to kill anyone tonight. You only need to not let his hands get near you," Alessandra quipped.

"That and you forgot there were knives on the table. With how angry he can get, he can kill someone with one of those. On the bright side, Rose will be leaving soon, and then neither of us will have to deal with her. I cannot wait for the day for I shall dance around," Priscilla grinned, picturing it unfolding that very night as Rose had enraged Edgar.

Alessandra suspected Priscilla wasn't merely referring to Rose departing the town, since even absent from Lockwood, Rose continued to needle Priscilla. "Are you referring to the fact that she will leave town now that Edmund's birthday will be over or her death?" She inquired.

"Whichever answer will help you sleep better at night," Priscilla responded, lightly patting Alessandra's stomach. Naturally, she alluded to Rose's impending demise due to advanced age.

"Right," Alessandra agreed, unwilling to delve deeper. 

"Edgar!" Rose's voice echoed through the silent house.

Alessandra and Priscilla proceeded side by side to observe the commotion. To Alessandra, it seemed Rose was near tears. A cry brimming with desperation and rage.

Alessandra watched Edgar head toward the front door, followed closely by Rose struggling to match his pace. Alessandra and Priscilla lingered hidden to avoid entanglement in the conflict between Edgar and Rose.

Edmund emerged from the dining room to investigate the pair. "What is wrong, mother?" He asked, peering outside where Edgar strode off to an unknown destination. 

"That boy is kicking me out of a home that I allowed him to have. I will not stand for the disrespect in this house. We are leaving," Rose declared with eyes brimming with tears as she too observed Edgar departing to summon guards should she refuse to go willingly. 

"I am not leaving with you, mother. I told you that I would not if you found yourself at odds with them. I have finally made my way back inside their home. I cannot let you ruin that now. I will have the carriage take you home to be with those who are waiting for me, and I will find my way home," Edmund stated, grasping her hand to escort her outside.

"You can stay as you are, you fool," Rose snatched her hand from Edmund's. This was the moment for him to support her and reason with Edgar or Alessandra. "Your son has threatened to harm me if I go near his wife."

"Then stay away from her," Edmund suggested what appeared to be the straightforward solution.

Rose gazed at Edmund in astonishment that no further defense was offered on her behalf. "You have all picked your side. Stay there," she uttered, heading to the front door. "You will need me one day."

Rose Collins refused to remain where she wasn't desired, nor would she allow herself to be forcibly removed. She anticipated the day Edgar or Alessandra would seek her out with apologies. That was how it ought to have begun. 

"Stubborn to the end," Priscilla commented, shaking her head. She was relieved to witness Rose finally revealing the extent of her troublesome behavior over the years. 

Alessandra found no cause to ever require Rose's aid, especially with such conduct. She would cherish the fond recollections from her visit to Rose, which held special meaning as it marked the shift in her bond with Edgar. From Rose's arrival in Lockwood onward, she could readily discard and progress beyond those events.