Chapter 323: Clueless (3)
"Quinn Monroe. You allowed Cassius’s brother to get close to my wife and daughter?" Edgar asked, furious that his orders were not obeyed.
Edgar looked to the guards who escorted his family for answers. What was he paying them for?
"It was my fault. I stepped away from them to speak with my mother because she always complains about the guards. I didn’t see him around when I first saw my mother, and I accidentally bumped into him when I was leaving," Alessandra said, shifting all the blame to herself.
Edgar pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alessandra."
"I know that it was wrong, but I wasn’t far away from the guards. They got to my side fast enough to shield me from him. The interaction has led me to wonder if I know his father. He said his father was a collector of art," Alessandra passed on what she heard.
"What?"
"I have never spoken to anyone about selling my paintings unless his father wanted to sell what is in his collection. He didn’t share his father’s name. I don’t know anyone who is a Monroe," Alessandra said, drawing a blank each time she thought of the name.
"Don’t speak with him again," said Edgar.
"He sounded certain that we would cross paths again. Reed was closer to hear him," Alessandra said, looking to Reed to speak.
"He did seem to think we would go to him for answers," Reed said, remembering how Quinn smiled as he spoke.
"Alessandra, you should take the girls inside and prepare to show me what you bought," Edgar said, not wanting Alessandra further involved.
"If it will help you to know the name of his father, then I will try to remember it. I cannot make any promises that anything will come to mind," Alessandra said.
Alessandra had met too many people both inside and outside of Lockwood to know right away who Quinn spoke of.
"You don’t need to trouble yourself. I will be there shortly," Edgar said, kissing Alessandra goodbye.
Alessandra smiled and left the men to speak in private. She was used to Edgar wanting to keep her out of these conversations, but she would hear of it later once she remembered to ask.
"What did he approach my wife for?" Edgar asked whilst keeping his gaze on Alessandra. "Besides speaking of art."
"From where I stood, it looked like he purposely bumped into her, so we moved right away to shield the duchess from him. All he spoke of was his father, but he didn’t give a name. We’ve checked with Monroe families, and no one knows of the brothers," said Reed.
"They could be using a fake last name-"
"Not every Monroe family resides in Lockwood. Their family could have been from out of town once," Reed spoke over his brother.
"I don’t think that is the case. From all that we’ve heard so far, it sounds like they are from Lockwood, but spent some time away. He didn’t reveal his father’s name, and he spoke like it was some kind of game for us to play for the answer," said Caleb.
"Caleb is right. You said he was certain that we would go to him mostly once we find out who he is. Either his family name is truly something important, or his bluffing to get our attention," Edgar concluded.
To Edgar, the truth behind the brothers didn’t matter to him since he was going to kill them both for playing too many games when it came to his family.
"I don’t care who stands before my family and hates to see our guards. You are to disobey my wife when she wants to leave your side. Stand beside her. Now is not the time for anyone to be careless," Edgar said, still annoyed.
"Still, it has given us something new to look into. Look at who prides themselves on being a collector of art and has ties to both brothers," said Edgar.
Unfortunately, it would take time to get answers since there were many around town who gave themselves this title.
"Weren’t you just going to kill them?" Caleb asked, surprised they were going to keep looking around.
"I need to rule out that there aren’t more of these fools in their family, and I need to know who they truly are. Now, do you have more questions, or will you do as I say?" Edgar asked, waiting patiently for Caleb to answer.
Caleb was annoyed by Reed’s snickering.
"Why aren’t you scolding him for laughing in a serious moment?" Caleb asked, wanting to see Reed punished.
Edgar stared at Caleb in disbelief.
Not only couldn’t Edgar believe that Caleb managed to live so long without harming himself, but he couldn’t believe he still hired the two fools standing before him.
Edgar walked away instead of responding since what he had to say would not be pleasant.
"You’ve made him angry," said Reed.
Caleb disagreed. "Do you not think your laughter in that moment upset him?"
"No."
"Of course, you never think you are wrong," Caleb muttered.
Reed looked away from his brother. "Why does Sally keep feeding you fish? Your breath, brother. It is troublesome."
"Come smell it!"
Edgar gripped the stair rail.
The twins were quite loud, so their voices travelled well into his home.
It couldn’t be that they were the only fools since he was the one to employ them.
Edgar restrained himself, ignoring the desire to hit them both. He continued up to his room to speak with Alessandra. She had an entertaining day so far, and he wanted to know what else had happened.
Edgar entered the room and found Alessandra taking off her jewellery.
"You are done quite fast. Do you not know who his father is as well, or have you sent the twins to find him?" Alessandra asked, needing the answer.
This was going to trouble her for a while.
"I do not know who their father is, and the twins are outside bickering with each other. It is time that we get rid of them both. You’ll be doing your friends a favour by having their husbands home," said Edgar.
"Reed and Caleb love working for you. You once gave them the chance to settle with their families, and they denied it. It is not about the money, but their loyalty to you. Eleanor has always said Reed would be bored without his work here. Leave them," Alessandra said.
Alessandra found the twins’ behaviour as punishment for Edgar always wanting to have twins. It was funny once upon a time to see Penelope and Lily mimicking Reed and Caleb. Then, referring to the brothers as their uncles.
"You are just too grumpy," Alessandra said, laughing at Edgar’s displeasure.
"’I am not grumpy, I am annoyed that at this age they still act like boys," Edgar explained.
"Edgar, you have your moments of acting like a child," Alessandra said, thinking of a few stories to back her claim. "You must leave Reed and Caleb alone."