My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 151: Mystery Guest

Chapter 151: Mystery Guest

After overhearing the conversation between Alma and Leonor, Desmond was on edge.

Even with Lady Alma staying in their home, the couple still managed to sleep beside one another each night. However, Leonor was often tired and fell into bed, only staying awake long enough to bid her husband goodnight and cuddle up to him.

He continued the same routine of having to beg himself to calm down for the sake of Leonor. She didn’t deserve to be burned by him any further. He thought he would be able to wait until she pursued him but it was difficult. He also had to figure out how to come clean with everything they hadn’t addressed so far.

His thoughts began compounding as he longed for the next step.

Since it was impossible to tear him from his work, he didn’t know how to get Leonor to a place where neither of them was busy. Even though the physical aspect of their lives was unexplored, he still wanted to begin.

Although he didn’t know how to approach the topic with her. It further vexed him when he overheard her flourishing the truth of their intimacy.

Knowing those who bore witness to the room after their wedding night had seen what he left behind, he didn’t further consider how Leonor may have to respond when that aspect was challenged.

She was good at keeping their secret, though it only made his longing worse.

Considering Alma was set to return home that night, Desmond decided he would make more of an effort to talk to Leonor about his true thoughts and come clean about things he hadn’t before.

However, his plans changed when a letter from Stephano arrived being carried by a large red bird that was undoubtedly his familiar.

It seemed that the next day Leonor would have a guest arrive who was supposedly an old friend. He left out any further details than that, ever being Desmond’s tormentor. He knew the king loved to keep him on edge.

When he went to say goodbye to Alma, he brought the letter with him and handed it to Leonor when it was appropriate to look away from the carriage that took the old noblewoman away.

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

He pulled the letter from his breast pocket and handed it to his wife who looked at him with a perplexed expression.

Leonor unfolded the letter and her eyebrows rose by the time she made it to the end. The entirety of its contents were few and vague. Stephano was toying with the ducal couple and it was due to the letter Leonor sent him in a fit of emotion.

Leonor seemed guilty and bit the inside of her lip. Her sapphire eyes were cast on Desmond and he could read her like a book.

"Is there something you’re not saying?" he wondered, though he found it ironic considering he was also holding back quite a bit. "You look guilty."

Though his tone wasn’t accusative, he reached towards Leonor, his bare hand meeting her cheek.

Leonor grabbed his forearm with both of her hands and pulled his fingers from her face. She had a small, sly smile as she held his arm in hers and hugged it to her chest.

"When I discovered your secret I might have sent a letter to Stephano calling him a liar," she admitted. "I wouldn’t be all that shocked if he came to defend himself. However, I find it more likely he may send Quinn to do his dirty work since he has too many responsibilities to attend to."

Desmond cracked a light smile.

"I can’t fault you for that," he admitted. "Although I feel a bit bad he’s taking the fall for a secret I burdened him with."

Leonor stepped closer to the duke and she dared to reach for the front of the dark green shirt he wore. Her fingers went to the soft material over his chest and she smiled up at him sweetly.

"You’ve been making it up to me, but he has yet to do that," she said.

Desmond found her completely irresistible. He was being pulled in by the way she was touching him and he began leaning into her touch. He lowered his head to kiss her but one of the estate’s staff walked out to attend to something outdoors.

The couple pulled away from each other, feeling embarrassed at how they got carried away.

It only made Desmond’s desperation for the woman before him grow. Except he knew it would be cruel to corner her in such a way when she had a guest to attend to the next day.

He admired her for taking her role seriously. From the moment he regained wherewithal, he knew she would be the perfect fit at his side.

"I ought to make sure the guest rooms are together," Leonor muttered a bit awkwardly.

She tried to push away the thoughts that made her want to disappear in a dark room with her husband and see if they could push the limitations of daylight just a bit. Too afraid to see if his responses to her meant what she thought they did, she stepped away from him.

"I will see you later," he agreed, even though he had no desire to part with her.

Even though he had much to do, spending time with Leonor sounded so much better. They would see one another at dinner and be able to walk with each other afterwards as they always did. It had to be enough until it was fair for him to approach her about something that may very well change the future for one another.

Leonor managed to escape the situation unscathed except for her less than innocent thoughts.

They resumed the day as usual. When it was time to face the following day and wait for the king’s guest to arrive, an amused smile appeared on Leonor’s lips when she walked to the front of the estate and saw a man with shaggy silver hair waiting for her on the front steps leading up.