My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 169: Adjusting to Feelings

Chapter 169: Adjusting to Feelings

It was another place unfamiliar to Leonor but with one of their guards opening the door for them and her hand on Desmond’s arm as he guided her forth, she felt fearless going into any situation.

Since the dessert was mostly for Leonor and not Desmond, they ordered four different things to taste but all of them were her picks. However, the duke promised he would try a bite of each just because she didn’t want to be the only one eating something.

The last part of their day out was going out of the wall and to a lake nestled at the base of the mountain. It had a walking path around it and an old dock that went out onto the southern edge. Along the entirety of it were trees offering shade. Luckily the path itself wasn’t hard to walk on so Leonor could do it easily despite the structured dress she wore.

One of the guards set out a blanket for them to picnic on so they could eat dessert in total relaxation.

Leonor insisted Desmond have each first bite and she would finish the rest of the dessert off for the most part. However, Desmond found an almond croissant he enjoyed that wasn’t overly sweet like the other desserts full of chocolates and creams. She told him to finish it off considering she felt unbelievably full.

"Would you like to walk around the lake?" she asked.

Desmond stood up first and helped Leonor.

"Your shoes won’t hurt your feet?" he asked. "Your clothing isn’t too tight?"

"I wouldn’t have suggested a walk if I was uncomfortable," she assured him.

"Fair enough," Desmond responded, trying to push his worries down until they were small and manageable.

He often recalled the way her body looked after wearing a corset to sleep. He felt guilty for buying her dresses that required such a thing even though his thoughts wouldn’t change a thing.

It was hard to push those thoughts to the side. The irony that he would care about her being inconvenienced in a way that didn’t permanently hurt her wasn’t lost on him.

He forced himself to stop being in his head and paid attention to Leonor.

They took to the path and walked hand in hand. The trees covered them up for the most part and they would have privacy regardless of who was at the lake that day.

Their conversation remained light and Leonor felt in a slightly better mood than she had in quite a few days.

She hated to admit what she had become. Never before did she think she would be a woman who relied heavily on her relationship to be happy. If she and Desmond faced any difficulty, it always made her in a worse mood.

That day gave her answers she had been dying to learn. It felt like they were a step closer to trusting each other completely and moving past the entire year shrouded in lies. Understanding only went so far and insecurities prevailed if she didn’t get them in check.

With a weight off her shoulders, she walked with Desmond, enjoying the small things life had to offer. In the lush trees around her, the beginnings of autumn were present. Birds flew in and out, chirping occasionally to communicate with each other and let the people walking through that they were there.

Since the summer season was ending, Leonor felt a slight chill, but she wouldn’t admit it because Desmond would want to turn around or give her his outer coat then he would be cold instead.

"How do you feel about attending to the winterization of Montclair this autumn?" Desmond asked. "I hope it hasn’t burdened you knowing you’ll likely be faced with ducal duties alongside other noblewomen."

Leonor grinned.

"I need to be better trained so I’ll survive," she joked. "You’ll be more burdened having to take a carriage since your wife decided she wanted to go with you."

Desmond’s voice took on a teasing edge as he observed Leonor who smiled up at him sweetly.

"I couldn’t have Duchess de Montclair uncomfortable while she travels," the duke said. "You couldn’t wear beautiful dresses if you had to be on horseback."

Leonor splayed her dress by lightly curtsying.

"Is his grace a typical nobleman who prefers his wife submissive and easy to manipulate in clothing like this?" she asked.

He had said before he preferred when she wore riding clothing because she seemed freer, but he decided to turn the tables.

Desmond took a step closer seeing that they were under the cover of thicker brush and trees. He placed his hands on her slender waist.

"On the contrary, I prefer my wife in a thin nightgown," he admitted. "Although I feel that isn’t an answer most would take kindly to."

Leonor gasped and said Desmond’s name under her breath.

She stared up at Desmond with wide eyes and a blushing face. Her hands were clenched in fists because she didn’t know how to respond. She wasn’t used to forwardness to any degree.

They both went for so long acting unaffected by one another that accepting Desmond had desire within him was so hard to face at times. It was hard to face because it made her have to face the desire within herself as well.

Each night she slept by him, she had the urge to test the bounds of their relationship or further what they began that night a while before. She didn’t know how to ask for more. Whenever an opportunity presented itself, the words were stuck in her throat. The practically Puritan culture and religion she grew up in had its hand still firmly wrapped around her neck.

Seeing Leonor needed to separate herself from him for a moment, Desmond stood still as he observed her walk toward the edge of the water where the path ended. Even though she didn’t need him to, he kept a watchful eye on her to make sure nothing happened.

He didn’t doubt her abilities or coordination. After all, she wasn’t one to misstep or do something uncaring.

However, as she kept walking and made it to the top of the only dock in the water, Desmond felt nervous at the state of the dock.

"Leonor–"

"I want to cool my face off," she interrupted him. "Just give me a moment."

A moment was a moment too long.

Leonor’s gaze snapped to Desmond when she heard creaking.

Shortly after that, the old boards of the unkept dock snapped. Leonor’s leg slipped through the boards and she fell into the cold water, disturbing the overall calmness of the lake.