Chapter 367 - 367 Don’t worry (2)
The Duke's Masked Wife
367 Donât worry (2)
The day went by quickly for Alessandra and Wilma. For Edgar, Wilma served as the perfect distraction for Alessandra while he, Caleb, and Reed finished plotting the night they would infiltrate Williamâs house the moment William returned to town. As much as Edgar didnât like keeping things from Alessandra it was best she didnât know too much about his plans.
The time of evening soon fell on Lockwood and unknown to anyone else but Edgar, the king, and queen had returned from their vacation.
Hazel was confused when they passed the palace and were on their way to where Edgar lived. Tobias kept avoiding her questions at first but eventually said they were going to celebrate Edgarâs birthday. Hazel knew Tobias well enough that if they were just going for Edgarâs birthday he wouldnât have been able to keep his mouth shut about it from the moment they departed. What was with the secrecy at first?
Hazel knew something was up but could not figure it out just yet. Still, she looked forward to seeing Alessandra and hearing about how Edgar spent his birthday. If she were Edgar, she knew how she would have spent a birthday when there was such a cute wife around.
âWe are here,â Tobiasâs excitement interrupted her thoughts and turned her attention to the giant house on her side.
Hazel turned to Tobias and asked, âShould I honestly get concerned about how excited you can get when it comes to Edgar? I tend to get jealous and it annoys me.â
âYou do not. If I had to pick between you and Edgar it would always be you. Well, unless the matter concerned war and issues with the men in the palace but everything else is you,â Tobias replied.
âHow wonderful,â Hazel muttered.
âThank you,â Tobias said, missing that she was being sarcastic. âIn a few days, you get to celebrate the birth of your wonderful husband. My parents will be returning from their quiet life to be at the ball. I need to see what has been planned when I get back.â
.....
âIâm sure there will be a lot for me to look over. Making sure this all goes as planned is my job. We are back from a break to go straight to work. It is better than having to entertain a large group of women again. Iâll need to see if my parents are in town. The last letter they sent to me said they were going to pay a quick visit to my sister. It doesnât seem like her husband wants to visit our side. What an ass,â Hazel cursed as it was just her and Tobias alone.
âHe is insufferable to be around. I donât see what your sister fell in love with and why you arenât honest with her choice when you are around her,â said Tobias.
âI feel like there is still some lingering anger on her side since she did not become queen. Sisters are not exempt from bad feuds when it comes to finding a husband. She and I are on good terms now so I donât want to ruin it by telling her how much I dislike her husband. She will bring up me stealing you away,â Hazel sighed, leaning back in her seat.
âI never liked your sister so you did not steal me away from her. My eyes went straight to you and I thought I made that quite clear by always showing up by your side. Then again, your sister was always by your side and I was kind to her to get you to like me. Oh,â Tobias realized when he must have given her sister false hope. âShe has a beautiful sister. She should have asked which sister you thought I was courting. What would you have said?â
âHer,â Hazel honestly replied. âI thought I was failing at catching your attention and my sister was more prepared to be queen. She prepared for the selection process better than I did. I only noticed your feelings from the first flowers you gave me and soon after you said you already had your queen picked and looked straight at me.â
âAdmit it that before then you had already fallen for me. Go on.â
âThe day you tell me what you and one of the candidates did in the library when you had your separate time with her,â Hazel said.
Tobias bit his lip. It wasnât fair for her to bring up something that happened before her group of ladies came to the palace. âWeâve arrived at the steps so I think it is time we cut this conversation short. Let me get the door for you,â Tobias said, quickly opening his door to get away from the question that haunted him from time to time.
âYes you do that,â Hazel spoke loud enough for him to hear as he went around the carriage and stopped by her door. Sometimes his flirtatious past irritated her but it was useful when she wanted him to shut up. âThank you,â she accepted his hand to get out of the carriage when he opened her door.
âDominic is here but I donât know who the other carriage belongs to. It is not like Edgar to have strangers in his home. I like to think I know all of his close friends and relatives so who the hell is that,â Tobias said, scratching the back of his head as he tried to place who the unfamiliar carriage belonged to. âMaybe there is a family seal or flag.â
Hazel pulled Tobias back close to her before he could leave her to inspect the carriage. âDonât go snooping around like a crazy person. You are the king and will find out who is here when we go inside. I donât want to explain why the king is searching someoneâs carriage.â
âI am not going inside with you so- shit,â Tobias cursed as he revealed it differently than how he planned.
Just then, Edgar opened the door.
Tobias couldnât be more happier with Edgarâs timing to change the subject. âHave you become the butler now that Alfred is resting-â
âWhat do you mean you are not going inside? Arenât we here to celebrate his birthday? What is going on?â Hazel questioned, only now looking over her shoulder to see her luggage being taken off the carriage while Tobiasâs was nowhere to be found.
She was not paying attention to the fact that all of Tobiasâs luggage and most of her own were packed in the other carriage which was nowhere in sight. It had to be on the way to the palace.
âTobias, why are my things being taken off the carriage? Am I spending the night here?â Hazel asked as that was what it started to appear to be happening.
âHelp me,â Tobias mouthed to Edgar. He had a good way to tell Hazel of his plans but he slipped and didnât know how to suddenly inform her of someone potentially stopping her from having a child. She was supposed to see Alessandra and then he would throw out the idea of her staying here for a while to spend time with Alessandra.
âNot my problem,â Edgar replied, leaving the front door for Tobias to take care of his own issue.