Alessandra closed the door as Penelope hurried up to her room. She thought the sneaking-out days were behind her children.
Alessandra was happy Penelope had made it home safe and sound, but she knew Edgar wouldn’t share the same sentiments.
Alessandra left the front door and joined Edgar in their bedroom.
"You look like you saw a ghost, or is it some stray you found and brought inside again? No more," Edgar said, against any more pets.
The stray animals and the people Alessandra welcomed into their home were already too much.
"It is not that. Promise me that you won’t get angry with what I say next, and you will remain here, leaving it for the morning," Alessandra said as she approached the table Edgar sat behind.
"I will make no such promise," Edgar replied honestly.
If there is trouble, it should be dealt with right away.
"Then I am not telling you now," Alessandra answered, changing course for the bed.
"Alessandra," Edgar called out to her but got no response. "I promise."
"Penelope just came home, and she was dressed as a boy. This time, she was alone. You promised you would not go to her," Alessandra said, heading for the door to beat Edgar to it. "She is safe, so your scolding can wait for the morning."
Alessandra used her body to block the door. "Is my wonderful husband going to move me to get out this door?"
Edgar sighed since he wasn’t going to do that. "No," he replied.
"She’s always been . In the morning, I will not get in your way of speaking to her about it and warning her about the dangers of it. Lockwood isn’t safe again, but I don’t want to rid the children of the season we promised them," said Alessandra.
Lockwood was a town filled with many dangers, and after the events which occurred during the early years of their marriage, Edgar and Alessandra decided to raise their children elsewhere.
"Of all the people attending the ball, why was there someone dressed up as me who fell to their death or was killed before they fell? No one is left besides Kate, but she cannot walk," Alessandra said, lost as to who was starting up trouble.
Alessandra could not think of any encounters with anyone who would do this.
There had been a time when the mask Alessandra wore to cover her scars many years ago had become popular at balls, but it was only at the masquerade balls.
"I’m going to get to the bottom of it," Edgar said, holding Alessandra’s hand to comfort her.
The culprit behind tonight’s events had a rude awakening coming if they thought they could use Alessandra’s appearance for a death and get away from it.
"I will go to the palace tomorrow to see what was found and solve it myself. I can’t trust those fools in the court to get it done," said Edgar.
"We should have known something was coming since life had gotten too good for us. Unfortunately, the timing is now when the children are searching for spouses. Edgar," Alessandra laughed at her husband groaning. "You cannot stop it from happening."
Alessandra wrapped her arms around Edgar’s waist, pulling him closer to her. "You cannot bribe them to not marry either. I know of the fortune you have promised each of them. We have raised them well, haven’t we?"
"We have," Edgar replied. "But we can admit they are little monsters at times. Your son is trying to steal my carriage again."
Alessandra let go of Edgar only to be caged by him. "Why is he only my son when he wants to take something from you? Elijah takes after you."
"I never wanted anything from my father," Edgar replied.
"Aside from that, he is very much like you. He has managed to obtain a carriage from your mother’s husband and from your father. Once your father learned of the gift from David, he sent Elijah a carriage. He has played them both."
"It was my idea when he was young," Edgar said, taking the credit.
"You don’t use the carriage that often, so why can’t you allow Elijah to use it?" Alessandra asked.
Elijah had shown interest in the black carriage Edgar owned from the time he could talk.
"Elijah only has one ass. Why does he need three carriages?" Edgar asked.
"You have five carriages," Alessandra responded.
"I have four children and a wife who has places to visit. I have good reason to own so many," Edgar replied.
"I might be remembering wrong, but you had two or three before you were married to me. Like I said, Elijah takes after you. You should take him to the palace tomorrow. It is time he starts learning how it is to be in your shoes. I will be with the girls for a social gathering they must attend," said Alessandra.
"Isabelle will be going with you?" Edgar asked, not wanting his youngest involved in events meant for courting.
"No," Alessandra shook her head. "She will be with my mother. I have already informed Gerald to be present to send Isabelle off, so I don’t have to do it."
After being abandoned by her mother, who started a new family and never thought of returning to her first family until Edgar found her, Alessandra didn’t have a proper relationship with her mother, even after over twenty years.
Alessandra allowed her children to see their grandmother because they were curious, but she avoided her mother as much as she could.
"I would have preferred if she spent the day with Priscilla," Alessandra said, speaking of Edgar’s mother. "I don’t want to change it now and upset Isabelle. We will all be busy tomorrow."
"I will place more guards around you. Keep them close to your side. Specifically Penelope, since she has a habit of sneaking out. She was with Tyrion, without her guard at the ball."
"Penelope and Tyrion have always been close. It is not the first time Tyrion and Penelope have snuck out of a ball for a moment alone. All of our children do it. If Penelope and Tyrion fall in love, you can’t disturb them," Alessandra advised Edgar.
Alessandra vowed never to be like anyone who questioned her marriage with Edgar. She wanted her children to be happy because she knew how it felt to be in the unwelcomed seat.
Alessandra planted a short kiss on Edgar’s lips as he released her. "Tobias would enjoy it."
"And I will shoot him if he bothers me with it," Edgar muttered, following Alessandra to the bed.