My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 204: Preferring the Slowness

Chapter 204: Preferring the Slowness

After telling his men of their plans, Desmond returned to the room where Leonor was waiting for him. Many were staying on the Martin’s property so tracking them down wasn’t difficult.

When he walked through the door, the duchess looked at him hopefully, her blue eyes wide. She hoped they wouldn’t have to go, but if she had to, she would have to adapt.

No amount of healing magic could take away a hangover. Even Eve couldn’t do anything for her.

"We don’t have to leave today," he said to her.

Leonor settled down with a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness," she muttered. "I have a headache that won’t befit the bumping around of riding in a carriage. I think it might make me sick after a while."

"We’ll get an early start when we’ve both rested today," Desmond explained. "The marchioness seems to have woken up in a worse state than you. I told my lord to send her breakfast."

"You used me as an excuse?" she asked, horrified.

However, Desmond’s eyebrow-raising at her made her shut her mouth quickly. She remembered the trouble she gave him and how, perhaps, being the scapegoat was the least she could do.

"I suppose that’s fair," she corrected herself.

Desmond then turned towards the large bathroom and began to walk forward.

"I’m going to bathe," he said. When Leonor began to get out of bed herself, he added, "Alone."

"Ah..." Leonor muttered, disappointed, but she knew she didn’t need to be. They were both sensitive that morning and she could tell by the way they walked on eggshells around one another.

"Breakfast is coming for you," the duke explained. "You ought to eat something and restore your energy for the next leg of travel."

He was far too energetic from the night before. The sight of Leonor with her breasts and shoulders spilling out of a nightgown that had fallen open while she slept was too much for him at that moment.

He had finally found his limit. Leonor begging for him when he shouldn’t say yes was his limit.

Shortly after Desmond left the room, a maid knocked on the door to bring the duchess breakfast.

Leonor fixed her appearance and answered the knock by walking to the door. She didn’t want the maids to see her as lazy.

"Please stay in bed, your grace," the maid said. "His grace said that you weren’t feeling well. I brought you sweet porridge and tea that ought to calm your stomach."

Knowing how the maids worked in Montclair Estate, Leonor had a feeling they knew why the two noblewomen in the house were under the weather. She imagined someone had to have gotten Letizia to bed and out of view of passers-by.

She had a feeling the marchioness was in worse shape, but if using sickness as an excuse to stay in bed and not have to face the woman who revealed to her such terrifying things that catalyzed her actions towards her husband, she was fine with it.

The duchess needed to get her head on straight to continue being a good guest to her gracious hosts.

"Thank you very much," Leonor said to the maid.

With the tray over her legs, Leonor ate the calming meal and contemplated the night before now that she was having more clarity. She had tested the bounds of her husband’s patience and she felt awful.

Twice that trip she had drunk too much and had become a burden to him. She felt she owed him something special to make up for her mistakes.

Because he was so patient with her and willing to take care, her reputation hadn’t taken a hit. He hid her mistakes and made sure she never had to face anyone when she was too far gone.

The night before, he trusted her to handle herself, and she kept it together until she was in front of him. It caused her to wonder if he was the part of the equation that made her lose control. He was the most confusing yet the person she was most certain about.

It came out in a strange way when she was lost in a drunk haze.

When Desmond came out of the bathroom wearing clothing appropriate for the likely lazy day they would have, he was met with Leonor up on her feet and approaching him.

She wrapped her arms around him.

"I don’t think I’ve apologized enough for the burden I’ve become on this trip," she said. "I’m sorry one hundred times over. I think I will avoid alcohol the remainder of our time away from our home."

Desmond hugged her waist in return and he pressed his chin against the top of her head.

"You haven’t felt like a burden," he admitted. "This winterization trip has been far more exciting than the last. I’ve enjoyed myself thoroughly." He caressed her face as she pulled away to look up at him. "I’ve told you repeatedly that I want to be the one who takes care of you."

Leonor’s only response was standing on her toes and kissing her husband who eagerly met her lips with his own.

"Your lips taste like sweet cinnamon," he muttered with his mouth still close to hers.

He took a final taste before pulling away, knowing that, with his thoughts, kissing her wouldn’t lead to a productive morning. They were both feeling certain ways about the evening before. He couldn’t possibly push her even if his desire was overflowing.

"You should eat breakfast," Leonor said. "You need to restore your energy just as much as I do. I’m going to take a bath and get into something more comfortable than normal. I refuse to wear a corset today. I don’t want to leave the estate."

"It’s cold anyway," he said. "Perhaps we can explore the library."

"It makes me look forward to winter with the two of us in our little world once more," Leonor admitted. "Soon enough."

"Yes, soon enough," he responded and began to step away.

However, Leonor wasn’t finished.

"I rely on you so much," she said. "Please remember you can rely on me just as much. If you fall apart, I’ll pull us together just as I fell apart and you kept me together, too."

His smile became shy but Leonor returned it sweetly.

"I know," he responded, even though he did his best not to burden his wife so much.

He realized she wanted to be burdened by him the same way he wanted to be burdened by her. When she showed up to the room, a bit out of her mind, he didn’t think of how the lack of sleep would be inconvenient, but how grateful he was she was safe in their room.

Yet he knew he had to go at that moment. The only burden he carried from Leonor was the feelings she ignited and didn’t need to be responsible for.

He was the one who said he didn’t need an heir from her, so why would they have to sleep with one another?

When he was gone, Leonor knew it was time to go take a bath and pretend she wanted to be sociable that day if that’s what it called for.

It was tiring having people truly want to see her. The title of duchess was not for the faint of heart.

As she settled into a bath with dried flower petals slowly rehydrating and oils that soothed her skin and made her headache go away, she remembered that small luxuries like that were her payment. The cushy life she was given instead of the one she had with her father was her trade for becoming someone far more powerful than she ever wanted.

She could live with other people’s want to be around her as long as Desmond wanted her the most.