My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 100: A Comfortable Day In

Chapter 100: A Comfortable Day In

The way Desmond gripped the arm of the chair he sat in, Leonor knew he was taken aback since she couldn’t see the finer details of his expression. It only served to widen her smile.

"You shouldn’t be serving me," he said.

"Doesn’t mean I don’t want to," Leonor admitted. "Please try one. I hope the tansies are as good as I remember from my childhood."

He couldn’t continue without her enjoying it alongside him. He wanted to pull out her chair but a maid who was paying attention pulled out Leonor’s chair first.

"Please, join me," he said. "I don’t want to enjoy this while you stand there."

Leonor relented by allowing the maid to take her apron and joining Desmond at the table.

Once his wife was next to him, Desmond didn’t hesitate to try the food she made first. With a fork and a knife, he took a bite and contemplated it for a few moments.

"Sweet, but not too much," he said, taking another bite. "It tastes like something from my childhood but I can’t quite remember when. Did you know that apples are my favorite fruit?"

Perhaps it was because the orphanage had an abundance, but he always liked the crunch of an apple. If he was ever thirsty, sometimes he would have an apple instead of a drink. He felt bad taking up the well when others could use it more than him.

"I didn’t know that," Leonor admitted. "But I’ll keep that in mind for future kitchen endeavors."

She was pleased with herself and his reaction. It was enough for her to start eating as well.

"You must be good in the kitchen," he muttered thoughtfully while he ate.

"Not particularly," Leonor admitted, laughing lightly. "If you saw the amount I had to leave behind so they would still be appetizing, you would realize that. Although, I did have to get a little bit better when I was in the Academy. We weren’t allowed attendants, guards, or servants there. It’s an even playing field for everyone of any class."

"Perhaps that’s why you aren’t like other noble ladies," he said and continued eating.

"Perhaps," Leonor agreed with a smile, though she knew the real reason that she would likely never tell him.

Most noble ladies weren’t terrified of their fathers. She was unaware that he knew all about that because of what Stephano told him and what he saw in the past.

To Leonor, he took her out of that environment and that was more than enough for her.

There was silence for a while but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Desmond was enjoying himself and Leonor was contemplating the other times in her life she had tansies. She ate a slice of cured meat to offset the sweetness. The meals in winter rather than summer were so different but they were good nonetheless. Everything was made from preserved food since fresh food was harder to source.

Desmond placed his fork down and wiped his lips with a cloth napkin before putting it on the table. He had his fill of food – perhaps more than he should have.

He was touched by Leonor cooking for him. Even if there was distance between them, he appreciated her efforts to not get any further away from one another.

"Then you must be the reason Gideon didn’t have anything I needed to attend to today," he realized.

Leonor was finished eating as well and she scooted away from the table. Her hair had been tied up while she cooked but she undid the ribbon and let her black hair fall around her shoulders in the natural waves she couldn’t tame away if she tried.

"He promised me there’s nothing pending and you won’t be burdened in the future just because I said my husband deserves a day off," she admitted. "You’re free to do whatever you would like. At least until dinner when I’ll give you your gift."

For once, he offered his hand first and Leonor eagerly took it.

"I would like to get back into comfortable clothing and laze around in the library," he said. "I won’t read anything about the duchy. At least for today."

"If that’s what you want to do," Leonor said as she was helped out of her chair but he let her hand go shortly after.

Holding onto her hand stirred up feelings he didn’t want. If he was to have a good day, he didn’t want to think about who he could or couldn’t have.

After all, Leonor had drawn that clear boundary.

"It’s what I want to do," he said. "Join me. You’re probably going there anyway."

"Perhaps I’ll save this dress for dinner then," Leonor said looking down at herself. "I’ll feel jealous if you’re wearing something comfortable and I’m not."

He cracked a smile and, from what Leonor could see of it, her heart started racing. He normally wasn’t so forthcoming with his expressions. He admitted to her before that it was uncomfortable sometimes.

She considered each smile of his dear.

"I’ll meet you in the library," he said.

He knew he should offer to walk with her, but even that much he couldn’t handle without his heart yearning for something more. Everything she did was to be cherished. It felt like his heart was the only one filled with the memories they created while her heart was filled only with the past.

Just as they said, they met up in the library a while later.

Leonor wore a dusty pink nightgown that was thick enough for the winter hallways of the estate. Over it, she wore a robe that would keep her warm. For once, she wandered around with slippers on her feet and had to pretend she didn’t see the curious glances from the maids who walked by her.

She simply offered a smile and moved on.

Desmond was already in the library when she opened the door and saw him wearing plain grey nightclothes but he also wore a blue silk robe with a hood to continue hiding himself from her.

For once, he was properly lounging as he leaned into the pillows and propped his thick socked feet on the couch, his slippers discarded on the floor. He was setting the mood for the day and she was more than alright with it.

"You look comfortable," she said, without a hint of judgment in her voice.

"So do you," he said. "Take a seat."

She didn’t want to admit that she was eager to sit around and read more romance stories to fill the void she had placed in her own life.

For what felt like a long time, Leonor read her book. When parts became more intense, she sat up straighter on the comfortable couch.

She resisted gasping for a few parts.

Only when she heard Desmond’s voice was her focus broken.

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