My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 144: Starting Where They Left Off

Chapter 144: Starting Where They Left Off

The late summer weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

For someone with fair skin like Desmond, it was a necessity to wear long sleeves to avoid getting burnt by the sun. He had never had a sunburn on his scarred skin, but he imagined it wouldn’t feel great.

With the gentle breeze and fluffy clouds in the sky that occasionally blocked the sun, he became tempted to lose his hood entirely and enjoy the feeling of air on his head. It was something he had denied himself since Leonor’s reemergence in his life.

The more confidence she instilled in him, the closer he inched to removing the hood forever. Perhaps it would be that day, but perhaps it would be in the near future.

Regardless, winter would come and he would likely return to wearing a cloak or robe all the time. It was easy to underestimate how cold someone’s head could get without a bit of hair.

At once he wore wigs to attend official events he couldn’t get out of, but after a while, even that became a chore and itched the healing skin more than it was worth trying to fit in with other nobles who boasted good looks and perfect skin.

Other people’s opinions started to matter less and less. His thoughts were filled with only Leonor.

The duke stood back as the woman of his dreams walked forward in disbelief of the natural lilacs that grew in the corral on the mountain that was very much his.

For a moment, he was satisfied allowing her to take in the situation as she pleased, but it wasn’t enough for him. He felt she loved the flowers more than she loved him for a moment.

He quietly cleared his throat, as if to push away the evil thoughts he was having. He selfishly wanted so much more from her despite being the one who lied to her for so long.

She asked him how he found a place like that and he stopped his trek forward.

"When I was first appointed as duke, they sent me to Montclair shortly after regaining my memories," he explained, walking close enough to Leonor that his rough voice wouldn’t grow rougher from strain. "At times it would be so overwhelming I would ask everyone to leave me alone and I would take the road along the mountainside until it ended. When I found this place, it felt like you were with me. I couldn’t show you this place without revealing who I was."

He was gazing at her but looked away when the regret of lying for so long struck him like it had been many times since she accepted him.

Even as Leonor felt various flowers with her fingers, she was listening to his words and hanging onto each one. He had become more talkative, but the injury to his throat from breathing in fire was the only thing inhibiting him.

She felt bad if he had to strain himself so she walked towards him, breaking out of the trance the flowers put her in.

When she was in his vicinity, Leonor reached for his hand and looked up at his shadowed face. Her other hand reached for the edge of his hood and she only pulled it enough that she could see his full face rather than only his eye.

"Didn’t it make you lonely hiding the truth from me like that?" she asked him so quietly.

He practically held his breath while she revealed more of his face to her but he forced himself not to stiffen up under her touch.

"Of course it did," he admitted. "Although I think if I revealed myself to you and you rejected me, I would feel worse."

A gentle breeze rustled the grass and caused the branches of the lilac bushes and trees to sway. A strand of Leonor’s hair fell into her face. Even though she had a maid braid it before she left, her hair was so heavy it came undone.

Before she could swipe it away herself, to her surprise, Desmond took his hand from hers and removed his riding gloves. He then tucked the hair behind her ear.

"You made me fall for you twice in one lifetime," Leonor uttered. "Please don’t doubt yourself any longer."

As she spoke, his hand lingered and he got carried away. His middle finger traced down her cheek until his thumb was at the side of her lips.

For a moment, he wondered if he dared kiss her, but that in itself would lead to more that he didn’t know how to face. When it came to her, he only knew how to be selfish. He had her as his wife then he promised not to touch her but he broke his promise in one year.

As his eye bore into her, Leonor wondered what he was thinking and not saying. It became too much for even her and she had to pull away. Her heart was racing and she went back to admiring the flowers. They seemed to all be white or light purple while the ones in Burien came in a darker variety.

However, her thoughts weren’t truly on the flowers anymore. She thought of closeness to Desmond and if she needed permission to press on. What would he allow her to do?

Desmond found a patch of grass underneath a tree and decided to observe from further away. They weren’t speaking at that moment and he was happy to simply be.

Unfortunately, he knew that if he was Valerio, he would have spoken more but circumstances changed and she was left with someone who couldn’t talk for long without being in pain.

Leonor reached the last of the lilac bushes sprinkled throughout the field which meant she was close to Desmond.

Unable to hold herself back more, she walked towards him and joined him on the ground, leaning against a large tree trunk.

"It’s a wonder someone hasn’t built a house here," she observed. "It’s very serene."

"If you wanted a house here, I would build one for you," Desmond responded.

Leonor turned her head towards Desmond who was gazing at her once more.

"Anything you want, I’ll give to you," he reminded her.

"Anything?" she asked, making him feel suddenly nervous.

"Leonor," he said under his breath, though the warning tone was evident.

The duchess brought her legs under her so she was on her knees. It was much easier to move without wearing a dress and she was taking full advantage of her range of motion.

It was apparent what she wanted when she reached towards his face and her hand gently urged his face towards her.

For the first time since she was a teenager, their lips met and her arms naturally went around his shoulders as she fell into a place she belonged.