My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 150: Easing Her Way In

Chapter 150: Easing Her Way In

The thought of facing nobility at the tea house once more with everyone knowing who she was at that time felt unbelievably intimidating.

Not only was Leonor trying to impress the woman who had been instilling her with valuable information for the past two weeks, but she was also trying to present herself as a capable duchess.

The people’s last memory of her was as someone who snapped at the red-headed woman for talking ill about Desmond.

She didn’t realize it was her first act of presenting herself as a unified body with the duke. She then appeared at the festival, touching him affectionately and the groundwork was laid out.

Their marriage wouldn’t be doubted but she couldn’t be entirely sure about how she would be perceived as a duchess considering her age and lack of experience.

Leonor and Alma walked into the tea house where they were greeted promptly by Louis. Leonor asked for a good table and he pulled some strings to get them the best place in the tea room that day.

The entrance of the tea house was situated in such a way that patrons would have a view of anyone on arrival.

Leonor had to present herself with grace and poise upon entering. There was a satisfied smile on her face as Louis bent to her will, knowing she could tear apart his tea house the way she did the first time she showed herself there. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice of sitting Leonor within earshot of the red-headed socialite Sofia who had been banished to a less central point in the tea house until she could redeem her behavior from that day.

However, with the duchess’ lack of visits to the tea house, it was impossible to rectify her behavior. Perhaps it would change that day.

From the moment Leonor and Alma sat down, they were the center of attention.

As expensive floral tea was presented to them in a wooden case, they could smell the leaves and choose what suited them the best. It felt completely unnecessary to Leonor, but her faint smile and straight posture wouldn’t give way to her thoughts on the matter.

She was simply a noblewoman without a doting father who would give her experiences such as that. To noble ladies in a tea house, she was as good as an untrained animal if she had a slip of etiquette.

Leonor felt gazes burning into her openly.

When the tea they chose was placed on the table in front of them, Leonor found it nearly impossible to swallow down the liquid with the unwanted attention. It felt like it would stay in her throat and she had to take sips that only wet her palate rather than quench her thirst.

That day, Leonor wore a daring blue dress. Her waist was corseted and her bust was lifted and pressed together in a way she felt wasn’t becoming to her.

The young duchess hoped one day to have the confidence to be rebellious and wear whatever she wanted, but she knew it would take years to gain that sort of freedom. She had to prove herself first.

The tables were set up to encourage patrons to interact with one another.

A woman with straight black hair and unbelievably pale skin caught Alma’s gaze and gave a smile.

"Lady Alma, I was unaware you were well-acquainted with the current duchess," she greeted the older woman first, paying her respects before turning her prodding eyes to Leonor. "I’m Lady Samantha Myers, your grace. It’s a pleasure to see you out and enjoying yourself. Many were wondering when you would get more acquainted with Piedmont after the success of the Spring Equinox Festival."

Leonor sized up the woman, realizing she was likely a teenager. She wasn’t sure if she had even crossed the threshold into adulthood. She didn’t approach Leonor with a calculated demeanor and the duchess found it refreshing.

However, her name was what stuck out the most.

"Ah, you must be the daughter of Count Myers," Leonor began. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

"Yes, I am," Samantha responded. "My family has been enjoying the cooler western summer while my father explores more mining endeavors. We will return to the southern part of the duchy once it’s time for my brothers to return to school."

Seeing that Samantha had opened the door to interact with the duchess, a few others felt comfortable approaching.

Alma knew most of the people and was pleased that Leonor paid enough attention to Desmond’s work and goings on in the duchy that notable names stood out to her and responded appropriately even when the social-climbing women of the tea house dropped names to make themselves seem better connected.

Even when Alma was much younger, things hadn’t changed all that much. She simply sipped her tea with a knowing smile on her face while the younger women began talking about more frivolous topics.

As Leonor slyly mentioned a bit of charitable endeavors, the tide turned and a couple of women wanted to put forth their efforts as well. If the duchess did it, it permitted them as well.

By the time they made it to the end of a peaceful afternoon tea, Alma knew that Leonor was prepared to face the duchy on her own. She simply needed to get herself a few friends to help her connect and expand her reach in noble society. To make a lasting impression, she wouldn’t be able to rely on the duke’s title alone.

The next day, Alma was set to leave the Montclair ducal family behind and return to her country home where she comfortably lived away from the prying eyes of the more populated areas of Montclair.

After Leonor said a heartfelt thanks and farewell to the woman with Desmond at her side, she felt a certain satisfaction that, perhaps the life she had been handed would be less of a nightmare than she imagined. She had tools to navigate her life.

As she excused herself to return to her room and relax for a while, Leonor was stopped by her husband who had a letter in his hands.

"Do you know anything of the guest Stephano is sending here?" Desmond asked his wife.